Developer Studio Enhancements

In this section:

Developer Studio provides intuitive GUI tools that enable you to concentrate on interface design, business logic, and data manipulation. Using Developer Studio, you can build powerful webpage interfaces that allow users to create and view reports.


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New in Developer Studio

In this section:

The following are new features in Developer Studio.



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Web Component Authentication Enhancement

As of Developer Studio Release 8.0 Version 07, the Kerberos authentication option has been added to the drop-down list in the Web Component Authentication area of the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box.

For more information on configuring WebFOCUS Environments in Developer Studio, see the Developer Studio Application Development Getting Started manual.

For more information about the WebFOCUS configuration of Kerberos, see the WebFOCUS Security and Administration manual.



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Source Control Enhancements

Developer Studio Release 8.0 Version 02 and higher supports Microsoft Team Foundation Server as a source control provider. Information Builders has tested and certified Microsoft Team Foundation Server 2012.



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Microsoft Team Foundation Server Requirements

In order to use Microsoft Team Foundation Server as a source control provider with Developer Studio, you must have the Microsoft Visual Studio® Team Foundation Server 2012 MSSCCI Provider 32-bit plug-in installed. The plug-in is available through the Microsoft website.

You can run the MSSCCI software using the following environments:

  • Windows 7, Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.
  • Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2005, 2008, 2010, or 2012.

Microsoft Visual Studio Team Explorer can also be installed on the same machine as Developer Studio so that you can simultaneously compare files from both.



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Procedure: How to Set Microsoft Team Foundation Server as the Source Control Provider
  1. While in Developer Studio, click Window, and select Options.

    The Developer Studio Options dialog box opens.

  2. Select the Source Control tab.
  3. Select the Team Foundation Server MSSCCI Provider check box from the list of available Source Controls.

    Once the Team Foundation Server MSSCCI Provider option is selected, Microsoft Team Foundation Server is used as your source control provider.

    Note: The Team Foundation Server MSSCCI Provider check box is selected by default if the Microsoft Team Foundation Server is the only source control you have installed.



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Developer Studio Viewer

When an application is run, it will open in the Developer Studio Viewer, as shown in the image below.

The Developer Studio Viewer functions similar to a web browser. It has forward, back, stop, and reload buttons. It also has an address bar for entering application names and locations.

Using the Output Viewer Options tab from the Developer Studio Options dialog box, you can choose to run applications in Internet Explorer. You can also choose to run applications in a new window or refresh in a currently open window.





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Sort Columns in Master File Dialog Box

Master File dialog boxes accessed from the Developer Studio Data Servers area and Managed Reporting are enhanced to allow sorting of the files by clicking on the column header. The dialog box has also been enhanced to allow resizing.



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Display Application Name in Master File Dialog Boxes

Master File dialog boxes accessed from Developer Studio and BI Portal tools are enhanced to display the Reporting Server application directory name in addition to Description and Title. This enhancement allows developers to identify the location where the Master File resides and allows the Master File list to be sorted by the available columns.

Master Files are retrieved based on the application path set on the Reporting Server global, group, or user profile, or on the application path that may be set at a folder or file level for the WebFOCUS Client Repository. If a Master File with the same name is available in more than one application, the search path will retrieve and display the first instance found.



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Stop Running Requests

An option has been added to the Developer Studio main toolbar to allow users to stop running requests. Users can stop running requests from multiple WebFOCUS Environments that are configured in Developer Studio. A dialog box displays the environments where a user has made a connection when pressing the Cancel running objects button. The last environment used to run a job is selected by default.

Users can select to stop running jobs from additional environments, as well. Information in the dialog box will display with the status of the stop request. When multiple jobs are submitted for processing, they are queued on the Reporting Server and only active jobs for the user will be stopped.



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Controlling Screening Conditions Against Cross-Referenced Segment Instances in a Left Outer Join

You can select the SHORTPATH command in the Set tool to control screening conditions against cross-referenced segment instances in a left outer join.



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Procedure: How to Control Screening Conditions Against Cross-Referenced Segment Instances in a Left Outer Join
  1. From the Procedure Viewer in Developer Studio, click and hold a component connector (yellow diamond), then select Set on the Component Connector toolbox.

