[. . . ] If you know how to use Microsoft PowerPoint and write SQL statements, you can use PPTReport to create all kinds of reports as you need. Benefit n Use Microsoft PowerPoint as your reporting tool You have installed Microsoft Office in your computer, and you almost use Microsoft Office every day. You are familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint, and already know how to use it. n Powerful and flexible PPTReport is powerful and flexible because Microsoft PowerPoint and SQL are powerful and flexible. [. . . ] And you will get reports in Microsoft PowerPoint presentation format as a result. n Making report template directly using Microsoft PowerPoint The main advantage of using PTReportGen is based on the fact that all formatting is done directly in Microsoft PowerPoint. You can take full advantage of Microsoft PowerPoint including text formatting, tables, charts, pictures and graphics, drawing, headers and footers, preview and printing, VBA, macros, and more. n Accessing to databases using SQL PTReportGen executes SQL statements to extract data from database. Multiple SQL statements can be executed in one report building process. You can perform queries on databases, insert data into databases, and create database objects like tables. The power of SQL can be harnessed for maximum efficiency in reporting. n Creating reports without programming experience You know how to use Microsoft PowerPoint and how to write SQL, it is enough. n Connection to all databases using ODBC PTReportGen connects to databases using ODBC. Access to all databases which support ODBC such as Oracle, DB2, Sybase, Informix, Microsoft SQL Server, Teradata, MySQL, Microsoft Access, dBase. n Supporting multi-databases in one report -3- PTReportGen supports multi-databases in one report. You can get data from some different databases such as Oracle, DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server, and put these data into one report. n Generating reports with parameters PTReportGen gives you an opportunity to create reports with parameters. You will be asked to input the values of parameters while generating reports. n Supporting Windows mode and command line mode PTReportGen supports command line mode. The complexity might come from report formatting as well as report content. n Creating reports with charts PTReportGen enables you to include sophisticated, colorful charts in your reports. You can use charts any time you want to improve the usefulness of a report. [. . . ] The PTR file tell PPTReport how to extract data from database, and where and how to put data. For example, you create a PTR file, and write a report function and SQL as follows. -5- /* Customer List */ @F1=Report(slide=2 type=var cell=A2 pagebreak=19 reserve=2) SELECT CompanyName , CityName , CountryName , ContactName FROM Customers, Cities, Countries WHERE Customers. CityCode = Cities. CityCode AND Customers. CountryCode = Cities. CountryCode AND Customers. CountryCode = Countries. CountryCode ORDER BY CompanyName, CityName, CountryName Step 3. Run PPTReport to generate a report in Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. The report Customer List is generated as follows. -6- System requirement n Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 or later. [. . . ]