1 Overview to World Writer

This chapter contains these topics:

1.1 About World Writer

World Writer is JD Edwards World's general report writing tool for the IBM iSeries. This flexible tool consists of a series of easy-to-use setup screens that create parameters for an IBM Structured Query Language (SQL) statement. You can design a brand new report that meets your specific needs, or you can copy an existing report and modify it to fulfill your requirements. Each time a World Writer version is submitted, up-to-date information is retrieved from the iSeries and displayed on the report.

World Writer is designed to let you retrieve and format data stored on the iSeries into reports that you design. You do not need to know a programming language to work with World Writer. However, World Writer is a powerful tool. It can seem complicated until you become familiar with all the features and functions that make World Writer perform.

This section contains the following:

  • Comparing World Writer, DREAM Writer, FASTR, and STAR

  • Creating and Modifying Versions

  • Runtime Programs

  • Data Files

1.1.1 What You Should Know About

Topic Description
Using up to 32 different files You can include up to 32 different files when designing your World Writer version. The file or files you choose can be JD Edwards World or non-JD Edwards World files. If these files are on your iSeries, they already comply with IBM's standards and are available for you to use.
Selecting fields and determining use
  • Sequence fields to be printed as columns on the report in the order you determine.

  • Select the data through the use of standard Boolean Logic.

  • Sort and group the data to make viewing the information easier.

  • Specify totaling functions such as: summary, average, minimum, maximum, or count.

  • Create both detail and summary reports.
Efficient handling of numeric data World Writer uses Data Dictionary to automatically display numerical data on your report. Formatting includes decimal position, use of commas and negative signs. You can modify these types of information on the report as well as determine if the data should be rounded.

Dates stored as Julian in the file appear in the Gregorian format on the output. Further formatting for MDY and separator character is recognized from System defaults or User Preferences.
Automatic descriptions Data Dictionary helps when developing column titles. Many times the fields you want on your report are already appropriately named and these names are preloaded for you on your report. This speeds your design time dramatically.
Presumptive join fields World Writer automatically links associated descriptions or information attached to a field in your report. This feature allows you to include more meaningful information on your report than just a code or number. User Defined Codes as well as Address Number, Business Unit, and Company Number are examples of fields that have presumptive joins.
Calculated fields Create new fields by performing calculations using other fields or literal values. Calculated fields can be printed, used to select data, and used for sorting and totaling purposes.
Levels of security World Writer provides five levels of security:

1. Business Unit

2. User Exclusive

3. Group Level

4. File/Field Level

5. IBM Object Authority
Ease of learning World Writer is similar to DREAM Writer and FASTR. Being familiar with DREAM Writer makes learning World Writer easier but is by no means a prerequisite. You will find that, once you grasp the basic concepts of designing a report, World Writer becomes both a functional and productive tool.

JD Edwards World supplies prototypes of reports. You can often copy an existing report and customize it to your needs. These prototypes give you a head start with designing your own reports.
Previewing reports online As you create your World Writer report, you can preview the layout on your workstation. This allows you to check format, column titles, spelling, spacing, and other report elements while designing your report.
Creating physical files World Writer has the ability to create a physical file that resides in a library on the iSeries. The file can be used in another World Writer report, in a program, or downloaded to the PC for use in PC applications such as Excel.
Updating fields in a file Use World Writer to update a field in a file. This is a powerful feature and should be used with caution.

1.2 Comparing World Writer, DREAM Writer, FASTR, and STAR

JD Edwards World software provides several report creating tools. All are easy-to-use, with some common functionality and some unique features.

  • World Writer is a general-purpose report writer that can be used with any file(s) on the iSeries. You determine the purpose of the report and design it either from the beginning or by copying and modifying an existing version.

  • DREAM Writer is a data extraction tool, used within all systems of the software. Versions are predefined for specific purposes.

  • FASTR is designed to retrieve data from the General Accounting system in a spreadsheet format.

  • STAR uses data from either the Fixed Asset or Plant Management system.

This chart compares the set up screens for each report writer:

World Writer DREAM Writer FASTR STAR
Version Title & Files Version Identification Version Identification Version Identification
File Join Relations Additional Parameters Additional Parameters Additional Parameters
Additional Parameters Processing Options Override Default Information Override Default Information
Field Selection List Data Selection General Specifications General Specifications
Output Field Specifications Data Sequence Column Specifications Column Specifications
Data Selection Printer File Overrides Row Specifications Conditioned Variance Reports
Data Sort & Totaling NA Cell Specifications Journal Entry Specifications
Summary Functions NA Override Rows/Columns PC Download Processing Options
Printer File Overrides NA Conditioned Variance Reports Printer File Overrides
Batch PC Export NA Journal Entry Specifications  
  NA Work File Save  
  NA PC Download Processing Options  
  NA Printer File Overrides  

