The Reports Page

The reports page is automatically included with VTS applications.

This page is structured to allow you to quickly and easily generate a report on the equipment process data in your application. With VTS's powerful report generating features, you can choose from a variety of different report types, choose the data to be included or omitted from the report, and select a time period and output type for your report.

The Reports page is displayed below.

As you can see from the example above, the Reports page is made up of a series of elements that enable you to specify the conditions under which each report should be generated. The Reports page elements are numbered to help guide you through the report configuration process. The elements of the reports page are identified in the table below:

Reports Page Element	Description
Report Type	The "Report Type" drop-down list allows you to choose the type of report to be generated. The following report types are available: Daily Snapshot Report Daily Total Report Driver Communication Error Detail Report Driver Communication Summary Report Hourly Snapshot Report Hourly Total Report Standard Report These report types is described in detail in Report Types. Note: Your VTS application might have been configured with additional, customized report types. Ask your VTS developer for details.
Load Group	The "Load Group" button enables you to load a group of tags that were previously saved (using the Save Group button) so that you can generate a report based on that tag group. Instructions on loading a tag group can be found in Load a Tag Group.
Save Group	The "Save Group" button allows you to save the tags displayed in the Tags In Report list as a group. You can then reuse this tag group to generate reports at a later date. Instructions on saving tag groups can be found in Save a Tag Group.
Types	The "Types" drop-down list determines the types of tags to be displayed in the "Tags Available" list. The "Types" drop-down list (and consequently the types of tags displayed in the "Tags Available" list), are automatically set according to the type of report selected in the "Report Type" drop-down list (see Report Types.)
Areas	The "Areas" drop-down list enables you to filter the tags displayed in the Tags Available list according to a specific area. The available areas reflect the configuration of the Area property for the tags in your application. Note: The tags displayed in the Tags Available list are also filtered based on the setting of the "Types" drop-down list, described above. Note: To view all available tags, you must select "All" from the "Areas" drop-down list.
Tags In Report	The "Tags In Report" list displays those tags upon whose data the selected report is to be based. Above the "Tags In Report" list, to the right of its label, appears a count of the number of tags appearing in the list. The "Tags In Report" list is initially empty; you can select specific tags from the "Tags Available" list and move them to the "Tags In Report" list for inclusion in the selected report using the arrow buttons that appear between the two lists: The "<" arrow button moves a single selected tag, or group of selected tags from the "Tags Available" list to the "Tags In Report" list The "<<" arrow button moves all tags from the "Tags Available" to the "Tags In Report" list The ">" arrow button moves a single selected tag, or group of selected tags from the "Tags In Report" list to the "Tags Available" list The ">>" arrow button moves all tags in the "Tags In Report" list back to the "Tags Available" list Note: You can use the Shift and Control (Ctrl) keys on your keyboard to select multiple tags for transfer between the "Tags In Report" list and the "Tags Available" list: The Shift key on your keyboard enables you to select a group of consecutive tags in the "Tags In Report" list. Simply select the first tag, hold down the Shift key, and then select the last tag; all tags between the first selected tag and last selected tag will be selected. The Ctrl (Control) key on your keyboard enables you to select a number of non-consecutive tags in the "Tags In Report" list. Simply hold down the Ctrl key, and select the tags you require; only those tags you click will be selected.
Tags Available	The "Tags Available" list displays the tags whose data is available for inclusion in your report, according to the selected report type, and the selected Area (if an Area has been selected). Above the "Tags Available" list, to the right of its label, appears a count of the number of tags appearing in the list. You can select specific tags from this list and move them to the "Tags In Report" list for inclusion in the selected report using the arrow buttons that appear between the two lists. The "<" arrow button moves a single selected tag, or group of selected tags from the "Tags Available" list to the "Tags In Report" list The "<<" arrow button moves all tags from the "Tags Available" to the "Tags In Report" list The ">" arrow button moves a single selected tag, or group of selected tags from the "Tags In Report" list to the "Tags Available" list The ">>" arrow button moves all tags in the "Tags In Report" list back to the "Tags Available" list Note: You can use the Shift and Control (Ctrl) keys on your keyboard to select multiple tags for transfer between the "Tags Available" list and the "Tags In Report" list: The Shift key on your keyboard enables you to select a group of consecutive tags in the "Tags Available" list. Simply select the first tag, hold down the Shift key, and then select the last tag; all tags between the first selected tag and last selected tag will be selected. The Ctrl (Control) key on your keyboard enables you to select a number of non-consecutive tags in the "Tags Available" list. Simply hold down the Ctrl key, and select the tags you require; only those tags you click will be selected.
<<	The "<<" button enables you to select all the tags being displayed in the "Tags Available" list and moves them to the "Tags In Report" list for inclusion in the selected report.
<	The "<" button enables you to move a selected tag (or group of selected tags) from the "Tags Available" list to the "Tags In Report" list.
>	The ">" button enables you to move a selected tag (or group of selected tags) from the "Tags In Report" list back to the "Tags Available" list.
>>	The ">>" button enables you to clear the "Tags In Report" list of all tags.
Start Time	The "Start Time" spin box allows you to select a starting date and time upon which the report is to be based. The "Start Time" spin box changes according to the time period selected in the "Preset" drop-down list.
End Time	The "End Time" spin box allows you to select an end date and time upon which the report is to be based. The "End Time" spin box changes according to the time period selected in the "Preset" drop-down list.
