Copyright 2007, Information Builders. Slide 1 Hidden Gems Walter F. Blood Technical Director Information Builders, Inc

Copyright 2007, Information Builders. Slide 1

Hidden Gems

Walter F. BloodTechnical Director

Information Builders, Inc

Hidden GemsWhere We Will Look

… in SettingsCoping with PDF and unixSimplifying and controlling echoDBA and connections

… in ConnectionsCombining tables based on rangesConnecting tables with nothing in common

… in ExpressionsWorking with more than one record instance at a timeWriting to multiple files simultaneouslyCreating your own business related functions

… in SortingAutomatic summary column creation


Hidden Gems…In Settings

Coping with PDF and unix

Simplifying ECHO

DBA and connections


Hidden Gems…In Settings

PDFLINETERMDEFECHODBASOURCE

Hidden GemsSET Parameters

Switches that affect behavior – scope variesYou can set at multiple levels

EDASPROF Group/User Profile Focexec Request

Look at the difference in behavior to see when to apply them

CorruptPDF

Hidden GemsSET Parameters – PDFLINETERM

Truly hidden – not available currently in SET tool To eliminate corrupt PDF files that pass through UNIX

systems in distribution. Adds additional space to account for the difference in

new line indicator.

SET PDFLINETERM=OFF | ON

PDFUNIX

PDF

&ECHO allows tracing of WebFOCUS execution -SET &ECHO – local variable requires setting in each script

Provides setting for default value of &ECHODefault value is used in all INCLUDEd and EXECuted fexes

unless –SET issuedTrace appears in View Source window

Hidden GemsSET Parameters – DEFECHO

SET DEFECHO=OFF | ON | ALL | NONE

Hidden GemsSET Parameters – DEFECHO

SET DEFECHO=OFF | ON | ALL | NONE

One setting controls all –NONE – Prevents unauthorized use of ECHO. Cannot be reset OFF – No tracing of WebFOCUS stackON – Tracing of WebFOCUS stack only ALL – Tracing of WebFOCUS stack and Dialogue Manager (including &variable substitution)

Controls which DBA is applied to in JOIN structure

Default value – HOST - Applies DBA from HOST file onlyValue – ALL – Applies DBA from both files if presentAccess control – FILE, SEGMENT, FIELD, VALUEDBA converted to selection criteria and optimized

Hidden GemsSET Parameters – DBASOURCE

XREFHOST JOIN

DBA1 DBA2


Hidden Gems…In Connections

Connect files based on a range of values

Connect files with NO apparent connection


Hidden GemsConnection

• Standard JOIN based upon equality selection

EMPLOYEE IDLAST NAMEFIRST NAMEHIRE DATECURRENT SALARY…

Employee

TAX YEARTAX RATEMINIMUM SALARYMAXIMUM SALARY

Tax Rate

JOIN field IN file TO ALL field IN file AS name


Hidden GemsConnect Based on Equality






Hidden GemsConnect Based on Range of Values

•Connection can also be based upon range - • LE, LT, GE, GT, NE or FROM /TO

EMPLOYEE IDLAST NAMEFIRST NAMEHIRE DATECURRENT SALARY…

EMPLOYEE

TAX YEARTAX RATEMINIMUM SALARYMAXIMUM SALARY

TAX RATE

JOIN FILE file AT field TO ALL FILE file AT field AS nameWHERE condition


Hidden GemsConnect Based on Range


Hidden GemsInsurance Rates – Listing

Problem: Selecting the correct insurance rate based upon age from a table with ranges---

Minimum MaximumAge Age Insurance Rate21 27 $ 8.0028 34 $ 9.00

35 40 $10.0041 44 $11.00


Hidden GemsIn Connections - Insurance Rates

JOIN FILE EMPDATA1 AT BIRTHDATE TO ALL FILE RATES AT AGE AS J1 WHERE EMPDATA1.BAGE GE RATES.AGE; WHERE EMPDATA1.BAGE LE RATES.EAGE; END TABLE FILE EMPDATA1HEADING"To: <FIRSTNAME <LASTNAME " "</1 Thank you for choosing our company for your <0X insurance needs." "Thank you for choosing our company for your insurance needs.”"Since your birth date is <BIRTHDTATE ,your current rate is<0X <RATE_PER_THOUSAND per""unit of coverage. This is your rate through age <EAGE . “ON TABLE SET PAGE OFF BY PIN NOPRINT PAGE-BREAKEND

