Alchemex Tips & Tricks

When developing a template using Alchemex, it is recommended to do so using Excel 2003 and to link the template back as an .xlt file.  This will ensure that the template is compatible on all versions of Excel.  However if you want to use Sparkline’s and slicers in your reports you need to make you [...]

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The Like Operator is used in Filters and Parameters for doing pattern matching. Combinations of literal characters and wildcard characters can be used to locate patterns. The two wildcard characters that are supported by most Data Access Drivers are the _ (underscore) wildcard; which means any single character, and the % (percent) wildcard; which means [...]

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The Direct SQL Query tool allows direct interrogation via SQL of data within your Administrator defined Data Connections. The query tool allows only SELECT queries and {call} type queries for stored procedure execution (if supported). UPDATE, DELETE and INSERT and DDL (Data Definition Language) queries are not allowed. Launch the tool from your Administrator Click [...]

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Compacting your MetaData occasionally can result in improved system performance. Depending on your usage levels it may be desirable to do this more often. Select File Then select Compact Metadata A window will appear stating that Alchemex Smart Reporting must shut down Select Yes The Maintenance Utility will then open Select Compact SVD A Confirm [...]

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What are comparison methods? Comparison methods are used with Filters and Parameters to refine or limit the rows that are returned to a report. Below is a list of Various Comparison Methods with an example: Comparison Method  Example Search Objective Alpha /Numeric Equal To South Africa True when the expression contains ‘South Africa’. Both Greater [...]

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Date Formats Different database systems store and recognise dates in different formats.  Alchemex Smart Reporting attempts to hide this detail from its end users by translating dates at run time into a recognizable format before passing the date to the underlying Database System.  In order for Alchemex Smart Reporting to know how the Database System [...]

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Operating System Functions in Alchemex The following Add-In functions for operating systems are available within Alchemex. Select a report and select show advanced options. Select the run Ad-Ins option and select Operating System Functions Module. The Add-In functions below will be available:   Function Description Use When DeleteFiles Deletes a list of specified files You [...]

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Did you know you can view the raw data of a report before it’s passed through to Excel? This can be very useful if you need to quickly check to see if you are getting the right data from your container or that your filters and/or parameters are working correctly without waiting for the data [...]

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It is handy to be able to hide reports that do not need to be run separately, but only as sub reports of a union report.  This will give your object window in the Report Manager a neater look. To hide a report: Select the report in the Object window of the Report Manager, under [...]

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