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Glossary🔗

This glossary provides definitions and examples for the core concepts used in Fomin Report Builder (FRB). It's a handy reference for understanding the sections, controls, and expressions you'll encounter while creating or editing reports.

🧩 Report Sections🔗

FRB reports are composed of stacked sections, each with a specific purpose:

Section Description
Page Header Appears at the top of each page
Report Header Printed once at the start of the report (first page only)
Group Break Logical anchor for sorting/grouping (not printed)
Group Header Printed above each new group based on the Group Break
Detail Prints once per record; the main data section
Group Footer Totals or summaries printed after each group
Report Footer Printed once at the end of the report
Page Footer Appears at the bottom of each page

📦 Frame🔗

A Frame is the primary visual element in FRB’s layout editor:

  • Think of it as a text box or dynamic label
  • Holds static text or evaluated expressions
  • Supports formatting: alignment, font, color, borders, fill
  • May include conditional logic or formulas

If a Frame starts with =, the content is treated as an expression to evaluate (e.g. =CustomerName or =SUM(Total)).

🖋️ Picture🔗

A Picture is a formatting pattern applied to data inside a Frame:

  • Controls display of numbers, dates, text
  • Example: @D17 formats a date as YYYY-MM-DD
  • Used like: =FORMAT(TODAY(), @D17)

📄 .rpt File🔗

A report file that:

  • Stores layout, filter, sorting, and frame info
  • Is independent of your app’s executable
  • Can be copied, edited, emailed, or printed without recompilation

Stored internally as a TopSpeed database for portability.

🧠 Dictionary🔗

The built-in selector for inserting fields and functions into:

  • Filters
  • Sorting expressions
  • Frame content
  • Conditions for section printing

Includes:

  • Table fields from the current VIEW
  • System functions (e.g. FORMAT(), TODAY())
  • User-defined variables and functions

🎛️ Expression🔗

FRB expressions are runtime formulas evaluated using Clarion's EVALUATE() function.

Examples:

  • =Amount * 1.15
  • =FORMAT(TODAY(), @D17)
  • =IF(Total > 10000, 'High', 'Normal')

Used in:

  • Frame contents
  • Section printing conditions
  • Totals
  • Filters and sort orders

🧮 Totals🔗

FRB can calculate and insert summary values:

Type Description
Sum Adds a field’s values
Average Mean of a field across records
Count Tallies number of records
Min/Max Tracks minimum or maximum values
Evaluate Executes a custom expression

Each result is stored in a variable that can be shown in a Frame or used in another formula.

⬇️ Sort Expression🔗

Attached to a Group Break, it determines:

  • The field or formula to sort by
  • The hierarchy of grouping in reports

Example: =City or =SUBSTRING(ZipCode, 1, 3)

🔎 Record Filter🔗

A logical expression that limits which records are included in a report.

Examples:

  • Balance > 1000
  • InvoiceDate >= DEFORMAT('2025/01/01', @D5)
  • State = 'CA' OR State = 'NY'

🔣 BIND Label🔗

A name assigned to a variable or field so it can be referenced in report expressions.

You define BINDs for:

  • Table fields (based on Dictionary)
  • App-level variables ("Other Data")
  • Totals and result variables
  • Custom user-defined procedures

🧩 Control Templates🔗

Reusable UI elements that tie Clarion controls to FRB runtime:

Template Purpose
ReportManagerTree Shows .rpt files in a hierarchical list
InvokeDictionary Button to open the Dictionary window
ReportManagerUpdateButtons Adds Insert, Change, Delete buttons
ReportManagerSelectButton Adds a Print button
ReportManagerExpandContractButtons Add Expand/Collapse buttons

A user option controlled in the RunTimeReport procedure:

  • Always: Preview before printing
  • Never: Skip preview
  • Ask: Prompt user at runtime

Supports integration with:

  • Creative Reporting Tools (CPCS)
  • Report & Presentation Manager (RPM)

📐 Layout Tools🔗

  • Property Box: Floating window for setting Frame options
  • Section Properties: Configure size and logic of each section
  • Frame Toolbar: Quick access to font, alignment, color, and layout controls
  • Right-click Context Menu: Add sections, frames, and manipulate layout

⚙️ Runtime Variables🔗

Special variables built into FRB:

Variable Purpose
Page_Counter Tracks current page number
Report_Title Custom title string (if set)
TODAY() Returns current date
CLOCK() Returns current time

Use these in frames and expressions for dynamic info.