XSL Report Designer V2 Q&A

Q.	Does XSL Report Designer provide the function of sorting and grouping? [No.2004032602]
A.	There is no sorting function so far, but we provide the grouping function to count the totals for every group in the table from V2. Basically we think that it is better to leave it to the data base system with a strong sorting and the grouping function already than implementing these functions with XSL Report Designer. It would be more effective to take out the result of the sorting and grouping with the data base system as XML data, and input it to the runtime engine of XSL Report Designer. Please refer to the following sample layout definition file. *sample\English\sort-group.rxl and sort-group-data.xml

Does XSL Report Designer provide the function of sorting and grouping? [No.2004032602]

There is no sorting function so far, but we provide the grouping function to count the totals for every group in the table from V2.

Basically we think that it is better to leave it to the data base system with a strong sorting and the grouping function already than implementing these functions with XSL Report Designer. It would be more effective to take out the result of the sorting and grouping with the data base system as XML data, and input it to the runtime engine of XSL Report Designer.
Please refer to the following sample layout definition file.
*sample\English\sort-group.rxl and sort-group-data.xml

Q.	Can the XSL-FO made by Runtime Engine only work with Antenna House XSL Formatter or if I wants to use it with another XSL-FO engine will it work? [No.2004040102]
A.	Antenna House guarantees that the XSL-FO produced by the XSL Report Designer works with XSL Formatter V3.1 or higher. No such guarantee is provided for XSL-FO engines.

Q.	What languages does XSL Report Designer support? [No.2004040201]
A.	The language that we guarantee to operate is Japanese and English at present. We are verifying about other language, please inquire to us about others.

Q.	What graphic formats can be used with XSL Report Designer? [No.2004040202]
A.	They are Windows BITMAP, JPEG, JPEG2000, PNG, TIFF and SVG. However, SVG cannot be displayed with GUI.

Q.	Can the Runtime Engine work on any platform or only on Windows? [No.2004040203]
A.	Runtime Engine can work on any platform such as Windows, Linux, Solaris and so on, as long as Java indicated in the system requirement works. Although Runtime Engine only need Java environment, "XSL Formatter V3.1(or higher)" is necessary to print or preview the layout file. XSL FormatterV3.1 (or higher) can run on Windows, Solaris, and Linux now. Please refer to the Web page for "XSL Formatter" for details.

Can the Runtime Engine work on any platform or only on Windows? [No.2004040203]

Runtime Engine can work on any platform such as Windows, Linux, Solaris and so on, as long as Java indicated in the system requirement works. Although Runtime Engine only need Java environment, "XSL Formatter V3.1(or higher)" is necessary to print or preview the layout file. XSL FormatterV3.1 (or higher) can run on Windows, Solaris, and Linux now. Please refer to the Web page for "XSL Formatter" for details.

Q.	Can I import Word-XML with your tools? [No.2004041201]
A.	Although it is not possible to import Word-XML as layout-file for XSL Report Designer, it is possible to use it as XML data file. However, the non-data which has no repeated element in the content might be inappropriate as the XML data file.

Q.	Can I use namespaces? [No.2004041401]
A.	Yes. Please declare all namespaces in the root element when using it.

Q.	Is it possible to make FO file from rxl file without assigning any xml file on GUI? [No.2004042601]
A.	Although it is not possible with preview of GUI, you can make FO file by using Command Line Interface. On GUI, because Report Designer makes FO file from a rxl file and only a XML file, which is specified by "In XML file;" in the dialog of "Preview setting" of that rxl, it needs to specify XML file on GUI. On the other hand, Command Line Interface can specify rxl file and xml file arbitrarily. In this case, xml file does not need to be specified in rxl file. Please refer to "Runtime Engine" in the Online Manual for details.

Is it possible to make FO file from rxl file without assigning any xml file on GUI? [No.2004042601]

Although it is not possible with preview of GUI, you can make FO file by using Command Line Interface. On GUI, because Report Designer makes FO file from a rxl file and only a XML file, which is specified by "In XML file;" in the dialog of "Preview setting" of that rxl, it needs to specify XML file on GUI. On the other hand, Command Line Interface can specify rxl file and xml file arbitrarily. In this case, xml file does not need to be specified in rxl file. Please refer to "Runtime Engine" in the Online Manual for details.

Q.	Is it possible to specify the width of the cell individually in a table? [No.2004060901]
A.	XSL Report Designer does not support to specify the width of the cells individually in the table. To design the table which has the different spanned table-cell, please divide the table.

Q.	Is it possible to put objects in multiple columns? [No.2004063003]
A.	XSL Report Designer does not support to design multiple columns. It might be designed by arranging four text-objects side by side, or using four cells of table-object.

Q.	Does XSL Report Designer support (to output and input) XSL(XSLT) style sheet? [No.2004122001]
A.	XSL Report Designer can now save your layout data file as an XSL stylesheets. An XSL stylesheet has all the layout functionality, but does not support some of the calculation and processing capabilities of the Runtime Engine. Input of XSL stylesheets is not supported.

Q.	Is it possible to merge multiple cells in a table? [No.2004122002]
A.	Although XSL Report Designer does not have the function to merge cells freely, when you embed the XML data, if the data has the same content used repeatedly in the same column, you can combine those cell together in the output. This function is called "Grouping." Grouping controls whether cells are automatically merged to create vertical spans. "Variable" groups and merges cells when the same data appears in consecutive cell of the column. "Fixed" groups the specified number of rows and removes the border between them without merging the rows. It does not support the horizontal merging.

Is it possible to merge multiple cells in a table? [No.2004122002]

Although XSL Report Designer does not have the function to merge cells freely, when you embed the XML data, if the data has the same content used repeatedly in the same column, you can combine those cell together in the output. This function is called "Grouping." Grouping controls whether cells are automatically merged to create vertical spans. "Variable" groups and merges cells when the same data appears in consecutive cell of the column. "Fixed" groups the specified number of rows and removes the border between them without merging the rows. It does not support the horizontal merging.

Q.	There is the case that the calculation is not carried out in spite of setting vSum() expression in the table object. How should I set it? [No.2005032501]
A.	The calculation of the vertical direction such as vSum(), vAvg() and vCount() are effective in only the table for which the repetition is specified without contradiction. To use v*** expression in the table, it needs to consistent with the following condition. Specify "No" to "Disable repeat" in table property. XML path is required to be set in order of Document→Repeat→Table(Repeat path)→Cell without contradiction. XML path specified for the cell of the same column must be all the same.

There is the case that the calculation is not carried out in spite of setting vSum() expression in the table object. How should I set it? [No.2005032501]

The calculation of the vertical direction such as vSum(), vAvg() and vCount() are effective in only the table for which the repetition is specified without contradiction. To use v*** expression in the table, it needs to consistent with the following condition.

Specify "No" to "Disable repeat" in table property.
XML path is required to be set in order of Document→Repeat→Table(Repeat path)→Cell without contradiction.
XML path specified for the cell of the same column must be all the same.

Installation

Q.	When I tried to uninstall the XSL Report Designer, the error message "iKernel.exe not found" appeared and I could not uninstall it. How can I uninstall it? [No.2004040101]
A.	Please install XSL Report Designer again. And immediately uninstall it.