Suggestions & a bug

[howlettt]

I did a lot of research into different reporting software, and I must say this is the best one I've seen. I've used the demo and now the full version a fair bit and am quite pleased. There's just a few things I've noticed that I thought I would mention (note I am using the 2007.3 release, not any of the prereleases, so I apologize if any of these things have already been dealt with).

Designer Bug
1. Start a new report
2. Change “Title before Header” property to true for the page
3. Add a band (header, etc.)
4. Add a component (text, etc.)
5. Press control-z
6. Exception occurs

Some features that I think would make nice additions:
1. Option to only move bands when header is clicked, not when clicking the body (this would make drag selecting easier)
2. Start new page property for Report Summary band
3. Open up the edit property window when a variable in the dictionary side bar is double clicked
4. Allow multiline textboxes when using the text editor (not word wrap, actual line ends)
5. Splitter lines between components, cross bands and bands on the side toolbar
6. Aspect ratio property for the page Watermark
7. Context menu with a short description when mouse hovers over the little icons on the components/bands (like the toolbar buttons have)


Other (not sure if this is a bug or not)
- When you have two footers, both with Start New Page = True, only one new page is created

[Edward]

I did a lot of research into different reporting software, and I must say this is the best one I've seen.

Thank you very much for this words.

I've used the demo and now the full version a fair bit and am quite pleased. There's just a few things I've noticed that I thought I would mention (note I am using the 2007.3 release, not any of the prereleases, so I apologize if any of these things have already been dealt with).

Designer Bug
1. Start a new report
2. Change “Title before Header” property to true for the page
3. Add a band (header, etc.)
4. Add a component (text, etc.)
5. Press control-z
6. Exception occurs

Thank you for this bug. We'll fix it asap.

Some features that I think would make nice additions:
1. Option to only move bands when header is clicked, not when clicking the body (this would make drag selecting easier)
2. Start new page property for Report Summary band
3. Open up the edit property window when a variable in the dictionary side bar is double clicked
4. Allow multiline textboxes when using the text editor (not word wrap, actual line ends)
5. Splitter lines between components, cross bands and bands on the side toolbar
6. Aspect ratio property for the page Watermark
7. Context menu with a short description when mouse hovers over the little icons on the components/bands (like the toolbar buttons have)

Thank you very much for this suggestions. We'll post in this topic about results of our investigations.

Other (not sure if this is a bug or not)
- When you have two footers, both with Start New Page = True, only one new page is created

Yes, it is known a behavior. This property allows to decide which footer should begin the new page only. Anyway, new version of the report engine will be more flexible in the case of the StartNewPage property.
Now we are working hard on the completion of it and any suggestions about improving of existing properties are appreciated.

Thank you.

[Edward]

Please provide us with more information about this new features you want us to add:

1. Option to only move bands when header is clicked, not when clicking the body (this would make drag selecting easier)

5. Splitter lines between components, cross bands and bands on the side toolbar

What information should the context menu with a short description have?

when mouse hovers over the little icons on the components/bands (like the toolbar buttons have

All other improvements are clear.

Thank you.

[howlettt]

1. Option to only move bands when header is clicked (this would make drag selecting easier)

What I mean by this is right now when you click and drag on the working zone or the header of a band, you move the band. What I would like to see is a option to only move the band when you click on the header, not when you click and drag on the working zone. Instead, when you click and drag on the working zone, you would get the selection tool (like what happens when you click and drag on empty space on a page).



2. Splitter lines between components, cross bands and bands on the side toolbar

In the toolbox for the side toolbar, you can choose which bands, cross bands and components show on the toolbar. What I would like is splitter lines between the sections of these items on the toolbar (see example below of the default toolbar). I feel this would make the toolbar more organized.



3.Context menu with a short description when mouse hovers over the little icons on the components/bands (like the toolbar buttons have)

The text in the context menu would just be a short description describing what the button does. For example, on a header band, the description for the button could be something like “Alignment Lines”. Or for the text box button, it could be something like “Options”. What I'm thinking with these is to just give the user an idea of what those little buttons do, without them needing to test them to find out.


I hope this clears up your questions, let me know if it doesn't.

[Edward]

Thank you for describing. The ideas really is worth while!

Thank you very much.

[Siang Hwee]

Hi. Could I add 1 more, the capability of drawing an organization chart! :biggrin:

[Edward]

Hi. Could I add 1 more, the capability of drawing an organization chart! :biggrin:

Could you explain it in more detail, please?

Thank you.

[Siang Hwee]

I just wish the reporting engine allow us to draw a hierarchical chart or organizational chart. Currently i having my own engine to draw the chart in Image file, i just hope it will be easier for me to generate the chart thru stimulReport and export to pdf, excel and etc... I don't want to get my hand dirty on writing a org chart engine my own. With or without this organization chart capability, i will still use StimulReport. This is by far the best i ever found in the market. Keep your good works

sample of organization chart

Hi. Could I add 1 more, the capability of drawing an organization chart! :biggrin:

Could you explain it in more detail, please?

Thank you.

[Vital]

Hello,

6. Aspect ratio property for the page Watermark

This property will be available in build from 3 March.

Thank you.

[Vital]

Hello,

Designer Bug
1. Start a new report
2. Change “Title before Header” property to true for the page
3. Add a band (header, etc.)
4. Add a component (text, etc.)
5. Press control-z
6. Exception occurs

Fixed. Patch will be available in build from 3 March.

Thank you.