2010

LANSA Client Self-paced Lab

Copyright LANSA 2010

Visit http://www.lansa.com for more details

Table of Contents
Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Database File Structure and Relationships ..................................................................................... 2 Working with LANSA Client Administration.................................................................................... 3 Working with LANSA Client ............................................................................................................. 8 Run a Simple Shipped Query......................................................................................................... 12 Enhance Query Results, Report and Chart ................................................................................... 18 Editing Data ................................................................................................................................... 33 Build, Execute and Save a Join Query ........................................................................................... 36 Build, Execute and Save a Linked Query ....................................................................................... 42 Generate an Application ............................................................................................................... 51 Creating a Report with Crystal Reports ........................................................................................ 60 Customizing a Report .................................................................................................................... 74 [IMPORTANT] Logoff the Lab PC ................................................................................................... 86

LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Overview
In this LANSA Client self-paced lab, you will focus on building queries and reports using LANSA Client V11.5 and Crystal Reports XI. It is intended for end users and/or developers responsible for designing and implementing Ad-hoc or prepared queries and reports. Analyzing data, data integration, charting and the report designer are also discussed.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Database File Structure and Relationships

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Working with LANSA Client Administration

Introducing the LANSA Client Administrator will be covered in these steps:

Step Step Step Step

1- Starting LANSA Client Administration 2 - Configuring General Options 3 - Configuring a Host 4 - More Configuring General Options

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Starting LANSA Client Administration

a. On the PC, click START button (lower left corner of the desktop), point to All Programs, point to LANSA Client and then click LANSA Client Administration icon. Alternatively, from the LANSA Client folder on the PC desktop, locate and double-click the LANSA Client Administration Icon.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Configuring General Options

a. Choose these options for this exercise: DDE Support: Application Generation Support: When saving results: Default Join Type: Do not click this checkbox Click this checkbox Select the Field Label Select Matched Records

b. Click the Save button.

The LANSA Client Administrator dialog box shows you the hosts to which you could be connected and allows you to specify the options you would prefer to use in your LANSA Client environment. The options you select on this dialog box apply to LANSA Client in general, rather than when you are connected to a particular host.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Configuring a Host

a. Click the Add Host button to specify a new host.

The Host Configuration Details dialog box allows you to define a host system to the LANSA Client environment as well as options relating to the use of that host system. b. Enter these values for this exercise: Host Name: Host Description: Host Partition: Host Language: User: Password: Maximum Records Allowed: Priority: Allow Inserts/Updates: Allow Deletes: Display Object Names: Display Logical Files: Use Library List: *LOCAL (must be uppercase) LANSA Music Store DEM ENG PCXUSER (must be uppercase) PCXUSER (must be uppercase) 0 25 Click this checkbox Click this checkbox Click this checkbox Click this checkbox Do not click this checkbox

c. Click the OK button to save your configured Host details.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 4. More Configuring General Options

a. Click the Save button again. b. Now click the Exit button.

The options you have defined are written to the LANSA Client configuration file, LC32.LCX. Before you can use a new or changed LANSA Client environment, you must close and start LANSA Client again. Language The Language allows you to select the language in which you wish to run LANSA Client. The default is English. You can also use this option to change the font attributes used for the Results window. Query Location: The Query Location allows you to specify the location of saved queries, if it is different to the default (C:\Program Files\LANSA Client). DateTime Results Format: The DateTime Results Format allows you to specify the format in which the Date and Time fields are saved to either Excel or dBase files.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Working with LANSA Client

1. Starting LANSA Client
a. On the PC, click START button (lower left corner of the desktop), point to All Programs, point to LANSA Client and then click the LANSA Client icon. Alternatively, from the LANSA Client folder on the PC desktop, locate and double-click the LANSA Client Icon.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

b. Select LANSA Music Store from the list of available hosts.

c. Click the OK button. Alternatively, you could simply double-click on LANSA Music Store line.
If you only have one host system to connect too, the Select Host dialog will not be shown. You will be logged in automatically.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

When a connection between the workstation and the host you have selected is established, the LANSA Client Main Window is displayed; otherwise, the LANSA Client Alternate Window is displayed. LANSA Client Main Window

The LANSA Client main window is available when connected to the host. It contains the standard windows facilities which include: - Maximize and minimize buttons in the top right corner. - The system menu icon in the top left corner. - A title bar across the top of the window. - A menu bar just below the title bar. - A tool bar just below the menu bar. - A status bar at the bottom of the window. The status bar is used to display: - information about the file you have selected - the host system and partition you are currently connected to - the status of your query, when it is running.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

LANSA Client Alternate Window

If a connection cannot be established to the host, the LANSA Client alternate window is displayed. In this case, you will need to restart the signing on process, after you have investigated the reason for not connecting to the host. This window is displayed when: - LANSA Client cannot connect to the host system when it starts. - you have disconnected from the host system you have been working with. - you have clicked the Cancel button on the Host Select dialog box and put LANSA Client into a "disconnected" state. From this window you can either: - exit from LANSA Client by selecting the Exit command from the File menu. - connect to a host system by selecting the Host menu and choosing the Connect command and following the Host Selection procedure. - force a refresh of the Local Data Dictionary by selecting the File menu and choosing the Refresh Local Data Dictionary option. If you choose this option, the Refresh Local Data Dictionary dialog box is displayed so that you can select the Local Data Dictionary that you wish to refresh.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Run a Simple Shipped Query

A sample LANSA Client query is supplied with LANSA Client. This sample query retrieves data from only one file, so it is called a "simple" query. Running a simple query for this exercise will require these steps: Step 1 - Open an Existing Query Step 2 Review Selection Conditions for the Query Step 3 - Execute the Query

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Open an Existing Query

a. From the toolbar select the File menu then choose the Open command. Alternatively, you could select the Open an existing query icon on the toolbar, or use the accelerator key combination (Ctrl + O) that is shown beside the Open command. b. Use the Open dialog box to search for the LMS Sales History.LCQ file. This file can be found in the C:\Program Files\LANSA Client\ directory. c. Open the LMS Sales History.LCQ, file using the Open button.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

d. From the toolbar select the Options menu then uncheck Display Object Names by clicking on it until the check-mark beside it disappears.