    The Set tool opens.

  2. Select SHORTPATH from the Available Settings list and click Add.

    or

    Double-click SHORTPATH.

    SHORTPATH is added to the Used Settings list.

  3. Select a value from the Current Value list to set the SHORTPATH command.

    You may select from the following options:

    • FOCUS. Omits a host segment from the report output when it has no corresponding cross-referenced segment and the report has a screening condition on the cross-referenced segment.
    • SQL. Supplies missing values for the fields in a missing cross-referenced segment in an outer join. Applies screening conditions against this record and retains the record on the report output if it passes the screening test.

      Note: There must be an outer join in effect, either as a result of the SET ALL=ON command or a JOIN LEFT_OUTER command (either inside or outside of the Master File).

    The following image is an example of the SHORTPATH command in the Set tool.

  4. Click OK to save the SET SHORTPATH command and close the Set tool.

    The corresponding syntax is:

    SET SHORTPATH = {FOCUS|SQL}


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Update Assist Enhancements

The following are enhancements to Update Assist:


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HTML Composer Enhancements

In this section:

 

HTML Composer enables you to graphically create an HTML page that incorporates forms, reports, graphs, and web objects.



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URL File Action

The URL File action, found in the Hyperlink Properties dialog box, will create a hyperlink that invokes a Managed Reporting .url file. You can select the .url file to link to from the Source section. This action is only available when creating an HTML page hyperlink in the Repository area.



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Function: IbComposer_getAllAmpersValues

The IbComposer_getAllAmpersValues is used to get the current selected values from all the controls on your page layout. It then takes those values and assembles them as a string that can be added to the end of a URL call. An example of this would be having a REGION control and multiselecting MidEast, NorthEast, and NorthWest. It will assemble these selections as shown below:

&REGION=%27MidEast%27%20OR%20%27NorthEast%27%20OR%20%27NorthWest%27

This function can be used in conjunction with the Business Intelligence Portal, where the generated string is appended to all Business Intelligence Portal calls that run reports or charts. This allows the parameter values to affect all portal components, even if new ones are added or existing ones are removed at run time.



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Syntax: How to Get all Parameter Values
IbComposer_getAllAmpersValues([verifySelection]);

where:

verifySelection

Boolean

Is an optional parameter. When true and when the Selection required property for the control is set to Yes, this returns an empty string for the parameter controls that do not have a selection made.

Note: All controls have the Selection required property. This property is set to Yes by default. If a control has no valid selection made at run time, a red box appears around it and the following status bar message displays:

Please make required selections



Example: Retrieving a List of All Parameters Selected in a Report
function button1_onclick(ctrl)
{
var val = IbComposer_getAllAmpersValues();
alert(val);
OnExecute(ctrl);
}


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Master File Parameter Support

If you reference or import an existing report that uses a Master File that contains a parameter, the New Parameters dialog box opens with that parameter in the list, as well as any parameters from the report procedure.



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Default Theme Option and Additional Themes

You can use the Default Theme option to set the default theme of the HTML page. The Default Theme option is found in the HTML Page tab of the Developer Studio Options dialog box. Additional themes have been added.

Default Theme

You can set the default theme for a new HTML page. The Information Builders theme is chosen by default.

The following is the list of themes that you can use.

  • Information Builders
  • Black
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Orange
  • Purple
  • Red
  • Silver
  • Teal
  • Plain
  • Yellow red
  • Beige blue
  • Dramatic blue
  • Neutral gray
  • Light blue
  • Light green
  • Light purple


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Inserting a Bulleted or Numbered List

You can insert a bulleted or numbered list into a text object.



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Procedure: How to Insert a Bulleted List or Numbered List Into a Text Element

To insert a bulleted list or numbered list into a text element:

  1. Insert a text element into the layout and type text on different lines, as shown in the following image.

  2. Highlight and right-click the text.

    The right-click context menu opens.

  3. Select Bullets and then either Disc, Circle, or Square if you want a bulleted list. Select Numbering and then either Numbers, Lowercase Letters, Uppercase Letters, Small Roman numerals, or Large Roman numerals if you want a numbered list. Both options are shown in the following image.

