Extending Metadata With Reporting Objects

Reporting Objects are stored in folders in the tree within workspace folders. They can include selection criteria (WHEREs), JOINs, virtual fields (DEFINEs), filters, and other WebFOCUS statements, as well as reports or charts supplied as templates.

Note: A Reporting Object will not show in the repository when the user cannot functionally use the Reporting Object.

The browser Reporting Object tool allows you to create, edit, test, run, or delete a Reporting Object or its components. The main interface, as shown in the following image, consists of a static Quick Launch toolbar, a ribbon of context-sensitive options, and a window that displays the components of the Reporting Object with which you are working.

Reference: Reporting Object Tool Quick Launch Toolbar

The Reporting Object tool Quick Launch toolbar is a static menu whose commands apply to the entire Reporting Object, not simply to the particular component that you have selected. The following table describes each command in the Reporting Object tool Quick Launch toolbar.

Button	Shortcut Keys	Command	Description
	None	Reporting Object tool main menu	Launches a menu allowing you to Save, Save As, Run, and Exit.
	Ctrl+S	Save	Saves the Reporting Object.
	Ctrl+Z	Undo	Undoes the last action.
	Ctrl+Y	Redo	Repeats the last action.
	None	View code	Displays Reporting Object code in a read-only window
	Ctrl+R	Run	Runs the Reporting Object.

Reference: Reporting Object Tool Ribbon

The Reporting Object tool ribbon is a menu whose commands apply to what you have selected, whether that is the Reporting Object as a whole, a particular component, or an individual example of a component. For example, a particular filter or filter group, if you have selected one, rather than selecting the entire Filter component.

The following table describes each command on the Reporting Object tool ribbon.

Button	Command	Description
	New	Creates a new join, DEFINE statement, filter, or WHERE statement.
	Open	Launches InfoAssist to create or edit a report or chart, or launches the appropriate tool to create or edit a join, DEFINE statement, filter, or WHERE statement.
	Edit	Opens component source code in the text editor.
	Properties	Renames the selected filter or filter group.
	Run	Runs the selected component.
	Delete	Deletes the selected item.
	Delete All	Deletes all items of the type selected, for example, all WHERE statements, all filters in a particular group, or all filters in every group if the Filter component itself is selected.

Procedure: How to Create a Reporting Object

1. From the WebFOCUS Home Page, select the Workspaces view.
2. Select the workspace in which you want to create the Reporting Object, and on the Action Bar, click Reporting Object.

   The Reporting Object tool opens in a new browser window, with an Open dialog box.

3. Select a Master File and click OK.

4. The Reporting Object tool interface appears.

Procedure: How to Edit a Reporting Object

From the WebFOCUS Home Page, in the Workspaces view, right-click the Reporting Object and select Edit.

Note: Double-clicking the Reporting Object runs the Reporting Object rather than allowing you to edit it.

Procedure: How to Save a Reporting Object

1. Press Ctrl+S or click the Save icon on the Quick Launch toolbar.

   The Save dialog box opens.

2. Type the name of the new Reporting Object in the Title field and click OK.

   From now on, clicking Save or pressing Ctrl+S saves the Reporting Object without launching the Save dialog box.