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Run automatic reports

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    The Automatic Report Selection tool allows you to run multiple reports at one time. The Report Generator dialog box is not displayed for each report and no user input is required once launched. This feature can be used to generate any number of output files or to automatically place report tables on drawings. The first step to using the Automatic Reports feature is to create the format files using the Report Format File Setup dialog box defining the report options and output as described above. You can create any number of format files for the same report if you use the same report with different options. Once your format files are created you are ready to run the reports automatically.

    If any of your selected format files contain Table Output, if there are no existing, updatable matching report tables, the report tables insert on new drawings. If you are running multiple reports with multiple table output, each report gets its own. You can specify the first drawing name for any necessary new drawings and the template name. Subsequent drawing names generate automatically by incrementing the previous drawing's name.

    If you frequently run the same group of reports you can save the set of format files as a Report Grouping. To set up a Report Grouping, add all your format files as if you are going to run the reports then click Save Report Grouping. The information about the format files is saved in a Report Grouping file with an ".rgf" extension. The next time you want to run that report set, open the Automatic Reports Selection dialog box, click Open Report Grouping, and select the ".rgf" file you previously saved; you are ready to run the reports.

    When you click OK, the reports run in the selected order. If the format file contains output options, the files are created. If the format file contains table output options that report's tables are inserted. If existing, matching report tables are found, they are updated, otherwise new table objects insert on new drawings.

     

    Procedures

    Generate a report using format files

    1. Click Reports tabMiscellaneous panelAutomatic Reports.
    2. Select which report to generate from the schematic or panel report list.
    3. Specify the format file to use for the selected report. If there aren't any format files to select from, you must click the Format File Setup button to create and save a format file.
    4. Click the Add button to add the report name and format file to the Selected Reports list. This button is not active until both a report name and format file are selected.
    5. Continue adding more reports to the Selected Reports list.

      For the File and Table Output options, an 'X' indicates that the automatic generation will run that portion, while an 'O' indicates that it will not run that portion.

    6. Modify the output of a report type by selecting the report in the Selected Reports list and then clicking the Modify Output button. Make changes in the subdialog box and click OK.
    7. Save the list of report names and format files for later retrieval and usage.
    8. Specify a starting drawing file location and filename, and the drawing template file to use for the automatic creation of the drawing files.
    9. Click OK to generate a report for the selected type(s).

     

    References

    Automatic report selection

    Defines a list of reports and their format files, and runs the reports automatically.

     Ribbon: Reports tabMiscellaneous panelAutomatic Reports.
     Toolbar: Schematic Reports
     Menu: ProjectsReportsAutomatic Report Selection
     Command entry: AEAUTOREPORT

    Automatic Report Selection generates any number of output files, and places report tables on drawings. You select the desired reports and click OK.

    Note

    All drawings are automatically added to the bottom of the Project Listing.

    Report Name

    Displays a list of all schematic and panel reports available for automatic report generation. Not every AutoCAD Electrical report is available for this command.

    Format File Name

    Displays a list of format files. These format files are associated with a particular report name. If there aren't any format files to select from, you must click the Format File Setup button to create and save a format file.

    The Browse button allows you to search for a specific format file that is not displayed in the list.

    Control buttons

    • Modify Output: Changes the output types for individually selected reports. Each format file definition can determine whether the report is set to a file or table on the drawing, or both. Select a file in the Selected Reports list, click the Modify Output button, and click either of the toggle buttons to turn on or off the output type.
    • Add: Adds the report name and format file to the Selected Reports list. This button is not active until both a report name and format file are selected.
    • Remove: Removes individual reports from the Selected Reports list. Select the file from the list so that it is highlighted and press the Remove button.
    • Remove All: Removes all of the reports from the Selected Reports list. There is no need to select the files in the list; simply press the Remove All button.

    Selected Reports

    Displays the current active listing of all reports for the report generation. The list displays the report name and format file name, as well as indicators that show if the report output is a file or table.

    For the File and Table Output options, an 'X' indicates that the automatic generation will run that portion, while an 'O' indicates that it will not run that portion.

    Open or Save Report Grouping

    Allows you to define an alias (grouping) file with a pre-defined list of reports for later retrieval and usage. You can make many grouping files for different customer types and configurations. The Report Grouping files are maintained in the Documents and Settings\{user name} subdirectory or Users\{user name} on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation. The file names have an .rgf file extension.

    • Open Report Grouping: Opens a previously saved grouping of report names and format files.
    • Save Report Grouping: Saves a file that contains the list of report names and format files for later retrieval and usage. You may define a list of reports based upon which customer is using the report data and the format that customer would like to see the reports in.

    Drawing Information for Table Output

    Specifies a starting drawing file location and filename, and the drawing template file to use for the automatic creation of the drawing files. You can select a template drawing file to use for the automatic creation of drawing files. Type in a template filename or use the Browse button to search for and select a template file. It is advised to start the first drawing filename with a numeric suffix.

    Note

    If you enter just a filename, the drawing files will be created and saved in the active project path.