Use “Page Name” to show different outputs for one application

 

Perhaps one of the greatest, little known features of m-Power/mrc-Productivity Series is the use of the Pagename function. The Pagename function allows you to create any number of output pages, then be able to specify which output is displayed to the user.

This could be used for a variety of different reasons, including:

  1. You wish to have one report that sometimes will display some columns, while displaying a set of different columns another time
  2. You wish to have a retrieval or report look differently, or have different options available to the end user
  3. You can use Pagename to handle an application that needs to have multiple languages
  4. Fully controlling/customizing the HTML output

This example assumes you wish to utilize Pagename for a Report. I have built a basic report and have compiled it. Now, I will enter m-Painter.














For Pagename to work, we must copy this output file. The easiest way to copy this file is through m-Painter itself.

In the url, take out the this section of the URL and press enter:

&pgm=R00193s&qtype=R&retrnp=193

Where 193 is your application number.

I am now taken to an HTML source view:

Click the “Save As (Copy)” button ().

Pick a new name for your output (I have simply added the word “two” after my application number.

Click “OK”.

Close m-Painter. Reopen m-Painter. Doing this allows you to view your application in the WYSIWYG mode.

Now, on the m-Painter Toolbar, there is a “Page” drop-down box. When you select it, you can see your newly copied HTML file:

Next, edit each page to your liking. Note: Be sure to click “Save” prior to navigating to any other page.

Now that you have edited your application outputs individually, we can complete the final step of calling the appropriate application.

Running the Report through the Prompt page will result in the default output being run. However, if you are calling this Report via a URL, there is an additional parameter to pass which allows you to control which Pagename is used.

For Reports, specify “rptPage” equal to the name of your output page.

In my case, my link might look something like this:

HURCKES.R00193s?run=2&rptPage=R00193two.html

Note: For Retrievals, the syntax is slightly different. Rather than rptPage, the parameter is “pageName”.

Learn more about passing parameters via Reports here.