Note In this window, the field and file names are displayed beside their field and file descriptions. To remove these names, go to the Options menu, select Display Object Names and click on it to remove the checkmark.

In the Query window, you will see the "definition" of the query that you have opened. That is, in the Selected File area: - the Name of the primary file selected for the query, in this case, the Sales History file. - all the fields in the Sales History file. - the fields selected for the query. They have a checkmark over their icon. in the Selected Fields (columns) area: - the fields that have been selected for this query. in the Defined Links to Queries area: - the LMS Sales History Query. Only this query is displayed, as there are no linked queries.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Review Selection Condition for the Query
a. From the toolbar select the Options menu and then choose the Field Conditions command. Alternatively, you could select the Set field conditions... icon from the toolbar. The Field Conditions dialog box is opened.

Note asterisk on field indicates there is a condition for it

Field Conditions You can see that a field has a condition attached when there is an asterisk (*) to the left of the field's name in the Selected Fields area of the Query window. Do you see the asterisk next to Artist Name in this exercise's Query window? This sample query already has a field condition defined. In this case, it selects all Artist/Album records except for Madonna. You can lean more about Field Conditions by clicking the Help button on the Field Conditions dialog.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

b. Click the Cancel button to dismiss the Field Conditions dialog box. You are returned to the Query window.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Execute the Query

a. From the toolbar select the Query menu and choose the Execute command. Alternatively, you could select the Execute (run) the current query icon from the toolbar or use this command's accelerator keys (Ctrl + E)

LANSA Client will now execute the query on the host system. While it is doing this, it will display messages in the Status Bar to inform you of the progress of the query. The results of the query are displayed in a spreadsheet-like data viewer. This is known as the Results window.
To quickly adjust the column width in the Result window, position the cursor in the column header area, over one of the divider lines and then double-click. Repeat for each column header that is to be resized.

Leave this Result window open, to use in Exercise 4 - Enhance Query Results, Report and Chart.
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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Enhance Query Results, Report and Chart

LANSA Client allows you to present your data in a variety of ways. Once you have a query's results in the Results window, you can: Add totals, sort the data, group it and contract or expand it Display it in a report format Display it as a chart or graph Copy some of it onto the System Clipboard and paste it into another application Change or delete the data and insert new records. Before you can do this exercise, you will need to have created the sample query as described in Exercise 3 - Run a Simple Shipped Query. When your query is ready to run, you can learn ways to enhance it using these steps: Step Step Step Step Step Step Step 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Add Summaries Group your Results Contract and Expand your Results Display the Results using a Report Format Chart Results Customize the Chart Use the HotGraphing Facility

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Add Summaries

Next, define some summaries for your results. A summary can be the result of an evaluation, a summation, or a calculation. a. First, with your mouse pointer, click somewhere in the Results window, right click on your mouse to open the pop-up context menu. b. Select the Summary Options command to open the Summary Options dialog box. In this dialog box, you can define the summaries you require for the numeric fields in your query. Alternatively, you can open the Summary Options using the Set the summary options icon on the toolbar. c. Request Minimum, Maximum, and Sum for Album Sale Quantity for each of the selected records. A checkmark will be inserted when each box is selected. d. Request a Count of the records by clicking on the Count option for the Album Sale Month. e. When done, click the OK button.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

f. You are returned to the Result window. Scroll to the bottom of this window and you will see new rows for each summary you have requested.

To quickly adjust the column width in the Result window, position the cursor in the column header area, on one of the divider lines and then double-click. Repeat for each column header that is to be resized.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Group your Results

A group is a set of records that are related to each other in some way. In the files supplied for this exercise, the records are related by Artist and Album. a. Display the pop-up menu of available commands by clicking somewhere in the Results window, then right click on your mouse to open the pop-up context menu. b. Select the Group By command to open the Group By dialog box. Alternatively, you could select it using the Set the result grouping options icon on the toolbar.

All the fields defined for the query are displayed in the Query fields list in the Group By dialog box. c. You are going to group the data according to Artist Name & Album Title. To do this, double-click on the Artist Name in Query fields or alternatively, select the Artist Name and click on the Add button. You will notice that Artist Name is immediately displayed in the Group By fields list. Repeat this step for the Album Title.

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d. Click the Summary Options apply to grouped fields checkbox to have the summary totals calculated for each group.

e. When done, click the OK button. The Results window will now show the new results.

Any numeric columns including dates and times will also be summarized.

f. Scroll through the Results window. You will see that there are additional rows for each Album. This is the result of applying the grouping conditions. Notice that at the end of the results you still have the totals which apply to all the records in the query.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Collapse and Expand your Results
You can further manipulate the presentation of your data by collapsing and expanding the rows in the Results window. a. Click on the right mouse button to bring up the pop-up window and select Collapse Group command. Alternatively, you can open the Collapse icon on the toolbar of the Result window. b. You can repeat this command until only the final totals are shown. c. Select the Expand Group command from the pop-up window to see the effect on the data in your Results window. Alternatively, you can open the Expand icon on the toolbar of the Result window. d. You can repeat this command until only the details are shown.
Expand Group & Collapse Group If you have specified grouping conditions, the Expand and Collapse Group commands allow you to expand and contract the grouped results. Before you can expand or contract information, you must first specify the groups in which you wish to group your data under the Group By options. Use the Collapse Group command to hide the display of the query's details so that you can easily see the group totals. Then use the Expand Group command to see the details again. Using the Collapse Group command, you can collapse the rows until only the grand totals are displayed.