    For example, the following image shows each item of text on a different line with a bullet next to it.

    Note:

    • Alternatively, you can select a bullet type before typing text to begin the list. Pressing Enter will begin the next item in the list on a separate line.
    • To change the bullet or number list type of an existing list, place your cursor on the list level you want to change and reselect a bullet or number list type. Selecting None will remove the bullets or numbers for that level and move any nested lists up one level. In order to switch between bullets and numbers, you must first remove the current list option by selecting None and then applying the list option you want.



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Procedure: How to Insert Nested Lists Into a Text Element

To insert a nested list into the text element:

  1. Insert a text element into the layout and create a list, as shown in the following image.

  2. Place your cursor after a list item.
  3. Right-click and select Nested List and then select a bulleted or numbered list option.

    A list is started within the current list, allowing you to enter text on that list level, as shown in the following image.

    Note: Pressing the Tab key while your cursor is on the same line as a list item will move that item one level down, resulting in a nested list. The bullet or number type selected is the next list type in the right-click context menu. For example, if you have a bulleted list that uses the disc bullet type, pressing the Tab key to move an item down one level will cause that nested list to have the circle bullet type.

    You can continue to nest lists within other lists by using the same steps shown above.

    Note: You cannot skip a list level. For example, in order to insert a nested bulleted list or nested numbered list on a lower level, there must be a list one level up from it.



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Chaining for Maps

When chaining maps with other controls in HTML Composer, you are able to pass fields that are not displayed by the map. You can pass these fields from one control to the map, and then from the map to another control where those undisplayed fields can then be used.



Example: Map Chaining

The following example shows how a map can be chained with other controls and how it can pass fields through the map for use later in the chain. For this example, the centurystores Master File was used.

This example contains an HTML page that has two list boxes and one map control. The Design tab view of this page is shown in the following image.

The Parameters tab view shows that these controls are chained together, as shown in the following image.

Listbox1 is populated with a list of store names from the centurystores Master File. When one of the stores on the list is selected, the store location is shown on the map, as shown in the following image.

When the store marker image is selected on the map, the store address is displayed in listbox2, as shown in the following image.

Listbox1 passes the necessary fields to mapcontrol1 so that it can display the store location on the map. In this case, it passes the STORENAME field.

The layer procedures include BY STORENAME to filter the layer to show only the markers for the selected store in listbox1. The layer procedures also include a BY STOREID reference, which the map does not display, but is used in listbox2 to retrieve the correct store address for the selected map marker.

Mapcontrol1 does not use this field. However, when the store marker is selected on the map, the STOREID field is passed from mapcontrol1 to listbox2, as shown in the following image.

STOREID is passed to listbox2 where it is used to filter out the store address from the selected marker.

Maps can pass fields that they do not display. They can then pass those unused fields to another control, down the chain, which can use the passed fields.



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Bing Maps

Mapping support has be expanded to include Bing® Maps. All the functionality of Google Maps™ integration is supported with Bing Maps. For detailed information, see Chapter 9, Using Maps in HTML Composer in the Designing a User Interface for a Web Application With HTML Composer manual.



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Using JavaScript Code With Maps

The following JavaScript functions have been included in the Using Maps in HTML Composer chapter in the Designing a User Interface for a Web Application With HTML Composer manual.



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Date Formats for Calendar Options

You can display the format of a date differently by selecting one of the available formats from the Date format in data source drop-down list in the calendar controls Property and settings dialog box. Several new formats have been added to this release. For a list of available date formats, see Date Formats in Chapter 2, Creating and Using Parameters in HTML Composer in the Designing a User Interface for a Web Application With HTML Composer manual.



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InfoWindow Action

The InfoWindow Action has been added to the Target Type drop-down list of the Hyperlink properties. The InfoWindow Target Type will execute the action in the WebFOCUS generated InfoWindow. For more information, see the Using HTML Composer chapter in the Designing a User Interface for a Web Application With HTML Composer manual.



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ESRI Flex Viewer Integration

The ESRI® Flex Viewer creates a component that adds numerous controls, a report, and a map object when used. An ESRI Flex Viewer component can be seen in the following image.

You can access the ESRI Flex Viewer component from the Insert menu by selecting Components and clicking ESRI Components. You can then click and drag the crosshair symbol to the desired size for the ESRI Flex Viewer controls and report. The ESRI Flex Viewer component will contain a number of controls, a report, and a map object. It is recommended that the ESRI Flex Viewer component be drawn big enough to accommodate all of these items.

You will then choose the esriinfo XML file from the Get source file dialog box to use with the ESRI Flex Viewer component, as shown in the following image.



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ESRI Maps

Mapping support has be expanded to include ESRI maps. For detailed information, see Chapter 9, Using Maps in HTML Composer in the Designing a User Interface for a Web Application With HTML Composer manual.



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Initial State of a RIA Window

You can choose whether a RIA window component starts expanded or collapsed by using the Initial State property, located in the Properties window. The two options are Expanded and Collapsed.

The following image shows the Initial State property on the Properties window.



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Populate Control With Procedure Names

You can select the Values are procedures names option from the Properties and settings dialog box when Static is selected as the Data type.

This enables a control to be populated with procedure names, so that when a value is selected, that procedure executes. The Value column is the procedure name itself and cannot be edited. The Display column is editable.



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Procedure: How to Use Procedure Names as Values
  1. Create an HTML page that contains a list box, a push button, and a report, as shown in the following image.

    Note: In this procedure, a list box is used. However, the following controls are also able to use the Values are procedures names option: double list, drop-down, radio button, and check box.

  2. Select the list box to bring up the Properties and settings dialog box.

    Note: If the Properties and settings dialog box does not open, select View and click Properties and settings.

  3. Select Static as the Data type.
  4. At the bottom of the Properties and settings dialog box, select Values are procedures names, as shown in the following image.

  5. Click the New button and select procedures from your directory, as shown in the following image.

    Note: You can add multiple procedure names to the Properties and settings dialog box by multiselecting procedures while in the Get source file dialog box.

  6. Once the procedures have been added to the Properties and settings dialog box, edit the display names of the procedure values by double-clicking the display contents if they are not highlighted already.

    The following image shows the procedure values with new display names.

  7. Right-click the button you created and click Create Hyperlink. The Hyperlink Properties dialog box opens.
  8. Create a hyperlink that opens a selected procedure from a control in the report frame created earlier.
    1. For the Action, select Procedures from control from the drop-down list. This option coincides with the Values are procedures names option found in the Properties and settings dialog box. This option will point to an entire procedure for the hyperlink, rather than a simple value. This option is only available when a control on the HTML page is using the Values are procedures names option.
    2. Select listbox1 as the Source.

      The source can be different if you use a different control. For example, combobox1, customselect1, radio1, or checkbox1.

    3. Select Frame as the Target Type.

      You could also select New Window as the target if you wanted the procedure to open in a new window.

    4. Select report1 as the Target/Template Name.

    The created hyperlink is shown in the following image.

  9. Run the page.
  10. Select the procedure from the list box and click the button.

    The report is run, as shown in the following image.



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HTML Composer and Visual Discovery Integration Features

The following features are available for HTML Composer users that license Visual Discovery.



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Values are VisDis Color By

The Values are VisDis Color By option has been added to the Parameters Properties and settings dialog box, as shown in the following image.

Values are VisDis Color By is an option available only through the Properties and settings dialog box of a list box, drop-down list, or double list box. You must first create a canvas using HTML Composer, add a Visual Discovery control, and then add a list box, double list box, or drop-down list that contains the field names from the data pool of the Visual Discovery control.

When you run the HTML page, you are able to select a field name from the list to change the colors of the Visual Discovery control.



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Preselecting Values

You can preselect values of a Visual Discovery control that display at run time, by adding the onInitialUpdate() function to the Client JavaScript tab of HTML Composer. When you run the HTML page, the values you preselected will display.



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Passing a Parameter Between a Visual Discovery Control and a Report

You can pass a parameter between a Visual Discovery control and a report so that when data is selected from the Visual Discovery control, the same data is displayed in the report on the same page.



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Passing a Parameter Between a Report and a Visual Discovery Control

You can pass a parameter between a report and a Visual Discovery control so that when data is selected in the report, the same data is displayed on a new page that contains the Visual Discovery control.



