Abstract Reporting (Concepts Guide)

File formats

Json file including

• A tree of Report Nodes that define the structure of the output

• Data for all images and files to be included into the rendered report

Currently Cinnamon Reporting produces the following rendered report formats:

• Word

• PDF (from Word)

• HTML

Tables

The tables structure defined by a Vertical Table Node

• Columns (and Column Groups)

• Rows (and Row Groups)

• Facts (Data for cells) including the value to be shown as well as the Value Type to be used for formatting the value

• Titles, Footer based on Translatable Texts (for later translation)

• A named Style to be applied (if different from default styling)

Structure plus Layout:

• Table and cell borders, background coloring

• Sizing: column widths, row heights

• Formatted and translated data

Charts

The structure of the chart defined by a Chart Node

• Chart type (Pie, Line, etc.)

• Series data

• Titles, Footer based on Translatable Texts (for later translation)

• A named Style to be applied (if different from default styling)

Graphics showing:

• The chart as SVG data (Scalable Vector Graphics)

• Surrounding (table-styled) elements to show titles and footers

• All data is translated and formatted

Text (Paragraphs, Sections etc.)

The text defined by a Paragraph Node or Section Node

• Translatable texts (including values to be placed when translating)

• Rich texts supporting a small set of html-type tags (like <h1>, <ol>, <ul> etc.)

• A named Style to be applied (if different from default styling)

• Translated text

• Text formatting (Font, Font-size, colour)

• Paragraph formatting (indents, tabs, before/after spacing)

Layouts

A Layout Node defines an abstract layout, e.g.

• Two columns defined by the Slots {left} and {right}

• A formatted layout, e.g. two report nodes rendered into two columns where the report node marked for the Slot {left} is shown on the left column while the node marked {right} is shown in the right column.

Report Order

• The Parameters from the order are read into the Context

• The Report Type referenced in the order is loaded

Report Type

• The Report Type, defining the structure of the ordered report, is interpreted

• The producer is iterating over the tree of nodes and

  • interprets any local parameter values

  • decides wheter the node has to be produced

  • interprets the selected Building Block

Building Block

• Interprets all relevant parameter values. Parameters can have

  • no value → default value of the solution or local default of the Building Block is used

  • a discrete value

  • an expression, defining the parameter’s value based on other parameters and / or further logic (e.g. =!params.hideBenchmark to invert the value of the parameter hideBenchmark)

• Fetches all needed data from the data source(s)

• Generates one Report Node to be included into the Abstract Report (table, chart, section, etc.)