JOIN FILE EMPDATA1 AT BIRTHDATE TO ALL FILE RATES AT AGE AS J1 WHERE EMPDATA1.BAGE GE RATES.AGE; WHERE EMPDATA1.BAGE LE RATES.EAGE; END TABLE FILE EMPDATA1HEADING"To: <FIRSTNAME <LASTNAME " "</1 Thank you for choosing our company for your <0X insurance needs." "Thank you for choosing our company for your insurance needs.”"Since your birth date is <BIRTHDTATE ,your current rate is<0X <RATE_PER_THOUSAND per""unit of coverage. This is your rate through age <EAGE . “ON TABLE SET PAGE OFF BY PIN NOPRINT PAGE-BREAKEND

Greater than Minimum Age

Less than Maximum Age


Hidden GemsIn Connections

Connect files that have NO apparent connection

Employee Salary History

New CarFinance

PackagesJOIN?JOIN?





Employee Salary History

New CarFinance

Packages

JOIN?



Conditional Join Considerations:

Cartesian product

WHERE condition controls selection

Complex WHEREs supported

Multiple WHERE conditions

WHERE must contain fields from both files

Remove WHERE – true cartesian product

Range-based JOIN in the tool

Join with no common fields in text mode


Hidden GemsIn Expressions

Writing to multiple files simultaneously

Working with more than one record instance at a time

Creating your own business related

functions



Working with more than one record instance at a time

Available in COMPUTE, DEFINE, WHERE

References the field value in the previous record

Works with real and virtual fields

THE FUNCTION





1. Select LAST2. Get Fieldname



In DEFINE



In DEFINE



In COMPUTE



Same as DEFINE

Operates on matrixProcesses same or fewer records than DEFINE

In COMPUTE



In WHERE

CAR.ORIGIN.COUNTRY NE LAST CAR.ORIGIN.COUNTRY



In WHERE

Failed?Multiple Country’sWhy?

Order is importantDEFINE order is the order of READ



In WHERE

Data in matrix sortedWHERE TOTAL on COMPUTEResults?



In WHERE

Ta Da!



In WHERE

Using LAST: Detecting value changes of data in ordered sets

Nested IF…THEN…ELSECreate new sort-able select-able groups

Creating identifiers based on ordered fieldsDEFINE - BY / WHERECOMPUTE - BY TOTAL / WHERE TOTAL

Creating running values on any fieldsTotals, Averages, Margins, Any calculation

Holding preceding data values for calculation

In DEFINE In COMPUTE



In WHERE

LAST Considerations:

The order the data is processed is critical

You may need to presort data to a hold file

Not optimizable to relational databases

DEFINES work with WHERE

COMPUTES work with WHERE TOTAL

In DEFINE In COMPUTE



To create a log of specific data values readWhich customers placed orders?

To create of record of calculated valuesWill I go out of stock on any these orders?

To create additional outputWhat page number will this item be on?

PUTDDREC


PUTDDREC syntax:

PUTDDREC(ddname, dd_len, record_string, record_len, outfield)

ddname - ddname assigned by filedef to output filedd_len - length of the ddnamerecord_string - string of characters to write to file or field

containing that stringrecord_len - length of the string to be includedoutfield - return code

Output file must be filedef’dDEFINE/COMPUTE field format always I1Handles open, write and close


FILEDEF PUTDD1 DISK putdd1.datTABLE FILE EMPLOYEEPRINT EMP_ID CURR_JOBCODE AS 'JOB' CURR_SALCOMPUTE SALA/A12 = EDIT(CURR_SAL); NOPRINTCOMPUTE EMP1/A50= LAST_NAME|FIRST_NAME|EMP_ID|CURR_JOBCODE|SALA;NOPRINTCOMPUTE OUT1/I1 = PUTDDREC('PUTDD1',6, EMP1, 50, OUT1);BY LAST_NAME BY FIRST_NAMEEND

PUTDDREC in Action


LAST_NAME FIRST_NAME EMP_ID JOB CURR_SAL OUT1--------- ---------- --------- --- -------- ----BANNING JOHN 119329144 A17 $29,700.00 0BLACKWOOD ROSEMARIE 326179357 B04 $21,780.00 0CROSS BARBARA 818692173 A17 $27,062.00 0GREENSPAN MARY 543729165 A07 $9,000.00 0IRVING JOAN 123764317 A15 $26,862.00 0JONES DIANE 117593129 B03 $18,480.00 0MCCOY JOHN 219984371 B02 $18,480.00 0MCKNIGHT ROGER 451123478 B02 $16,100.00 0ROMANS ANTHONY 126724188 B04 $21,120.00 0SMITH MARY 112847612 B14 $13,200.00 0 RICHARD 119265415 A01 $9,500.00 0STEVENS ALFRED 071382660 A07 $11,000.00 0

