SEQUEL System i Report Writer lets you get rid of costly pre-printed forms

Pre-printed forms are expensive and inconvenient. They require their own drawer in the printer that has to be filled when the forms run out. Would you like to consider another approach? SEQUEL’s System i Report Writer lets you create PDF files with graphic overlays.

This article describes how you can use a JPEG (.jpg) image file as a form overlay to create an Order Acknowledgement. You can create a form overlay image using a vector graphics application, such as Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW.

Note: To use this feature, you must be running SEQUEL version 8.5.243 (or higher) and SEQUEL Viewpoint 5.5.244 (or higher).

Do the following to create an overlay:

1. Create the SEQUEL view that extracts the necessary data. When the view is complete (and while you are still in Design View), click File/New/Report to display the Report Design Wizard.
2. Specify the length, width, lines-per-inch, and characters-per-inch for your form. (For more information about these parameters, see the notes at the end of this article.)
3. Use the Report Design Wizard to complete the design of your report. When you are finished, the ViewPoint System i Report Design window displays.
4. Click the File/Properties menu option and select the PDF tab. Then , click the Page Size drop-down menu and select the Report option. This causes the report to use the character and line settings you entered earlier.
5. Click the Edit Image Layout button.
6. When the Change PDF Image Overlay window displays, click File/Import Images. A standard Windows file browse window displays, allowing you to find and select a background image. Note: As you select your image, a warning message, “Image File is too Large,” may display. Ignore this message. The import function displays a placeholder that allows you to drop the image wherever you want it.
7. When you are done, the image appears in both the report layout panel and the thumbnail list. If the location or appearance of the image isn’t what you wanted, right-click the image in the layout to display a pop-up menu that let you make adjustments. Select the Properties option to display the Image Properties window to fine-tune the location and size of the image.
8. Save the report design and run a test.
9. Click the Send Results to an Email Recipient button. At the Send Email results window, specify your e-mail address in the To: field. Be sure to specify an attachment type of Adobe PDF.

Change PDF Image Overlay

Important notes on layout and printing
The available print area and characters-per-inch that you specify are the critical factors in the report layout and design, as well as the design of a form layout graphic. It is important to determine the final page size and characters-per-inch early in the design process.

A letter-size sheet of paper is 8.5 inches wide. Allowing a .25 inch margin on each side, the maximum line width is 8 inches. Therefore, if you choose to print 15 characters-per-inch (CPI), the maximum line width is 120 characters (15 x 8).

When SEQUEL prints a System i-based report (including reports designed for PDF output), it uses a fixed-pitch font—Courier New. Fixed-pitch fonts devote the same amount of line space to each character, regardless of whether the character is a “skinny” I, a “fat” W, or a space (blank). A fixed-pitch font ensures that report columns line up.

Use the following table to select CPI and LPI values:

Note: The CPI and LPI values are approximate. When the reports are converted to PDF format, you may need to adjust your report design or form layout graphic for optimal appearance.

Contributed by Steven Smith, Technical Writer

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am and is filed under SEQUEL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.