How to Create a Package

Overview

Packages can be created for all reports, graphs and some editors in IFP. There are two ways to create these, from the Report Viewer or using the Package Manager in the relevant Menu.

Once created your package will then be available to view in Package Manager and can be run to create the report in future.

Saving in Report Viewer

Note: Saving in a Report Viewer is available in IFP 3.4.2 or later.

After creating a report, graph or editor, you can save the selections made as a Package. This can be created whether the selections have been saved as Favourites or not.

On the Report Viewer click Report > Save as Package… from the Menu and Save the Package with a relevant name and notes.

Note: Those packages created without a Favourite will show (auto) for the Favourite selection when viewing the Properties of the Package.

Using Package Manager

1. Create the required Favourites files if they don’t already exist.

   Note: Graph Packages also require a Graph Favourite file. Crosstabulation Analysis Packages also require a Crosstab Definition file.

2. From IFP Home, select Reporting > Package Manager.  (Package Manager can also be accessed in Graphing and Forecasting.)
   
3. Select the item type e.g. Analysis vs Time. The folder and file list will refresh to show existing Packages for that item type.
4. Select a folder to save the Package in. To create a new folder, right-click Public Files or My Files and select New Folder.
5. Click Add on the toolbar to open the Package Properties dialog.
   
6. Enter a descriptive package name and select all relevant favourites files on the General tab.
7. (Optional) Choose any required Display and Print settings on the Output Options tab.
8. (Optional) Edit the headings on the Headings tab. These headings are shown when viewing the Package output or when it is printed. See Dynamic Tokens in Package Headings for more information.
9. Click OK to save the Package.

For information on how to use Packages, see How to Run a Package.

Sharing Favourites between Packages

Having a Data or Item Favourite that is shared between multiple packages means you only need to update and save the Favourite once to apply this to all other packages. Being able to update this while stepping through a packages selections allows you to Save Favourites and the updated package all in one quick process.