Report Templates. Custom reports are based on templates. Every custom report gets its basic design and layout from a report template. The report template is like a style sheet that determines where fields, sections, headings, and subtotals appear on the page.

Report Sections. Sections are used to display fields on custom reports, including Page Heading, Sub-total Heading, Record, Sub-total, and Total sections. Each section serves a specific purpose in organizing and displaying your data.

Adding Fields. New fields can be added to a custom report anytime, as needed. They are added from the Fields/Queries window. You can include all fields in a data file or select only specific fields you need.

Selecting Records. Data is selected for printing on custom reports using queries. Queries define how the database is to be searched when the report is printed. These searches are flexible enough to let you find any record in the database relatively quickly.

Sorting. Any field on your custom report can be sorted. Sorts can be simple or complex, depending on the fields on the report. Up to nine fields can be sorted on a custom report.

Design Tools. There are many tools available to help you customize your reports, including text, line, and drawing tools, as well as a custom color picker. You can also customize the typeface for individual sections of a report.

Fine-tuning Design. A report's graphic elements, like lines, colors, circles, and fonts, are changed in the Design window. You can add labels, text, lines, borders, boxes, and other graphics to the report using the toolbar.

Export Options. Custom reports can be printed to the window for a quick review, to the printer for a hard copy, or export to disk to be used by spreadsheets or word processors. This makes them perfect for sharing data with other applications.

Template Types. The Report Templates file contains basic layouts for six different custom reports: List w/1 sub-total, List w/2 sub-totals, List w/3-sub-totals, Labels (1" x 2 5/6"), Labels (2" x 4"), and Spreadsheet file.

Database Access. Custom reports select, sort, and display data from your Clients & Profits database. They can access any part of the database, giving you the ability to see beyond what the standard reports offer.

Flexibility. The advantage to custom reports is in their flexibility: you can decide which fields to show or hide, as well as how the records are selected. These features give you the ability to see beyond what the standard reports offer.

Learn More. For additional help with custom reports, check out the Custom Reports FAQ, Custom Reports Tips Tech Note, and other related documentation available in the user guide.

Report Structure. A custom report is a stand-alone document that contains the report's design, its fields, any queries, and settings that determine how the data is sorted and sub-totaled.

Supplemental Reports. Custom reports don't replace the reports built into Clients & Profits; instead, they supplement them by letting you see data from different fields and perspectives.

Limitations. Custom reports have limitations since they aren't programmable (for example, you can't age accounts automatically before printing a custom client aging report). They are best suited for showing information that's already available from other built-in reports.

Query Composition. The way in which you compose the query is important and is somewhat technical. Queries can be simple or complex, with several fields and conditions. The query operator determines how the records are found.

Standard Queries. The standard queries, such as equal to and greater than are simple to use. For example, you can find all jobs for one client by adding the client number (i.e., J_CLIENT_NUM) to the report then adding the query: J_CLIENT_NUM = 'ABC'.

Multi-level Sorting. A complex, multi-level sort might sort a job list by J_CLIENT_NUM, J_PROD_STATUS, and J_NUM (i.e., client number, production status, job number). This allows for sophisticated data organization.