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Opens the Report designer to create or modify a report.

Syntax

CREATE REPORT
[<filename> | ? | <filename skeleton>]
[CUSTOM] | [WIZARD | EXPERT [PROMPT]]

<filename> | ? | <filename skeleton>

The report to create or modify. The default extension is .REP. The ? and <filename skeleton> options display a dialog box from which you can select a file. If you specify a file without including its path, dBASE Plus looks for the file in the current directory. If you issue CREATE REPORT without an option, dBASE Plus creates an untitled empty report.

CUSTOM

Invokes the Custom Report designer instead of the Report designer. The default extension is .CRP instead of .REP.

WIZARD | EXPERT [PROMPT]

If the PROMPT clause is used, a dialog appears asking if you want to use the Report designer or the Report wizard. You can then invoke either the designer or the wizard. The WIZARD clause without PROMPT causes the Report wizard to be invoked. You may use the keyword EXPERT instead of WIZARD.

You cannot combine the CUSTOM and WIZARD options; there is no Custom Report wizard.

Description

Use CREATE Report to open the Report designer or Report wizard and create or modify a report interactively. The Report designer automatically generates dBL program code that defines the contents and format of a report, and stores this code in an editable source code file with a .REP extension. DO the .REP file to run the report.

If you're creating a new report, CREATE REPORT displays an empty design surface. If you specify an existing file, dBASE Plus asks whether you want to modify it. If you reply no, nothing further happens. Use the MODIFY REPORT command to edit an existing file without being asked whether you want to modify it.

You may invoke the Custom Report designer by specifying the CUSTOM keyword. A custom report is stored in a .CRP file, and does not have the standard bootstrap code that instantiates and renders a report when the file is executed. It is intended to be used as a base class for other reports. A single .CRP file may contain more than one custom report class definition. If there is more than one report class in the .CRP file, dBASE Plus presents a list of classes to modify.

See Using the Report and Report designers (overview) for instructions on using the Report designer.