Specifications

13 – Configuring Reports
270 R400
Configuring Free Format Reports
This section provides overview information about the Free Format Report. It
shows how you use Station to configure a custom report and describes the
components of a Report Definition file.
For detailed information about the structure of a Report Definition file and the
variables used, refer to “Free Format Report Reference” on page 272.
Free Format Reports
Free format reports are only available with the Free Format Report Writer option.
You can use the Free Format Report Writer option to create and format
customized reports. These custom reports can include information from
calculated values as well as data extracted from the server database.
Free Format reports can also be used to write information back to the server
database, and can be used instead of application software for simple applications.
If you are using the Free Format Report Writer option, you can create custom
reports that:
• Get values from point parameters
• Perform calculations on those values (for example, addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, and exponentiation)
• Retrieve historical data to determine summations, maximums, minimums,
and standard deviations
• Generate an X-Y plot of the historical values for two points
• Store new values or calculations in the server database or in operating
system files
Creating a Report Definition File
To create a report definition file, you can use any text editor supported by
Windows.
When a Free Format report is run, the report definition file is read and a report
based on the contents and format defined in this file is generated.
For details of the structure, contents and variables of Free Format Report
definition files, refer to “Free Format Report Reference” on page 272.
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