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Chaining Into a Visual Discovery Control

You can chain into a Visual Discovery control using a parameterized procedure and a list box, double list box, or drop-down list. This allows you to select values from a list and the data correlating to that data will be displayed in the Visual Discovery control.



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Excluding and Restoring Data

You can exclude and restore selected data in Visual Discovery controls by using the Visual Discovery Exclude and Visual Discovery Restore hyperlink actions. These actions are only available when a Visual Discovery control is present on an HTML page.


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Document Composer Enhancements

In this section:

How to:

Document Composer enables you to design reports and to coordinate and distribute layouts made up of multiple reports and graphs in a single document. You can position reports and graphs anywhere on a single page or combine a series of layouts within a single document.



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Applying Pre-Process Code and Post-Process Code to a Document

You can create pre-process code that applies to all objects added to a document. For example, if your document requires the joining of two tables, you can create pre-process code that joins those two tables. This join can then be used by any object in the document and any items following the pre-process code.

In addition, you can create post-process code that runs after the document is run. This can be used in conjunction with pre-process code. For example, using pre-process code, you could create a join. You could then use the post-process code to clear that join.

Note: Pre-process code and post-process code are not meant to display output.



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Procedure: How to Create Pre-Process Code for a Document

While in a document:

  1. From the Insert menu, click Pre-process code.

    The procedure viewer window opens.

    Here, you can create the pre-process code that the document will use. A join is being used in this example.

  2. Click the component connector and select Join.
  3. Join the videotrk and movies Master Files.
  4. Save and close the Join.
  5. Close the procedure viewer.
  6. In your document, create a report frame.
  7. Double-click the report frame to open the procedure viewer.

    Note:

    • Normally, double-clicking a report frame prompts you to select a Master File for creating a report. However, when pre-process code or post-process code is present, the procedure viewer opens instead.

    • The pre-process code is displayed, with the last block being a comment that states do not move, remove, or modify. Pre-process code above. This comment separates pre-process code from component code. Adding component blocks before this comment, or editing what is already there, modifies the pre-process code. Adding blocks after this comment affects the component code.

  8. Click the component connector after the pre-process code and select Report.

    Report Painter opens.

    The pre-process code joined the videotrk and movies Master Files, allowing you to use data from both in your report.



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Procedure: How to Create Post-Process Code for a Document

While in a document:

  1. From the Insert menu, click Post-process code.

    The procedure viewer window opens.

    Here, you can create the post-process code that the document will use. A join clear is being used in this example.

    Note: Any pre-process code you created is shown in the procedure viewer. Do not modify or delete pre-process code when creating or modifying post-process code.

  2. Click the component connector after all other procedure components and select Join.
  3. Clear all joins.
  4. Save and close the Join.
  5. Close the procedure viewer.

    After the document is run, the post-process code will clear all joins. When combined with pre-processing code, you could create the joins before the document is run and clear the joins after.



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Excel 2007 Output Format

The Excel 2007 output format is available from the Output format property in the Properties window, as shown in the following image.



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Apply Filter On Load Option

The Apply filter on load check option is only available for active output formats. It is available from the Properties and Settings dialog box.

When selected, this option causes the default value to be applied to the reports and charts when the page is loaded. This option is not active while the Add “ALL” option is selected. You cannot select this option while the Add “ALL” option is selected.



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Inserting Pages Before and After the Current Page Layout

You can insert new or existing pages before or after the current page layout.



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Procedure: How to Insert an Existing Page Layout Before or After the Current Page Layout
  1. Open or create a document.
  2. Right-click on a page layout.

    The right-click context menu opens, as shown in the following image.

  3. Select either Insert existing page after or Insert existing page before.

    The Get source file dialog box opens.

  4. Navigate to a previously saved page layout, select it, and click Open.

    The previously created page layout is inserted either before or after right-clicking the page layout.



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Procedure: How to Insert a New Page Layout Before or After the Current Page Layout
  1. Open or create a document.
  2. Right-click on a page layout.

    The right-click context menu opens, as shown in the following image.

  3. Select either Insert new page after or Insert new page before.

    The new page layout is inserted either before or after right-clicking the page layout.



