Exporting from Report Builder

I approach the export from the other side. After I've created the export text file I open it in Excel. You are then able to specify how you want the data placed on the spread sheet. I set fixed width, then in step 2 I can specify where I want the columns to break, add or delete columns. This works well if you are in a hurry but I like some of the other approaches when I want to automate a users process.

Shirley Graver
Sys Admin
Rubber Associates.
I am looking for tips on Exporting from Report Builder to Excel. (allows
greater flexibility than the Export Utility within Vantage-calculations, Rep
Slips and Rates)

I am having trouble getting the column line-up to be clean during the Excel
import phase. Some Alpha fields are getting cut in the middle (I can always
delete the line...but I would like it to be fairly clean for handing off to
other users once the set-up is complete). Also, it appears if the Alignment
and Field Lengths aren't set up correctly portions of one column slide over
on an inconsistent basis to the column to its left. So far, I have used
trial and error to get what I want, but would very much appreciate some
tips.

Vantage 3.0 (still !)
Carol,

Some generic tips if you are designing RB reports for text
export:

Use a fixed-space font (Courier) for all report elements.

Separate columns with at least 1/2" of space. Change your page
layout if you need to accommodate wider reports.

Remove page header and footer bands from the report.

Remove any unnecessary formatting - hash lines, foot lines, boxes
etc.

Avoid blank lines between record lines.


have fun,
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carol Engen
> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 12:34 PM
> To: vantage@egroups.com
> Subject: [Vantage] Exporting from Report Builder
I had this trouble also. Make sure there is plenty of room between your
fields in Report Builder. If they are too close together the system gets
confused with where to break the column. Check also the length of the
field, be sure you are giving enough room for the entire field to print and
I would not set the alignment to wrap, instead make sure the field is big
enough for the entire contents.

Suzanne Willems
Inventory Manager
Milford Enterprises, Inc.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carol Engen [SMTP:cengen@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 3:34 PM
> To: vantage@egroups.com
> Subject: [Vantage] Exporting from Report Builder
>
> I am looking for tips on Exporting from Report Builder to Excel. (allows
> greater flexibility than the Export Utility within Vantage-calculations,
> Rep
> Slips and Rates)
>
> I am having trouble getting the column line-up to be clean during the
> Excel
> import phase. Some Alpha fields are getting cut in the middle (I can
> always
> delete the line...but I would like it to be fairly clean for handing off
> to
> other users once the set-up is complete). Also, it appears if the
> Alignment
> and Field Lengths aren't set up correctly portions of one column slide
> over
> on an inconsistent basis to the column to its left. So far, I have used
> trial and error to get what I want, but would very much appreciate some
> tips.
>
> Vantage 3.0 (still !)
>
>
carol, i don't know if this would help or not, but i force a delimiter
character in between my fields in report builder (i usually use "|") and
then tell excel look for that character as a delimiter when importing the
text file. i don't have any problems with column breaks when i do this...

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carol Engen [mailto:cengen@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 1:34 PM
> To: vantage@egroups.com
> Subject: [Vantage] Exporting from Report Builder
>
>
> I am looking for tips on Exporting from Report Builder to
> Excel. (allows
> greater flexibility than the Export Utility within
> Vantage-calculations, Rep
> Slips and Rates)
>
>
If you limit the fields you are using and make sure you have ample space
between fields it makes it easier to create a simple report.

-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Engen [mailto:cengen@...]
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 2:34 PM
To: vantage@egroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Exporting from Report Builder


I am looking for tips on Exporting from Report Builder to Excel. (allows
greater flexibility than the Export Utility within Vantage-calculations, Rep
Slips and Rates)

I am having trouble getting the column line-up to be clean during the Excel
import phase. Some Alpha fields are getting cut in the middle (I can always
delete the line...but I would like it to be fairly clean for handing off to
other users once the set-up is complete). Also, it appears if the Alignment
and Field Lengths aren't set up correctly portions of one column slide over
on an inconsistent basis to the column to its left. So far, I have used
trial and error to get what I want, but would very much appreciate some
tips.

Vantage 3.0 (still !)

We no longer allow attachments to files. To access/share Report Files,
please go to the following link: http://www.egroups.com/files/vantage/
(Note: If this link does not work for you the first time you try it, go to
www.egroups.com, login and be sure to save your password, choose My Groups,
choose Vantage, then choose Files. If you save the password, the link above
will work the next time you try it.)
Your problems with importing the text output from Report Builder into Excel
is likely due to inconsistant field deliniation in the import file. In
other words, Excel cannot accurately determine where one field starts and
ends consistantly. Try the following:

In the Report Builder file, add a special character (one that is NOT likely
to appear within the data itself - I use the "|" character - shifted
backspace on my keyboard) between each field on the report line. Also,
format the entire line to left align at the end of the previous field. This
will cause your output to look like this:

partno|description|123.34|999.9999|anytext ...

instead of:

partno | description | 123.34 | 999.9999 |
anytext ...


When you open the text file with Excel, indicate that the special
character is the delimiter and to NOT treat consecutive delimiters as one.
This should yield a more consistant data set that Excel can deal with
effectively.

Good luck
Jim Stetter



-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Engen [mailto:cengen@...]
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 3:34 PM
To: vantage@egroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Exporting from Report Builder


I am looking for tips on Exporting from Report Builder to Excel. (allows
greater flexibility than the Export Utility within Vantage-calculations, Rep
Slips and Rates)

I am having trouble getting the column line-up to be clean during the Excel
import phase. Some Alpha fields are getting cut in the middle (I can always
delete the line...but I would like it to be fairly clean for handing off to
other users once the set-up is complete). Also, it appears if the Alignment
and Field Lengths aren't set up correctly portions of one column slide over
on an inconsistent basis to the column to its left. So far, I have used
trial and error to get what I want, but would very much appreciate some
tips.

Vantage 3.0 (still !)
At 03:34 PM 8/1/2000 , you wrote:
>I am looking for tips on Exporting from Report Builder to Excel. (allows

Jim's suggestion on the delimiters and scrunching everything to the left
looks good, thanks!

You'll still have some problems though: Garbled column spacing, and page
headers. It's been a while since I played with it. But I had better luck
setting up a "Generic / Plain Text" print driver and printing to a file,
rather than messing with the export. Try setting the printer properties
for a big page size (14x11" fanfold), "continuous, no page break", and
print to file. I think setting the report builder page margins to zero
helped too.

-Wayne
Carol -

Quick tip:
Move the query from Report Builder to the export utility in Vantage.

Calvin
I approach the export from the other side. After I've created the export text file I open it in Excel. You are then able to specify how you want the data placed on the spread sheet. I set fixed width, then in step 2 I can specify where I want the columns to break, add or delete columns. This works well if you are in a hurry but I like some of the other approaches when I want to automate a users process.

Shirley Graver
Sys Admin
Rubber Associates.