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Background documentationCreating Generic Report Layouts Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

By tintegrating Crystal reports the customer is able to use the powerful formatting functions or Crystal reportly directly without the effort usually required for user-specific report design.

The design of ALV-specific reports is inteded to maximize the options on offer as a result of this integration. Customers are able to visualize ALVs directly as Crystal reports by generating reports automatically which are based on a generic report layouts delivered by SAP. The generic report layout that is delivered can be adjusted to special needs at the customer side.

Implementation Considerations

Pay attention to the following when creating a generic report:

  1. Always begin with the generic report layout delivered by SAP.

    Whilst the systems does accept a generic report layout that was created without a template, the layour provided by SAP contains special logic that is difficult to reproduce. Customers are recommended to adjust the generic report layout that is delivered to their special requirements instead of creating a new layout of their own.

  2. Design the layout simply.

    The generic report layout should offer preint-ready view of the ALV. It is not a replacement for the required design or data source-specific reports.

    Note Note

    Avoid using specific formatting formulae to cover data-specific reporting requirements.

    End of the note.

  3. Avoid using larger picture objects to ensure high performance levels.

    The size of the RPT files can increase drastically by adding large pictures and this has a negative impact on the system performance.

    Note Note

    Avoid using graphics with a more than 300,00 pixels where possible. Consider replacing simple graphics with symbol and text objects.

    End of the note.

  4. Test a large example before releasing the layout.

    Before rolling out new generic report layouts you must first test it with a large amount of ALV example data. The layout is only to be made available after it has been tested successfully. Check how the generic report behaves when totals and subtotals are used in the source ALV.

Activities

To create generic report layouts:

  1. Managing Generic Report Layouts

    You manage generic report layouts in SAP NetWeaver Customizing.

    •   SAP Web Application Server Customizing   SAP List Viewer (ALV)   Maintaining Generic Crystal Reports   (transaction SALV_CRL)

  2. Downloading Existing Generic Report Layouts

    Select the generic SAP report layout and choose Download to save the RPT file locally.

  3. Opening the File

    Open the RPT file with Crystal Reports Designer.

  4. Accepting Generic Reports

    Make the required changes:

    The following are possible adjustments:

    • Adding/Changing Report Objects

      Report objects such as lines, boxes, graphics, text objects, and special field objects can be added or changed in the header/footer of the report or page.

      Note Note

      Special fields such as Report Title, Page Number, and Print Date are fully functional and very helpful for formatting generic report layouts. The Report Titles are replaced by the ALV title when executing the report.

      End of the note.

    • Adjusting Settings for Fonts/Margins of the Template Formatting Fields

      The generic report layout contains placeholder fields that contain the formatting settings of the different elements in the generated report.

      This includes:

      Object name

      Description

      PHColumnHeading

      Contains the formatting settings for ALV column headers

      DetailField

      Contains the formatting settings for ALV cells

      KeyColumnDetailField

      Contains the formatting settings for ALV key columns

      GroupNameFields1

      Contains the formatting settings for subtotal flag cells

      KeyColumnGroupNameField1

      Contains the formatting settings for subtotal flag cells or key columns

      SubtotalField1

      Contains formatting settings for subtotals

      KeyColumnSubTotalField1

      Contains the formatting settings for subtotal flags for key columns

      GrandTotalField

      Contains formatting settings for totals

      GrandTotalField

      Contains the formatting settings for total flags for key columns

    • Adjusting Paragraph Heights/Colors

      Background colors and measurements of paragraphs can be defined in the generic report report layout.

      Note Note

      You can use the stretchable keyword in the file info of the report to inform the system that this layout can be made wider horizontally to accomodate the larger number of fields. Delete this keyword if a specific paper size is required. Then additional fields are cut off and the width of the report remains unchanged. Select   File   Properties   and enter stretchable in theKeywords field on the File Info tab.

      End of the note.

Constraints

Ensure that the structure of reports generated automatically cannot be affected by adjusting generic report layouts. The layout adjustment refers only to adjusting the style or formatting of the report.

More Information

For more information, see SAP Help Portal http://help.sap.com   SAP BusinessObjects   All Products   Crystal Reports  .