Creating Output Files

In this section:

Creating an output file is just like creating any report request except that you must identify which type of output file you want to create and, optionally, a format type and a name for the output file.

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Output Files: When to Create Them

You can create an output file by doing of the following:

You can even create one output file in a request and additional output files after running the request.
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Output Files: Where to Put Them

When you create a HOLD file, the file is automatically saved in a default location that was specified during installation, or in the directory specified by the TEMPDIR parameter. Administrators and developers can use the SET TEMPDIR command to assign a location for WebFOCUS temporary files and HOLD files.

HOLD files should not be moved to a new location because, they may not be found when you try to use them in a WebFOCUS procedure.

SAVE files are not bound by the same constraint since they are not meant to be used as input to a WebFOCUS procedure. You can provide a complete file specification that places your SAVE file in a new location from the Save File dialog box. However, you should make sure that any file you create is accessible to the application that will use it. Refer to the appropriate documentation for any application you plan to use with a Save file. For more information, see How to Create a SAVE File.

PC HOLD files are only supported in Report Painter.
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Output Files: How to Create Them

How to:

Reference:

You can create output files within a report request or after running the request and viewing the report output. Your graphical tools support both options.

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Procedure: How to Create a SAVE File
  1. In Report Painter, choose Options from the Report menu and select the Save file option from the Destination Output result drop-down list.

    Note: Ensure that the selected report output format is a SAVE file format. For a list of available formats, see SAVE File Formats.

  2. Type a name for your file in the Name input field or click the ellipsis button to open the Save File dialog box.

    In the Save File dialog box, type a name for your file in the File name input field and select a location for your file using the Save in list box.

  3. Click OK to close the Report Options dialog box.
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Reference: Save File Dialog Box

You use the Save File dialog box to create SAVE files.

Options in this dialog box include the following:

File name

Is where you enter a file name for your Save file.

Save in

Determines the project name where your file is saved.

Example: Creating an Excel Worksheet

The following Report Painter example saves the report output as an Excel worksheet by first selecting Excel 2007 as the selected output format from the Report Options dialog box, selecting Save file as the Destination Output result, and then saving the Excel worksheet as savexls.xls.

You can open the resulting output file in Microsoft Excel as shown in the following image.

Note: See Saving Reports Using Excel Formats for examples of output saved in new formats.
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Procedure: How to Create a HOLD File
  1. In Report Painter, choose Options from the Report menu and select the Temporary file option from the Destination Output result drop-down list.

    Note: All report output formats are available for the Temporary (HOLD) file format. See HOLD File Formats for a list of HOLD file formats.

  2. Enter the Temporary file name. The default file name is HOLD. If you use the default name, each time you create a HOLD file, the new file overwrites the previous one.

    or

    Save the report output to a file. Enter up to 66 characters as the Temporary (HOLD) file name or click the ellipsis button to open the Save File dialog box.

    Tip: This is recommended to avoid having your file overwritten the next time you create a HOLD file.

    When you run the report, the output is saved with an associated Master File.

  3. Click OK to close the Report Options dialog box.
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Procedure: How to Create a PCHOLD File
  1. In Report Painter, choose Output from the Report menu and select Web browser from the Destination Output result drop-down list. This is the default option.

    Note: Ensure that the selected report output format is a Web browser (PCHOLD) file format. For a list of available formats, see PCHOLD File Formats.

    The report output displays in a web browser and adds PCHOLD to the code.

WebFOCUS