Types of Functions
OpenROAD Reporter supplies various functions that you can use to create computed fields. The functions perform sophisticated calculations. For example, you can use functions to rank field values or to return the future value of an investment.
When you use a function in a computed field, you must specify certain variables on which the function operates.
The following descriptions summarize the functions available in OpenROAD Reporter:
Aggregate Functions
Perform calculations (for example, counting, summing, and averaging) on grouped data or data for the entire report. Aggregate functions ignore Null values in their computations. For example, the Avg() function does not include the Null value when it computes the average.
Generally, you insert a computed field containing an aggregate function in a report header or footer. The placement of the field determines the value returned by the function.
Note: If your report contains a large amount of data, you can improve performance and memory usage by placing aggregate functions in the report footer. Placing an aggregate function in a report header requires the most time and memory to evaluate.
String Functions
Manipulate text strings and fields with a text data type in the report definition. For example, text functions let you compare strings, insert and extract characters within strings, and convert lowercase strings to uppercase strings.
Date and Time Functions
Calculate dates and times using serial numbers. For example, you can use a function to add a number of weeks to a date and get the future date back.
Numeric Functions
Perform common mathematical operations on data defined in the report definition, such as raising a value to a power or returning an absolute value.
Conversion Functions
Convert a field or value of one data type to a value of another data type. For example, Reporter provides functions that convert date values to number values or text values, number values to date values or text values, and so on.