This topic describes the way of creating your own reports for Asset Tracker for Networks.

What is Asset Tracker for Networks reports
Aseet Tracker for Networks reports are represented by the separate Windows Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) placed to the \Reports\ subfolder of the programs home directory. Each DLL representing a report should have the same name as the report with the only difference that you should replace the spaces in the report name with the underbar character in the DLL name, e.g. the My_first_report.DLL file will represent the "My first report" menu item in the programs Reports submenu. The program loads these DLLs dynamicaly during startup, and it means that you can add your own reports by simply placing the appropriate DLL files in the \Reports\ folder and restarting the program.

How to create a new report
Please note, however, that you should have programming experience to create Asset Tracker for Networks reports and you should be familiar with a Windows compiler able to create DLL files, e.g. MS Visual C++ or Borland Delphi. If you need a new/custom report for this program but do not have programming experience, you can order custom report creation from Alchemy Lab; the cost will be only $15/hour. To order custom report creation please send a message to sales@alchemy-lab.com, and an account manager will contact you shortly.

To create a custom report yourself please:
* Create a new DLL project in your favorite development environment
* Set up this new DLL to export the RunReport function described below. This function will be called by the program when the user will force the program to display your report
* Program this function to create and display the report
* Compile and link the DLL
* Name this DLL according to the rules described above and place it into the \Reports\ folder under the programs home directory
* Restart ADMIN.EXE, click the Reports menu item in the main program window and select your new report in the Reports menu item submenu.

We have included a sample Visual C++ report source code in this version of the program, please find it under the sample_report.zip file in the programs \Reports\ subfolder.

The RunReport function.
As was mentioned above, the report DLL should export the RunReport function to allow the user to run the report. This function should have the following prototype:

void PASCAL __stdcall RunReport(char* szPath)

The only parameter of this function - szPath - represents the programs data folder (see the How To Use article). The ADMIN.EXE program places the full path in the data folder of this parameter before calling this function.


Order report creation at our company
You can also order custom reports from Alchemy Lab, for only $15/hour, approximately $250 total (depends on the reports complexity). To order a report, please send a message to sales@alchemy-lab.com, and an account manager will contact you shortly.