1.Report Designer
Report Designer integrates Crystal Reports functionality with PACS 9.0, enabling users to gather, sort, and organize information, and then present that information in a customized report.
First, reports are built in PACS.ADMIN by choosing Tools > Report Designer. After a report is saved and published in PACS.ADMIN, PACS 9.0 users can access the report through the Reports > Custom Reports menu.
Before you start designing a report, you must establish a connection to your data source. This may require you to set up a connection to the SQL Server through your machine’s Control Panel. If you need help with this, contact your network administrator or contact True Automation for support.
Note Because Report Designer relies on Crystal Reports, advanced users and users with Crystal Reports experience will have the most success using this module.
Important Report Designer requires SQL Server 2005 or greater/newer.
2.Setting Up a New Report
Purpose
Use this procedure to connect to the database and choose tables and fields that determine the types of data that display in your report. If you need additional help, contact your administrator or contact True Automation for support.
Prerequisites
- In order to perform this procedure, the following user right is required:
- PACS.Administrator > Report Designer
- PACS Administrator > General > Reports
Procedure
- In PACS.ADMIN, choose Tools > Report Designer.
- In the Custom Report Generator window, click Add to start a new report.
- In the Crystal Reports Gallery dialog box, choose Using the Report Wizard and click OK.
- In the list of Available Data Sources displayed in the Report Creation Wizard, navigate to
dbo > Tables
. Then highlight the required table names and click the arrow to select.Tip Most users may locate their data source by choosing
Create New Connection > OLE DB (ADO)
, then selecting the provider Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server. You must then choose the server, enter your user and password info, and choose the database. Then, continue navigating todbo > Tables
.Note The report draws data from selected tables.
- When you have selected the required tables, click Next.
- In the Report Creation Wizard, choose Clear Links if the option is available. Then choose to Auto-Link By Name. Then click Link.
- Click Next.
- In the Available Fields list, highlight the fields you want displayed in your report and click the arrow(s) to move them into the Fields to Display list.
Note The report displays data in the selected fields.
- Click Next and continue through the Wizard, making other selections as needed.
- Then click Finish.
Next Steps
You have determined which types of data display in the report. Next, you must configure how that data is assembled and displayed.
3.Designing a Report
Use these procedures to set parameters, or criteria, for selecting data to display in the report. This involves (1) adding parameter fields, (2) setting parameter types, and then (3) using Crystal’s Expert to assemble those fields into a formula which creates a query from those parameters.
4.Saving and Publishing the Report
Purpose
Use this procedure to save and, if ready, publish the report.
Procedure
- With the report open, choose File > Save.
- In the Save or Publish Report Dialog box, enter the Report Title and Description.
- To use an available DSS database, choose Use SQL DSS.
Note You can determine whether or not this is the default selection through Tools > System Configuration, under Custom Report Options.
- If you wish to publish the report at this time, then select the Publish option.
Note Published reports can be accessed and generated in PACS 9.0.
- If you chose Publish in the previous step, then add a user Role Type and Role to the Role grid.
Note Users with the Role Type and Role specified in this grid have access to the report. You may designate more than one Role Type and Role.
- Click Save.
Next Steps
To preview your report in PACS.ADMIN, open the report, right-click and choose View Report. To close the preview, right-click and choose Close Report View.
If you chose to publish your report, then your report is available for users with the assigned role(s) through Reports > Custom Reports in PACS 9.0.
5.Maintaining Reports
Purpose
Use this procedure to add or delete a report, or to begin editing an existing report. By choosing options in the context menu, reports can also be imported or copied, and the list of existing reports can be modified.
Note Reports are published and unpublished when they are saved. Only published reports can be generated in PACS 9.0.
Prerequisite
- In order to perform this procedure, the following user right is required:
- PACS.Administrator > Report Designer
- PACS Administrator > General > Reports
Procedure
- In PACS.ADMIN, choose Tools > Report Designer.
- In the Custom Report Generator window, choose from the following options as needed:
- Click Add to set up and start designing a new report
- Click Details to modify an existing report
- Click Delete to remove a report
- Highlight an existing report, right-click and choose from the following options as needed:
Note Available options may vary depending on the state of the selected report, and on whether a report is currently open.
- Create Report – Start building a new report
- Edit Report – Edit existing report
- View Report – Open a preview of the selected report
- Close Report – Close the preview
- Delete Report – Choose one of the following:
- Remove Report from Publication – Unpublish the report, which removes it from the PACS 9.0 menu options but leaves it available for editing in PACS.ADMIN
- Remove Report Publication and Delete – Permanently deletes existing report
- Save Report – Save changes
- Copy Report – Creates a copy of the selected report
Note Each report must have a unique title
- Import Report – Import an existing Crystal Report stored on your machine
Note Reports are not imported with dynamic parameters. The system may not recognize some data types. For more information on dynamic parameters, see Designing a Report.
- View All Reports – All reports are displayed, published and unpublished, regardless of author
- View My Reports – Only reports created with the user’s ID are displayed
Next Steps
To set up a new report, proceed to Setting Up a New Report.
6.Deleting and Unpublishing a Report
Purpose
Use this procedure to delete an existing published or unpublished report, or to unpublish an existing published report.
Procedure
- In PACS.ADMIN, choose Tools > Report Designer.
- In the Custom Report Generator grid, highlight the report you need to delete or unpublish, right-click and choose Delete Report.
- If the report is currently published, you are presented with the following options:
- Remove Report Publication – Unpublishes the report without deleting it.
- Remove Report Publication and Delete – Unpublishes and deletes the report.
- If the report is not currently published, you are prompted to confirm your selection.
- Make selections as needed.
7.Copying or Importing a Report
Procedure
- In PACS.ADMIN, choose Tools > Report Designer.
- In the Custom Report Generator grid, do one of the following as needed:
- Highlight the report you need to copy, right-click and choose Copy Report.
- Right-click and choose Import Report.
- If you chose Copy Report in the previous step, then save the copy. The new copy is opened for editing.
- If you chose Import Report in the step 2, then navigate to the report file location on your machine or server, and click Open.
- In the Save or Publish Report Dialog box, enter the Report Title and Description.
- To use an available DSS database, choose Use SQL DSS.
Note You can determine whether or not this is the default selection through Tools > System Configuration, under Custom Report Options.
- If you wish to publish the report at this time, then select the Publish option.
Note Published reports can be accessed and generated in PACS 9.0.
- If you chose Publish in the previous step, then add a user Role Type and Role to the Role grid.
Note To publish, roles must be assigned. Users with the Role Type and Role specified in this grid have access to the report. You may designate more than one Role Type and Role.
- Click Save.
Next Steps
To preview your report in PACS.ADMIN, open the report, right-click and choose View Report. To close the preview, right-click and choose Close Report View.
If you chose to publish your report, then your report is available for users with the assigned role(s) through Reports > Custom Reports in PACS 9.0.