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Inserting Bulleted and Numbered Lists

You can insert bulleted and numbered lists into a text object. You can also nest those lists within themselves.



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Procedure: How to Insert a Bulleted List or Numbered List Into a Text Element
  1. Insert a text element into the layout and type text on different lines, as shown in the following image.

  2. Highlight and right-click the text.

    The right-click context menu opens.

  3. Select Bullets and then choose Disc, Circle, or Square if you want a bulleted list. Select Numbering and then choose Numbers, Lowercase Letters, Uppercase Letters, Small Roman numerals, or Large Roman numerals if you want a numbered list. Both options are shown in the following image.

    For example, the following image shows each item of text on a different line with a bullet next to it.

    Note:

    • Alternatively, you can select a bullet type before typing text to begin the list. Pressing Enter will begin the next item in the list on a separate line.
    • To change the bullet or number list type of an existing list, place your cursor on the list level you want to change and reselect a bullet or number list type. Selecting None will remove the bullets or numbers for that level and move any nested lists up one level. In order to switch between bullets and numbers, you must first remove the current list option by selecting None and then applying the list option you want.



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Procedure: How to Insert Nested Lists Into a Text Element

To insert a nested list into the text element:

  1. Insert a text element into the layout and create a list, as shown in the following image.

  2. Place your cursor after a list item.
  3. Right-click and select Nested List and then select a bulleted or numbered list option.

    A list is started within the current list, allowing you to enter text on that list level, as shown in the following image.

    Note: Pressing the Tab key while your cursor is on the same line as a list item will move that item one level down, resulting in a nested list. The bullet or number type selected is the next list type in the right-click context menu. For example, if you have a bulleted list that uses the disc bullet type, pressing the Tab key to move an item down one level will cause that nested list to have the circle bullet type.

    You can continue to nest lists within other lists by using the same steps shown above.

    Note: You cannot skip a list level. For example, in order to insert a nested bulleted list or nested numbered list on a lower level, there must be a list one level up from it.



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Layering Objects

You can layer objects in a page layout by using the object right-click menu.



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Layering Objects

You can layer objects that are added to the page layout by using the object right-click menu, as shown in the following image.

The options are:

  • Bring to front. Moves an object to the front so that it is stacked on top of every other object it overlaps with.

  • Send to back. Moves an object to the back so that it is stacked below every other object it overlaps with.

  • Move forward. Moves an object forward one position in the stacking z-order.

  • Move backward. Moves an object backwards one position in the stacking z-order.

When using any of these commands, the stacking order of the object will change. This is reflected in the z-index property in the Properties window, The z-index is the stacking order of a specific object.



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Procedure: How to Insert a Dashboard Bar Into the Layout

A Dashboard Bar is an additional page layout where you can insert controls, reports, and charts that display above the dashboard tabs. The Dashboard Bar is only available for active report, active PDF, and active flash formatted documents. Dashboard Bar can be a maximum of one page. To insert a Dashboard Bar:

  1. From the Compound document Property list, select either Active Report, Active PDF, or Active Flash.
  2. From the Insert menu, click Add Dashboard Bar.

    The Dashboard Bar is inserted into the document.

    You can now insert controls, reports, and charts that display above the dashboard tabs.

    Note: Though the Dashboard Bar can be a full page, it is not recommended that you insert large reports and charts as this would make the Dashboard Bar appear the same size or larger than the dashboard.



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Apply Filter on Load Property

The Apply filter on load property is available from the Properties and Settings window. This option causes the default value to be applied to all reports and charts when the page is loaded.

Apply filter on load

When selected, this option causes the default value to be applied to the reports and charts when the page is loaded. This option is not active while Add “ALL” option is selected. You cannot select this option while Add “ALL” option is selected.



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Page Color Property

The Page Color property is available from the Property window. This option lets you set the page color.

Page color

Sets the background color of the page. Opens the Color Picker dialog box where you can choose from preset colors or set your own custom color.

Note: This option is only available in active report and active flash output formats. The option will be hidden in the Properties window until you select either active report or active flash from the Output format property.



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Page Size E Property Option

The E page size is available from the Page Size Property window option.

