New Features for Report Generator Version 5.5

This version of the report generator is used in all the latest versions of FaultTree+, Reliability Workbench, AvSim+, lccWare, Hazop+, RCMCost and RiskVu. The new features are listed below:

Improved Printing Interface

Printer driver extended attributes are now supported. This enables, for example, duplex printing to be selected from the print dialog. In previous versions only the paper size and orientation could be modified in the print dialog.

Export to RTF Text Boxes - Text Boxes are Grouped

In previous versions of the report generator all the text items in a report (the header, footer, etc.) were exported as RTF text boxes. These were seen in MS Word as single ungrouped drawing objects. These text items are now exported as grouped text boxes. This change applies to text, graph and diagram reports.

Export to RTF Table Format

An additional export mode has been added allowing text reports to be exported in RTF table format. The following report content is exported as tables: header, footer, field headings and fields. The report text boxes are exported as RTF grouped text boxes overlaid on top of the tables. Both types of RTF report export (table and text box) can be saved either to file or copied to the clipboard.

Select Report Objects for Export

The Export Settings dialog now allows the user to select which report objects to export. The user can choose whether to export the header, footer, field headings, fields, text boxes, graphs or diagrams. This option is restricted to selecting text boxes only when the RTF table format is selected.

Export of Report Data

The report data comprising a text report can now be exported in a variety of formats: CSV delimited, tab delimited, user specified delimiter or as RTF tables. The data can be saved either to file or copied to the clipboard.

When exporting in RTF table format the table generated retains the formatting applied in the report generator.

The tab delimited format is the best format for exporting to MS Excel and the RTF table format is the best format for exporting to MS Word.

Report Wizard

The report wizard allows the user to quickly create a new text report. It includes features for selecting which fields to sort and filter on, and also allows the user to easily create text boxes containing various information such as the date, time and page number. A complete list of the features the user can specify is shown below:

• Report name and folder
• Query
• Query fields and their display order
• Sorting and filtering of the selected fields, if required

• Automatic creating of text boxes. These text boxes can contain:

  • Date
  • Time
  • Date and time
  • Time and date
  • Page number
  • Page number of page count
  • Report name
  • Number of records
  • Field value – average, minimum, maximum, sum, first row value,or data from another query

Export and Import of Report Templates

One or more report templates may be selected for export to an external report template database from the Report Explorer. The selected reports may be added to an existing template database or the database deleted and a new one created.

One or more report templates can be selected for import from a report template database into a selected folder in the Report Explorer. The report template database can contain a mixture of text, graph and diagram reports. When importing only reports appropriate to the selected folder will be shown in the selection dialog.

Improved Text Wrap at Boundaries

The report generator now wraps all text at text box or column boundaries if it can not be wrapped on a space or carriage return. Previously text that could not be wrapped on a space or carriage return was clipped at the text box or column boundary.

New Report Macro for Generating MS Word Fields in Reports

A new report macro, RTFField, has been introduced. This macro allows the user to insert MS Word field codes into text boxes. This feature is useful when you insert a RTF file into an existing MS Word document. The page numbering of the MS Word document will be automatically continued in the inserted RTF file.

The report generator provides the facility for automatically generating date, page number and section number based field codes. The user may also manually insert other field codes.

The result of the RTFField macro is only displayed when a report is exported.

Export Settings Saved

The user specified export settings are now saved between report generator sessions.

Option to Specify Starting Page Number

The starting page number for a report may now be specified in the Page Setup dialog.

Option to Remove Carriage Returns when Exporting Data in RTF Table Format

Carriage returns may be optionally removed from the output tables when exporting data in RTF table format has been provided.

Option to Display Text Boxes and Pictures on All Pages, Odd Numbered Pages or Even Numbered Pages

The user may select whether text boxes and pictures are displayed on all pages, odd numbered pages or even numbered pages. These options apply to both print/print preview mode and export mode.

Option to Display Text Boxes in All Modes, Print/Print Preview Mode or Export Mode

The user may specify whether text boxes should be displayed in all display modes, print/print preview mode or export mode.