Report templates

Report templates are used to gather data, process the data for the report, and format the data for the report. The components of a report template are the data template, which defines where to find the report data and how to process it, the data journal, which is a file containing all the report data after the data template has been run, and the format template, which applies formatting rules to the information stored in the data journal.

You build a report template for either a batch or time report context. You can:

• Create new report templates by opening a new template in the editor or by copying an existing report.

  You must know the batch or time context. The location of the report data is used as part of the menu path for the report template. Once you create a menu path for the report, you can enter the specifications and save the template.

• Configure the corresponding data template and format template tree by adding sections and all the detailed entry objects needed to build the report.

  The process for creating a new report is similar for both context types.

• Set the attributes for the report template.

  The Attributes pane is common to both context types. The other areas are different.

  Each report context window has an Advanced button. You can define security, review cycle, and approval route information using the advanced settings.

  Red asterisks indicate required fields.

Methods for adding data objects

There are four ways to add data objects to a report template.

• Via the system menu

• Via the context menu on a tree node

• Drag and drop from another window or toolbox

• Copy and paste

These four methods are available for most report templates.

The system or context menu methods function differently than the drag and drop method. When you insert data objects in the report template through a menu, the data object is inserted below the selected tree node. When you drag and drop data objects into the report template, the object is inserted at the same level as the selected tree node.