This chapter gives students a general overview of the Report Writer application and provides information on some of the different Report Writer configurations that can be implemented by users of the application. Individual report security is discussed and demonstrated, and the different types of reports are discussed and defined. The terminology used throughout the class is defined in this chapter. Students should complete the exercises available for this chapter after the discussion of the topics is complete to reinforce learning on the topics covered.

This chapter focuses on the Report Definition window and the functionality that can be selected on it. It also focuses on using sorts, which can be pre-defined or user-defined on any particular report. The chapter also examines the use of restrictions to reduce the amount of data that otherwise may appear on a report allowing users to focus their attention on the data they deem important. Exercises at the end of the chapter should be completed by students to reinforce learning on the topics in Chapter Two.

This chapter examines the many different options, functionalities, and tools that can be used to design or modify reports in Report Writer. Discussion and demonstration of features and options using the toolbox highlight most of the time spent on this chapter. Some of the features and options that are covered include placing a field on the layout, adding text or a label to a report, resizing text or fields, placing the date and time on a report, adding graphics or logos, using the divider tool to create columns on a report, using the arrange and tile tools, and many more.

There is also discussion on the different sections of a report, and what they typically contain in Report Writer. Each section is discussed, and time is spent on how users can include or exclude different sections of a report. The exercises at the end of the chapter should be completed by students to reinforce learning.

This chapter demonstrates how tables can be linked together so that reports will be able to pull data from multiple tables. There is discussion of linking rules and the two different types of links; one-to-one and one-to-many, that can be used when linking tables.

In addition to linking, the chapter also focuses on how additional headers and footers can be created as necessary on reports. The effects of sorts on additional headers is highlighted, and the exercises at the end of the section demonstrate how these report additions can be used to design sleek and informational reports to stakeholders in your company.

This chapter examines how array fields are used in Microsoft Great Plains and how they are uniquely stored and treated in Report Writer. Time is spent discussing the different field options that are available for fields that are placed on the report layout.

The creation of user-defined fields is discussed. Conditional and calculated expressions are demonstrated and examples given on how they can be used on reports. The concatenate functionality is discussed and is the focus of one of the exercises that is available at the end of the chapter that students should complete after the lecture on this chapter is finished.

This chapter examines the process of planning a new custom report in Report Writer. The discussion is centered on the recommended steps to go though to first determine if there is an existing report that could be used and slightly modified or if indeed we need a new custom report. In addition, the chapter spends some time on discussing how and where data resides in Microsoft Great Plains and how Report Writer can be used to access the necessary information needed for a report. There is a case study that students will complete to reinforce the planning process.

This chapter explains the process and steps to create a new table relationship. The chapter delves into the components and requirements of creating a new table relationship. There is also a discussion on keys that are used to link tables together and how they can affect the type of link that is created.

There is a short discussion on one-to-one and one-to-many relationships and the benefits of trying to create one-to-one relationships if possible.

This chapter examines the use of Data Types, Formats, and Strings in Microsoft Great Plains. Most changes to these items will generally not be made without Microsoft Great Plains Modifier, as changing this in Report Writer only affects reporting and how the information is displayed on reports. It will not change fields within the application.

This chapter shows how the Report Scheduler can be used to automate the report printing process. The chapter covers the necessary setup requirements, the printing routine, and the process to remove reports from the scheduled printing routine.

In this chapter, the Customization Maintenance window and process is discussed and demonstrated so that users can freely share and use modified reports. There is also some discussion of the reports dictionary files and how they are managed. The chapter also focuses some time on the older Import/Export options available and how they were used, especially in the conversion process, including a discussion of the validation process. At the end of this lesson, students will complete case studies to reinforce what they have learned in the course.