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Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

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    Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

    Hi, all.

    Is it possible to make a report from two or more unconnected tables or sets? I can't make a single set out of them because they're really unrelated.

    I've read elsewhere in this board that it's not possible, at least without going through hoops. Would just like to know if things have changed.
    Jim

    #2
    Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

    Jim,

    You can make a set out of any group of tables...create a linking key using an expression as simple as using say a number 2 for a pair of tables. I have had to do just that for a set I needed in order to create a report from seemingly unrelated tables.
    Mike
    __________________________________________
    It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
    It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
    Henry David Thoreau
    __________________________________________



    Comment


      #3
      Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

      Jose,
      If the table data is "unrelated", then there is no reason to have a report that includes the data. Conversly, if there is a reason to have data in the report there is a relationship. Make that relationship the link for a set structure, even if, as Mike said, it is an expression that produces the link.
      Mike W
      __________________________
      "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

        Jim, things haven't changed, and probably won't. If you ponder the complexities of trying to design a report engine that could accommodate fields from multiple unrelated tables, arranged and grouped in whatever sequence the end user might dream up, it won't take you long to realize that you probably can't create the structure needed to produce a single line in the report out of potentially random data. Jumping through hoops is what programmers do, of course, in order to get the machine to do what we want it to. Your best bets are either to write a script that dumps the necessary field data into a table and then base your report on that table, or, compute the content of each line in the report via script and dump each line to a text file.

        Some of the newer pdf utilities out there will let you "append" pdf files to each other. Depending upon your needs you might consider saving multiple Alpha Five reports as pdf files and then consolidating them with such a utility.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

          Originally posted by Tom Cone Jr View Post
          If you ponder the complexities of trying to design a report engine...
          I get it. Well put, Tom. Thanks.
          Jim

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

            Originally posted by Mike Wilson View Post
            Jose,
            If the table data is "unrelated", then there is no reason to have a report that includes the data. Conversly, if there is a reason to have data in the report there is a relationship. Make that relationship the link for a set structure, even if, as Mike said, it is an expression that produces the link.
            I see your point, Mike. If they're in the same report, they gotta be related somehow, is that what you're saying? But I'm having trouble applying it. Could you post a simple example of two tables with no obvious parent-child relationship linked like you said?
            Jim

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

              Jim,

              See the attached image....the "1" in the link boxes came from using the link option of Expression for both the parent and the child.



              Mike
              __________________________________________
              It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
              It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
              Henry David Thoreau
              __________________________________________



              Comment


                #8
                Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                Is it possible to make a report from two or more unconnected tables or sets?
                Sure you can..

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                  UNION queries, subreports?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                    Nah..

                    Temp table..Joined table.. Arrays..global variables..calc fields..
                    It's all up to your immagination.

                    Or if you don't want to go that route.. you could link two table that have absolutly nothing in common with an expression that says for example:
                    fieldA(from table 1)<>"" linked to FieldB(from table 2)<>""
                    I haven't tried it that way, but it will make the fields of both tables availabe to the reports, then you could use sub-reports.

                    What is "Union" query?

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                      Originally posted by dodgebros View Post
                      UNION queries,
                      Yes, a possibility.

                      Originally posted by dodgebros View Post
                      subreports?
                      Only reports on data in the table or set, not on an unrelated table/set.

                      Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
                      What is "Union" query?
                      A join operation in Alpha-speak that is a set on the fly that results in a single table.
                      Al Buchholz
                      Bookwood Systems, LTD
                      Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

                      Occam's Razor - KISS
                      Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
                      Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
                      When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
                      "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
                      Albert Einstein

                      http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                        I know about joining tables but I never heard of union queries. I guess they wont tell you about them unless you join the union.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                          Originally posted by G Gabriel View Post
                          I know about joining tables but I never heard of union queries. I guess they wont tell you about them unless you join the union.
                          Set theory - union vs. intersect.

                          Pay your union dues or visit Jimmy Hoffa....
                          Al Buchholz
                          Bookwood Systems, LTD
                          Weekly QReportBuilder Webinars Thursday 1 pm CST

                          Occam's Razor - KISS
                          Normalize till it hurts - De-normalize till it works.
                          Advice offered and questions asked in the spirit of learning how to fish is better than someone giving you a fish.
                          When we triage a problem it is much easier to read sample systems than to read a mind.
                          "Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."
                          Albert Einstein

                          http://www.iadn.com/images/media/iadn_member.png

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                            Then there are sub reports to figure into the equation. I am gonna look it up, but it seems I did one of those some where and it accidentally worked? Not sure how I did it now.

                            I think too far out of the box sometimes.

                            Is there such a thing as putting a whole report into an array and later inserting it into a printed report? Just a thought. Maybe into a simple text file if an array won't work??

                            There are other ways too though.

                            Dave
                            Dave Mason
                            [email protected]
                            Skype is dave.mason46

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Multiple unconnected tables and sets, but only one report

                              Originally posted by DaveM View Post
                              Is there such a thing as putting a whole report into an array and later inserting it into a printed report? Just a thought.
                              No.. the other way around.

                              Comment

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