D17075GC10Production 1.0June 2004D39520

Oracle Reports Developer 10g: Build Reports

Student Guide • Volume 1

Copyright © 2004, Oracle. All rights reserved.

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AuthorsEllen GravinaSmitha Keshav

Technical Contributors and ReviewersCem AyberkinChristian BauwensAlena Bugarova Kathryn CunninghamLaurent DereacMark FlemingWarren LordMarcelo ManzanoDarren McBurneyPaul NarthDaphne NougierMiyuki OhsatoLigia Jasmin RobayoJim SafcikRie SaitohNavneet SinghSarah SpicerMartijn van der BruggenVanessa WangPhilipp WeckerleTed Witiuk

PublisherSujatha Nagendra

Preface

I IntroductionCourse Objectives I-2Course Content I-3

1 Introduction to Oracle Reports DeveloperObjectives 1-2Business Intelligence 1-3Enterprise Reporting 1-5Web Publishing 1-9Paper Publishing 1-10Oracle Reports Developer 1-11Benefits 1-12Oracle 10g Products 1-13Oracle Database 10g 1-14Oracle Developer Suite 10g 1-15Oracle Application Server 10g 1-18Oracle Reports Developer 1-20OracleAS Reports Services 1-22OracleAS Reports Services Architecture for the Web 1-23Summary 1-25

2 Designing and Running ReportsObjectives 2-2Understanding User Requirements 2-3Designing Reports 2-5Tabular 2-7Master-Detail 2-8Master with Two Details 2-9Matrix 2-10Retrieving and Sharing Data 2-11Running a Report 2-13Previewing Reports 2-15Print Preview 2-16Supported File Types 2-19Summary 2-21Practice 2 Overview 2-22

3 Working in Oracle Reports DeveloperObjectives 3-2Reports Developer Executables 3-3Invoking Reports Builder 3-5Reports Builder Modules 3-6Report Data and Layout 3-7Reports Builder Components 3-8Main Menu Structure 3-10Wizards 3-12Report Editor 3-13PL/SQL Development Environment: Syntax Palette 3-15

Contents

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Object Navigator 3-16Report-Level Objects 3-17Data Model Objects 3-18Paper Layout Objects 3-19Paper Parameter Form Objects 3-20Object Interrelationship 3-21Customizing Your Oracle Reports Developer Session 3-22Saving Preferences 3-23Oracle Reports Environment Variables 3-24Using the Online Help System 3-26Summary 3-28Practice 3 Overview 3-29

4 Creating a Paper ReportObjectives 4-2Report Module Components 4-3Building a Paper Report 4-4Invoking the Report Wizard 4-5Choosing the Layout Type 4-6Creating a Tabular Report 4-7Selecting the Data Source Type 4-9Using Query Builder 4-10Building a Query 4-11Query Builder Functions 4-12Selecting Displayed Fields 4-14Totals and Labels 4-15Selecting a Report Template 4-16Viewing the Paper Report Output 4-17Saving the Report Definition 4-18Reentering the Wizard 4-19Creating a New Report 4-21Creating Break Reports 4-22Break Report Labels 4-23Creating Mailing Labels and Letters 4-24Creating a Matrix Report 4-26Previewing a Paper Report in a Browser 4-28Summary 4-30Practice 4 Overview 4-31

5 Enhancing a Basic Paper ReportObjectives 5-2What Is the Paper Design? 5-3The Paper Design Window 5-4Modifying a Report 5-5Aligning Columns 5-6Setting a Format Mask 5-7Manipulating Objects 5-9

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Modifying Visual Attributes 5-10Applying Conditional Formatting 5-12Inserting Page Numbers, Dates, and Times 5-14Customizing Dates 5-16Summary 5-17Practice 5 Overview 5-18

6 Managing Report TemplatesObjectives 6-2Using Report Templates 6-3Modifying a Template 6-4Customizing the Template Margin 6-6Customizing the Template Body 6-7Adding Web Links to a Template for Report HTML Output 6-8Predefining Your Own Templates 6-10Adding a Template Preview Image 6-12Summary 6-13Practice 6 Overview 6-14

7 Creating a Web ReportObjectives 7-2What Is JSP Technology? 7-3JSP Advantages 7-4Simple JSP Example 7-6Building a Web Report 7-7Using the Report Wizard 7-8Report Editor: Web Source View 7-9JSP Tags 7-11Web Source Example 7-13Generating Output 7-15Image Format Support 7-17Summary 7-19Practice 7 Overview 7-20

8 Enhancing Reports Using the Data Model: Queries and GroupsObjectives 8-2The Data Model Objects 8-3Modifying Properties of a Query 8-5More Properties 8-8Applying Changes 8-10Changing the Group Structure 8-12Group Hierarchy 8-14Ordering Data in a Group 8-16Query Modifications 8-18Filtering Data in a Group 8-20

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Using a Packaged Filter 8-21Summary 8-22Practice 8: Overview 8-23

9 Enhancing Reports Using the Data Model: Data SourcesObjectives 9-2Data Source Types 9-3Pluggable Data Sources 9-5Out-of-the-Box Options 9-6Using XML as a Data Source 9-7Example: XML Data Stream 9-9Document Type Definition File 9-10XML Report 9-11OLAP Data Source 9-12Defining an OLAP Query 9-13Example: OLAP Report 9-14Using Text as a Data Source 9-15Setting Up the textpds.conf File 9-16Defining a Text Query 9-18Sample Text PDS Report 9-19Using JDBC as a Data Source 9-20Configuring the jdbcpds.conf File 9-21Defining a JDBC Query 9-23Adding New Data 9-25Using REF Cursor Queries 9-28Viewing Output from Multiple Query Reports 9-30Using Data Links 9-32Creating a Column-to-Column Link 9-34Other Data Link Methods 9-36Efficiency Issues: Multiple- or Single-Query Hierarchy 9-38Summary 9-40Practice 9 Overview 9-41

10 Enhancing Reports Using the Data Model: Creating ColumnsObjectives 10-2Data Model Columns 10-3Maintaining Data Source Columns 10-5Producing File Content Output 10-7Creating a Column 10-9Creating Summary Columns 10-11Displaying Subtotals 10-13Displaying Percentages 10-15

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Resetting Summary Values 10-17Creating a Formula Column 10-18Creating a Placeholder Column 10-20Populating a Placeholder Column 10-22Summary 10-24Practice 10 Overview 10-25

11 Enhancing Reports Using the Paper LayoutObjectives 11-2Viewing the Paper Layout 11-3Viewing the Section Areas 11-5Designing Multipanel Reports 11-6Printing Multipanel Reports 11-8Different Objects in the Paper Layout 11-9The Paper Layout Layers 11-11Avoiding Layout Errors 11-13Report Processing 11-15Creating Layout Objects 11-17Paper Layout Tools 11-19Report Bursting 11-20Bursting on a Repeating Group 11-22Creating an Additional Layout 11-24Distributing a Report 11-26Tracing the Report Distribution 11-28Creating Variable Length Lines 11-30Summary 11-32Practice 11 Overview 11-33

12 Controlling the Paper Layout: Common PropertiesObjectives 12-2Modifying Paper Layout Object Properties 12-3Comparing Properties 12-5Common Layout Properties 12-6Sizing Objects 12-7Anchors 12-9Layout Object Relationships 12-11Pagination Icons in the Paper Layout 12-14Using Page Break Before 12-16Using Page Break After 12-18Using Page Protect 12-20Controlling Print Frequency 12-22Using Format Triggers 12-24Layout Object Properties for Web Support 12-25Summary 12-27Practice 12 Overview 12-28

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13 Controlling the Paper Layout: Specific PropertiesObjectives 13-2Properties of a Repeating Frame 13-3Specifying Print Direction 13-4Controlling the Number of Records per Page 13-6Controlling Spacing Between Records 13-7Minimum Widow Records 13-8Column Mode 13-9Properties of a Field 13-10System Variables 13-12Page Numbering 13-13Valid Source Columns 13-15Displaying File Contents 13-17When Are the Contents Updated? 13-19Linking and Importing Files 13-20Comparing a File Link and a File Column 13-21Specifying the Format Order 13-22PDF Document Taxonomy Properties 13-24Summary 13-25Practice 13 Overview 13-26

14 Web ReportingObjectives 14-2High Quality Web Publishing 14-3Comparing Static and Dynamic Reporting 14-5Adding Dynamic Content 14-7Creating a Report Block 14-9Invoking the Report Block Wizard 14-11Examining the Web Source Code 14-12rw:foreach Tag 14-14rw:field Tag 14-15Customizing Reports JSPs 14-16Customizing Reports JSPs Using Style Sheets 14-17Customizing Reports JSPs Using HTML Tags and Attributes 14-19Customizing Reports JSPs Using Reports Custom Tags 14-20Summary 14-24Practice 14 Overview 14-25

