We are using WebFocus 7.1. Do we need to purchase anything additional to use FML? Does it need to be done in Developer Studio or can any user with report writing capabilities use FML commands?

Bethany,

Is is a 'part' of the product and therefore should be accessible from the various development interfaces.

FML - or Financial Modelling Language - has also been known as -

EMR - Extended Matrix Reporting
FRL - Financial Reporting Language
.... you get the idea.

In the report assistant tools your coders will find it as the matrix tab. Can't remember how 7.1.1 accesses it, I'll check later tonight and post.

Hi Bethany,

While we wait to hear from Tony, I checked with our product manager and here is the answer.

The FML Painter is only in Dev. Studio. The painter does write FML Code so if someone would like to program in FOCUS, it will work.

But please keep in mind, it would take a lot longer to create a Financial Report by coding FOCUS than in the Financial Report Painter.

Hope this helps.

Tony, have you checked 7.1.1 and get more info to add?

Cheers,

Kerry

Sorry Kerry, Not had time tonight ('tis the season after all ) but will endeavour to check as soon as I can.

Thank you Tony and Kerry for your help.
-Bethany

Tony, no problem. I can understand as everyone is swamped around this time of year. Thank you so much for looking into this.

Bethany, you are more than welcome.

Cheers,

Kerry

As far as I can tell, there have been no significant modifications to the method in which the FML Painter achieves the results or how it is accessed in 7.1.1 (on Windows).

As the Product Manager has said - it is only exists in as a Dev Studio interface and therefore your developers will have to have Dev Studio to use the painter (accessed from the "matrix" tab in report painter).

Don't be put off by -

quote:

But please keep in mind, it would take a lot longer to create a Financial Report by coding FOCUS than in the Financial Report Painter.

as, in my experience, once developers with any savvy have been shown how to use FML they can sometimes code as quick using an editor instead of the GUI.

However, before I'm beaten down on my last statement, I would add that the more you use the GUI the more familiar you will be with it and therefore you might build reports faster using it. For my part, the GUI came along later in my FOCUS experience and so, like many of the "old" (a.k.a. "more experienced") coder group (stand up, you know who you are!! ), I find it faster to hand code all of my WebFOCUS reports (and HTML etc. but that's another story).

Finally I would add that FML is a powerful tool and should be part of every WebFOCUS developers skill set (a bit like MODIFY used to be) and, for particular reports, it should be the tool of preference.

My advice is that if you don't already know it then, during your next slack period, get to know it and become more familiar with it.