Enable Users to Select a Report Coverage Period

Now that your custom reports page has a method for users to select the type of report they wish to generate, and a means by which to select the tags whose data they wish to include in their report, it is a good idea to include a way for users to configure a duration for their reports.

The Libraries dialog should still be open, with the "Report Tools" option selected in the list. If it is not, open the configuration toolbox, click the "Libraries" button, and select the "Report Tools" option now.

 

1.   Click the "Libraries" button in the Configuration Toolbox.

2.   Click on the Drawing Tools node to open the list of libraries and tools.

3.   Select the "Report Period" node in the list and right-click to open its context menu.

4.   Click the "Draw" button.

5.   A sample report period selector is attached to the cursor. Left-click on the application page to place it.

6.   The VTS Graphic Editor opens to allow you to configure the selector.

7.   Enter a title to appear above the report time list object in the "Title" field.

8.   Select a focus ID from the "Focus ID" spin box. This number indicates the position of this drop-down list in the tab order for all objects on the same system page. (You may wish to set the focus IDs for all objects after they have been placed on the page.)

9.   Select the "Draw Bevel" checkbox if you wish a beveled border to appear around the report time list object.

10. Select the "Align Title" checkbox if you wish to optionally factor the title height into the alignment calculations.

11. Select the "All Users Can Edit" checkbox if you wish to enable all users to have the ability to select the tags to be included in the report whether they are logged on to the application or not. (If you do not select the "All Users Can Edit" checkbox, the report tag list elements will be disabled until the user logs on.)

12. Select the "Vertical Alignment" radio button that best represents the vertical alignment you wish for the completed report tag list object within its area. An example of a completed "Report Tag List Style" dialog is displayed below.

13. Click the "OK" button.

Once you've placed your report period list object on your custom reports page, you may wish to establish a means by which users may generate consecutive reports. The section that follows discusses the "Iterations Entry" tool that is provided for that purpose.