15 Extending Functionality Using XMLObjectives 15-2Why Use XML Report Definitions? 15-3Creating XML Report Definitions 15-5Partial Report Definitions: Format Modification Example 15-7Partial Report Definitions: Format Exception Example 15-9

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Full Report Definition: Data Model Modification Example 15-11Running XML Report Definitions 15-15Debugging XML Report Definitions 15-19Summary 15-21Practice 15 Overview 15-22

16 Creating and Using Report ParametersObjectives 16-2Creating User Parameters 16-3Referencing Parameters in a Report Query 16-6Using Bind References 16-8Using Lexical References 16-10Hints and Tips When Referencing Parameters 16-12Creating a List of Values 16-14Referencing System Parameters 16-18Building a Paper Parameter Form 16-20Customizing a Paper Parameter Form 16-22Using Parameter Form HTML Extensions 16-24Parameter Form Header and Footer 16-26Summary 16-27Practice 16 Overview 16-28

17 Embedding a Graph in a ReportObjectives 17-2Adding a Graph to a Paper Report 17-3Adding a Graph to a Web Report 17-5Selecting the Graph Type 17-6Selecting the Graph Data 17-7Adding Options to the Graph 17-8Customizing Web Graphs 17-10The rw:graph Tag 17-11Customizing Graphs Using the Graph.XML File 17-13Using Graph Hyperlinks 17-15Summary 17-18Practice 17 Overview 17-19

18 Enhancing Matrix ReportsObjectives 18-2The Matrix Data Model 18-3The Matrix Paper Layout 18-5Creating Matrix Summaries 18-7Creating the Matrix Manually 18-9The Matrix with Group Data Model 18-11The Matrix with Group Layout 18-12Building a Nested Matrix 18-13Nested Matrix Paper Layout 18-15

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Creating Nested Matrix Summaries 18-17Displaying Zeros 18-19Summary 18-21Practice 18 Overview 18-22

19 Coding PL/SQL TriggersObjectives 19-2Types of Triggers in Reports 19-3Trigger Code 19-5Using Report Triggers 19-6Using Data Model Triggers: PL/SQL Group Filter 19-10Using Data Model Triggers: Parameter Validation 19-12Using Layout Triggers 19-14Using a Format Trigger on a Frame 19-16Using a Format Trigger on a Repeating Frame 19-18Using a Format Trigger on a Field 19-20Using a Format Trigger in a Web Layout 19-21Using a Format Trigger on a Boilerplate Object 19-22Writing Common Code 19-24Event-Based Reporting 19-26Event-Driven Publishing API 19-27Invoking a Report from a Database Event 19-29Summary 19-31Practice 19 Overview 19-33

20 Extending Functionality Using the SRW PackageObjectives 20-2Contents of the SRW Package 20-3Outputting Messages 20-5Executing a Nested Report 20-7Restricting Data 20-11Initializing Fields 20-13Creating a Table of Contents 20-15Performing DDL Statements 20-17Setting Format Attributes 20-19Using Format Attributes in a Web Layout 20-22Summary 20-24Practice 20 Overview 20-25

21 Maximizing Performance Using OracleAS Reports ServicesObjectives 21-2Running Reports Using OracleAS Reports Services 21-3Report Request Methods 21-5Oracle Application Server Components 21-7Enabling Single Sign-On Access 21-9

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Running the Web Layout: JSP Run-time Architecture 21-11Running the Paper Layout: Servlet Run-time Architecture 21-12Running a Paper Report on the Web 21-13Running a Report from the Command Line 21-15The OUTPUTIMAGEFORMAT Parameter 21-16The Schedule Parameter 21-17Reports Caching 21-19Using Oracle Enterprise Manager 21-20Managing and Monitoring OracleAS Reports Services 21-21What Is the Queue Manager? 21-22Queue Manager 21-23Using the Queue Manager 21-25Summary 21-26Practice 21 Overview 21-27

22 Building Reports: Efficiency GuidelinesObjectives 22-2Tuning Reports 22-3Performance Measurement 22-5Non SQL Data Sources 22-6Investigating the Data Model 22-8Investigating the Paper Layout 22-12Running the Report 22-14Different Development and Run-Time Environments 22-16Developing Reports to Run in Different GUIs 22-18Setting NLS Language Environment Variables 22-20Translating an Oracle Reports Application 22-22Summary 22-24Practice 22 Overview 22-25

Appendix A - Practice Solutions

Appendix B - Table Descriptions

Appendix C - Creating Web Layout Templates

Glossary

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