Leave the results fully expanded for the next step, Step 4. Display the Results using a Report Format.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 4. Display the Results using a Report Format
LANSA Client comes with Crystal Reports, a powerful Report Writer. A report for the sample query is supplied. In this step, LANSA Client will find the LMS Sales History report format and display the results in the report's layout. a. Your results must be expanded to show details (see previous exercise). b. From the toolbar select the Results menu then choose the Report command. Alternatively, you could select the Display results using a report icon from the toolbar. A new window is displayed with the results of the query in the report layout specified for the query.

So that LANSA Client can automatically find the report belonging to this query: the query file, its result file, and the report file all share the same file name of LMS Sales History. That is: LMS Sales History.LCQ is the query's definition. LMS Sales History.MDB is the query's results. LMS Sales History.RPT is the query's report.

c. Close the Report window only. Leave the Result window active, so that you can continue to Step 5. Chart Results.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 5. Chart Results

Before you can create this chart, your Result window must be the focus and have all the details displayed. a. If the Result window does not have the focus, click on its title bar. Alternatively, from the toolbar you could select the Window menu and choose the LMS Sales History Result option from the list.

b. If the details are not all displayed, select the Expand Group command. Repeat selecting the Expand group command until you see only the details.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Now you will chart the sales quantity for Michael Jacksons Thriller Album, in year 2005. c. Select Michael Jacksons Thriller data for year 2005 by clicking on the cells of each Album Sale Quantity while holding down the Shift key or alternatively, click and drag the cursor over the Album Sales Quantity cells.

d. Sales QuanWhen all the cells you require have been highlighted, select from the toolbar the Result menu and then choose the Chart command. Alternatively, you could select the Create a chart icon on the toolbar.

A Chart window is displayed showing the rows you selected as a 3dimensional Bar Chart. This is LANSA Client's default chart type.

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e. From the toolbar select the Chart menu and choose 3D Pie chart type from the list. Notice that the Chart window instantly displays the same data in a 3D Pie chart. This is how you can quickly change the Chart Type.

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f. Special Effects with Pie Charts

You can explode or "lift out" a portion of a pie chart by pressing the <Shift> key while clicking with your mouse pointer on the portion of the chart you want to explode. Repeat the same action to toggle between exploding and not exploding portions of the chart.

To explode all the portions of the pie chart, press the <Ctrl> and <Shift> keys simultaneously and, while keeping these keys pressed, click on any portion of the chart. This action will explode all the portions of a pie chart. Repeat the same action to toggle between exploding and not exploding the pie chart.
Note: Pie charts are not suitable to use when you have selected more than one column to chart.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 6. Customize the Chart

a. From the toolbar select the Chart menu and then choose the Options command. Alternatively, you could select the the toolbar of the Charting window. The Chart Option dialog box is displayed. b. In the Chart Options dialog box, change as many details of the chart as you would like. For example: Change Change Change Change Change Change Chart Title to be Sales Quantity for 2005 Left Title to be Month Bottom Title to be Albums Sold Chart Type to be 3D Bar Chart Style to be Horizontal Legend Column to be Album Sale Month Configure Chart icon on

Have you noticed that each time you change an option associated with the chart, the sample chart displayed in the top right hand corner of the dialog box reflects the new option.

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c. When done, click the OK button to apply the changes. You are returned to the Chart window. Note that the Chart window now displays your new options.

d. Retain this chart as a 3-dimensional Bar chart for the next step, Step 7. Use the HotGraphing Facility.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 7. Use the HotGraphing Facility

LANSA Client's HotGraphing facility allows you to instantly find the actual data in the Results window that makes up any portion of a chart. To use the HotGraphing facility, you need to display both the Results and Chart windows from the preceding steps. a. Locate and Minimize the Query Window only. b. From the toolbar select the Windows menu and then choose the Tile command to display your windows side by side.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Now you are ready to HotGraph. Let's say that you want to look at the actual figures that make up the portion of your chart for Michael Jacksons Thriller for the month of February 2005. c. To do this, click on the bar representing February 2005 (where Album Sale Month = 2). Did you see that the corresponding row of data was immediately highlighted in the Results window? d. Try selecting another portion of your chart to interrogate. e. When you have finished, close the Chart window and the Result window. f. Maximize your Query window for the next exercise, Exercise 5 - Edit Data.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Editing Data
1. Editing Data
You must modify the sample query to allow you to edit the data for the exercise. a. From the toolbar select the Options menu and then choose the Sort Options command. Alternatively, you could select the Set the sort options icon from the toolbar. The Sort Options dialog box is opened.

b. Click the Display field in results checkbox for Artist ID and Album ID. c. When done, click the OK button. d. Execute the current query by selecting the toolbar menu for Query and choose the Execute command. Alternatively, you could select the Execute (run) the current query icon from the toolbar or use this command's accelerator keys (Ctrl + E). Now to change the data you have retrieved from the host. This is done from the Result window, so you need to make it the active window. e. If the Results window is not the active window, click on its title bar. Alternatively, use the option described in Exercise 4, Step 5.a f. If the details are not all displayed, use the Expand Group command until they are.

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g. Select any row in the Results window by clicking on its Row Number. h. From the toolbar select the Results menu then choose the Edit Row command. Alternatively, right-click to open the pop-up menu and choose the Edit Row command. When the Edit Row dialog box opens, it is automatically formatted to match the data in the row you have selected.

You can change the details displayed provided you have the authority to do so.
You will not be able to change the key fields such as the Artist ID, Album ID, Album Sale Year and Album Sale Month.

i.

If you have changed some details, click the Update button.

j. Click the Next button to display the next row. You do not need to return to the Results window to select another row.
If you are changing a record with many fields, you may need to use the scroll bar located to the right of the box to scroll down to the bottom.

k. Click the Close button to dismiss the Edit Row dialog box.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Getting Help about Field Definitions.
a. To get this help, press the Shift and F1 keys at the same time or select the query icon from the toolbar. A question mark will be attached to your cursor's pointer. Drag the to the Artist Name box. When you click the mouse button again, LANSA Client will retrieve the help text for the Artist Name from the Repository and display it in a pop-up window in the language defined for the host system.

Can you see how really useful LANSA Client can be? You did not have to define any of these screens, any of the business rules or any of the help text. As the business rules and your authority for making changes are defined in the Repository, you will not be able to change data or bypass the business rules to make unacceptable modifications under any circumstances.

b. To close the Help window, click the OK button. c. Return to the Query window and select the Close command from the File menu on the toolbar. All related windows will also be closed. d. If prompted to save the query, click the NO button.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Build, Execute and Save a Join Query

When you create a query that obtains data from more than one file, it is called a Join query. With LANSA Client you can build Join queries very easily. You will build, execute and save a join query using these steps:

Step 1 - Build a Join Query Step 2 - Execute a Join Query Step 3 - Save a Join Query

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Build a Join Query

The supplied LMS Sales History query is a Simple query that retrieves data from a single file. You would typically create queries that obtain data from more than one file. This is called a Join query. With LANSA Client you can build Join queries very easily. The sample query could include additional information relating to the Artists Album. You will use the sample query as the basis of a new Join query which will include the Album Release Date and Album Price which are found in the related Album file. Before creating this Join query, close any open Query and Results windows. a. Open the sample query as you did before, by selecting the File menu on the Main Window and choosing the Open command. b. When the Open Query dialog box appears, select the LMS Sales History.LCQ and click the Open button, or simply double-click on it.

When you create a query, you must first choose a file to be the primary file. In this case, the primary file is the Sales History file. You can easily identify the primary file because its name is displayed in the title bar of the Selected File area.
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Once a file has been "selected" by double clicking on its file name, all the fields in the file and the files that are related to the file are displayed. Related files are defined in the Repository on the host using LANSA's Access Route Definitions. Related files are indented beneath the selected file and represented by this icon if closed, or this icon if opened.

c. Locate the Album Details file in the Selected File area of the Query window and select it by also double-clicking on the file name. The fields for the Album Details file will be immediately displayed, indented in the Selected File area.

d. Add the Album Release Date to your query by dragging the Album Release Date from the Selected File area and dropping it into the Selected Fields area immediately below Album Sale Quantity. e. Repeat this process by locating the Album Price and dragging and dropping it immediately after the Album Release Date.
You can re-sequence the fields in the Selected Fields area by using the left-mouse-click on a field and dragging them up or down in the list and releasing them between two other fields.

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LANSA Client and Join Query
You have just constructed a join query which spans two files without having to specify any fields to join the files together. LANSA Client took care of the join logic for you. If you want to see the fields which are used to join the files, select the Field Conditions command from the Options menu. The Conditions list box in the Field Conditions dialog box shows you the fields which are used to join the files.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Execute a Join Query

a. You can now execute the Join query. b. Select the method of executing the query which you prefer or return to Step 3. Execute the Query in Exercise 3 for a reminder. This query may run a bit slower than the earlier queries because it retrieves its data from two files. Once the query is executed, the results are displayed in a Results window.

Note that the Album Release Date and Album Price are displayed. You have just created a query that accesses two files to produce the results in a single window.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Save a Join Query

a. Select the Query window's title bar to make it the active window. Alternatively, use the option described in Exercise 4, Step 5.1 b. With the focus now on the Query window, select the File menu from the menu bar and choose the Save As command. The Save As dialog box appears.

c. Give the query file a name, for example, My Tutorial Join Query in the File Name. d. Click the Save button to save the query. The Save Query dialog box is closed and you are returned to the Query window. e. Close the Query by selecting the Close command from the File menu. This query will be used in Exercise 8 - Generate an Application.

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Build, Execute and Save a Linked Query

A linked query is made up of two or more queries linked together. This allows the results of one query to be used as the selection criteria for another query, giving you the ability to drill down into your data only when you want to. With linked queries, you do not have to retrieve large amounts of data in case you may want to look at the details of a particular item. In this exercise you will create a query to obtain a list of Albums. From this query you will randomly select an Album and then you will Run the Linked Query as a Reviews by Album query to obtain the reviews of the selected album. To do this you must perform these steps:

Step Step Step Step Step Step

1 2 3 4 5 6

Create the first query Select the fields for the first query Define the link for the second query Select the fields for the linked or second query Save the Linked Query Run the Linked Query

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Create the first query

You will start with a query using the Album Details file, so that you can see all the Albums that are available. a. To create a new query, select the toolbar menu File and then choose the New command. Alternatively, you could select the associated icon on the toolbar or use the accelerator keys (Ctrl + N). When a new Query window is displayed, the: File to Select From area shows all accessible files.
o o o You can recognize a physical file by the orange folder icon: You can recognize a logical file by the green folder icon: Logical files are list immediately under their associated physical file.

Selected Fields (Columns) area shows you the fields included in the query. Initially this area will be blank. There are several field types in a file. You can recognize them by:
o o o Key fields: Normal fields: (key icon) (orange icon) (blue icon)

Virtual fields and Pre-determined join fields:

Defined Links to Queries area shows the queries that are linked together. An indented query indicates that it can be called by the query above it. Initially this area will be blank.

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File Filter Options If there are a large number of files in the File to Select From area and you are only interested in part of them, you can apply a File Filter to limit the number of files displayed. The File Filter facility is available from the Options menu. The File Filter dialog box lets you specify a "filter". A filter is a string of characters that the file names or file descriptions have to match. You can indicate whether the filter applies to the file names or file descriptions. The default is to apply the filter to file descriptions. If the filter applies to file descriptions, then case sensitivity might matter. You can use the wildcard character '*' or "%" in your filter. Examples: Filter '*Customer*' on file description will find all files that have a description containing "Customer". Filter "CUS*" on file name will find all files that have a name starting with "CUS".

b. The name of the files used for this exercise all start with X. To display only the files whose names start with X, from the toolbar select the Options menu and then choose the File Filter command.

Choose these options for this exercise: Filter: Display files with Use case sensitivity: c. Click the OK button In the File to Select From area, select the Album Details file by double clicking on its name. Immediately, the fields in the Album Details file are listed beneath the file name and the file's name is inserted into the title bar of the area. This file is now identified as the primary file of your query. Enter the value X* Click this checkbox Do not click this checkbox

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Select the fields for the first query
a. Drag the Artist Name from the Selected File area into the Selected Fields area. b. Drag the Album Title from the Selected File area into the Selected Fields area. You have just created a query that will list all the available albums.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Define the link for the second query
a. Locate the Reviews by Artist/Album file in the Selected File area and drag it into the Defined Links to Queries area.

When your mouse button is released, in the Defined Links to Queries area you will see the Reviews by Artist/Album file indented beneath the folder representing the first query. The fields you moved into the Selected Fields area are no longer displayed. You are now ready to select the fields for the secondary query.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 4. Select the fields for the linked or second query
a. Drag the DateTime and User Review Comments, one by one, from the Selected File area into the Selected Fields area. Alternatively, you could select them by double clicking on their name in the Selected File area.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 5. Save the Linked Query

a. With the focus on the Query window, select the File menu from the toolbar and then choose the Save As command. The Save As dialog box is displayed.

b. Give the query file a name, for example My Tutorial Linked Query.LCQ in the File Name. c. Click the Save button to save the query. The Save As dialog box is closed and you are returned to the Query window. You have just created and saved a linked or drill down query, from the Album Details file to the Reviews by Artist/Album file.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 6. Run the Linked Query

First run the Primary Query a. Execute the My Tutorial Linked Query. Select the method of executing a query which you prefer or return to Step 3. Execute the Query for a reminder. All the Albums in the Album Details file will be displayed in the Results window. Select an Album for the Linked Query Imagine that you want to look at the reviews of a particular album, say, The Eagles, Hotel California album. b. In the Results window, select the row of data which contains The Eagles, Hotel California album. c. To execute the linked query, select the Results menu from the toolbar and choose the Linked Queries command. This will display a drop down menu.
Alternatively, you can display a pop-up menu of available commands by clicking on the right mouse button and choose the Linked Queries command.

d. Select the Reviews by Artist/Album command from the drop down or pop-up menu. This will execute the secondary query using The Eagles, Hotel California data as its selection criteria.

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Another Results window is displayed to show you the reviews on The Eagles, Hotel California album.

To resize columns in the Result window, refer to Exercise 3, step 3.1 To show all the opened query and result windows, select the toolbar Windows menu and then choose the Tile command to display your windows side by side. e. Repeat the process for another album to see how LANSA Client executes the linked query.
As you have seen, LANSA Client provides you with the ability to build queries which can span multiple files and allow you to drill down from one file to another, without you having to write a single line of programming code.

f. Close the Linked Query by selecting the Close command from the File menu on the toolbar. All related windows will also be closed. You have now completed the Linked Query Exercise.

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Generate an Application
Using a generated application, you can "package" one or more queries into a stand-alone application which you can start without first starting LANSA Client. This exercise shows you how to generate a stand-alone application based on the query you created in exercises: Exercise 6 - Build, Execute and Save a Join Query Exercise 7 - Build, Execute and Save a Linked Query When you have finished this exercise, you will be able to run the Sample query, the Join query and the Linked query without first starting LANSA Client. If you have not done the previous exercises to create and save the queries used in this exercise, then any query that you have saved can be used. These are the steps required to generate and application:

Step Step Step Step Step Step Step

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Create a New Generated Application Define your Application Add a menu to the application's menu bar Add Commands to the new Queries Menu Add more Commands to the new Menu Run the Generated Application Distribute a Generated Application

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Create a New Generated Application

a. Select the Main Window's toolbar File menu and then choose the Generate command. The Generated Applications dialog box is displayed.

The Generated Applications dialog box shows you a list of existing LANSA Client generated applications. Initially this list will be blank. b. Select the New button. The Generate Application dialog box is displayed.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Define your Application

In the Generate Application dialog box, you define your application's characteristics and select the queries to be included. a. Give your new application a name, by entering iiiSample in the Application Name entry box. (replace iii with your initials) b. Give the application an executable name, by entering iiiSample in the Executable Name entry box. (replace iii with your initials)

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Add a menu to the application's menu bar
To give you a quick start with your new query, you are provided with a ready to use menu bar containing menus and commands. These are the basic commands, such as File, Print and so on and they are listed in the Generate Application's Menu box when it is opened. You cannot modify these commands. For each query packaged in your application, you will need to add a command to your menu bar in order to start the query. In this exercise, these commands will be added to a new item in the menu bar.

a. Add a new menu to the menu bar by placing your mouse pointer on any item in the Menu box and pressing the Add button. Do you see the additional blank entry that has been added above the Options item in the Menu box? This will become a menu on your application's menu bar. b. Give the new menu a name, by entering &Queries in the Menu Text entry box.

What you have done is added a menu item called Queries to the menu bar with Q as its short cut key. The '&' character does not appear, but it causes the Q character to be underlined.
To create a short cut key for a menu item, insert an ampersand (&) immediately to the left of the character you would like to use. For example &Queries will cause the keys <Alt> and <Q> to be used as short cut keys for this menu and Queries to be displayed on the menu bar. If you entered, instead, Q&ueries, the shortcut keys would be <Alt> and <U>.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 4. Add Commands to the new Queries Menu
You will need to add one command for each query that you include in your application. a. To create a new command, highlight the menu item immediately below your new Queries menu item and click the Add button. A new entry will be added above the menu item you highlighted. b. Give the entry a name, by typing &Simple Query in the Menu Text box. As Simple Query is to be a subcommand of the Queries menu, you need to indent it beneath the Queries menu in the list. c. To do this, keep the Simple Query entry selected and then click the right arrow button,once. This indents the Simple Query entry to the right by one position. d. While Simple Query is highlighted, select LMS Sales History.LCQ from the Query To Execute list.

You now have a subcommand in the Queries menu. This command is called Simple Query and has the letter S as its short cut key. When you select this command, it will execute the Sample Query which was used earlier in this exercise.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 5. Add more Commands to the new Menu
Now to add the commands for the Join and Linked queries. a. Highlight the menu item immediately below your new Simple Query menu item and click the Add button. A new entry will be added above the menu item you highlighted. b. Type &Join Query in the Menu Text box. Indent your new command beneath the Queries menu item by clicking the right arrow button at the bottom of the box.

Select the My Tutorial Join Query.LCQ from the Query to Execute list.

c. Highlight the menu item immediately below your new Join Query menu item and click the Add button. A new entry will be added above the menu item you highlighted. d. Type &Linked Query in the Menu Text box. Indent your new command beneath the Queries menu item clicking the right arrow button at the bottom of the box. Select the My Tutorial Linked Query.LCQ from the Query to Execute list.

e. If your commands are not in the desired sequence, re-arrange them using the up and down arrows.
You may wish to attach a different icon to this application. The LANSA Client icon in the top right corner of this dialog box is the icon that will be used unless you replace it. To change the icon, select the Change button and then select an icon from your own files using the browse dialog box.

f.

Select the Host System to be associated with this application. Click the check box for Associate Host System. Select the LANSA Music Store from the list of hosts.

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You are now ready to generate the LANSA Client application. Check that you have selected a Query to Execute for each of you new menu items. If you have not, an error message will be displayed and the Generate will be cancelled. g. Click the Generate button. LANSA Client will generate the application. h. Reply Yes to the message telling you that your new applications will be stored in the APPS directory. (There is no option for you to choose or change the directory.)

i. If you are prompted with a message similar to the following, click the Yes button, to overwrite any files in the APPS directory:

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 6. Run the Generated Application

a. Start the generated application by selecting the LANSA Client group from the Windows Start menu. On the PC, click the START button (lower left corner of the desktop), point to All Programs, then point to LANSA Client. b. Click on the iiiSample application in the LANSA Client menu. ( iii should be your initials)

Note that you do not have to start LANSA Client first. In the Sample application's Main window, did you notice that LANSA Client has included your new Queries menu in the menu bar?

c. One by one, select the commands in your Queries menu to run the queries. d. Close the Generated Application. e. If prompted to disconnect, click the Yes button.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 7. Distribute a Generated Application

You can distribute any generated application to other workstations, provided the workstation has LANSA Client installed. By distributing generated applications, you allow others to use your queries without having to build the queries themselves. From the source PC where you ran LANSA Client's Generate Application, you would locate the APPS sub-directory and copy it to the LANSA Client root directory on the target PCs. You have now completed the Application Generation exercise.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

Creating a Report with Crystal Reports

You can analyze and print your data within the LANSA/Client query and chart facilities, but if you want to use different fonts and colors, add your company logo, titles, etc., or use complex formulas to analyze your data further, you should use Crystal Reports for LANSA. In this exercise you will create a report using the Standard Report Wizard. A reporting wizard is a template facility which guides you through the steps of creating a specific kind of report. There are Wizards for several report types. This exercise is intended to show you a quick and easy way to create a standard report. These are the steps required to create a report:

Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step

1 - Start Crystal Reports 2 - Select a Report Wizard 3 - Select a Database 4 - Select Database Fields 5 - Group the Data 6 - Add Summary Information 7 - Group Sorting 8 - Charting 9 - Record Selection 10 - Select a Template 11 - Generate the Report 12 - Save the Report

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Start Crystal Reports

a. Return to the LANSA Client Main Window. b. From the LANSA Client Main Window toolbar select the Results menu and then choose the Report Designer command.

LANSA Client will execute Crystal Reports. Alternatively, you can start Crystal Reports from the windows Start button, point to All Programs, point to BusinessObjects XI, point to Crystal Reports and then click Crystal Reports XI icon.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Select a Report Wizard

a. Click the Start Page tab if the Start Page is not already visible in Crystal Reports.

The New Reports area of the Start Page contains a number of wizards to guide you through the creation of specific types of reports. b. In the New Reports area, click Standard Report Wizard. The Standard Report Wizard will prompt you for information about the report to be created.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Select Database

a. In the Data dialog box, expand the Create New Connection folder by clicking on to the side of the option.

b. Now expand the Database Files folder by clicking on the option.

to the side of

c. The Open dialog box is displayed.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

d. Use the Open dialog box to search for the LMS Sales History.mdb sample database file. This file can be found in the C:\Program Files\LANSA Client\ directory. e. Open the LMS Sales History.mdb file. You are returned to the Data dialog box. f. From the Available Data Source area, select LMS Sales History from the list and click the > arrow to add it to the Selected Tables area.

g. Click the Next button to continue

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 4. Select Database Fields

a. In the Fields dialog box, click the >> arrow to add all the fields from LMS Sales History file, into the report.

b. Click the Next button to continue

Use the Fields screen to select the fields you want included in your report. Available Fields This list displays all of the fields available for use in your report. The list is based on the tables you selected on the Data screen (Report Creation Wizard). Browse Data Click button to browse the data of the field that is selected in the Available Fields list. Find Field Click button to enter the name of a field you'd like to locate in the Available Fields list. Add or remove arrow buttons Use the > arrow adjacent to the Fields to Display list to add fields from the Available Fields list. Use the < arrows to remove fields you've already added. Double arrows add or remove all fields. Fields to Display This list displays all of the report fields presently active in the report. Up or down arrow buttons Use the up and down arrows adjacent to the Fields to Display list to change the order of fields you've added from the Available Fields list.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 5. Group the Data

In the Grouping dialog box, you will group the data by Artist followed by Album. a. Highlight the LMS_Sales_History_Artist_Name field then click the > arrow to add it to the Group By list. b. Repeat this step for the LMS_Sales_History_Album_Title field. Leave the sort sequence in ascending order for both fields.

c. Click the Next button to continue

Use the Group screen to specify how fields will be grouped on the report. Creating groups is an optional step in the wizard. Available Fields This list displays all of the fields available for use in your report. The list includes fields you chose on the Fields screen and the tables you selected on the Data screen. Group By This list displays all of the fields you've selected for grouping. As you add fields, they are added in a hierarchy. This hierarchy establishes the order the groups will appear in the report. You can change the order of the hierarchy by using the up and down arrow buttons.You can also set the sorting order for each field you add to the Group By list.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 6. Add Summary Information

In the Summaries dialog box, you will choose fields to be subtotals for the Sale Quantity field only. All other numeric field summaries can be removed. a. For each summarization level in the Summarized Fields area, highlight the Sum of LMS_Sales_History_Sale_Year then click the < arrow to remove it from the Summarized Fields area. There are two occurrences of this field to be removed from the Summarized Fields area. b. Repeat this step for the Sum of LMS_Sales_History_Sale_Month field. This is what you should now see in the Summaries dialog box.
Summarization Level 1 Summarization Level 2

c. Click the Next button to continue

Use the Summaries screen to choose fields to be subtotals, counted, and so on. This screen appears only if you've specified a group on the Grouping screen. Creating a summary field is an optional step in the wizard. Available Fields This list displays the report fields available for totaling in the report. Summarized Fields This list displays the total fields currently in use in the report. Summary options Click a summary option for the field selected in the Summarized list. You can choose options to total a field, or to count its entries, and so on.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 7. Group Sorting

You will not be adding any sorting by groups to this report. a. Click the option for None.

b. Click the Next button to continue

Use the Group Sorting screen to sort groups you created on the Grouping screen (Report Creation Wizard). You can sort all groups, or you can choose the top or bottom 5 groups. When sorting by the top or bottom 5 groups, you can also choose the summarized field you want to base the sorting on. This screen appears only if you've specified a group on the Grouping screen and a summary on the Summaries screen (Report Creation Wizard). Creating a group sort is an optional step in the wizard. Group that will be sorted Select the group to be sorted from a list of groups you created on the Grouping screen (Report Creation Wizard). Group ordering options Select a group sorting option: All groups Top 5 groups Bottom 5 groups If you choose Top 5 or Bottom 5, your report displays data for only those groups; no other groups appear on your report.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 8. Charting

You will not be adding a chart to this report. a. Click the option for No Chart.

b. Click the Next button to continue

Use the Chart screen to insert a graph or chart into a report. In the Standard Report Creation Wizard, the Chart screen appears only if you've specified a group on the Grouping screen and a summary on the Summaries screen. Creating a chart is an optional step in all wizards. Chart types Click the type of chart you'd like to add to your report. You can choose from these types: - No Chart - Bar Chart - Line Chart - Pie Chart

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 9. Record Selection

a. In the Record Selection dialog box, highlight the LMS_Sales_History.Sale_Year field in the Available Fields area then click the > arrow to add it to the Filter Fields area. b. Select the is equal to operator from the drop-down c. Enter the value of 2005 in the next field. This is what you should now see in the Record Selection dialog box.

d. Click the Next button to continue

Use the Record Selection screen to choose fields to select (or filter) records in a report. By selecting records in this manner, you can narrow the scope of your report and improve processing speed. Creating a record selection is an optional step in the wizard.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 10. Select a Template

a. In the Template dialog box, select the Block (Blue) template from the list of Available Templates.

b. Click the Finish button to generate the report

Use the Template screen to choose from predefined formatting templates for use in your report. Adding a template is an optional step in the wizard. Available Templates This area displays the templates available for use in your report. Select the desired template from the list. Browse Click this button to use the Open dialog box to search for a template. Preview This box displays a sample of the template selected in the Available Templates area.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 11. Generate the Report

This is the generated report you should see. Ignore the date format for now. This will be modified later.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 12. Save the Report

a. From the toolbar select the File menu and then choose the Save As command to open the Save As dialog box.

b. Give the report a new name, for example, My Sales History Report in the File Name. c. Click the Save button to save the report. The Save dialog box is closed and you are returned to the Crystal Report window. This report will be used in Exercise 10 Customizing a Report.

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Customizing a Report
In this exercise, you will customize the report created by the wizard in Exercise 9. The wizard had included the objects in the report that you will be customizing.

These are the steps covered in this exercise to customize this report:

Step Step Step Step Step Step Step Step

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Add a Title and Description Add a Logo Modify Column Headers Delete Duplicate Detail Fields Format Detail Fields Add Sorting on a Detail Field Save the Report Link the Report to LANSA Client

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 1. Add a Title and Description

As you can see, the report looks incomplete without a title and description. You will provide the title and description. a. From the toolbar select the File menu and then choose the Summary Info command to open the Document Properties dialog box.

b. Give the Comments a description of the report, for example, Sales History of Artist / Album showing units sold per month. c. Give the Title a value of Sales by Artist / Album d. Click the OK button. e. Click the Preview tab if the Preview tab is not already visible, to see the changes just made.

A title box has been provided by the wizard which takes the title information directly from the Title text box in the Document Properties dialog box. To manually add a title and/or comment 1. Click the Design tab. 2. In the Field Explorer , scroll down to Special Fields and expand it. 3. Choose Report Title or Report Comments. 4. Drag the object over the report and release it. An object frame appears.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 2. Add a Logo

You will replace the current logo in the report header area with another image. a. Delete the current Business Object logo in the top right corner of the report by positioning the cursor over it, and then click the right mouse button. A pop-up menu is displayed with a list of commands. Select the Delete command. b. To add a new logo, select the Insert menu from the menu bar and choose Picture. The Open dialog box is displayed.

Use the Open dialog box to locate the splash_logo.jpg file. This file is found in the C:\Program Files\LANSA Client\ directory. c. Click the Open button for the splash_logo.jpg file. d. An orange placeholder appears. Move it to the same location as the deleted logo and click the left mouse button to release it. The header area of your report should now look like this:

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 3. Modify Column Headers

In this step, you will modify the column headers for Year, Month, and Quantity. You will then delete the column headers for Artist and Album. a. Click the Preview tab if the Preview tab is not already visible. b. Click on the column header for Sale_Year to set the focus on it. Now double click on it. c. You are now in Edit mode. Change the value to be Year.

d. Repeat the process for Sale_Month column header, to change the value to be Month. e. Repeat the process for Album_Sale_Quantity column header, to change the value to be Quantity. f. To delete the column header for Artist_Name, click on the Artist_Name column header, and then click the right mouse button. A pop-up menu is displayed with a list of commands. Select the Delete command. g. Repeat the process for Album_Title column header, to delete it. The detail area of your report should now look like this:

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 4. Delete Duplicate Detail fields

In this step, you will delete the Artist Name and Album Title from the Detail area of the report. This information is already provided in the group header area of the report. a. To delete the detail field for Artist_Name, position the cursor over one of the Artist Name detail fields, and then click the right mouse button. A pop-up menu is displayed with a list of commands. Select the Delete command.

b. Repeat the process for Album_Title field to delete it.

c. Click the Preview tab if the Preview tab is not already visible, to see the changes just made.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 5. Format Detail fields

In this step, you will format the Year, Month, and Quantity fields to remove the commas and decimal values. a. To format the Year detail field, position the cursor over any one of the Year fields, then click the right mouse button. A pop-up menu is displayed with a list of commands. Select the Format Field command. b. Select the Style for 1123 and click the OK button to accept the changes.

c. Repeat the process to format the Month field. d. Repeat the process to format the Quantity field. The detail area of your report should now look like this:

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 6. Add Sorting on a Detail field

The report data is currently grouped/sorted by Artist Name, followed by Album Title. Notice how the data by the Month field are not sorted. In this exercise, you will also add sorting on the Month detail field. a. Select the Report menu from the menu bar and choose the Record Sort Expert command to open the Record Sort Expert dialog box.

Notice how the Group By fields are already added to the Sort Fields area. b. Highlight the LMS_Sales_History.Sale_Month field in the list of Available Fields area then click the > arrow to add it to the Sort Fields list. Accept the Sort Direction of Ascending for the LMS_Sales_History.Sale_Month field. c. Click the OK button The detail area of your report should now look like this:

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 7. Save the Report

In Exercise 9, Step 12, you had saved the report with a name like My Sales History Report. You will save the customized changes you have just made to the same report name. a. From the toolbar select the File menu and then choose the Save command.

Your changes are now saved as My Sales History Report.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010 8. Link the Report to LANSA Client
a. Return to the LANSA Client Main Window which should still be active after completing Exercise 9, Step 1, earlier. b. From the toolbar select the File menu and choose the Open command. c. Open the LMS Sales History.LCQ, the sample query. The Query window showing the sample query is displayed. Return to Exercise 3, Step 1, Open an Existing Query, for a reminder.

d. From the toolbar select the Query menu and choose the Output To command and then select the Report option. You have told the query to automatically output results to report. e. From the toolbar select the Query menu again and choose the Linked Query Option command. The Link Query Options dialog box appears.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

f. Click the Browse button on the Link Query Options dialog box.

The Open dialog box appears.

g. Use the Open dialog box to search for and select the My Sales History Report.rpt file. By default, you will have created this report file in the C:\Program Files\LANSA Client\ directory. h. Click the Open button. You have told the query the name of the report file name and where to locate it. The Open dialog box is closed and you are returned to the Link Query Options dialog box.

i.

Click the OK button.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

j. To save the query, from the toolbar select the File menu and choose the Save As command. The Save As dialog box appears.

k. Give the query a new name, for example, My Sales History in the File Name. l. Click the Save button.

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LANSA Client Self-paced Lab 2010

m. To execute the query, from the toolbar select the Query menu and choose the Execute command. Your query should show the results using your report file.

In Exercise 4, Step 4, you saw that LANSA Client can automatically find the report belonging to a query if the query file, the result file, and the report file all share the same file name and are located in the LANSA Client query location i.e. LMS Sales History.LCQ is the query's definition. LMS Sales History.MDB is the query's results. LMS Sales History.RPT is the query's report. If any of these files do not share the same name or any of the files are located in a different directory, you will need to tell the saved LANSA Client query what the name of the report file is and where to locate it.

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[IMPORTANT] Logoff the Lab PC

a. Click on the START button and select the Log Off option. b. Click on the Log Off button on the dialog shown. This will complete the current lab and reset the Lab PC for the next Lab User.

Thank you for participating in this self paced lab. Visit www.lansa.com for more information.

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