Re: HTML and PDF Reports

Arron,

Sure, I'm sure I and the knowledge workers here will be able to create most any report needed with IBM's QMF, now DataQuant, and not have to do a bit of coding, except maybe for some simple procedures to kick off the SQL query, use a particular form for the output or a graph of the result set.

And you're right, its all about satisfying a business need with the least amount of resources, with the least amount of training, and no reliance on IT or a programmer. Hence a good, robust query and reporting and graphing tool like DataQuant, and NOT a programming language for every report they can think up.

BTW, I'm not a MickySoft fan and therefore have no preference for .NET or any MickySoft product. If programming is to be done here, I recommend modern languages more native to the i5, but also in the mainstream of IT for multiple reasons, that create Web based applications where ever possible. But, for reporting, a good query tool like I mentioned is QUITE enough and therefore there is little need for creating reports with a programming language.

Later,

Dave

"Aaron Bartell" <aaronbartell@xxxxxxxxx> 5/20/2008 05:26 >>>

Given what Nathan has provided I would love to see how a non-esoteric
language/platform that lives in the young-programming-language-home can
provide the same simplicity. Dave, you up for it?

I don't doubt that it can be done, but I think you will come to realize the
a bird can be killed with both a nuclear weapon and a reliable slingshot.

In the end it is all about meeting a business need while understanding your
companies investment in technologies. For instance, you being a .NET minded
individual (with probably many other .NET programmers in your shop) it
probably wouldn't make sense for you to take the approach Nathan has because
it would be constant friction to maintain an RPG HTML/PDF report regardless
of how simple it was because it would take the .NET programmer out of their
prime and most efficient environment. You need to understand the same is
true for an RPG shop when being presented with .NET as THEE solution to move
forward with. The fact of the matter is that if an RPG shop is in tune with
technology (as Nathan is) then it can be realized there is very little RPG
can't do.

Do you agree with that last paragraph Dave?

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com ( http://mowyourlawn.com/ )

On Mon, May 19, 2008 at 11:08 PM, Nathan Andelin <nandelin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

Dave Odom wrote:
RPG has it's place in the old programming languages home.
Move away from the albatross that makes the platform so
"out there" when compared to other platforms.

I'm just starting to test RPG to generate HTML and PDF stream files, but
I'll share a prototype with you. I agree that RPG is geared toward
programmers and production applications, but I think that if you give
power users a set of HTML templates and RPG report templates which they
can modify and some training, this type of reporting is within their
reach. I speak from experience. I was a power user who learned how to
write reports early in my career.

If you view the source for the HTML template you can see how it's
divided into multiple record formats (REPORT_TOP, PAGE_HEAD, TYPE_HEAD,
CODE_DETL, and REPORT_END), comparable to a multi-band structure that
one might design with Crystal Reports:

http://www.radile.com/rdweb/apps/reports/xcd500/xcd500.html

If you do a print preview on the report you can see the page breaks:

http://www.radile.com/rdweb/apps/reports/xcd500/report.html

And the RPG code could be copied and adapted to other data files:

http://www.radile.com/rdweb/apps/reports/xcd500/xcd500.txt

Nathan.
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