SQL/MX Report Writer Guide

Introduction to the NonStop SQL/MX Report Writer

HP NonStop SQL/MX Report Writer Guide—527194-002

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Report Development Steps

The steps for using the MXCI report writer to develop a report are described in detail in

the remainder of this guide. This summary provides an overview:

1. Setting report writer mode

Before developing a report, you must set report writer mode .

2. Selecting data

To produce a report, you must execute a SELECT command. In the SELECT

command:

•

Specify the data to be retrieved.

•

Specify the tables that contain the data.

•

Specify the criteria for selecting rows and joining rows from different tables and

views.

See the SQL/MX Query Guide and the SQL/MX Reference Manual for descriptions

of the SELECT command and its components. Before you specify the SELECT

command, you should plan the content and arrangement of information in the

report. To determine the SELECT requirements, you need to know only the basic

items of data that appear in each line. You can design the complete report with

titles, headings, and so forth, later. You should include report elements that require

data from the database so you know what to specify in the SELECT command.

3. Formatting a report

The simplest way to produce a report is to display or print the output of the

SELECT command using the report writer default format. See Default Report

Format on page 1-6 for a report created with the default report format.

To produce more elaborate reports, use report formatting commands to:

•

Specify the content of detail lines, titles, footings, and column headings.

•

Calculate subtotals of values in columns at specified break points.

•

A break point occurs when the value in a column changes; for example, when

the department number changes in a report with rows ordered by department

number.

•

Calculate the total value of a column over all rows in the report.

Note. All the examples in this guide assume that you have set report writer mode before

executing any report writer commands.

Note. Depending upon the criteria you include in a SELECT command, your query might

affect system performance or require a long time to complete. Before you issue a SELECT

command, you should consider preparing the SELECT command and generating an

explanation of the resources required to retrieve the data you need. See the SQL/MX

Reference Manual for information about the PREPARE command and EXPLAIN utility.