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13 Building a Group Left Summary Report

In this chapter, you will learn about group left summary reports. By following the steps in this chapter, you can generate the report output shown in Figure 13-1.

Figure 13-1 Group left summary report output

Description of Figure 13-1  follows
Description of "Figure 13-1 Group left summary report output"

Concepts

Data Relationships

Layout

Example Scenario

In this example, you will create a report that displays and summarizes sales data by customer. This report would include the following for each customer:

As you build this example report, you will:

To see a sample master/detail summary report, open the examples folder named masterdetailsummary, then open the Oracle Reports example called masdtmsb.rdf. For details on how to access it, see "Accessing the Example Reports" in the Preface.

13.1 Prerequisites for this example

To build the example in this chapter, you must have access to the Summit Sporting Goods (SUMMIT) schema. To download the SQL scripts that install the schema, see "Accessing the Data Sources" in the Preface.

13.2 Create a new report manually

In this case, it is easier to create the data model and layout separately. Hence, we will create an empty report first, then add the queries, and then create the layouts.

To create a blank report:

  1. Launch Reports Builder (or, if already open, choose File > New > Report).

  2. In the Welcome or New Report dialog box, select Build a new report manually, then click OK.

13.3 Create a data model with a data link

When you create a report with multiple queries, it is typically easier to create all of the queries with the Data Wizard first and then create the layouts with the Report Wizard.

To create the queries:

  1. In the Data Model view, choose Insert > Query to display the Data Wizard.

  2. If the Welcome page displays, click Next.

  3. On the Query page, type Q_Customer for the Query name, then click Next.

  4. On the Data Source page, select SQL Query, then click Next.

  5. On the Data page, enter the following SELECT statement in the Data Source definition field:

    SELECT CUSTID, NAME
    FROM CUSTOMER
    ORDER BY NAME
    

    Note:

    You can enter this query in any of the following ways:
    • Copy and paste the code from the provided text file called masdtmsb_code.txt into the Data Source definition field.

    • Click Query Builder to build the query without entering any code manually.

    • Type the code in the Data Source definition field.


  6. Click Next.


    Note:

    If you are not already connected to a database, you will be prompted to connect to the database when you click Query Builder or Next. Ensure that you connect to a database that has the appropriate schema for this example. Section 13.1, "Prerequisites for this example" describes the sample schema requirements for this example.

  7. On the Groups page, click Next.

  8. Click Finish to display your first query in the Data Model view.

  9. Repeat the steps above for a second query, but this time name your query Q_Item and use the following SELECT statement:

    SELECT CUSTID, DESCRIP, ITEMTOT, ORDERDATE,
    ITEM.ORDID
    FROM ORD, PRODUCT, ITEM
    WHERE ITEM.ORDID = ORD.ORDID
    AND ITEM.PRODID = PRODUCT.PRODID
    ORDER BY CUSTID, DESCRIP, ORDERDATE
    
  10. On the Groups page of the Data Wizard:

    • Click CUSTID1 and click the right arrow (>) to move this field to the Group Fields list.

    • Do the same for DESCRIP.

    Figure 13-2 Groups page of the Data Wizard

    Description of Figure 13-2  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-2 Groups page of the Data Wizard"

  11. Click Next.

  12. On the Totals page, click ITEMTOT and click Sum.

  13. Click Finish to display the data model for your report in the Data Model view. It should look something like this:

    Figure 13-3 Two-query data model with summaries

    Description of Figure 13-3  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-3 Two-query data model with summaries"

To add the data link:

  1. In the Data Model view, click the Data Link tool in the tool palette.

  2. Click and drag from the CUSTID column in the G_CUSTID group to the CUSTID1 column in the G_CUSTID1 group. Notice that a line is drawn from the bottom of the G_CUSTID group to the Q_Item query. Labels for CUSTID and CUSTID1 are created at each end of the line to indicate they are the columns linking G_CUSTID to Q_Item.

    Figure 13-4 Two-query data model with a data link

    Description of Figure 13-4  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-4 Two-query data model with a data link"

  3. Double-click the new data link line to display the Property Inspector and examine the property settings:

    • G_CUSTID is identified as the parent, while Q_Item is listed as the child. In terms of the data, the customer's identifier and name make up the master record and should print once for the associated item order information retrieved by the Q_Item query.

    • Notice that WHERE already appears in the SQL Clause property. WHERE is the default clause used in master/detail relationships. You can replace WHERE with other SQL clauses such as HAVING and START WITH, but for this report the default is correct.

    • The other point to notice is that an equal sign (=) appears in the Condition property. An equality (that is, table1.columnname = table2.columnname) is the default condition for master/detail relationships defined through a data link. You can replace the equal sign with any other supported conditional operator (to see what is supported, click the field), but for this report the default is the proper condition.

13.4 Use the Paper Layout view to create two layouts

Once your data model is complete, you need to create a layout for the data objects to display in the report output. This particular report consists of two separate layouts:

Given that two layouts are required, you need to create the first layout through the Report Wizard and the second by inserting a report block. The reason for taking this approach is that the Report Wizard overwrites everything in the layout. Hence, you can only create the first layout through the Report Wizard. Additional layouts must be created by inserting a report block.

