Online Viewing of Reports that Use Overlays (OGL)

Many AFP reports are printed with overlays. Overlays usually contain report titles, column headers, data frames (boxes) and other important text or data. It is usually impossible to productively view online reports that are printed with overlays on the mainframe because of the missing report titles, column headers, data frames (boxes) and other important text or data.

Control-D/WebAccess Server is an integrated component of the Control-D Output Management System. Using GUI, color graphics, and Windows conventions, it extends the comprehensive online viewing capabilities available (for example, WYSIWYG) to Control-D users. For additional information, see PC/LAN Environment.

Following is a sample report that is normally printed with an electronic overlay. Note that when viewing the report online, only the data appears in the sample report display.

Figure 33 Sample Report With Data Only

------------- CONTROL-D/V REPORT VIEWING   NOTES    0   PAGE      1 OF        9

COMMAND ===>                                                   SCROLL ===> CRSR

UR M41      RP INVENTORY            JB M41RPRT  02462   DT 240300 RUL

---+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----

1DATE:   05.05.00

UPDATE: 05.05.00

                                  INVENTORY REPORT

                                  ----------------

WAREHOUSE NO: 1001       DEPARTMENT:  100  -  FINAL ASSEMBLY SHOP

               ----                    ---------------------------

                                    SHELF   QNTY   QNTY       QNTY      

ITEM NO.      DESCRIPTION          LIFE    UNIT   AVAIL      ORDER   

-----------   ----------------     -----   ----   -------    -------

1233-781-21   RIVET D. 0.1 ACR     NONE    KG      100.00     250.00

1233-781-25   RIVET D. 0.5 ACR     NONE    KG      500.00     500.00

1233-781-27   RIVET D. 0.7 ACR     NONE    KG      050.00     100.00

1334-781-20   RIVET D. 0.9 ACP     NONE    KG      701.00     099.00

CMDS: FIND str (PREV), EDIT, RULER on/off/name, VALUE, N n P p        11.17.07

By defining a ruler (a logical report view), the report can be displayed with the information required to productively view the report online. The following sample report is the same report as displayed above, except that a ruler has been applied to the report:

Figure 34 Sample Report With Data

------------- CONTROL-D/V REPORT VIEWING   NOTES    0   PAGE      1 OF        9

COMMAND ===>                                                   SCROLL ===> CRSR

UR M41      RP INVENTORY            JB M41RPRT  02462   DT 240300 RUL

---+----1----+----2----+----3----+----4----+----5----+----6----+----7----+----

1DATE:   05.05.00              INVENTORY REPORT              WAREHOUSE NO:  1001

UPDATE: 05.05.00             FINAL ASSEMBLY SHOP            DEPARTMENT:    100

                                    QNTY       QNTY       SHELF    QNTY      

ITEM NO.      DESCRIPTION          AVAIL      ORDER      LIFE     UNIT   

1233-781-21   RIVET D. 0.1 ACR     100.00     250.00     NONE     KG

1233-781-25   RIVET D. 0.5 ACR     500.00     500.00     NONE     KG

1233-781-27   RIVET D. 0.7 ACR     050.00     100.00     NONE     KG

1334-781-20   RIVET D. 0.9 ACP     701.00     099.00     NONE     KG

1337-781-37   RIVET D. 0.6 ACR     159.00     141.00     NONE     KG

1536-781-11   RIVET D. 0.1 ACP     250.00     050.00     NONE     KG

1557-781-40   RIVET D. 0.7 ACR     341.00     059.00     NONE     KG

CMDS: FIND str (PREV), EDIT, RULER on/off/name, VALUE, N n P p        11.17.07

Note that the headers are displayed together with column separators. This example demonstrates how simple it is to define overlays for reports that are required for on-line viewing.

The report editing features described below eliminate the inconvenience inherent in traditional online viewing and inject new life into cluttered business reports. Following are the major features:

• Freezing Headers – You can freeze report header lines. As you scroll up and down through the report, only the data items scroll; the column header remains fixed. This enables you to know at a glance what each data item represents.
• Freezing Columns – You can freeze report columns. This enables you to scroll right or left, and the frozen report columns remain in the same position on the screen.
• Including Report Lines – Based on line content, you can select the report lines you require. For example, you can display only product lines with available quantity less than 100 items. Instead of browsing through pages of irrelevant data, you can display only the data you need.
• Excluding Report Lines – The Exclude option enables you to select report lines for exclusion from the report based on the appearance of a string or strings in specified column locations. Report lines conforming to the specified string criteria are not included in the report display.
• Highlighting Important Data – You can color or highlight data in the report based on its contents. For example, color in red only the exception values. Instead of looking for the data manually, Control-D searches for you.
• Redesigning the Report – You can easily redesign an old report to suit new business needs. You can move columns, add new and old headings, and color your report so your data takes on new meaning.

All this can be done without any change in the application generating this report.