Report Created


BANNING JOHN 119329144A17000000029700BLACKWOOD ROSEMARIE 326179357B04000000021780CROSS BARBARA 818692173A17000000027062GREENSPAN MARY 543729165A07000000009000IRVING JOAN 123764317A15000000026862JONES DIANE 117593129B03000000018480MCCOY JOHN 219984371B02000000018480MCKNIGHT ROGER 451123478B02000000016100ROMANS ANTHONY 126724188B04000000021120SMITH MARY 112847612B14000000013200SMITH RICHARD 119265415A01000000009500STEVENS ALFRED 071382660A07000000011000

Sequential File Created


PUTDDREC Considerations:

Create fixed data file to fit a specific Master file

Create comma-delimited data file for loading

System and User &variables are available

&MDYY, &FOCCPU, &FOCUSER, etc

Write control at any point or multiple points

Write to multiple PUTDDREC files in a request


Creating an Index in PDF with PUTDDREC 1. Create a filedef for the index output file.2. Create request that you want to index.

1. Including HOLD to PDF2. Including all styling required

3. Add NOPRINTED COMPUTE that – 1. Tests for a change of sort break2. Uses PUTDDREC to put values in file

&TABPAGENO Sort Break Value

4. Create pdf index request using index output5. Run original request as compound pdf, followed by

index request , creating single pdf.

YHidden GemsIn Expressions

StandardizationCorporate business logicFOCUS/WebFOCUS coding standards

Simplification Complicated groups of expressionsRepeated groups of expressions

CreationNew subroutines currently unavailable Customization of existing functions

Based on the FOCUS/WebFOCUS language

Creating your own business related functions


The Syntax of FUNCTIONS - 1

DEFINE FUNCTION name (arg1/format,…argn/formatn)[tempvariablea/formata = expressiona;]..[tempvariablen/formatn = expressionn;]name/format = [result_expression];END

DEFINE FUNCTION name (arg1/format,…argn/formatn)[tempvariablea/formata = expressiona;]..[tempvariablen/formatn = expressionn;]name/format = [result_expression];END

Name of function = Last field calculated in function.Returns value to calling procedure.

Name of function = Last field calculated in function.Returns value to calling procedure.

Arguments and formats that are used when the function is called.

Fields actually used in call must match the type indicated – alpha or numeric.

Alpha Too short – space padded Too long – truncated

Arguments and formats that are used when the function is called.

Fields actually used in call must match the type indicated – alpha or numeric.

Alpha Too short – space padded Too long – truncated



DEFINE FUNCTION name (argument1/format,…argumentn/formatn)[tempvariablea/formata = expressiona;]..[tempvariablen/formatn = expressionn;]name/format = [result_expression];END


Intermediate fields use in calculation of final result. Unlimited numberUse arguments, constants and other temporary fields declared in the function. Use all operators and most functions

Intermediate fields use in calculation of final result. Unlimited numberUse arguments, constants and other temporary fields declared in the function. Use all operators and most functions





Final field defines the value returned.Name must match name of function. Format indicates the format returned.

Final field defines the value returned.Name must match name of function. Format indicates the format returned.


MARGIN Function

DEFINE FUNCTION MARGIN CLEAR

DEFINE FUNCTION MARGIN (RC/D7, DC/D7)NETPROFIT/D7=RC-DC;MARGIN/D5.2=(NETPROFIT*100)/DC;END

TABLE FILE CARPRINT COUNTRY CAR MODEL SALESAND COMPUTE MARGIN/D5.2 = MARGIN(RETAIL_COST,DEALER_COST);WHERE MARGIN(RETAIL_COST, DEALER_COST) GT 20END

DEFINE FUNCTION MARGIN CLEAR

DEFINE FUNCTION MARGIN (RC/D7, DC/D7)NETPROFIT/D7=RC-DC;MARGIN/D5.2=(NETPROFIT*100)/DC;END

TABLE FILE CARPRINT COUNTRY CAR MODEL SALESAND COMPUTE MARGIN/D5.2 = MARGIN(RETAIL_COST,DEALER_COST);WHERE MARGIN(RETAIL_COST, DEALER_COST) GT 20END

YHidden GemsIn Expressions

Easily accessed throughout WebFOCUS

Connected to Master File?

DF. Operator Dynamic load and run of functionFunction location indicated

Additional characteristics availableDescription

Functions in Master Files?







