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How to Modify Custom Reports
  • 29 Dec 2023
  • 5 Minutes to read
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Contents

How to Modify Custom Reports

  • Updated on 29 Dec 2023
  • 5 Minutes to read
  • Contributors
  • Print
  • Dark
    Light
  • PDF
Article summary

This article will cover how to Modify a Custom Report in CenPoint.

*Only use this feature if you consider yourself Tech-Savvy. 

This feature may involve technical details, configuration settings, 

or procedures that could be challenging for users who lack a technical background.

The basic steps of modifying a custom report are: 

  • Save out the current report as a zip file 

  • Extract the contents from the zip file 

  • Modify the report

  • Rezip the modified files 

  • Reload into CenPoint 


1. Start by going to File->Utilities->Server Utilites-> Manage Custom Reports


2. Find the Report you would like to modify, click 'Save As' and choose where to save the report.

Warning: CenPoint does not have a backup of this report! 

We advise you to make an additional copy of the report as a backup, which can be useful in case you mess things up. 


3. Find and open your saved Zip file and check the path name to make sure there are no spaces in the file path name.


4.Extract/copy/unzip the files to a new folder. 

(At this point you can rename the new folder)

Note: if you are updating the logo use the following steps

Otherwise skip to step 5


   

 a. Add a new logo by selecting the original logo.png or logo.jpeg file 

     (in the new folder) and rename it.

 

 b. Save your new logo to the same format as the original logo

       i.e. '.png' '.jpeg' if not already.

 c.  Name the new logo 'logo.png' or 'logo.jpeg' 

     (same as original format) and drop in the new folder. 


5. Open the report in CenPoint to make modifications

Go to File-> Utilities-> Workstation Utilities-> Command Window


  a. In the command window type 'Modify Report' 


b. In the new folder, right click on the file with the file extension '.frx' 

    and select 'Copy as path'.


c. In the command window use Ctrl+V to paste 

    the path after 'Modify Report' and hit Enter.

* click and drag the command window edge to increase the width,

   to allow the whole file path to be seen.


d. Once you hit "Enter" on your keyboard the report should open

     in CenPoint and be ready to modify.

 Use the following links for Troubleshooting

The file did not open in CenPoint or says file does not exist.

The new logo did not show up when the report opened in CenPoint


 6. Modifying the custom report

Please do not change the text of expressions. 

You are welcome to resize, move, change font, or not have expressions print.

Examples of an expressions: 

alltrim(tinv.branchname)

PADL_NoTruncate(TrimZeros(tinv.invoiceid),5,'0')

tinv.invmsg

Changing expressions will cause the desired information to be "corrupted" on the report and it will not print correctly.

In essence you will break the report, so no touchy! You have been warned ;)


Captions you can change all you want!

Examples of Captions: 

Site Address

 Name

 Description

 Price


  • Resize by single-clicking the field / label (selecting it) and dragging the corners

  • Reposition using arrows on the keyboard or drag with your mouse (keyboard arrows are much more precise but slower)

  • Double click to bring up field / label properties. 

    • Properties allows you change the font, position, and print options.


  • Don't want a label to print? 

         Double click to bring up the label properties, 

         Go to 'Print when' tab and type .F. in the 

         'Print only when expression is true' box, click OK.

  • Want the label to print?

         Make sure the 'Print only when expression is true' box is empty, click OK.

  • When you have completed all your changes hit Ctrl+W to save changes

  • Hit Escape to exit without saving changes.


7. Preview your Custom Report

Now that you have modified your report it's time to preview it. 

Preview your report by going to Utilities->Workstation Utilites-> Command Window

In the command window you will type: 

testCustRpt('<<type>>', "<<PathToFile2Test.frx>>")

Let's break that down:

  • First type: testCustRpt

  • Second type the report type: ('Quote',

  • Third copy and paste the path of your frx file: 

       C:\Users\jamie\Desktop\quote\CustQuote1.frx"

  • Fourth close the parentheses on the end:  )   and hit Enter.

It should look something like this


The path will be in the new folder, right click on the file with the file extension '.frx' 

and select 'Copy as path', paste path into the command window after the 'type'.


You will need to change the 'type' to the report you are opening. 

Type options are as follows:

Type:                      Example:   

'quote',                   testCustRpt('quote',"C:\Users\jamie\Desktop\quote\CustQuote1.frx")                                                                                                                                      

'wo',                       testCustRpt('wo',"C:\Users\jamie\Desktop\quote\CustWO.frx")

'ft',                        testCustRpt('ft',"C:\Users\jamie\Desktop\quote\CustFT.frx")

'invoice',               testCustRpt('invoice',"C:\Users\jamie\Desktop\quote\CustInvoice.frx")  

'statement',    

testCustRpt('statement',"C:\Users\jamie\Desktop\quote\CustStatement.frx")  


If you are happy with your report continue to Step 8, 

if not go back to Step 6 and modify the report.

8. Save your updated report in a Zip file.

    a. Double click and open your new folder. Select the files in the folder 

        ( .FRT + .frx + logo + settings.ini) right click, and compress to a Zip file.

     b. The Zip file will be saved in the new folder.

     c. Rename the zip file:

         *Do Not name it the same name as your original backup file.


9. Load Custom Report in CenPoint

Go to File-> Utilities-> Server Utilites-> Manage Custom Reports


a. Click 'Add New' and 'Browse' to find your new Zip file, 

    check the report Information ie..Branch, Description, Type and Save


b. click 'Replace' if prompted.


c. Check you report in CenPoint (Print an invoice, quote, etc. 

    (whatever the report is for) and enjoy your handy work. 

    Then proceed to brag about your tech-savvy skills to all who will listen.

    Change your report option to the new report loaded and Print to view.


If you are not satisfied with the results start the process again. Starting at step 4.


If you totally screwed up (remember the backup file?) reload the original backup file, 

and replace the report you loaded in CenPoint with the original backup file. 


Troubleshooting

The file did not open in CenPoint or says file does not exist.

This is probably because the logo file name is different than what is expected / was used previously.

Fix this by selecting 'all files' in the window, click on the file it can't find, click OK.

*You may have to do this twice, then the report should open in CenPoint.


The new logo did not show up when the report opened in CenPoint

The previous logo may have been cached and the cache needs to be cleared.

Clear the cache by going to File-> Utilities-> Workstation Utilities-> Command Window

In the command window type 'clear resources 'and your original logo file name and hit Enter

Examples: 

clear resources logo.png

clear resources logo.jpeg

Do step 5 again to open the report.

Preview Custom Reports

testCustRpt('<<type>>', "<<PathToFile2Test.frx>>")

Type Options

'quote' or ‘qt’

'wo',

'ft' or 'ftick'

'invoice' or 'inv'

'statement' or 'st'


What's Next