Page size

Determines the size of the page. The options are:

  • Letter
  • Tabloid
  • Ledger
  • Legal
  • Power Point Slide
  • Statement
  • Executive
  • A3
  • A4
  • A5
  • B4
  • B5
  • CUSTOM1
  • D
  • E
  • Folio
  • Quarto
  • 10 x 14
  • 11 x 17
  • U.S. Standard Fanfold
  • German Standard Fanfold
  • German Legal Fanfold
  • Envelope #9
  • Envelope #10
  • Envelope #11
  • Envelope #12
  • Envelope #14
  • Note
  • Envelope DL
  • Envelope C5
  • Envelope C3
  • Envelope C4
  • Envelope C65
  • Envelope C6
  • Envelope B4
  • Envelope B5
  • Envelope B6
  • Envelope Monarch

Note: When using a Dashboard Bar, it is advised you use Page size options D or E. If you use other Page size options, text in the Dashboard Bar may overlap.



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Switching the Chart Engine

You can switch between the default JavaScipt charts and Fusion™ charts. To do this, select compound document from the Properties tab and then select active report from the Output format property list. The Chart Engine property is now available. Select one of the options from the Chart Engine property drop-down list, as shown in the following image.

The Chart Engine options are described below:



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Page Numbering Options in the Page Master

The following image shows the page numbering options, available from a page numbering object in the Page Master.

The following page numbering options are available from the Insert context menu:

Page Number

Adds the <Page #> object, representing the current page number of the document.

Total # of pages

Adds the <Total pages> object, representing the total number of pages in the document.

Pages n of n

Adds the <Page # of ##> object, representing the current page number of the total number of pages in the document.

Date and Time

Adds the date or time in any of the selected formats:

mm/dd/yy

mm/dd/yyyy

Month (First three letters) Day, Year

Month (Full Name) Day, Year

Day Month, Year

Quarter Year

HH.MM.SS

Note: THE HH.MM.SS format is a time format. The time is updated dynamically to display the current time at run time.


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Report Painter

In this section:

Report Painter provides you with many powerful reporting features that enable you to create and style complex reports. You can graphically paint the report on the Report Painter window, a graphical representation of the report page.



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Validate Input Option

The Validate Input check box is found in the Variable Editor dialog box. When checked, at run time, this validates whether your data entry is consistent with the definition of a parameter.



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Expression Builder

The Expression Builder in WebFOCUS 8 has been enhanced. The Criteria and Advanced sections were added, as shown in the image below. The ability to create multiple WHERE, IF, or WHERE TOTAL expressions without having to exit and reenter the Expression Builder has also been added. The previous version of the Expression Builder is now called the Basic Expression Builder. The Expression Builder enables you to create WHERE, IF, or WHERE TOTAL expressions quickly by selecting fields, relations, operators, and values from lists. You can base selection criteria on a specified value, a variable value, or a field value.



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Quick Prompt for Amper Variables

Additional options have been added to the Compare Type drop-down list, located in the Expression Builder. These Compare Types are parameter options that automatically generate the required syntax so that the Variable Editor does not need to be invoked. These compare types are:



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User Defined Functions

You are able to create your own functions by using the Define Function Wizard. The Define Function Wizard assists in the creation of a user function. The created functions can later be retrieved through the Function Arguments dialog box using the Retrieve User Functions button. By clicking Retrieve User Functions, your created functions will be available for use.



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Promote a Report to a Compound Document

Reports in Report Painter may be promoted to a Compound Document, similar to InfoAssist. This is done by clicking the Build a Compound Document button . The original report is left unaffected and a copy of the report is put in Document Composer.



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VISDISAE Output Format

The VISDISAE output format has been added to the unstyled formats and can be selected from the Output Format drop-down list in the Report Options dialog box, as shown in the following image. For more information on the VISDISAE output format, see the Using WebFOCUS Visual Discovery to Develop Analytic Dashboards manual.



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DFIX Output Format

The DFIX output format has been added to the unstyled formats and can be selected from the Output Format drop-down list in the Report Options dialog box, as shown in the following image. You can use the DFIX output format to specify a delimited data file and the delimiters of that file. For example, you could set the delimiter to be a slash (/) so that data in the files is separated by a slash.


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