DEFINE FUNCTION DMDATFMTDESCRIPTION 'Convert date to 2008-JUL-04 format‘(INDATE/YYMD) CONVDATE/A8YYMD=DATECVT(INDATE, 'YYMD', 'A8YYMD'); DMDATFMT/A11=CHGDAT( 'YYMD', 'YYMTD', CONVDATE, 'A11' ); END

DEFINE FUNCTION DMPROPERDESCRIPTION 'Convert name to proper case and last, first format‘(LASTNAME/A17, FIRSTNAME/A14) DMPROPER/A34V=LCWORD(17, LASTNAME, 'A17') || (', ' | LCWORD(14, FIRSTNAME, 'A14')); END

DEFINE FUNCTION DMDATFMTDESCRIPTION 'Convert date to 2008-JUL-04 format‘(INDATE/YYMD) CONVDATE/A8YYMD=DATECVT(INDATE, 'YYMD', 'A8YYMD'); DMDATFMT/A11=CHGDAT( 'YYMD', 'YYMTD', CONVDATE, 'A11' ); END

DEFINE FUNCTION DMPROPERDESCRIPTION 'Convert name to proper case and last, first format‘(LASTNAME/A17, FIRSTNAME/A14) DMPROPER/A34V=LCWORD(17, LASTNAME, 'A17') || (', ' | LCWORD(14, FIRSTNAME, 'A14')); END

Contents of dmfns.fex





AGENT1 AGENT_TALK AGENT_TALK1 TTIME TTIME1ALLEN 200 300 00:03:20 00:05:00BILL 300 400 00:05:00 00:06:40CARL 620 520 00:10:20 00:08:40DAN 400 901 00:06:40 00:15:01

---------------------------------------------------------TOTAL 1520 2121 00:25:20 00:35:21

We Need A Report That Reads Times In Seconds,

PROBLEM:

Adds Them And Converts To Hours : Minutes : Seconds

DEFINE FUNCTION HRMISC (SEC/I10)-* CALCULATE HOURSHR/I2 = SEC/3600;HR_R/I2 = SEC -(HR* 3600) ;-* CALCULATE MINMI/I2 = (HR_R / 60);-* CALCULATE SECONDSSC_D/I2 = SEC -((MI * 60) + HR);HRMISC/A8 = EDIT(HR) || ':' || EDIT(MI) || ':' || EDIT(SC_D) ;END

DEFINE FUNCTION HRMISC (SEC/I10)-* CALCULATE HOURSHR/I2 = SEC/3600;HR_R/I2 = SEC -(HR* 3600) ;-* CALCULATE MINMI/I2 = (HR_R / 60);-* CALCULATE SECONDSSC_D/I2 = SEC -((MI * 60) + HR);HRMISC/A8 = EDIT(HR) || ':' || EDIT(MI) || ':' || EDIT(SC_D) ;END


SOLUTION:


Hidden GemsIn Sorting

Automatic summary column creation


TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' BY PRODUCT BY REGIONBY DATEWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';ON DATE SUB-TOTAL AS 'REGION TOTAL'ON TABLE SUB-TOTALEND

TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' BY PRODUCT BY REGIONBY DATEWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';ON DATE SUB-TOTAL AS 'REGION TOTAL'ON TABLE SUB-TOTALEND

You know the effect of SUB-TOTAL on a BY field…

Product Region Date UNITS DOLLARS------- ------ ---- ----- -------Capuccino Northeast 1997/08/01 1473 19486

REGION TOTAL 1997/08/01 1473 19486.. REGION TOTAL 1997/12/01 1188 13668*TOTAL REGION Northeast 11551 144742.

Product Region Date UNITS DOLLARS------- ------ ---- ----- -------Capuccino Northeast 1997/08/01 1473 19486

REGION TOTAL 1997/08/01 1473 19486.. REGION TOTAL 1997/12/01 1188 13668*TOTAL REGION Northeast 11551 144742.


TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' OVER DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' OVERBY PRODUCT ACROSS REGION ACROSS DATEON DATE SUB-TOTAL AS 'REGION'ON TABLE SUB-TOTALWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';END

TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' OVER DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' OVERBY PRODUCT ACROSS REGION ACROSS DATEON DATE SUB-TOTAL AS 'REGION'ON TABLE SUB-TOTALWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';END

Now see the effect of SUB-TOTAL on an ACROSS field…

Region Midwest West TOTAL MNTHProduct NOV DEC REGION NOV DEC REGION ------- --- --- ------ --- --- ------ -----Capuccino UNITS . . . 2535 4051 6586 6586 DOLLARS . . . 31153 57421 88574 88574Espresso UNITS 2186 1752 3938 3088 3732 6820 10758 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 36123 51400 87523 137330 TOTAL UNITS 2186 1752 3938 5623 7783 13406 17344 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 67276 108821 176097 225904

