Glossary

Additional headers and footers

Report sections that are printed when a specified field changes. Additional headers and footers are created using the Report Options and Header/Footer Options windows.

Alphanumeric

A combination of numbers and letters.

Array field

A field containing multiple occurrences of the same type of information. The individual pieces of information stored by an array field are called elements. For example, a seven-element array field could be used to store daily sales totals instead of seven individual fields.

Array index

The number designating a specific element within an array field. Each component field within an array field has an array index.

Boolean expression

An expression that results in a value of true or false.

Break on field

A field on a report, that when the value changes, causes an additional header or additional footer to be printed.

Calculated field

A field containing an expression that combines fields in a report’s table, report fields, constants, functions, and operators. The result of the calculation is displayed in the field if the field is placed on the report. Calculated fields are created in the Calculated Field Definition window.

Check box

A control type used to define data types that allow users to mark or unmark an option. Check boxes have boolean storage types.

Combo box

A control type used to define data types that allow users to enter a text value or choose that value from a list. The items in the list are determined by the static text values in the data type definition.

Component

One field of a composite field.

Composite

A group of fields and their associated data types that form a single data type. Composite data types are defined by the composite control type and the fields that make up the composite.

Concatenate

To connect two strings to form a single string.

Conditional expression

A boolean expression used to print the corresponding true or false case in a calculated field. Conditional expressions are written in the Calculated Field Definition window.

Control type

The main characteristic of a data type, controlling the type of information that can be stored in fields that use that data type, and some aspects of how the information will be displayed.

Custom report

A new report that you make. You can start with a blank report, or you can start by making a copy of a report that already exists.

Defaults file

A file that stores information specific to the current workstation. This file is named DEX.INI for Windows.

Definition window

A window that allows you to create a resource and specify its functional characteristics.

DEX.INI file

A file that stores information specific to the current workstation. Also referred to as the defaults file.

Dictionary

A group of resources that, when interpreted by the runtime engine, present a complete functioning application. See also Reports dictionary.

Drop-down list

A control type used to define data types that allow users to select one item from a list. The integer value corresponding to the position of the item chosen, not the item’s static text value, is stored when the user’s selection is saved.

Expression

A sequence of operands and operators that are evaluated to return a value.

Field

A field contains a single piece of information used by the application dictionary.

Footer

A report section that is printed at the bottom of a report, page, or group. Reports can include report footers, page footers and additional footers.

Format

The extra characters, spacing, and attributes that can be applied to a data type when data is displayed.

Format field

An integer field that specifies the format to use for a string or currency field.

Format string

A data “mask” used for string and composite formats. The format string allows extra characters to appear in a field without affecting the way data in the field is stored.

Global variable

A variable available to any report or calculated field in the application at any time.

Graphics report

A report on which graphics, colors (if the printer has color capabilities), patterns, and fonts other than the default font can be printed.

Header

A report section that is printed at the top of a report, page, or group. Reports can include report headers, page headers, and additional headers.

HTML

HyperText Markup Language. Reports created with the Report Writer can be exported to HTML files.

Key

A field or combination of fields within a record that is used as a basis by which to store, retrieve, and sort records.

Key segment

One field of a group of fields that compose a key.

Keyable length

The number of characters that can be displayed by a field.

Launch file

A file that is used to start an application with the runtime engine. This file stores the location of the dictionaries that will be used, including the application dictionary and the reports dictionary.

Layout window

A window that allows you to design the layout of a report.

List box

A control type used to define data types that allow users to select one static text value from a list.

MAPI

An acronym for Mail Application Program Interface. If you have a MAPI-compliant mail system, you can mail reports to other users.

Modified reports

A copy of an original report that you have made changes to. Modified reports are stored in the Reports dictionary. A modified report can be substituted for an original report in the accounting system.

Multi-select list box

A control type used to define fields from which one or more static text values can be selected.

Numeric expression

An expression that results in a numeric value.

One-to-many

A type of relationship between two tables. For every record in the first table, there are many records in the second table that are related to it. For example, an invoice header table contains a list of invoices, while an invoice line item table contains a list of the items on each invoice. For one invoice in the first table, there are many line items in the second table, so there’s a one-to-many relationship between the tables. The relationship between two tables is viewed or defined in the Table Relationship Definition window.

