The manual describes how to work with the Print Report Editor, Print Report Manager, and Import Print Reports.

Print Report Manager

This window is used to manage print reports in the selected PALSTAT CAQ module. The list of available reports may differ depending on where the dialogue was called from. Reports marked with a "P" icon at the beginning of each report are our default reports, they cannot be edited, they are maintained and edited by our company.

Print reports section

Use this part of the Print Report Manager window to create, copy, delete, import and export reports. The assemblies themselves can be moved freely and divided into created folders and pads. The overall tree is immediately displayed below the main control panel, in which the control panels are located, their functions are described below.

Control panels and their functions

The control buttons can be divided into three groups.

1.		The buttons are used to move around the report tree. The same as using the keyboard arrows.
2.		Buttons for control operations.
		The New reocrd button contains the otpion to create a group (folder/Create group) into which reports can be created and the option to create an individual report / Create report.
		Button to delete an entry group of entries.
		Refresh, function to refresh (reload) the list.
		Button, that creates a copy of the selected print report.
		Button, to turn on/off the quick preview.
3.		Using this function, you can export any report from the program and back it up. However this function is often used in cases where the operator needs professional intervention over the report being created. It simply exports the report and sends it to PALSTAT s.r.o. to be revised or ammended.
		This function can be used to import previously exported reports into the program. Each report can only be imported to the location from which it was previously exported. In practice this means, for example that the report from the Control Plans cannot be imported into the Meter Register. When trying to import an assembly that already exists on the system, you will be prompted to the next procedure (overwrite, new version or revision), which must be assessed by the operator.   For example, your laboriously created report may be overwritten by a report that is imported from another version of the software.

Events section

This section is used to quickly preview, print the selected report and export to various formats.

Editor section

You can start editing print reports and set report properties. This is only possible for assemblies that are not marked with a "P" icon.

Images section

The Images section is a thumbnail preview of the images available for print reports. There are the already known buttons and check boxes with important meanings:

0 - Means usabilty in the entire Palstat CAQ software. All modules

1 - For use in the current module (Meter Evidence / Parts / ...).

2 - For the given group of the current module (Gauge Evidence =>List).

The image can be edited at any time by right-clicking on the image window and selecting the image file on your PC. This way, the logo can be modified in all sets and default sets, supplied by our company where the logo is connected. Just edit the image for the lines containing the name "Logo", do not upload a new image, just select another one on your PC.

Importing a print report

To import current reports into Palstat from the PRX file, use the /APL/CaqAdmin.exe program or the  "Tools -> System Administration" option in the Launcher. Access rights must be set for this module.
The PRX file is included with each program update and contains print reports that are defaulted and marked with a "P" icon. Go to the "Print reports" option in the program.

In the program select the "IMPORT" option and browse the data file sent to your PC. In the newley opened window, right-click and select "Mark all" see picture. this will mark all print reports that contain this file. This defines which print reports are to be imported into your database. 

Click on the "Import" button and the print reports will immediately start loading into the database. In the event of a print report collision between a file and your database, you will be prompted to overwrite it or create a new revision.

Print report editor

Below is the main window for creating print / assemblies. the individual sub-parts are described in sub-chapters.

Formatting tools 

Traditional formatting tools, such as those from MS Office, for example. Always apply to the currently selected object in the authoring window.

Field List

The list of tables and elements available in the database which will change depending on the module used and the place from which the print dialogue will be called. By dragging the selected field from the database to the desktop of the main development panel, the data from the selected data element will be dragged to the required place.

Each table can contain additional sub-tables depending on the specific module. Whenever it is required to pull data from a certain table. This must be inserted in a seperate detail in the "Detail" development element.

……… record from the Field List in the Designer tab

An orange icon next to the object means that the element from the database is assigned to it and the data entered in the program into the approprate field will be downloaded to the print report (field names in the Field List correspond to the labels in the program).

There is a small icon in front of the name of each field, which according to content suggests which data field it is. For example, the "Sketch" field in our example is a picture, and this will only appear in the report if it is dragged into the report in the "Picture Box" tool. Similarly, it is necessary to access each object, for example, it is not possible to display decimals for an integer field.

Individual symbols:

- image
- text
- date
- whole number
- decimal

Report Explorer

This window displays the tree structure of the print report, in which you can see how the individual objects are arranged one below the other. Objects can be selected either in the development panel / Designer or using the following structure.

In the image we can see, for example, "DetalReport", which forms the main data content and to this further subordinated to the object "Detail1". The data itself is inserted into the object "dBPictureBox1" containing the drawing ofthe part "label2" with a link to the data field. Furthermore, we have "table1" divided into 3 cells and then the first and second data are linked to the database.  

Important knowledge is visble via "PalstatBaseReport", only here is it possible to see and set the size of the print paper, as well as some default properties such as font and size. By selecting this element, it is possible to further set the listed parameters under "Property Grid".

Toolbox

Here are all the tools with which to create print reports. They are inserted into the main development panel by dragging, similarly to the data from the "Field List", and then the data elements that are to be subject to the properties of such a tool can be dragged onto them again. This manual describes only the basic tools that can be used. Some intentionally omit a special group prepared data or are in the process of development or testing, but can still be displayed to you, will be intentionally omitted.

Progress bar 

With this tool you can visualize a certain course of fulfillment, for example. Used for data fields containing percentages. The sample shows us the fulfillment at 65%

Field name 

Instead of the data stored in the database, the tool displays the field name as it is set. This is useful in case of renaming field in the system or renaming them in the future. Such a change will also be reflected in the reports where this tool will be used. You can also create a multi-language report, which will also tighten the field labels depending on the language in which the application is running.

