Styled Reports

Traditionally, flowcomputer reports are limited to producing simple, plain looking reports reports using just a single fixed width font style to convey the information. As these reports are generated by the flowcomputer, they cannot include information from other parts of the system.

Styled reports, on the other hand, use an integrated word processor to create high quality reports that can contain data from any point in the entire system so it is easy to build a report with data taken from multiple flowcomputers.

Text editing

The text editing pallete is used to format and style text. It contains all the standard features normally found in a word processor, allowing font, font size, colour, style, spacing and alignment to be controlled on a character-by-character basis.

Style changes apply to the current selection or currently selected text.

Graphics

To insert a graphic, select 'Insert Picture...' from the 'Report' menu. This will open a dialogue that will allow the image file to be selected. By default Acquire™ supports .bmp and .jpg files natively. These file formats can be extended by installing QuickTime.

Entering Fields Into the Report

The field window appears along the text editor. The tabs above allow users to browse by field types. Fields from specific flow computers can be seen by selecting the name of the flow computer using the drop down menu. Fields can be searched by entering the name of them in the field below.

To enter a field in to a styled report

Drag a field from the field window into the report

Click 'Insert' with a field highlighted

Field	Description
Name	Give the report a name. This name will be reflected in the report menu.
Period	Send the report by request, hourly, daily, weekly or monthly.
Base Time	Set the base time of the report.
Archive	If the 'Archive' checkbox is selected then the report will be saved as a text file on the disk in the report's directory at the end of the report's period.
Print	If the 'Print' checkbox is selected then a dropdown menu will appear showing all available printers on the network, click to select the printer. The report will be printed at the end of the report's period.
Email	If the 'Email' checkbox is selected then the report will be emailed to a specified email address at the end of the report's period. The report format can be specified as either text, PDF or HTML. Note: Ensure that the sender's email address has been set up as a valid address otherwise the report will be rejected by the recipient's mail server.