I'm working with Quik Reports 6.2A for DOS and Accpac Job Costing.
The Job Costing system I?m working with has (for simplicity purposes) 10 Phases and 500 categories, with each Phase having 50 Categories.
Can Quik Reports sum these 50 categories of each Phase into one total so that I can build a 10 line report showing comparison of Actuals to Budget based on these 10 phases.
I?ve been playing around with this problem for several days and can?t seem to get it to work.
Thanks for your feedback

Dear Wayne

From the information you have given, I cannot say whether QR can do this or not. I need more specific information. For example, what exact problem are you having? What is it (precisely) about the report that does not work? Does it give you any information at all? If so, what does it give, and what does it leave out? Did this report ever work? Or is it a new report? What are your links? What exact fields do you have on your report? Are you using any formulas? What version of WSM, JC are you using? Do you have any other application data on your report?

Also please note that the version of QRD is very old, not Y2K compliant, and I would not be able to duplicate this exactly, as we use current versions of product here to test with. You did not mention what version of JC you are using.

If you can provide more information, I would be able to answer your question more accurately.

This seems like a straight forward enough report, but there could be a number of factors as to why it is not working, as you can imagine.

If have your company in our system, however, I do not show you having any version of QR at all. Please register your software.

First off, a brief background. Through the grapevine I received a call from a company that asked if I would help them build this report (mentioned in my first e-mail to you).
I?m relatively familiar with Accpac Plus (having worked with it extensively for nearly 10 years) though prior to a couple of weeks ago, I was not familiar with Quik Reports. However Quik Reports 6.2A is a relatively easy software to move through, and I was able to play with it comfortably, except it didn?t appear to be able to handle the problem I mentioned earlier. (The guy that originally contacted me had tried to build this report and wasn?t able to; hence my involvement.) Here?s answers to your questions:
WSM - 6.1A
JC ? 6.1A
QR ? 6.2A
The system also uses GL & AP, all versions have patches to make the software Y2K compliant.
To respond by answering why the report does not work is not that simple. It provides output but not the output I?m after.
Main Program for Report is Job Costing, Data Field is Job Estimates, Job #, Phase Code and Original Estimated Dollars. This will properly print out. And even though I haven?t requested any detail on Category, the output prints by Category. In other words, if a particular job has 10 Phases but 67 Categories entered through Add/Modify/Delete Job Estimates, this Quik Report will print out 67 lines of data. What this company wants is 10 lines of data, based on the Phases. I?ve played around with this report numerous ways; for example one of the ways I?ve worked with it is to Sum the Phases by inserting a formula that reads
Sum (Phase code = ?1?, Phase Code = ?1?). This entire formula is a composite of inserted info (either Data Field, Operator or Function) except for the ?1?, which was manually entered ? this is based on your Help menus. I get a variety of errors, mainly ?The formula is in error?, and ?A number or dollar amount is required here?. I can build simple Sum formulae, so I?ve figured out that logic, though I?m not able to understand the logic of these error messages.
The company originally approached me to determine whether Quik Reports 6.2A would work for this required report or whether they should upgrade to Quik Reports for Windows. When I phoned your office to ask this same question, I was advised to post my question/problem on your website and someone would respond to it, which is where I?m presently at.
I?m not a customer of your firm, I?m merely trying to help another individual either build this report (on QR 6.2A) or find out if Quik Reports for Windows will allow him to build this report.
Sorry for the long detail, and thanks for any help you offer.
Wayne Orr

Dear Wayne

I am sorry for the delay - we were experiencing problems with our Forum not responding.

1. Can QR do this report? Yes, it can (unless they also require something else in the report that you have not told us):

I have inserted the following fields into the detail area of my report, all from the Job Maintenance | Job Estimates? Table:

Job Phase Cat Orig Estimate (Dollars)

I added 2 sorts: Job Number & Phase Code (both ascending)

I added 2 subtotals on the Orig Est Dollar field: 1 subtotals on any change of Phase Code & the other subtotals on any change of Job Number.

I think the trick is to ?hide? the details, and just report on the subtotal lines, by inserting the Job, Phase, Cat & Orig Est Doll fields into the subtotal section. You do not, of course want the categories on this report, so you do not have to use them at all ? I did only to see what is printing out.

What I get is 1 line for every Phase in that Job, with a subtotal on each phase, and another on the total Job.

2. Formula syntax errors:

You should use the subtotal option, instead of trying to use this formula for each of your phases.

To use the subtotal option, you would either highlight the Orig Estimate Dollar field, then hit <Enter>, then choose ?Total?, then ?Subtotal? & then follow the prompts as to how you would like this subtotal to calculate.

As I indicated, I am using current QR version. Since your client has taken the time and expense to upgrade their other ACCPAC modules for Y2K compliancy, I would suggest getting them to upgrade their QR version as well...it has had many enhancements and features added since 6.2A.