To create the first layout:

  1. Choose Tools > Report Wizard.

  2. On the Report Type page, select Create Paper Layout only.

  3. On the Style page, select Group Left.

  4. On the Groups page, ensure that all of the groups from your data model appear in the Displayed Groups list.

  5. On the Fields page, click column names and the right arrow (>) or left arrow (<) to move columns so that the following columns appear in the Displayed Fields list:

    • NAME

    • DESCRIP

    • ITEMTOT

    • ORDERDATE

    Figure 13-5 Fields page of Report Wizard

    Description of Figure 13-5  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-5 Fields page of Report Wizard"

  6. On the Labels page, change the labels and field widths as follows:

    Table 13-1 Field Description Labels Page

    Fields Labels Width

    NAME

    (no change)

    15

    DESCRIP

    Product

    20

    Itemtot

    (no change)

    (no change)

    Orderdate

    (no change)

    (no change)


  7. On the Template page, make sure Beige is selected under Predefined Template, then click Finish to display your report output in the Paper Design view. It should look like this:

    Figure 13-6 Paper Design view for the group left layout with two group columns

    Description of Figure 13-6  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-6 Paper Design view for the group left layout with two group columns"

To create the second layout:

  1. Click the Paper Layout button in the toolbar to display the Paper Layout view.

  2. In the Paper Layout view, click the Report Block tool in the tool palette.

  3. Starting about 0.5 inches (1.5 centimeters) below the existing layout, click and drag a box about 2 inches (5 centimeters) high and 4 inches (19 centimeters) wide. Release your mouse button to display the Report Block Wizard.

  4. In the Report Block Wizard, on the Style page, select Tabular, then click Next.

  5. On the Groups page, click G_CUSTID1 and click Down to specify the Print Direction and move this group to the Displayed Groups list, then click Next. (G_CUSTID1 should be the only group in the Displayed Groups list when you are done.)

  6. On the Fields page, click the following fields and click the right arrow (>) to move them to the Displayed Fields list, then click Next:

    • DESCRIP

    • SumITEMTOTPerCUSTID1.

    DESCRIP and SumITEMTOTPerCUSTID1 should be the only fields in the Displayed Fields list when you are done.

  7. On the Labels page, change the labels as follows, then click Next:

    Table 13-2 Field Description

    Fields Labels

    DESCRIP

    Product

    SumITEMTOTPerCUSTID1

    Sum Total


  8. On the Template page, make sure Beige is selected under Predefined Template, then click Finish to display your report output in the Paper Design view. It should look like this:

    Figure 13-7 Paper Layout view with two layouts

    Description of Figure 13-7  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-7 Paper Layout view with two layouts"

13.5 Merge the two layouts

After you have created the two layouts, you have only achieved part of your desired result. The summary of purchases by product is outside of the master/detail layout. Hence it summarizes the product purchases for the entire report rather than the product purchases for each customer. To show the summary for each customer, you must move the second layout inside of the first one.

To merge the second layout with the first:

  1. In the Object Navigator, select M_G_CUSTID1_GRPFR1.


    Tip:

    To make finding this frame easier, just type in the name in the Find field at the top of the Object Navigator.

  2. Click the title bar of the Report Editor to return to the Paper Layout view. Notice that the frame around the second layout is now selected for you.

  3. Use the arrow keys to position the second layout so that the F_DESCRIP1 field lines up with the F_DESCRIP field in the first layout.

  4. Click the Confine Off button in the toolbar. Ensure that Flex mode is on (it is on by default).

  5. In the Object Navigator, select R_G_CUSTID.

  6. Click the title bar of the Report Editor to return to the Paper Layout view. Notice that the master repeating frame in the first layout is now selected for you.

  7. Click the handle at the bottom center of R_G_CUSTID and drag it down about 0.5 inches (1.5 centimeters). Because Flex Mode is on, the frame surrounding it grows as you drag. Similarly, the second layout is moved down to avoid being overwritten.

  8. With R_G_CUSTID still selected, choose Tools > Property Inspector.

  9. Change the Vert. Space Between Frames property to 0.25.

  10. In the Object Navigator, select M_G_CUSTID1_GRPFR1.

  11. Click the title bar of the Report Editor to return to the Paper Layout view.

  12. Using the toolbar along the top of the Paper Layout view, turn Flex Mode off.

  13. Using the arrow keys, move M_G_CUSTID1_GRPFR1 and its contents inside of the first layout.

    Figure 13-8 Paper Layout view with two layouts merged into one

    Description of Figure 13-8  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-8 Paper Layout view with two layouts merged into one"

  14. Click the Paper Design button in the toolbar of the Report Editor to display the Paper Layout view. Notice how the summary table now repeats for each customer.

    Figure 13-9 Paper Design view with two layouts merged

    Description of Figure 13-9  follows
    Description of "Figure 13-9 Paper Design view with two layouts merged"

13.6 Format fields

In the Paper Design view, notice the monetary values are neither aligned nor displayed as monetary amounts. You can quickly rectify this in the Paper Design view.

To assign a format mask to monetary values:

  1. In the Paper Design view, shift-click the values underneath the Itemtot and Sum Total. Notice that all of the values are immediately selected, indicating that you can change their properties simultaneously.

  2. Click the Currency button in the toolbar. A currency symbol immediately appears next to all of the values.

  3. Click the Add Decimal Place button twice. Two decimal places are added to the right of the decimal point.

  4. Resize the fields. Click and drag the rightmost handle of the Itemtot field approximately 0.5 inches (1.5 centimeters) to the left. Repeat for the Sum Total field. Try to have the right boundaries of the two fields align with each other.

  5. Click the Align Right button. All of the values are immediately right aligned.

  6. Shift-click the Itemtot label and the Sum Total label.

  7. Click the Align Right button.

  8. Save your report as masdtmsb_your initials.rdf.

Figure 13-10 Combined group left and tabular report output

Description of Figure 13-10  follows
Description of "Figure 13-10 Combined group left and tabular report output"

13.7 Summary

Congratulations! You have successfully created a group left summary report. You now know how to:

For more information on any of the wizards, views, or properties used in this example, refer to the Oracle Reports online Help, which is available in Reports Builder or hosted on the Oracle Technology Network (OTN), as described in Section 3.1.1, "Using the Oracle Reports online Help".