Using Reporting Transactions

This section describes reporting transactions and the commands which you can use with them.

Note:
Data maintenance transactions are described in the section Data Maintenance Transactions later in this documentation.

This section covers the following topics:

• What are Reporting Transactions?

• Listing Transactions

• Adding Transactions

• Keeping Transactions

• Saving Transactions

• Running Transactions

• Reports Which are Too Wide

• Modifying Transactions

• Executing Transactions

• Copying Transactions

• Deleting Transactions

• The Information (Info) Function

• Commands Available From Within a Transaction

What are Reporting Transactions?

Reporting transactions are the most important part of Super Natural.

Super Natural's main task is to obtain data from a database file, work file or PC file. Reporting transactions provide you with the framework necessary to tell Super Natural which data you want.

Modes for reporting govern the basic conditions under which the transaction runs, for example report type and report destination.

For further information on modes, see Modes for Reporting in Defining Transaction Modes for Reporting.

When you have finished adding a reporting transaction and run it, Super Natural provides you with the data you have requested in the form of a report.

Note:
You can use the CHECKLIST function and the NEXT function to help you add and modify reporting transactions. For further information, see Using Super Natural.

Listing Transactions

To obtain a list of transactions

• Select the object type Transactions from the Menu

  Or:
  Issue the TRANSACTION command.

  The Transaction List screen appears. The Transaction List screen lists both reporting and data maintenance transactions.

  The Transaction List screen functions in the same way as all Object List screens in Super Natural.

  For information on how to use object list screens, see Object List Screens in Starting Up.

Adding Transactions

The following diagram gives you an overview of the paths you can take when adding a reporting transaction. The diagram shows you which steps are mandatory and which are optional.

To add a transaction

1. Enter a new transaction name in the Add field.

   Or:
   Issue the ADD TRANSACTION command.

   The Add Transaction window appears:

   11:56 ***** Super Natural ***** 93-01-04 - Transaction List - SN1110 Cmd Name Descript +-------------------Add Transaction--------------------+ *______ ! ! __ ADD ________ ! Transaction ID .... _______ ! __ AUTO ________ ! Description ....... (93-01-04 11:56)______________ ! __ CHECKL !91-11-2 ! ______________________________ ! __ CONT (92-01-1 ! ! __ CONTROL control ! File name ......... ________________________________ ! __ CONT2 (91-09-1 ! ! __ CONT3 1-09-18 ! Modify modes ...... _ ! __ CONT4 PERSONNE ! Data maintenance .. N (Y/N) ! __ DATACH (92-11-1 ! ! __ DATACH2 (92-11-1 +------------------------------------------------------+

2. Enter a new transaction name in the Transaction ID field if no name is present.

3. Modify or delete the transaction description if required.

4. If you know the name of the file you want to get your data from, enter it in the File Name field.

   The file you choose here is called your primary file.

5. If you don't know the name of the file you want to use, enter an asterisk (*).

   The File Selection List window appears:

   11:56 ***** Super Natural ***** 93-01-04 - Transaction List - SN1110 Cmd Name Descript + +----------------File Selection List-----------------+ *______ ! ! File Name Access Info ! __ ADD ________ ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-CH-PRICES R _ ! __ AUTO ________ ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-COMPANY R _ ! __ CHECKL !91-11-2 ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-CONTRACT D _ ! __ CONT (92-01-1 ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-CONTRACT-WRKMKO D _ ! __ CONTROL control ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-CRUISE R _ ! __ CONT2 (91-09-1 ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-PERSON R _ ! __ CONT3 1-09-18 ! ! _ SAG-TOURS-E-YACHT R _ ! __ CONT4 PERSONNE ! ! _ SPOOL-QUEUE R _ ! __ DATACH (92-11-1 ! ! _ SUBMIT R _ ! __ DATACH2 (92-11-1 + ! _ SUE R _ ! __ DATACH3 Destinatio ! _ SUP-AAA R _ ! __ DATACH4 DATA MAINT ! _ SYSSND R _ ! Add _______ ! _ SYSTEM1 R _ ! ! ! Cmd(s): Modify, Execute, +More: - +-------------------------------------------+

   The File Selection List window displays a selection list of the files which you can use and also contains the following columns:

   Column	Description
   Access	"S" indicates a superfile and "F" indicates a user file. For further information on superfiles, see Defining Files. For further information on user files, see User Files. The codes "R", "U", "A", "D" and "*" indicate file access level. File access levels are only relevant for data maintenance transactions. For further information on data maintenance transactions, see Working with Data Maintenance Transactions.
   Info	Mark this column to obtain first comments if available and then an extended file description from the data dictionary Predict. This feature is only available at sites where Predict is installed. No dictionary information is available for user files.

   Inserting fields into a DDM or deleting them affects Super Natural's internal field referencing. This means that you may either not be able to run existing transactions or that running them will result in unpredictable data.

To insert a field

1. Select your primary file.

2. Press Enter.

   You are returned to the Add Transaction window. The name of the file you have selected is entered in the File Name field.