Presets	The "Presets" drop-down list enables you to select from a series of absolute time periods within which to generate your report. You may select one of the following preset time periods: Last Hour Last Week Last 2 Hours Previous Day Last 4 Hours Previous Week Last 12 Hours Previous Month Last Day Previous Quarter Last 2 Days Previous Year Last 4 Days Custom When you select any the above preset time periods (with the exception of "Custom"), the "Start Time" and "End Time" spin boxes automatically adjust accordingly to reflect the selected preset report duration. Further information on the preset time periods can be found in Report Time Periods. Note: If you modify the settings of the "Start Time" and "End Time" spin boxes, "Custom" is automatically selected in the "Presets" drop-down list.
Number of Consecutive Periods	The "Number of Consecutive Periods" field enables you to specify the number of report iterations (or the number of reports) you wish the report generator to produce, based on the time period configured using the "Start Time" and "End Time" spin boxes. An iteration can be defined as one complete report. The next report starts where the previous report ended, but maintains the same duration. This enables you to set the report generator to produce a month's worth of daily reports at once. For example, if you want to run a report for each day in the last month, you would set the "Start Time" spin box to the first day of the month at a specific hour (e.g. "9:00 am"), set the "End Time" spin box to the second day of the month at the same hour, and enter 31 in the "Number of Consecutive Periods" field. The result would be 31 24-hour reports starting on the first day of the specified month and ending on the last day of the specified month. Step-by-step instructions on generating report iterations can be found in Generate Multiple Reports Simultaneously. Note: Although you can use the "Number of Consecutive Periods" field to run multiple reports, the iterations are purposely limited so that reports cannot be generated for the future.
Output Type	The "Output Type" drop-down list enables you to select the output format for your reports. You may choose one of the following output formats: Default Printer: Prints the report to the printer configured for your PC under the Windows operating system. Printer: Enables you to specify the path to a printer other than the default printer configured for your PC under the Windows operating system. Please refer to Printer Report Output Format for instructions on outputting a report using the "Printer" option. Text File: Generates the report as a plain, unformatted text file with the extension ".TXT". This format enables the transmission of report data in the body of an e-mail message. Please refer to Text File Report Output Format for instructions on outputting a report using the "Text File" option. Screen Display: Generates the report in a window on your screen. If you have Microsoft Excel installed, you may alternatively choose to open the report in a spreadsheet on your screen. Instructions on generating a report using the screen display option can be found in Screen Display Report Output Format. CSV File: Generates the report as a comma-separated value file with the extension ".CSV". Such files are easily imported by a variety of different database software packages. Please refer to CSV File Report Output Format for further details. Formatted Excel XLS File: Generates the report as a formatted Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with the extension ".XLS". (The report will feature a bold title and column headings.) Please refer to Formatted Excel XLS File Report Output Format for further details. Plain Excel XLS File: Generates the report as a plain, unformatted Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with the extension ".XLS". (Unlike the "Formatted Excel XLS File" option, the report will not feature a bold title and column headings.) Please refer to Plain Excel XLS File Report Output Format for further details. Access MDB File: Generates the report as a Microsoft Access database file with the extension ".MDB". Please refer to Access MDB File Report Output Format for further details. ODBC Data Source: Enables you to specify an existing ODBC data source associated with an existing ODBC-compatible database file into which you wish the report data to be saved. Please refer to ODBC Data Source Report Output Format for instructions.
Destination	The destination field allows you to enter a path, printer, or ODBC data source for your report. (A path is not required for "Default Printer" or "Screen Display" output types.) You may specify a path or printer using either the "Browse" button to navigate to the desired location, or by manually typing the path into the destination field. Note: The label of the destination field changes according to the selected report output type.
E-mail Report	The "E-mail Report" checkbox can be selected to indicate that you wish to e-mail the report data in the body of an e-mail. This option only works with the Text File report output type. Note: The "E-mail Settings" button enables you to specify the recipients for the message, along with a subject and any additional notes you wish to add to the e-mail message. Instructions on e-mailing a Text File report in the body of an e-mail message can be found in Send Report Data in the Body of an E-mail Message.
E-mail Report As Attachment	The "E-mail Report As Attachment" checkbox can be selected to indicate that you wish to e-mail the report as an attachment to an e-mail. This option works with the Text File, CSV File, Formatted Excel XLS File, Plain Excel XLS File, and Access MDB File report output types. Note: The "E-mail Settings" button enables you to specify the recipients for the message, along with a subject and any additional notes you wish to add to the e-mail message. Instructions on e-mailing a report as an attachment can be found in Send Report Data as Attachment to an E-mail Message.
Use Excel to display screen reports	The "Use Excel to display screen reports" checkbox can be selected if you wish Microsoft Excel to launch your report when the "Screen Display" report output type is selected. If you do not select the "Use Excel to display screen reports" checkbox, then a simple window will be launched and the report data will be displayed within it.
Use separate sheets/tables	The "Use separate sheets/tables" checkbox can be selected if you wish Microsoft Excel to display report data using separate spreadsheets or tables. If you do not select the "Use separate sheets/tables" checkbox, then the report data will be placed in a single spreadsheet or table.
Rename sheets/tables	The "Rename sheets/tables" checkbox can be selected if you wish the separate spreadsheets or tables to be renamed corresponding to the date and time at which the report was generated.
Run Report	The "Run Report" button generates a report based on the configuration of the Reports page (i.e. the type of report you've selected, the data to be included, the duration of the data, and the output type for the report).

In the sections that follow, you will learn about the different report types, how to work with the settings in order to get the information you need, and how to generate reports.