DataLink Viewer User Manual

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Introduction
- Main Benefits:
- Install / Remove
  - Speeding Up via Native Image (not recommended, starting Sep 2024)
Typical Use Scenarios
- Select Report Window
  - Right-Click Report Row Menu
- Preview Report Window:
- Copying Object/Text From The Report
Parameter Functionality
- Remember Parameter Values from a previous Session (video demo)
- Selective Parameter Refresh (video demo)
- Initializing Parameter Values with Date Expressions (video demo)
- Save and Reuse Named Parameter Sets (video demo)
- Click to Change a Parameter Value (video demo)
- Load ini Values into Parameters
- Securing Reports against Unauthorized Use
- Load Machine/Company/Report Information into Parameters
- Control Data Access according to PC Login
- Dynamic & Cascading Parameters (video demo)
- Dynamic and Cascading Parameters (Developer Notes)
Auto-Refresh Reports
- Auto_Refresh Command Line Argument
- Saved Data Auto Refresh
- Specifying Parameters When Using Saved Data Auto Refresh
- Auto_Page_and_Refresh
- ViewMode (Remove Toolbar/Status bar/TitleBar)
- Cycling Through Several Auto-Refreshed Reports
Click to Set Formula Value (video demo)
- Click to Set Another Formula to Clicked Formula Value
- Click to Set Another Formula to Clicked Formula Name
- Click Column Headers to Re-Sort The Report
Click to Show HTML Tooltip (video demo)
In-Place Drill-Down (video demo)
- Converting Section Double-Click to In-Place Drill-Down
Dynamic Grouping (Group Swap Expert) (video demo)
- Optional Technique for Gaining Formula Access to the Dynamic Grouping:
Change Layout & Content when Printing the Report
Data Grid
- Example
- What Data is Included?
- Disabling the Data Grid functionality
- Exporting/Copying the Data
- Saving/Restoring Grid Layouts
Data Visualizer
- Adding Hierarchies
- Automated Exporting
Report Inspection & Documentation Tools
- Report Inspector
- Report Documentation
Launching Reports & Command Line API
- Launch Reports from File Explorer
- Generate Desktop Shortcuts to Launch Reports
- Launch Reports from Command Lines
  - Examples:
  - Handling Saved Data
- Call DataLink Viewer from Another Application
- ViewMode (Remove Toolbar/Status bar/TitleBar)
- Referring to Saved Encrypted Passwords
- Command Line Arguments for Parameter Values (old approach)
  - Range and Multi-Value Parameters
- Command Line Arguments for Parameter Values (New Approach)
  - Specifying Subreport Parameter Values
  - generating a command line with parameters
  - Optional Parameters with No Value
  - Null Values
  - Ignoring Saved Parameter Values
  - Date Constants
  - Custom Calendars
  - Adjusting Data Constants for Day of Week
  - Number Constants
- Argument for Using Saved Data
- Specifying Parameters When Using Saved Data
- Argument for Setting Formula Expressions
- Argument to Set Extra Record Selection Logic
- Command Line Arguments for Triggering/Scheduling Exporting
  - Interactive Use
  - Fully-Automated Exporting
  - Scheduling Exporting
- Fully-Automated Exporting of Data Visualizations
  - To an Image File
  - To Excel File
  - Follow-Up Processing in Visual CUT
- Command Line Arguments for Triggering/Scheduling Printing
  - Specifying Number of Copies
  - Setting Custom Text for Each Print Copy
  - Scheduling Printing
  - Scheduling Printing for Multiple Reports
- Argument for Printer Setup
- Argument for Documenting File Locations and Report Parameters
- Launch a Report while Viewing another Report
  - Current Report Path Token
  - Create a User Interface for Selecting and Launching Reports
  - Embed Input from The User in the Command Line Call for Another Report
- Launch another Application and Pass Parameters to It
- Launch an Application Before Report Runs
  - Optional Arguments and Working Directory Elements
- Launching Reports in a New Window
  - New Window On File Launch and/or On Double Click
  - Right-Click the Grid and Select Preview Report (new Window)
  - Remove the Preview Tab from the Initial Window
Database Choice Functionality
- Changing Data Source (Server/Database)
- Select Alternative ODBC Data Sources for the Same Report
- Restricting ODBC DSN Choices (DSN Groups)
  - DSN Groups with Wildcards
- Forcing Login
- Restricting ODBC DSN Choices (Databases within Server)
  - Facilitating Deployment
- Specify the ODBC DSN
- Overriding the Database Specified in the Report or ODBC DSN
- Overriding the Table Location (ODBC)
- Overriding the XML File Location
- Stripping Table Qualifiers when Connecting to a Different Database
- Overriding the Server in Native Oracle Connection
- Selecting an Alternative SQL Server – OLE DB Data Source
- Forced Login
- Selecting Folder Location for FoxPro DBF Files (MasterBuilder)
- Changing Folder Location for Access/Excel/Pervasive/Paradox/ACT! Files
  - Using Command Line Argument to Avoid Path Prompt
- Changing Data Source in UDL Files
Integrated Authentication
- Integrated Authentication ("Remember Me")
- Shared Machine Authentication
- Shared Secret Password with Windows User IDs
- Integrated Authentication for Interactive ODBC DSN Changes
Language Translation / Localization
- Translate Button in Preview
Protect Report Designs with rpz Files
- Make_Rpz Command Line Argument
- Create rpz Files with Expiration and License Keys
  - Make_Rpz2 Command Line Argument
Monitoring DataLink Viewer Use
- Record Processing to an ODBC Database
- Record Report Use in a Text Log File
Settings & Options
- Customizing the Grid Layout
- Customizing the Grid Style
- Disabling Report Preview Buttons
- Disabling DataLink Viewer Buttons
- Disabling Login Dialog Memory of Last User ID
- Exclude Export Formats
- Add your Company Info to the About Dialog
- File Location & Redirect Logic
- Explicit Assignment of Default Printer
- Default Preview-Only Window Settings
- Setting Encrypted Password Entries
Known Issues and Limitation
Update History
- Version 6.9.4014: Entered Testing December 12, 2024
  - New Features
  - Fixes
- Version 6.9.1001: Released September 4, 2023
  - New Features
  - Fixes
- Version 6.7.1001 [SP23]: Released June 30, 2018
  - Fixes
- Version 6.6.1001 [SP19]: Released February 27, 2017
  - Fixes
- Version 6.5.1001 [SP15]: November 25, 2015
  - Fixes
- Version 6.4.1003 [SP12]: November 29, 2014
  - New Features
  - Fixes
- Version 6.3.1047 [SP7]: November 28, 2013