RIP
Reportwriter Interactive Painter
Printed reports are an integral part of any computer
application. They may be a fundamental part of the business
application itself (e.g. statements, remittance advices, picking
lists, etc..), or they may be regular or ad hoc management
reports.
The design, programming and production of these reports can be
an expensive and time consuming process.
In addition to the production of printed output for new
computer applications, many IT users have to maintain and modify
existing reports, which are often written in COBOL, but which, in
many cases, are inadequately documented.
RIP can help you to save time and money, whether you
are generating new reports or re-engineering existing COBOL batch
programs. It enables you to design reports and produce samples
for your user. It then automatically generates the layout code
for Application Master or COBOL.
Existing COBOL reports can be taken onto the RIP screen design
system which is used to re-design and re-document the report; RIP
is then used to generate the layout code.
What is RIP?
RIP is a dictionary based report designer for producing
and editing draft versions of a report layout.
When RIP is used to design a report:
- The designer types fixed report text directly onto the
video screen as it is to appear in the final report.
- RIP correctly reserves space on the report layout
for the variable fields based on details held in the DDS.
These can be taken on from existing COBOL programs.
- Individual fields or whole areas of the completed report
design may be changed, moved or altered with great ease.
- RIP produces an exact copy of the report design on
the appropriate printer & stationery, using realistic
values for the variable fields.
- RIP automatically generates the layout code to be
incorporated in the REPORT-PROGRAM. This can be COBOL or
Application Master.
So what can you expect if you use RIP?
TIME SAVING
RIP saves time for user and DP staff because:
- You don't have to produce Program Specs which define the
page layout.
- Changes to the design can be made in seconds (not hours)
with no further work on the part of the designer to
change the layout code.
- Old (and poorly documented) reports can be re-engineered
with small effort.
BETTER QUALITY
RIP improves the quality of service to the user
because:
- The user gets rapid confirmation of his design
instructions, produced by the computer on the same
stationery which he will have for the final product.
RIP will give large reductions in the time and cost of
producing REPORT-PROGRAMS.
Technical Features
- Menu Driven Designer's Interface
- Rapid Control Key commands for experienced designers
- Designer can manipulate whole blocks of fields and text
- Full Report Master General Purpose component structures
supported
- Whole report is designed on screen, then split into
REPORT-PROGRAM/COMPONENTS
- Defines Fields based on DDS ITEMS or defined at runtime
- Will process existing + LAYOUT, + HEADER, etc. or
previous RIP designs
- Generates sample reports for Specification / User
Approval / Checking Pre-Printed Stationery / Operator
Line-up
- Samples have realistic values in fields
- User-Hooks allow easy tailoring to site printing methods
- DDS Multiple Project Management is supported