How to: Reference: |
A helper application or plug-in is a desktop program used by a browser to open a file with a format other than standard HTML. An example of a helper application is Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, which opens a PDF file.
When a web server sends a special type of file to a browser, it includes MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) information, indicating the file format. WebFOCUS determines which helper application to run based on MIME type. You must associate the content (MIME) type of a file with a helper application using Windows Explorer.
This feature applies to WebFOCUS. You can create the procedure and launch page in Developer Studio, and deploy them with the Deploy Wizard. Run them in WebFOCUS.
The Add New File Type dialog box opens.
WebFOCUS supports the following MIME types.
MIME Type |
Application |
File Extension |
---|---|---|
application/postscript |
GhostView |
.PS |
application/x-prn |
Printer (using PCL printer driver) |
.PRN |
application/x-dif |
Microsoft Excel® or other spreadsheet |
.DIF |
application/x-doc |
Microsoft Word |
.DOC |
application/x-xls application/vnd.ms-excl |
Microsoft Excel |
.XLS, .E97, .WK1, .XHT |
application/pdf |
Adobe Acrobat Reader |
|
text/plain |
Microsoft Notepad or other text editor |
.WP or .HTS |
text/html |
Native browser format |
.HTML |
text/htm |
Native browser format |
.HTM |
image/gif |
Native browser format |
.GIF |
image/jpeg |
Native browser format |
.JPG, .JPEG |
XML |
Native browser format |
.XML |
ON TABLE PCHOLD FORMAT fmt
where:
Is the file format for the data.
For details on formats and complete syntax, see the Creating Reports With WebFOCUS Language manual.
Caution: Keep in mind that a valid format for browser display in a helper application requires a supported MIME type.
For more information, see Step 2: Create a Deployment Scenario located in the Creating Reporting Applications With Developer Studio manual.
The following are examples of displaying a report in an Excel spreadsheet and offering a choice of display formats.
Displaying a Report in an Excel 2000 Spreadsheet
The following is an example of displaying a report in an Excel 2000 spreadsheet.
TABLE FILE GGORDER SUM QUANTITY BY PCD WHERE PCD IS 'B141' OR 'B142' OR 'F101' OR 'F102' ON TABLE PCHOLD FORMAT EXL2K END
For more information, see Step 2: Create a Deployment Scenario located in the Creating Reporting Applications With Developer Studio manual.
Offering a Choice of Display Formats
The following is an example of offering a choice of display formats.
TABLE FILE CENTQA ON TABLE SET PAGE-NUM OFF SUM CNT.PROBNUM AS 'Total Number,of Problems' SUM CNT.PROBNUM AS 'Problem by,Product' BY PLANT NOPRINT BY PRODNAME WHERE PLANT EQ '&PLANT' HEADING CENTER "QA Report for &PLANT" ON TABLE PCHOLD FORMAT &FMT END
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Multiple Display Formats</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#E3E3E3">
<FONT FACE="Arial">
<CENTER>
<FONT SIZE="+1">Welcome to the QA Database</FONT>
<HR WIDTH="45%" NOSHADE>
</CENTER>
<FORM ACTION="/ibi_apps/WFServlet" METHOD="get">
<INPUT NAME="IBIF_ex" VALUE="qastatus" TYPE="hidden">
<P>
Select a plant to generate a report on product problems:
</P>
<SELECT NAME="PLANT">
<OPTION>BOS
<OPTION>DAL
<OPTION>LA
<OPTION>ORL
<OPTION>SEA
<OPTION>STL
</SELECT>
<P>
<HR>
a. <TABLE CELLPADDING="2">
<TR>
<TD CLASS="LABEL">Select a display format:</TD>
<TD><INPUT TYPE="RADIO" NAME="FMT" VALUE="HTML" CHECKED>HTML</TD>
<TD><INPUT TYPE="RADIO" NAME="FMT" VALUE="PDF">PDF</TD>
<TD><INPUT TYPE="RADIO" NAME="FMT" VALUE="EXL2K">Excel 2000</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<P>
<INPUT TYPE="SUBMIT" NAME="SUBMIT" VALUE="Submit">
<INPUT TYPE="RESET" NAME="RESET" VALUE="Reset">
</FORM>
</BODY>
</HTML>
For more information, see Step 2: Create a Deployment Scenario located in the Creating Reporting Applications With Developer Studio manual.
WebFOCUS returns the data to the browser in PDF. The browser calls the helper application, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and displays the report:
WebFOCUS |