Data::Reporter module for Perl
----------------------

Ricardo Vazquez
rvazquez_a@yahoo.com

This module generates ascii reports from a Database or a plain ascii file.

Data::Reporter has a series of components. The user has only to define the
contents or functions that each component will use or display. Some are
mandatory (Header, Title, Detail) while others are optional to the user.
Here is the list of all the components:
- Header
- Title
- Detail
- Breaks
- Final
- Footer

Because of perl's multiple plataform availability, the same report program
can be run in many platforms with no changes in the code. The modules have been tested on Solaris, Windows NT and Windows 95.

A visual report generator called VisRep.pl is also included. This is based
on PerlTk. This program generates perl programs, that can be executed.
VisRep.pl can be later used to edit such generated programs.

Three examples are included:
avef5803.pl Uses a plain ascii file ajusbena.rep as datasource.
generates the BENAVIDES file
avef5803a.pl The same program as avef5803.pl, but created with VisRep.pl
generates the BENAVIDES file
avef5804.pl Uses a Sybase datasource.
This program has been created with VisRep.pl
and generates the INVOICES file
avef5804a.pl The same program as avef5804.pl, but created with VisRep.pl
generates the INVOICES file

Files Manifest:
---------------
README.TXT this file
Makefile.PL perl script to generate Makefile
bin/VisRep.pl visual report generator
bin/Sources.cfg available data sources for VisRep.pl
(only Sybsource at this time)
examples/ajusbena.rep data source for avef5803.pl
examples/avef5803.pl example for a plain ascii file source
examples/avef5803a.pl example for a plain ascii file source
(same as avef5803.pl but created with VisRep.pl)
examples/avef5804.pl example for Sybase source
examples/avef5804a.pl example for Sybase source
(same as avef5804.pl, but created with VisRep.pl)
examples/sybase.cfg login information for sybase conexion
examples/BENAVIDES avef5803.pl output
examples/INVOICES avef5804.pl output
Reporter/Datasource.pm abstract class for sources
Reporter/Filesource.pm File source class
Reporter/Sybsource.pm Sybase source class
Reporter/RepFormat.pm module to manipulate text in memory
Reporter/Reporter.pm main module to generate reports
Reporter/VisSection.pm module to manipulate report sections (used only by VisRep.pl)

Install:
--------
Type:
perl Makefile.PL
make
make install

Please send any comments or suggestions