Region Midwest West TOTAL MNTHProduct NOV DEC REGION NOV DEC REGION ------- --- --- ------ --- --- ------ -----Capuccino UNITS . . . 2535 4051 6586 6586 DOLLARS . . . 31153 57421 88574 88574Espresso UNITS 2186 1752 3938 3088 3732 6820 10758 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 36123 51400 87523 137330 TOTAL UNITS 2186 1752 3938 5623 7783 13406 17344 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 67276 108821 176097 225904


TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' COMPUTE DOLLPER/I6 = DOLLARS/UNITS; AS 'UNIT PRICE'BY PRODUCT BY REGIONBY DATEWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';ON DATE SUMMARIZE AS 'REGION TOTAL'ON TABLE SUMMARIZEEND

TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' COMPUTE DOLLPER/I6 = DOLLARS/UNITS; AS 'UNIT PRICE'BY PRODUCT BY REGIONBY DATEWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';ON DATE SUMMARIZE AS 'REGION TOTAL'ON TABLE SUMMARIZEEND

You know the effect of SUMMARIZE on a BY field…

Product Region Date UNITS DOLLARS UNIT PRICE------- ------ ---- ----- ------- ----------Capuccino Northeast 1997/08/01 1473 19486 13

REGION TOTAL 1997/08/01 1473 19486 13... REGION TOTAL 1997/12/01 1188 13668 11*TOTAL REGION Northeast 11551 144742 12

Product Region Date UNITS DOLLARS UNIT PRICE------- ------ ---- ----- ------- ----------Capuccino Northeast 1997/08/01 1473 19486 13

REGION TOTAL 1997/08/01 1473 19486 13... REGION TOTAL 1997/12/01 1188 13668 11*TOTAL REGION Northeast 11551 144742 12


TABLE FILE GGSALESSUM UNITS AS 'UNITS' OVER DOLLARS AS 'DOLLARS' OVERCOMPUTE DOLLPER/I6 = DOLLARS/UNITS; AS 'UNIT PRICE'BY PRODUCT ACROSS REGION ACROSS DATEON DATE SUMMARIZE AS 'REGION'ON TABLE SUMMARIZEWHERE DATE FROM 19970801 TO 19971231;WHERE PRODUCT EQ 'Capuccino' OR 'Espresso';END


Now see the effect of SUMMARIZE on an ACROSS field…

Region Midwest West TOTAL MNTHProduct NOV DEC REGION NOV DEC REGION ------- --- --- ------ --- --- ------ -----Capuccino UNITS . . . 2535 4051 6586 6586 DOLLARS . . . 31153 57421 88574 88574 UNIT PRICE . . . 12 14 13 13Espresso UNITS 2186 1752 3938 3088 3732 6820 10758 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 36123 51400 87523 137330 UNIT PRICE 12 12 12 11 13 12 12 TOTAL UNITS 2186 1752 3938 5623 7783 13406 17344 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 67276 108821 176097 225904 UNIT PRICE 12 12 12 11 13 13 13

Region Midwest West TOTAL MNTHProduct NOV DEC REGION NOV DEC REGION ------- --- --- ------ --- --- ------ -----Capuccino UNITS . . . 2535 4051 6586 6586 DOLLARS . . . 31153 57421 88574 88574 UNIT PRICE . . . 12 14 13 13Espresso UNITS 2186 1752 3938 3088 3732 6820 10758 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 36123 51400 87523 137330 UNIT PRICE 12 12 12 11 13 12 12 TOTAL UNITS 2186 1752 3938 5623 7783 13406 17344 DOLLARS 27526 22281 49807 67276 108821 176097 225904 UNIT PRICE 12 12 12 11 13 13 13

SUB-TOTALSUBTOTALSUMMARIZERECOMPUTE




Currently requires text mode

Triggered with ON <field> SUMMARIZE AS ‘title’

Style as DATA, OBJECT, or COLUMN

Hidden GemsWhere We Looked

Coping with PDF and unix

Simplifying and controlling echo

DBA and connections

Combining tables based on ranges

Connecting tables with

nothing in common

Working with more than one

record instance at a time


Creating your own business related functions

Automatic summary column creation

Questions?Questions?

Documents

Copyright 2007, Information Builders. Slide 1 Hidden Gems Walter F. Blood Technical Director Information Builders, Inc