Label 

A plain text field that can be used to insert plain text or to blind data from a datbase to a field by dragging from a "Field List"

Number field 

The tool must be linked to numerical data, which can perform many numerical calculations over the entire report / group / page according to its settings. For example, you can print all claims for a given period and link a price to the field. The total price for complaints will be displayed at the end of the report.

Example of defining in the editor / designer on the left and the result / Preview on the right, where it lists parts, their price and at the end of the printout we add up the total, number of records and min/max values. The tool supports many mathematical operations and it is necessary to try and go through them.

CheckBox - Check item 

CheckBox 

A numerical field with a value of 0/1 ot True/False must be linked to the tool. The boxes can often be used to visualize, these boxes are also check boxes in the program. The example shows the display list and the connection of the "Set" field to this tool.

RichText - RTF TExt

Can be used for data items that can be edited directly in the program via the style editor and are subject to special formatting in the data object itself. The sample below shows how the field looks in the program and under it, as defined in Designer and the result in Preview.

Formula

Fill in.

Database Picture 

With this tool you insert an image in the report that has been previously saved in the database in the Print Report Manager, which is also described in this manual. Drag the tool to the development panel and select the appropriate image under the "DblmageLink" property in the / Property Grid tools. We also recommend finding the "Sizing"/"Size" property and selecting "Zoom Image" here, adapts the image to the window that is reserved for it in the editor without distorting the aspect ratio.

Once again, showing a demonstration in the parts module with the basic properties open directly above the tool with the option to change the image magnification. 

Picture Box 

With this tool it is possible to insert an image into the print output, which is stored in the database directly in the given module for a specific record. In our case, we will insert a drawing for one part which will be displayed in the report in a small preview form only.

First load the "Picture Box" element into the editor and then select the field in the "Field List" that we know contains a picture, a yellow icon will then apprear on the object indicating the active connection of the data field. Next, we set the magnification as in the previous example.

Panel

This is used for easier manipulation of objects in the editor itself. You can insert individual objects into one panel and rearrange the data in the report simply by moving that one panel. Advantageous, if the report contains many blocks and each contain many data fields. You can store each larger block of the assembly in panels and easily move them. Alternatively, you can use the panel to frame the block.

The sample groups three data fields into a panel, and the panel itself has a border set at its bottom edge, creating a line break.

Table 

Inserting a table, enables better movement and visualization of individual fields, which can be linked directly to individual cells. The advantage is easy rearrangement of the assembly and we recommend using it primarily instead of the "Panel" and "Label" tools. It is also useful when exporting data to EXCEL.

We have inserted all data fields from the table in the Insert example. The table has a border set on some cells which creates clearer output and on the "Price" cell we add text formatting to the currency with the symbol  "CZK". The sample also adds a new element "GroupHeader1", which is used to create a header of the parts list and is added with the right mouse button on the row "detail" as shown in the screenshot. This allows improved movement and visualization of individual field, which can be linked directly to individual cells.

Character Comb

Each character is in a seperate window, suitable for machine reading, if the printed data needs to be further processesed electronically.

Line 

A simple line where you can change colour, direction and style, a simple examle of use. In the example at the same time, you can see the folding of two objects over each other, where the "Price" and "Line" objects are inserted into the assembly on top of each other and create a strikethrough. By highlighting in red, the editor warns of possible conflict when exporting to HTML.

 Shape

Allows you to insert shapes to highlight certain objects in the assembly, or to script those shapes for certain lines.

Bar Code

After loading the object, you can convert the text to various types of machine-readable codes by assigning a data field. It is always necessary to bind to the object such data that the given type of code can interpret and convert into code. E.g. EAN type cannot process letters.

Gauge 

Similar to the Progress Bar, where we visualize a numerical value in a simple graph. we establish a numerical value and define MIN/MAX either with fixed data or also by establishing a database field.  

The example has the "Price" field linked to the fixed MIN/MAX values. The tool is embedded into two different view types.

Sparkline - Minigraph

Displaying a simple graph with one value, suitable for quick and easy display of the course of the measured data for example.

Page Info 

Enables the display of basic information about the report such as, current data or current page, and so on. This is always used when displaying the number of pages in a report. It is most commonly used in the header or footer of each report.

In the example you can see the formatting settings of the field with the current date,  the date is displayed in both written form and in the second case "Text Format String" field is set and the date is numeric.

Also note the use of this information in detail with the name "PageHeader", which represents the header area for the report and will be printed on each page. This sample is one page only.

Page Break 

Define where the print page should break. An example is printing a list of parts and their dimensions, and you would like the next part to be printed on a new page. This will insert the "GroupFooter" group under "Dimensions" Report and the PageBreak tool into this report.

The example based on the previous example in which we displayed the number of pages. By adding a break after each dimension listing, the assembly is split into five pages as shown.

The sample already shows more comprehensively, the use of nested detail for listing dimensions including the "PageHeader" report header and the "GroupFooter1" footer.

Page breaks can also be set on each report "DetailReport" to achieve the same result, see. below.

Page Break - detail

It is also possible to break the page by defining this property on any DetailReport that we insert into the report. We will achieve the same result with the possibility to determine when the break should be performed.

Cross-band Line / Box

This tool can be used to create a complete report from header to footer, regardless of the size of the data listed in the report itself. The example defines a border from "PageHeader" to "PageFooter", which are the header and the footer of the assembly, so the border tool stretches across all inserted areas.

Property Grid

The "Property Grid" table sets the properties of the object inserted in the main development panel of the print report that is currently selected by the cursor. The number of parameters and their properties vary depending on the selected element. For example, you will see other properties if you select Label and others when you selecting PictureBox. The following is a brief desription of the most important features you wil find in most objects.

Designer - main development panel

The main development panel is the basis of the whole program. Elements from other windows, thanks to which the print assembly is composed, are fixed to it.