This chapter illustrates the features of the C/Base Report Writer. While it is not possible to show all of the different combinations of statements, this chapter gives complete examples of how each feature can be used to solve common report problems.
It is assumed that you are familiar with the basics of C/Base RMSfiles and RMS dictionary files (see Chapter 4, Creating RMSfiles for more information). It is also recommended that you refer to Chapter 10, Report Writer Programming Reference.
The Report Writer is a powerful interface to the C/Base Record Management System (RMS). Three files are used in the examples throughout this guide. These files can be found in the demo system and are the same files used as examples in the other chapters.
The files make up a magazine subscription system. The first file, sub, contains subscriber information. The fields in this file are:
subscriber, 16 character string, key
subscriber code
name, 36 character string
subscriber name
address, two 36 character strings
two lines of street address
city, 32 character string
subscriber city
state, 8 character string
subscriber state
zip, 12 character string
subscriber zip code
Subscriber is a unique code assigned to each subscriber by the user. Address is two lines of the subscriber's street address. The other field contents should be obvious from the field name.
The next file, mag, holds information about each magazine. The fields in this file are:
magazine, 16 character string
magazine code
title, 36 character string
magazine title
year_rate, money
rate for one year's subscription
subscribers, integer
number of subscriptions to this magazine
Magazine is a unique code assigned to each magazine and the key field for this file. Title is the title of the magazine being sold. Year_rate is the selling price of the subscription for one year. Subscribers is the total number of subscriptions to this magazine.
The last file, script, contains information about each subscription. The fields in this file are:
subscriber, 16 character string
subscriber code
magazine, 16 character string
magazine code
issues, integer
number of issues left in subscription
started, date
date subscription was started
Subscriber is the code of a valid subscriber in the subscriber file and is the key field for this file. Magazine is the code of a valid magazine in the magazine file. Issues is the number of issues left on this subscription. Started is the date the subscription was started.