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Reports printing automatically at a set time

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    Reports printing automatically at a set time

    Is there a way to make certain reports print based on a time. So, if there is a report that a company needs to see each day, can it print and be waiting for them in the morning, without activating the report themselves?

    Thanks for the help

    #2
    RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

    You can use script_schedule() to schedule a script to run at a set time.

    e.g.
    script_schedule("run_report","7:00")
    will run the "run_report" script at 7 a.m.

    and the run_report script is:
    report.print("daily_report")
    xbasic_wait_for_idle()
    script_schedule("run_report","7:00")

    which will run the report,wait for the report to finish, and then reschedule itself for the next morning.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

      Thank you for the response. You have always been very helpful.
      Lynda

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

        Have a report (Reservations - Week) that I want to print on Sundays, and one (Reservations - Today) I want to print each morning.

        I have looked at the script you sent, but not quite sure how to execute. Are these two scripts or one.
        Where do I place them?

        Thank you for your help

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

          Can anyone help me figure out where to put the script for timed reports. Is it in the report itself, or by creating a script does it automatically run even if not attached anywhere?

          Thanks for the feedback.

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

            Lynda,

            We have a need to run numerous tasks at night and on the weekend. We found a little product called "launchpad" which has the ability to run tasks at a scheduled time. We use it to "launch" alpha and then send "keystrokes" to alpha to depress buttons on a menu form. Launchpad runs minimized and then at a given, set time, executes a scheduled task. We use it extensively on our servers as well as workstations to perform many of the "cleanup" tasks as well as "batch" operations that need to be done at night or on the weekends. We set up an application and point Alpha at the application. On the startup form are buttons which can be pressed using a "ctrl"letter combination. It has worked out very well for us. I don't believe it is very expensive at all.

            It is from Cypress Technologies.

            http://www.cypressnet.com

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

              We use Launchpad too, and it is a great product, but we use it for other things.

              We "launch" our Alpha program every morning at 6:00 using Windows task scheduler, then run an autoexec script which starts automatically when Alpha starts.

              Hope this helps.

              Regards,
              Jay Talbott
              Jay Talbott
              Lexington, KY

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                Lynda,
                If you create a script called "autoexec", it will run as soon as you start up your database.
                Your autoexec script should include the line
                script_schedule("run_report","7:00")

                (your full autoexec script can be simply something like this:
                Code:
                ' autoexec script
                script_schedule("run_report","7:00")
                form.view("Main_Menu_Form")
                end

                and then your run_report script can be
                Code:
                ' Run_report script
                if dow(date())=1 then
                  report.print("Sunday_report")
                else
                  report.print("Daily_report")
                end if
                xbasic_wait_for_idle()
                script_schedule("run_report","7:00")
                end

                Is this what you need?
                - Peter

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                  Hi Lynda:

                  There are a couple of different options when creating scripts, but in this case, it would probaby be easier if you create and save a script in the Alpha Five Control Panel.

                  There is a Code Tab on the Control Panel and this is where you want to create a NEW Script using Xbasic. You should cut and paste the script Peter Wayne wrote and then name the script Autoexec.

                  Robert T

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                    This is very helpful. Thank you for the response.
                    To make sure I understand. If I go to the code and enter the autoexec script and save it. Do i then attach it somewhere. It seems like you're saying, make the script what loads when the system is being loaded, which runs the report script and then opens the main menu? Is this right? What if they don't open Alpha before the "Time" period (7:00) everyday? What if Alpha system is left on over night - would it recognize it at 7:00 and run?

                    I guess the only thing I'm not sure of is how to "activate" the script. Or does it run from the script even if not attached somewhere.

                    Thanks again for the help. Lynda

                    Please also, feel free to call if it would be easier to explain live. (801) 458-1606. THANKS AGAIN!

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                      Thank you for the response. I will look into launchpad, it sounds like a great tool for many things.

                      Lynda

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                        Linda,

                        If you name a script autoexec it runs whenever you start up the application. (Each application can have its own autoexec script.) Hence, if your users leave your application on overnight the script will not run next day.

                        You could deal with this by writing another script to shut down your application after a specified interval of inactivity. This is a good idea in and of itself.

                        Bill
                        Bill Hanigsberg

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                          Hi Linda,

                          Peek at this:

                          http://support.alphasoftware.com/alphafivehelp/index.htm

                          At the search button, type in "Autoexec"

                          Look at the various listings, it will give you an idea of what the "Autoexec" can do for you, and how it works.


                          Ed

                          Comment


                            #14
                            RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                            Sorry Lynda

                            Ed

                            Comment


                              #15
                              RE: Reports printing automatically at a set time

                              Thank you for your response it helps clarify a few things. but it brings up the following: So if the autoexec runs each time the application is opened, when does the 7:00 come in? If it is opened at 8:00 am, will it not run the report until 7:00 the next morning?

                              What if the application is shut down during the day and re-opened, does this mean the report would run again?

                              Sorry for all the questions, and thanks in advance for any help.

                              Lynda

                              Comment

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