In this example we will create a layout table report in the AlphaSports database that lists customers by state. It is loosely modeled on the Customer List Free Form report sample supplied in the AlphaSports database.

Once you have gone as far as possible with a Quick Report, you'll want to convert it to a Free Form or Layout Table Report. The Open in Report Editor button on the main toolbar does this when the Quick Report Genie is open. If you want to preserve the Quick Report for future use in the Genie, first press the Save As button on the main toolbar and either accept the generated name or choose a new name.

Printing, emailing, and faxing reports.

Linked Reports are Layout Table reports embedded into other reports, and linked with the host report on some field. Linked Reports are similar to Subreports, but more flexible — and, in fact, similar in functionality to Subreports in some other products. Using linked reports allows you to create ledger reports, among other useful report patterns that were not previously possible. In a ledger report, the Debit and Credit tables are both linked to the account table on the Account ID field, and it is possible to compute a balance on the account. Structurally, this pattern is the same as for a customer statement report that displays orders and payments.

When exporting a Layout Table Report to Excel, calculated fields can be configured to export as Excel Formulas, instead of static data.

When creating Free-form reports, the Conditional Object control is used to dynamically display content. When designing Layout Table reports, the same functionality can be created with Static HTML.

Copying, archiving, and working with report preferences.

Creating reports

Improvements from Alpha Five V11.