Creating a Custom Report with Columns
Summary: This technote explains how to create a custom report with columns using a single database. Creating columns requires placing field variables in the Report Designer to represent the columns and then assigning values to the variables in the report program. This technote explains how to setup the report and then modify the report code. 
Create a report in the Report Designer.
Place variables in the report body to represent each column of the report. In this example, the report has 4 columns and prints 4 fields from each record. You may also define a GROUP is desired. Anymore than 1 group is note available.
	a$	b$	c$	d$
	a1$	b1$	c1$	d1$
	a2$	b2$	c2$	d2$
	a3$	b3$	c3$	c4$
Place 1 field from the database on the report to link the report to the database. If you do not want this field to display, select its properties and turn pen and paper off.
Modify the AFTER SELECT section of the report .SBP file as follows. (Tip: When you save a report, it creates 2 files, an .SBP and .SBV. After modifying the code in the .SBP file, if you go back into the Report Designer and save new changes, it overwrites your code (after warning you). To avoid this, work with 2 copies of your report. Copy1.SBV and Copy1.SBP are used to modify the .SBP file. Copy2.SBV and Copy2.SBP are used to modify the .SBV file. When editing in the Program Editor, work with Copy1.SBP. When working in the Report Designer, work with Copy2.SBV. Modify the REPORT USING "COPY1" to REPORT USING "COPY2" in Copy1.SBP.
						Use in Program Editor
			COPY1.SBV		COPY1.SBP
						REPORT USING "COPY2"
			Use in Report Designer
			COPY2.SBV		COPY2.SBV	


SUB main()
	REM Even though the report code opens the file I found that indicating the index field prior to running 	REM  the report made things run cleaner.
	OPEN FILE "customer"
	INDEX "state"
	CALL RCUSTMR()
	END SUB 

SUB RCUSTMR()
	REPORT USING "RCUSTMR2"
	FOOTING 1
		SET REPORT PAGE "F_PAGE"
		OUTPUT REPORT PAGE 
	END FOOTING 

	GROUP State.CUSTOMER
	BEFORE GROUP State.CUSTOMER
		REM Store the current GROUP name in a variable to compare later.
		REM GROUP is a system variable that returns the current group.
		gr$ = GROUP 
		SET REPORT PAGE "H_State.CUST002"
		OUTPUT REPORT PAGE 
	END GROUP 

	AFTER SELECT 
		REM Assign first record to variables in column 1.
		a$ = name :a1$ = address:a2$ = city + ", " + state + " " + zipcode :a3$ = telephone
		REM Check if end of file or change of group then select the next record
		IF NOT EOF ("") AND state = gr$ THEN SELECT NEXT 
		REM Keep checking and reassigning variables for each column
		REM Assign variables in column 2.  (The next 2 lines of code should be typed as 1)
		IF NOT EOF ("") AND state = gr$ THEN b$ = name :b1$ = address :b2$ = city + ", " + state + " " 			+ zipcode :b3$ = telephone 
SELECT NEXT 
		REM Assign variables in column 3.  (The next 2 lines of code should be typed as 1)
		IF NOT EOF ("") AND state = gr$ THEN c$ = name :c1$ = address :c2$ = city + ", " + state + " " 			+ zipcode :c3$ = telephone 
SELECT NEXT 
		REM Assign variables in column 4. 
		REM SELECT NEXT is not needed here since the report automatically selects the next record.
		IF NOT EOF ("") AND state = gr$ THEN d$ = name :d1$ = address :d2$ = city + ", " + state + " " 			+ zipcode :d3$ = telephone 
 
		SET REPORT PAGE "F_SELECT"
		OUTPUT REPORT PAGE 
		REM Clear all column variables.
		CLEAR GLOBAL 
	END SELECT 

REM Turn the query optimizer on for speed enhancements. By default this is off.
REM Apply a filter and order if desired.
	SET QUERY ON
	SET QUERY LOCK OFF 
	SELECT ;
		WHERE state.customer <> ""
		ORDER REPORT State.CUSTOMER
		TO WINDOW 
	END SUB 




See also
The following technotes offer more in-depth information regarding Custom Reports.
1.	4040 Debugging Custom Reports: Discusses the differences of Save and Save As program.
2.	4044 Suppressing Blank Lines in Reports: May be useful if you have an Address1 and 		Addresss2 field that does not always contain data.
3.	4054 Creating Summary Reports: Explains in more detail the functions of the different       		report bands.
































Program:	Superbase	
Versions:	2.0
Date:	November 30, 1993		
D
Date: