Randy Brown

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Reporting with ColdFusion MX v7.0Web
Reporting-Freedom Realized

• Randy Brown
• brownra_at_msu.edu
• April 12, 2005

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What I will cover in this presentation

• Basic ColdFusion Report Builder description and
  function
• What tools are needed
• How to install and configure CRB
• How to create reports using Query Wizard
• How to create reports using a Stored Procedure
• How to create reports dynamically with CFReport

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What is the ColdFusion Report Builder (CRB)?

• FREE
• Stand-alone report file (.cfr)
• GUI based report-writer
• CFReport tag dynamically call reports created
  with CRB
• WYSIWYG reports in common file formats
  (Flashpaper, Adobe PDF and Microsoft Excel).
• A very powerful integrated business reporting
  tool.
• More visit www.macromedia.com

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What You Will Need

• ColdFusion MX v7.0 Standard or Enterprise
  Edition
• ColdFusion Report Builder (CRB)
  http//www.macromedia.com/software/coldfusion/repo
  rting
• Adobe Acrobat v5.0 or greater
• Macromedia Flash Player v7.0 or greater
• Browser of your Choice (IE or Firefox)

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What the Client will need

• Internet Browser (IE or Firefox preferred).
• Adobe Acrobat Reader v5.0 or greater
• Macromedia Flash Player v7.0 or greater
• Microsoft Excel v5.0 or greater

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Install and Configure ColdFusion Report Builder
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Install CRB on you workstation

• Download CRB from http//www.macromedia.com/softwa
  re/coldfusion/reporting
• Double click the installer file
  cf_reportbuilder_installer.exe
• Note some features in CRB require that you have
  RDS enabled.

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CFMX 7 RDS screen

• Did you enable this? If you DID NOT you will
  loose some of the functionality CRB has to offer,
  however you can still use it.

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Configure CRB
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Configure CRB step 2
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Configure CRB step 3

• Note the username is Administrator and the
  password is your RDS password used when you setup
  CFMX7
• If you do not see this screen, thats fine just
  Configure RDS Server in the CRB (Edit, Configure
  RDS)

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My Example Application

• I plan on using CFMX7,ColdFusion Report Builder
  and CFReport to dynamically deliver the online
  giving results for year 2003-2004

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How to create reports using Query Wizard

• Step 1- build your query Open CRR, goto Report,
  Report Query
• Step 2 - Select Fields you want to use
• Step 3 - Layout Report using the various bands
• Step 4 - Save report, test it and tweak it

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Demo 1

• Introduce CFUG members to the GUI
• Use the Gift Status Example
• Build .cfr from Scratch, note quarks and gotchas
  
• Insert header Graphic
• Align Fields in Bands
• Add Page Number (Page Footer)
• Add calculated Total amount of gifts

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How to create reports using a Stored Procedure

• Step 1 Create the Stored Procedures
• Step 2 Build your CFR or use template
• Step 3 map your fields
• Step 4 Run the .cfr from CRB
• Step 4 Run the .cfr from CFM file

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Demo 2

• Build Gift Status report using a canned template
• Reference qry_demo2 in database (t_date,
  desi_code, amount)
• Stored Procedures are best in this case because
  it keeps the logic out of your report

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Questions
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Resources

• Introducing ColdFusion MX 7 -http//www.macromedia
  .com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/articles/intro_cf7_05.ht
  ml
• Building Reports with ColdFusion MX 7 -
  http//www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/art
  icles/reporting.html
• ColdFusion Forum - http//www.macromedia.com/cfusi
  on/webforums/forum/index.cfm?forumid1