The Aeros VISION Report tool uses industry standard functionality to assist in the ease of report design. The option for Snap To Grid lines, customizable objects importing charts, etc. help to create reports with visually understandable data and reporting elements.
Report Designing has so many possible options and variables, this How To article is Part 1 of a multi-part set of How To articles.
Pre-Requisites
- A previously designed VISION Query.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Log into VISION
- Click on New Report
- In the pop up screen, select a previously created VISION Query for the new report.
- The VISION Report Designer opens in a default layout.
- On the far right, the fields from the selected query are available to be used in the report.
6. The most basic way to get your query fields to the report design screen is to click on the word Results and drag the entire result set to the Details section of the Report Design screen.
7. On the top right corner, there is a Preview option to see the results as you are building the report. Click on Preview to display the result of all fields added to Detail section:
The report is displayed with all fields added as repeating line items based on the data returned in the query used for the report. On the left, are the query parameters, if any, that can return specific data. (The 'where' clauses in a SQL query). It is best to format the report data based
on customized request of those that will be viewing the reports.
Here we will cover the basics of symmetry and data formatting in the report designer.
8. Being all fields were dragged to the detail list, grouping and sorting is not going to be displayed. The first field from the Result set in this example, is Division (like a location ID). This Division field can be clicked on and deleted from the Detail Section and then selected at the bottom of the report under Add A Group, so that all line items related to each Division location will be grouped in the report.
9. Once Add a Group - Division is selected, a Group Header box is added to the report. Drag the Division Field from the Results into the Group Header and size accordingly.
10. Click Preview in top right, to view the results.
11. To better align and size the fields that are displaying the data, you can go back to designer view, and in top menu, select Layout and place a checkmark on Snap To Grid option.
12. Back on Home menu view, you can begin to resize each of the fields in the Details section, to better fit the data. On the top right of each data cell, when selected, an arrow appears. This options that display give you what data field, and properties for that specific field that can be modified.
13. Cells can be formatted so that currency displays with correct precision, and dates can be long dates - D or short dates - d by clicking on each cell and going to Properties on lower right. Scroll down to the Text Format String and click the 3 dots... to bring up the Format Editor.
14. Once all fields in the Details section have been sized and placed, based on your preference, click Preview in top right corner to view the report.
The above is the most basic instruction of creating a simple report based on a VISION Query. A little creativity will go a long way to give your report a pleasing and easy to read design.
In other articles, we will cover more advanced features that can be used in the Report Designer.