One-to-one

A type of relationship between two tables. For every record in the first table, there is only one corresponding record that is related to it in the second table. The relation between two tables is viewed or defined in the Table Relationship Definition window.

Operand

An item in an expression that is acted on by an operator.

Operator

A symbol that indicates the action to perform on the operands in an expression.

Order of precedence

The order in which the operations are carried out for an expression. The traditional order of precedence for numeric expressions is: first unary minus, then exponentiation, followed by multiplication, division, and modulus, then addition and subtraction, and finally shift, equality, and logical operations. This is also referred to as the order of evaluation.

Original report

A report that was provided with the accounting system. You can make modified versions of original reports.

Overflow

The condition that occurs in a numeric expression when an intermediate or final result of the expression is too large to be stored by the type of data used in the expression.

Package files

Special text files that are used to deliver customizations made with the Modifier, VBA, and the Report Writer.

Picture library

A feature in the Report Writer that allows you to store graphics in a generic format that can be used on any supported platforms.

Pixel

The smallest graphical element displayed on a monitor. The pixel is the smallest unit of measurement in layout windows. You can move objects one pixel at a time within a layout window by using the arrow keys on the keyboard.

Point size

The vertical size of a font. There are 72 points to an inch.

Precedence

The order in which operations are performed for a type of expression. See also Order of precedence.

Radio button

A control type used to define data types that allow a single selection to be made from a group of two or more selections. Radio buttons must be used with a radio group.

Radio group

A control type that’s used to group related radio buttons and store the value of the selected button. A radio group’s value is stored as an integer corresponding to the selected radio button’s position in the tab sequence, beginning with 0. For instance, if the second radio button in the tab sequence is selected, the radio group’s value is 1.

Record

A collection of data made up of one instance of each field in a table.

Relationship

See Table relationship.

Report field

In the Calculated Field Definition window, a report field is a field with a modified display type. Report fields can be used in conditional and calculated expressions in calculated fields.

Report template document

A Microsoft Word document that defines the layout and formatting for a report that can generated in Microsoft Word format.

Reports dictionary

The dictionary that stores modified reports from the main dictionary and new reports created with the Report Writer. The reports dictionary is created when the Report Writer is accessed for the first time. All reports you modify or create with the Report Writer are stored in the reports dictionary.

Reports Library

A special web site that contains reports have already had common modifications made to them.

Resource

An object such as a field, string, native picture, table, window, or script that can be used to create applications in Dexterity.

Resource definition window

See Definition window.

Resource descriptions tool

A tool that displays information about the current dictionary’s fields, windows, and tables.

Resource list window

A window in the Report Writer that allows you to view all the resources of a particular type, such as fields.

Runtime engine

An application that’s used to interpret a dictionary. When a user starts an application, the runtime engine uses the resources in the dictionary to present a functioning application.

Series

A predefined category to which report and table resources are assigned. Series allow categorization of resources.

Static text value

Text that’s displayed as part of a data type, such as the items in a list box.

Storage type

One of the standard forms used to store the data in a field. The storage types are: boolean, integer, long, currency, variable currency, string, text, date, and time. The control type determines which storage type is used to store the data in the field.

String

A sequence of up to 255 ASCII characters. See also String resources.

String expression

An expression that results in a string value.

String resources

Sequences of up to 79 characters used throughout an application dictionary for window names, field prompts, static text values, and report text.

Table

A collection of related data formatted in rows. Each row represents a separate record, and each column represents a separate field.

Table relationship

A link between tables that have fields in common. These relationships allow the Report Writer to select fields from all of the related tables and use them on a single report. Table relationships are set up using the Table Relationship Definition window.

Template-enabled report

A report that can have Microsoft Word report template documents associated with it, and generate the report output in Microsoft Word format.

Text report

A report that can display only characters in a native printer font.

Toolbox

A window that opens in conjunction with the Report Layout window. It contains tools used to place and arrange items in the layout area.

Virtual table

A special type of table that allows data stored in separate tables to be read as if it had been stored in a single table.

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

A development system created by Microsoft that can be embedded into applications. VBA is embedded into the Report Writer, providing additional customization capabilities.

WYSIWYG

An acronym meaning “what you see is what you get.” This applies to intuitive design tools used to create reports in the Report Writer.


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