Thompson On 2

2008-01-16T23:08:00.000-08:00

Creating HTML Help files using HTML Help

Overview

The post is based on the HTML Help version download here.

One way to spruce up hyperlinks in reports, in addition to using the opendocument object, is to link to a help file.

Creating help files with HTML Help is a tedious task, after the html content is written and plotted out, but the process of building a fully functioning help file is mostly automated. A few repetitions to gain familiarity with the interface will yield results both on your local as well as networked and internet folders.

The first iterations should rely on the wizard to create files. Read the intro pages in the help files. You need to bring in completed (or fairly complete) content in the form of .htm files before starting. This way, The boxes on the contents tab will populate correctly and navigational integrity can be maintained. Begin in small increments, first local, then on the network. The chum will use these shared files when published, so

access should be granted to the folder accordingly.

The compile is very specific for HTML Help when run on the network. You want to cycle through to a new help project, and let the wizard create all new files:

Project file

Select Existing html files in subfolder below main
Note: Make sure navigational integrity is programmed into .htm files before bringing them into the project

Contents file

Let the wizard create it, and leave 'automatically create' box unticked. Have the file name filled in.

Index file

This can be left out for the first iterations, to save time toward getting the first compilation. Fill in the file name, leaving 'Include Keywords' box unticked.

Be sure to maintain navigational integrity. The easiest way is to use two content .htm files in order to gain familiarity and obtain successful compiles.

2007-12-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

Creating Templates In Crystal Reports With Guidelines

Crystal Reports - Using Boxes, Gridlines, Text and Wingdings.

Updated December 28, 2007

Preparatory

Configuration; _Report _Options Gridlines - .025
Create a text box .25 x .25. Type in the number '8' and format it using WingDing3.
This will emphasize the guidelines placement.
Note that guidelines, size and position, the object's size and position, and snap-to-gridline all work in concert to place the object fairly precisely. Guidelines can be double clicked, text objects can be aligned by utilizing the cross-braces (or whatever you might call the orange lines that reach to all margins.)

Overview

Create a formatting section in a report. Because it will be suppressed (or deleted after the report is finalized), it will not display. Use the 'shortcut menu - Size and Position' to set a series of 5 or 10 boxes at .25" intervals (mileage may vary) and then insert a series of text-boxes each with its left side docked to a gridline.
The text-boxes should be shorter and narrower than the boxes. Also note that boxes can be used to bound sections of data, while borders of text will bound one row value.

Environment

Having set the gridlines at .025, note that guidelines will snap more consistently.

Right click a report footer section and choose 'Insert Section Below' leave this footer Section unsuppressed for now.

Use this section to place the text-boxes, boxes, wingdings, and text that will assist with placement of guidelines.

Setting Guidelines

1. Create a box.
This will transition twice. At first, a thin .1 pt border will bound the box. You will want to remove the border when aligning the boxes. Set the border back to .1 pt before placing the text-boxes in the next step.

2. Place the text boxes (see 'Preparatory') on top of the box, with the same left alignment.

3. Set the guidelines using the left side of the text boxes.

4. Lock the size and position of the boxes when they are reasonably straight. Note that this locks them relative to the guidelines. Guidelines can be used to move these boxes more accurately after they have been placed.

4. Copy the series by painting from left top to lower right.

5. Select and Copy. Click on a place that is visibly in alignment with one of the guidelines.

Finalization

Return the environment to where it was prior to starting.
Suppress the report footer section added in the first step.

2007-12-26T15:12:00.000-08:00

my del.icio.us

Life After SQL Server: Getting started with TeraData

2007-10-11T06:23:00.000-07:00

There is an excellent article from readVitamin.com worth bookmarking at the following url:

http://readvitamin.com/2007/07/30/how-to-import-data-in-teradata-sql-using-bteq/

The URL for TeraData SQL links

2007-10-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

The URL for TeraData SQL links is a little long:

SQL References (6 manuals): http://www.info.teradata.com/Gen-Srch/eOnLine-Prodline-Results-One.cfm?pll=Software%20%2D%20Teradata%20Database&title2=SQL%5FReference&pid=&release=V2R6.1.x&sbrn=3&startdate=&enddate=

You can Click Here.

Similarities between TeraData and SQL Server

2007-10-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

There are actually similarities between SQL Server and TeraData beyond the ANSI SQL overlap. When moving from SQL Server to Teradata, from a Development standpoint, there is similar functionality.

In general terms these functions are:

Comprehensive online documentation: http://www.info.teradata.com/
Command Line and Batch File:
BTEQ: http://www.info.teradata.com/eDownload.cfm?itemid=972310005&type=TD
SQL Reference -
SQL References (6 manuals):

2007-10-07T09:43:00.000-07:00

There is an excellent blog on the topic of Web 2.0, http://feeds.feedburner.com/Web20Blog

2007-10-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Status Update on Web 2.0 happenings from the trenches.

The folks slugging it out in the trenches of the modern workplace have to be pleased with Google Docs. It has all functionality needed in order to work, share, and collaborate.

I don't imagine that people will be accepting of the fact that security is an issue. But with the additional benefit of mobility, it does add quite a bit of value and productivity.

Objectives of the Elaboration Phase

2007-09-29T00:56:00.000-07:00

Elaboration and Iterations

Objective 1: Get a More Detailed Understanding of the Requirements
Objective 2: Design, Implement, Validate, and Baseline the Architecture
Objective 3: Mitigate Essential Risks, and Produce Accurate Schedule and Cost Estimates
Objective 4: Refine the Development Case, and Put the Development Environment in Place .

Elaborates objectives of the project's inception phase.

Exploring Web 2.0

2007-09-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

I have been exploring Web 2.0 primarily via Google but using this article.

I wanted to look further into

How to integrate the various elements, blog, web site, etc.

How to actually publish a blog, complete with graphics (local and web) and spell checking.