3. Mark the Modify Modes field to modify your default transaction modes for the current transaction only.

   If you don't mark this field, you continue to add the transaction using your default modes.
   For further information on transaction modes, see Defining Transaction Modes for Reporting and Defining Transaction Modes for Data Maintenance.

4. Enter "Y" in the Data Maintenance field if you want to add a data maintenance transaction.

   For further information on data maintenance transactions, see Working with Data Maintenance Transactions.

   If you leave the default setting "N" (No), you continue to add a reporting transaction.

5. Press Enter.

   The Worksheet appears:

   12:06 ***** Super Natural ***** 04.Jan.1998 SN3011 - Worksheet - Monday Ref DB Field Name Seq S/C Func Def Info Del AQ ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AR ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AS ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AT ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AU ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AV ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AW ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AX ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AY ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ AZ ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ BA ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ BB ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ BC ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ BD ________________________________ ___ ___ __ __ __ __ Enter "*" in Fieldname column to select fields or enter NEXT Command ===> Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12--- Help Next Exit Incl Flip - + Sel Run Canc

For information on how to use the Worksheet, see Working with the Worksheet.

As shown in the diagram at the beginning of this section, you can leave the Worksheet to perform one of several major functions in any order you wish. The following table shows the major functions available from the Worksheet and where they are documented:

Keeping Transactions

If you want to, you can keep a transaction which is either not finished or still has errors in it and finish it later.

To save a transaction which is incomplete or has errors in it

• Issue the KEEP command from within the transaction.

Note:
You cannot execute the transaction (for example from the Transaction List) if it has errors or is incomplete.

Saving Transactions

If you have completed a transaction but do not want to see the results immediately, you can save it.

To save a transaction

• Issue the SAVE command from within the transaction.

  Note:
  You cannot save a transaction which has errors in it.

  If the report is too wide, the Report Line Length window appears. For further information, see Reports Which are Too Wide.

Running Transactions

If you want to see the results of a transaction, you must run it.

To run a transaction

• Issue the RUN command from within the transaction.

  Super Natural then provides you with the data you require in the form you have chosen. The transaction is saved.

Note:
You cannot run a transaction which has errors in it.

If you want to run an existing transaction without modifying it, it is most efficient to issue the EXECUTE command from the Transaction List screen.

Note:
For further information on the SAVE, KEEP, RUN and EXECUTE commands, see Command List.

If the report is too wide, the Report Line Length window appears. For further information, see Reports Which are Too Wide.

Reports Which are Too Wide

When using the transaction modes Destination SCREEN, PRINTER, CON-NECT or EDITOR, you may select so many fields for display that they exceed the width (line length) of the screen or printer to which you are sending the report. If your report is too wide, the Report Line Length window appears when you save or run the transaction:

 12:10                      ***** Super Natural *****                04.Jan.1998
 SNZUL-S                       - Selection Editor -                       Monday
                                                                                
                          +-----------------Report Line Length-----------------+
       1  < AA            !                                                    !
       2  <               ! The selected fields required a line size of .. 149 !
       3  <               ! The field headers required a line size of .... 193 !
       4  <               ! The available Online  line size at present ... 79  !
       5  <               !                                                    !
       6  <               !   _  Enlarge Available Line Size                   !
       7  <               !   _  Change to Report Type Vertical List           !
       8  <               !   _  Truncate Headers                              !
       9  <               !   _  Remove Excess Fields                          !
      10  <               !   _  Remove Excess Fields and Truncate Headers     !
      11  <               !   _  Modify Transaction                            !
      12  <               !                                                    !
      13  <               +----------------------------------------------------+
      14  <                                                              >   14 
      15  <                                                              >   15 
   

The Report Line Length window also appears if the headers of the fields you have selected for display exceed the width (line length) of the screen or printer to which you are sending the report.

The Report Line Length window tells you the line length of the fields and headers you have selected for display, the line length available at present and the Report Destination you are using. The Report Line Length window offers the following options:

Modifying Transactions

You may want to go back and modify (change) a transaction once you have run it or modify an existing transaction.

To modify a transaction

• Enter the command abbreviation MO in the command column of the Transaction List screen next to the transaction name.

  Or:
  Issue the MODIFY TRANSACTION name command.

  The Worksheet appears.

  You may not change the following when modifying a transaction:

  • File specification

  • Certain reporting modes. For example, if you created a transaction using the data selection mode SQL-SELECT, you may not change it.

Transactions with Restricted Access

If you are in a common library, some transactions may have restricted access. Transactions with restricted access are marked with an exclamation mark (!) in the first position in the Description column and you can only execute them.

Executing Transactions

If you want to run an existing transaction without modifying it, it is most efficient to issue the EXECUTE command from the Transaction List screen. This is because when you issue the EXECUTE command, Super Natural uses the transaction as it was when the transaction was last run or saved. When you run a transaction using the RUN command, Super Natural completely recreates the transaction even if you have not modified it since it was last run or saved.

To execute a transaction

• Enter the command abbreviation EX in the command column of the Transaction List screen next to the transaction name.

  Or:
  Issue the EXECUTE TRANSACTION name command.