This chart compares some of the features of each report writer:

Feature World Writer DREAM Writer FASTR STAR
Files Any, up to 32 Predefined F0901

F0902

F0006

 F1201

F1202
Report Layout Columns, Break Level functions Predefined, fixed Columns, rows, cells Columns
Selection & Sequence Separate Separate Combined Combined
PC Download Yes - Batch PC Export No Yes Yes
Field Update Yes No No No
File Create Yes No No No

1.3 Creating and Modifying Versions

The creation and modification of a World Writer version populates the World Writer files. A SQL statement is also built during this process. When a version is submitted and becomes active in the job queue, the SQL statement is used to select the files and fields, and retrieve and sort the records. The World Writer files format the resulting report details or physical file.

1.3.1 World Writer Master Menu

The World Writer master menu organizes versions by system or application.

Figure 1-1 World Writer Master Menu screen

Description of Figure 1-1 follows
Description of "Figure 1-1 World Writer Master Menu screen"

1.3.2 Versions List

The Versions List allows you to:

  • Create a new report.

  • Copy an existing report.

  • Change an existing report.

  • Submit a version for processing.

Figure 1-2 General Ledger screen

Description of Figure 1-2 follows
Description of "Figure 1-2 General Ledger screen"

1.3.3 Version Title & Files

Use Versions Title & files to assign a Version Name and Title, Report Title, and to specify the files to use in the query.

Figure 1-3 Version Title and Files screen

Description of Figure 1-3 follows
Description of "Figure 1-3 Version Title and Files screen"

1.3.4 File Relations

If two or more files are selected, the link between the files must be described. The following examples illustrate two methods to do this:

Figure 1-4 File Relations - Match Fields screen

Description of Figure 1-4 follows
Description of "Figure 1-4 File Relations - Match Fields screen"

File Relations - Enter Fields

Figure 1-5 File Relations - Enter Fields screen

Description of Figure 1-5 follows
Description of "Figure 1-5 File Relations - Enter Fields screen"

1.3.5 Additional Parameters

The following screen example shows default information and how to process the query at run time.

Figure 1-6 Additional Parameters screen

Description of Figure 1-6 follows
Description of "Figure 1-6 Additional Parameters screen"

1.3.6 Field Selection List

The Field Selection List screen is used to establish printing, selection, total levels and summary functions to create a "tag list" that simplifies the remaining steps.

Figure 1-7 Field Selection List screen

Description of Figure 1-7 follows
Description of "Figure 1-7 Field Selection List screen"

1.3.7 Output Field Specifications Field Selection List

Output Field Specifications is where you create most of the report design and layout. It is also the starting point for creating a calculated field.

Figure 1-8 Output Field Specifications screen

Description of Figure 1-8 follows
Description of "Figure 1-8 Output Field Specifications screen"

1.3.8 Data Selection

You select the data that you want to appear on the report. If you do not enter anything here, all records from the files are included.

Figure 1-9 Data Selection screen

Description of Figure 1-9 follows
Description of "Figure 1-9 Data Selection screen"

1.3.9 Data Sort & Totaling

Use Data Sort & Totaling to set up how to sort and group the report data.

Figure 1-10 Data Sort and Totaling screen

Description of Figure 1-10 follows
Description of "Figure 1-10 Data Sort and Totaling screen"

1.3.10 Total Level Summary Functions

Access the Summary Functions screen from the Data Sort & Totaling screen. You can specify up to five summary functions per total level.

Figure 1-11 Total Level Summary Functions screen

Description of Figure 1-11 follows
Description of "Figure 1-11 Total Level Summary Functions screen"

1.3.11 Printer File Overrides

Set up standard IBM printing specifications on this screen.

Figure 1-12 Printer File Overrides screen

Description of Figure 1-12 follows
Description of "Figure 1-12 Printer File Overrides screen"

1.4 Runtime Programs

When a version is submitted, these are the main programs used by World Writer to process the version specifications:

  • P82001 - World Writer uses this program at runtime to create a report based on the setup specifications of the query version.

  • P82151 - World Writer uses this program at runtime to create a database file based on the setup specifications of the query version.

1.5 Data Files

Data File Description
F82000LA Query Fields by File ID
F8201 Query Group Security File
F82013 Multi-currency File
F82100 Query Header File
F82100E Query Header File - Prompt for Data Selection
F82101 Query Data File Selections
F82102 Query Data File Join Fields
F82103 Query Output Print Fields
F82104 Query Output Print Field Calculations
F82105 Query Data Selection Fields
F82106 Query Data Selection Values
F82107 Query Sort Fields
F82108 Query Field Summary Functions
F82109 Query File Update Specification
F9401 File/Field Level Security