FirePoint includes a Quick Report editor that allows you to create and save powerful list and cross tab report formats. Here's an example of how the Quick Report Editor handles list reports.
At the Command Window press the Apparatus button to bring-up the Apparatus list view. Press Search button and select the Show All option. Under the File menu select Print Report.... Press the Quick Report button to create an ad hoc report.
Press the Create button to begin creating your quick report.
First we'll work with the List report type.
The left side of the Quick Report Editor contains a scrolling list of fields. To the right is a list of fields this report will use for sorting (ordering) records.
Above is the report layout area. Notice that the Quick Report editor creates column-style reports. Each column contains the values of a field. Each row displays the values of the fields in a single record. Record are displayed in the order determined by the sort specifications in the Sort Order box (to the right of the scrolling list of field names).
The fields in the report columns are created by dragging fields from the field list up onto the report area. Report columns are added from left to right.
Locate the VehicleID field in the scrolling list of fields. Click on it and hold down the mouse button. Now drag the field up into the report area just to the right of the "Title" button. Release the mouse button and a column will be inserted. Continue with the "NoofPeople", "ResponseTime" and "Duration" fields.
Notice each column is divided into three areas; "Title", "Detail" and "Grand total". The "Title" area contains field titles. You can edit field titles in the "Title" row by double-clicking on the title and entering a new title.
Detail simply means the value of the field in each record. A new detail row is printed for each record in selection. If the value of the Vehicle ID field is "E-1", then "E-1" will print in the Detail area.
At the end of each column FirePoint can calculate and print counts, averages and numeric totals. This is done in the "Grand total" row.
To sort by vehicle drag the VehicleID field title from the list of fields over to the sort area on the right. Once the VehicleID field title copies over into the sort area you can change the direction of the sort by clicking on the arrow to the right of the field title. Choose the up arrow for an "ascending" sort and the down arrow for a "descending sort".
Sometimes you may wish to generate a set of subtotals before the end of the report. Using our example we can break the reporting process for a subtotal each time the Vehicle ID changes. Notice when we elected to sort the report by Vehicle ID a new row called, "[Apparatus]VehicleID changed" was added. This row is now available to generate subtotals for each individual Vehicle ID each time the ID changes. The subtotal breaks are in addition to the Grand totals that are included at the bottom of the report.
Select the "cell" in the "[Apparatus]VehicleID changed" row, F/f Responding column. Now click on the Sum tool in the upper left of the Quick Report Editor as illustrated above. The Sum tool looks like a capital "E". Repeat for the Grand total row for F/f Responding. These actions will cause FirePoint to calculate the number of responders by Vehicle ID as well as for all responses. Notice you can also right-click on any subtotal or grand total cell and select the Sum, Average, Count, etc functions.
Let's label the "[Apparatus]VehicleID changed" we use to provide the number of responders by vehicle. Double-click on the cell in the "[Apparatus]VehicleID changed" row, VehicleID column. Enter the text "# Subtotal".
The "#" symbol tells FirePoint to repeat the current value of the field. Since the field is VehicleID, the value of "#" when a report is printed will be "E-1", "E-2" etc.
To right justify the "# Subtotal" label we just added click in the cell that contains the label and select Right justify from the Style menu. In addition to justification the Style menu also controls the font and size of the label.
Let's start by double-clicking on the column headers and changing the field titles to titles we want to appear on our report.
Now a word about column sizing. Right-click on the very top of a column. Notice a menu item allows you to select an automatic width for the column. If you uncheck the Automatic Width check-box you will be able to adjust the size of the column manually by dragging on the right border of the column.
Resize the columns in the report you are creating. Notice FirePoint places a red line on the right border of the printed page. To increase the area available for printing you may select go to the File menu and select Page Setup. Select the "wide" printing mode and the red line will move to the right indicating the additional area available when printing a "landscape" page.
Let's insert a column and type-in labels for other subtotals.
Click once on the top of the ResponseTime column to select the entire column. Under the Columns menu select Insert....
There's no need to enter a formula, simply press OK. A column will be inserted to the left of the ResponseTime column. Enlarge this column by dragging it's right border to the right. Now double-click on the "[Apparatus]VehicleID changed" cell in this new column and enter the label, "# Subtotal:". Repeat this process for the Duration column.
Have FirePoint Sum the Response Time and Duration columns by placing Sum symbols in the proper locations. Your layout should now something look like this.
Take some time to experiment. Perhaps you would like to total the number of responders and average the Response Time and Duration by unit fields. You may also cleanup the report by bolding (Style menu) column titles, subtotals and totals. Each time you try something new remember you can preview your report by selecting Print Preview from the File menu.
The Quick Report Editor allows you to add Report titles (Headers) and report footers. Simple select Headers & Footers... under the File menu.
Remember, you can adjust the size, style and type of fonts used in headers and footers. Date and times of printing as well as page numbers can be automatically generated in each of the headers and footers. Press the appropriate down arrow for a list of automatic headers and footers.
From time to time you may wish to preview your printed report. To do this simply select Print Preview from the File menu. Your report will look something like this:
With a few more adjustments your report begins to take shape. Remember FirePoint prints reports based on the number of records in selection. If no records are in selection FirePoint will skip printing the report. So if your report fails to print go back to the list view and search for the records you wish to include in your report.
If you wish you may save any Quick Report format you create. Under the File menu select Save As..., name your report and save it into FirePoint's Report folder, onto a disk or in any other convenient place. Next time you want to run the same report format just open the Quick Report editor and select Open from the File menu. Navigate to the report you saved.
Sometimes you need just the row of totals and not a row of data for every record. If all you need are the subtotals simply hide the Detail row. Here's how you do that.
Move the cursor over the Detail label on the upper left side of the layout. Right-click and hold the mouse button down. Select Hide from the pop-up menu.
Here's how your report will look after you hide the Detail row.
Notice the response time average has far too many decimals. To eliminate the decimals return to the Quick Report editor. Click once on the Response Time column to select it. Right-click on the selected column and select the Format option. Select the format you want to use.
If you right-click on the Detail row and select Show from the menu item you can display data from individual records, not just the subtotal rows pictured above. If you want to display data from a related table like Incidents, for example, here's all you have to do.
Create a new column. When the Formula Editor appears scroll down the list of fields until the IncidentKey field appears. Click on the "+" symbol and you will see a list of every field in the Incidents table. Select the field you wish to display with your Apparatus data and double-click on the field.
You may now label the new column with a "District" title and for every apparatus record the District value will be obtained from the Incidents table and printed in your Apparatus Quick Report.
You have the ability to stylize your report. Under the Style menu select Presentation.... Here you will see options for printing your new report. A sample report has been built-into the Presentation selection area to assist with your selection of report styles.
Subtotal reports do not have to be printed in column reports. Under the File menu select Destination and choose the Graph option. FirePoint will create a color graph illustrating the data in the subtotal report you created.
If you produce a standard report you have the option of creating ASCII text files from the data in your database. These ASCII files can be used to export data in the field order you select when setting-up your Quick Report. Simply choose the File menu, Destination and Disk File.
Remember, report formats may be saved and reopened under the File menu.