  For further information on the SAVE, KEEP, RUN and EXECUTE commands, see Command List.

Note:
You cannot execute a transaction which you left using the KEEP command.

Copying Transactions

You may not copy a transaction into a public library.

You may not copy transactions with destination USERFILE.

To copy a transaction

1. Enter the command abbreviation CO in the command column of the Transaction List screen next to the transaction name.

   Or:
   Issue the COPY TRANSACTION name command.

   The Copy window appears:

   13:55 ***** Super Natural ***** 04.Jan.1998 SN1110 - Transaction List - Monday Cmd Name Description +----------------Copy-----------------+ *______ ! ! __ ADD _________________________ ! Source object ... AUTO ! CO AUTO _________________________ ! ! __ CHECKL !91-11-26 16:21)_________ ! Target object ... AUTO___ ! __ CONT (92-01-16 11:30)_________ ! Common library .. _______ ! __ CONTROL control breaks___________ ! (leave blank for ! __ CONT2 (91-09-17 16:06)_________ ! private library) ! __ CONT3 1-09-18 14:24____________ ! ! __ CONT4 PERSONNEL FILE + IA______ +-------------------------------------+

   The Source Object field contains the name of the transaction you want to copy.

2. Enter the name you want the copy to have in the Target field.

   If you do not make an entry in this field, the copy will have the same name as the original transaction.

   You may not have two or more transactions with the same name in the same library. If you copy a transaction into another library where a transaction of the same name already exists, you are asked if you want to overwrite the existing transaction.

3. If you want to copy the transaction into a common library, enter its name in the Common Library field.

   If you leave this field blank, the transaction is copied into your private library.

   When you copy a transaction to a new name, the Information function does not show the new name until you modify the transaction.

Deleting Transactions

To delete a transaction

1. Enter the command abbreviation DE in the command column of the Transaction List screen next to the transaction name.

   Or:
   Issue the DELETE TRANSACTION name command.

   The Confirm Delete window appears:

   13:56 ***** Super Natural ***** 04.Jan.1998 SN1110 - Transaction List - Monday Cmd Name Description *______ __ ADD ____________________________________________________________ de AUTO _ +--------------Confirm Delete---------------+ ____________ __ CHECKL ! ! ! ____________ __ CONT ( ! ! ____________ __ CONTROL c ! Delete transaction AUTO ! ____________ __ CONT2 ( ! ! ____________ __ CONT3 1 ! Enter Y to confirm: N ! ____________ __ CONT4 P ! ! ____________ __ DATACH ( ! ! ____________ __ DATACH2 ( ! ! ____________ __ DATACH3 D ! ! ____________ __ DATACH4 D +-------------------------------------------+ ____________ Add _______

2. Enter "Y" to confirm the deletion.

   You can also delete several transactions at the same time. In this case, the Confirm Multiple Delete window appears. You can choose if you want to confirm each deletion, delete without confirmation or cancel the deletion.

Information (Info) Function

To obtain information about a transaction

• Enter the command abbreviation IN in the command column of the Transaction List screen next to the transaction name.

  Or:
  Issue the INFO TRANSACTION name command.

  The Transaction Information window appears:

  13:57 ***** Super Natural ***** 04.Jan.1998 SN1110 - Transaction List - Monday Cmd Name +---------------------Transaction Information----------------------+ *____ ! Transaction .......... DATACH Version .... 3.1.0 ! __ ADD ! Created/modified by .. SBE Date/Time .. 1992/11/11 14:30:43 ! __ AUTO ! Description .......... (92-11-11 11:39) ! __ CHECK ! ! __ CONT ! Type ................. Report ! __ CONTR ! Selection ............ Full-screen ! __ CONT2 ! Data change .......... Map ! __ CONT3 ! Report type .......... List ! __ CONT4 ! Report level ......... Detailed ! in DATAC ! Destination .......... Screen ! __ DATAC ! Run mode ............. Online ! __ DATAC ! Primary file ......... SAG-TOURS-E-COMPANY ! __ DATAC ! Sec. file ............ ! Add _____ ! Userfile ............. ! ! ! Cmd(s): Mo +More: +---------------------------------------------------------+

  The Transaction Information window supplies the following information:

  • Transaction name

  • Super Natural version with which the transaction was created

  • Who created/last modified the transaction

  • When the transaction was created/last modified

  • User-entered transaction description

  • Information about the transaction modes (Report Type, Data Selection etc.)

  • Primary file

  • Secondary file (if defined)

  • Name of user file (for Destination USER FILE)

  You can page forward to obtain information on the following if relevant to the transaction:

  • Link and lookup fields used.

  • Selection criteria

  • Calculation

  • Logical conditions

  • Fields used

  When you print the information, you are also provided with information on the entries made in the Worksheet.

  Note:
  When you copy a transaction to a new name, the Information function does not show the new name until you modify the transaction.

Commands Available From Within a Transaction

The following commands are available from within a transaction (the default PF key functions and commands specific to the Worksheet are not included):

Note:
For a list of the default PF key functions, see Using Super Natural.

Note:
For a list of commands specific to the Worksheet, see Working with the Worksheet.