The chapters in this Part provide steps to build group reports. In these reports, the rows of output are displayed as groups based on a single query or on multiple queries. Group reports can contain formula columns and the values of the report can be printed from top to bottom or across a page.
A single-query group report contains a single query and divides the rows of a report into groups based on common values in one or more column(s). For example, employees can be grouped based on department numbers, which means each department number prints only once for every group. Otherwise, the department number would print once for every employee in the department. These reports include the group left and group above reports and were earlier known as break reports or master/detail reports.
A two-query group report appears much the same as a single-query group report except that the former report uses multiple queries. Multiple queries enable you to simplify maintenance or make the data model easier to understand.
An across group report prints the values of a database column across the page instead of down. In these reports, the values in the master group print from top to bottom, and the values in the detail group print across the page, from left to right.
A group left summary report consists of master record values, detail records, and summaries. Summaries are totals calculated for the details under each master record.
A group left formula report contains a formula column, for which values are calculated based on a PL/SQL formula. A formula column, like a summary column, is a computational column that you create. This column performs user-defined calculations on other column(s) data including placeholder columns.