Defining a report

When you define a report, you create a shell that pulls together several independent components such as the format and row to create a meaningful report. When you define a report, you also indicate which folder and process group is used to store and organize report information. Report Writer (RW00.1) is the central point to select your report style and combine the necessary row and format parameters to complete a report. Use this procedure to define a report.

When processing multiple companies on a single report, the companies must have the same structure and chart of accounts.

Before defining a report, you must complete the required setup. SeeSetting up Report Writer. You should also plan out what information you want in the report and how you want it to look before you define it.

Access Report Writer (RW00.1).
Select the tab that corresponds with the type of report that you want to define: Style 1, Style 2, Style 3.
Define the report shell. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:

Report

Specify a name that identifies the report that you are creating and a description of the report.

Folder

Select a folder name. Folders store and organize the report information you define. See Folder.

Process Group

Select the process group in which you want to store and organize the report name. Use a process group to generate several reports at one time. See Process group.

Chart

Select the chart of accounts you want to use for the report. See About defining one report for companies with different charts.

Format

Select a pre-defined format to assign to the report. If you are defining a new format, then leave this field blank until after you define the new format. See Defining a report: basic steps.

Row

Select a pre-defined row to assign to the report. If you are defining a new row, then leave this field blank until after you define the new row. See Defining a report: basic steps.

Note: If you do not define parameters for the report, then you are automatically prompted to do so before you can add the report.

If you do not assign a row and format to the report, or if you are using the chart option for a style 1 report and do not select a parameter in the Chart option, then you will get a Report Incomplete, Skipping Report message when you run your report.
Click the button in the Parameters section located on the Main tab to define parameters for the report. See Defining report parameters for a Style 1 report and Defining report parameters for a Style 2 report.
If you want to assign miscellaneous characteristics to the report, then click the Options tab. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:

Frequency

This field defines how often the report is processed. The default setting is by Period. You can select to run the report once, weekly, quarterly, or annually. You can select reports by frequency when running Report Generation (RW100).

Total Option

This field determines whether totals are maintained by format. The default setting is Yes - By Format. You can select No to maintain net totals. Use this option if your report contains multiple formats. See Purpose of multiple formats and Options for summing columns.

Period and Year

You can select the period or year which you are creating the report in. If you leave these fields blank, then the current period and current year default.

Print Blanks

Select if you want blank lines to print on the report. The default setting is Yes. This field works in conjunction with the Blank When Zero field on Define Format (RW20.2). See Suppressing zero amount lines from printing.

Print Banner

Select whether you want a banner page to print.

Form Length

Select the number of lines to print on each page. The default setting is 60.

Status

Select whether the report status is active or inactive. The default setting is active and lets the report print. If you set the status to inactive, then the report does not print.

Currency

You can select a currency code you want to include in the report. To define a report for a report currency, you must set up a column for that report currency in Format (RW20.1). See About using one compute statement to produce reports for multiple companies.

Ledger

If you are defining this report for a ledger, then select the name of the Multi-Book ledger in this field. The ledger is defined on Ledger Setup (ML10.1) and must be valid for any company you select for the report.

When Report Writer prints a ledger report, it pulls its Multi-Book Ledger data from the ledger company report period. If applicable, it also pulls General Ledger data from the General Ledger company period and includes both sets of data on the report.

For more information on Multi-Book Ledger, see the Multi-Book Ledger User Guide.
To define additional report descriptions for the report, click the Report Text tab. You can enter up to three lines of descriptions that can be used with the Report Description (@RQDES) data dictionary name in report headings.

Options related to defining a report

If you are distributing reports to multiple users, then you can define report distribution options on the Distribution tab. See Distributing a report.
You can assign multiple formats to a report on the Format tab. Use multiple formats when you want to include different types of information in a single column. See Assigning multiple formats.