Now that you have an invoice file, an invoice data-entry screen, an invoice-processing table, and invoice records, let’s define what the printed invoice should be. You will see that you can print an invoice directly from the data-entry screen, as well as from the main menu. If you have created all the files, screens, processing tables, and data shown in this tutorial so far (the “invc” file structure, screen, and processing table have been provided for you), use the file name “invc” in step 1. of this lesson.
If you do not have everything shown so far, use the file name “fpinvc”. Since “fpinvc” is complete and is included in your filePro Plus software, you won’t have to define the new invoice output format, “invoice”, as instructed in this lesson. In-stead, when asked for an output format name, select the existing output format, “invoice”, display the screens, and just read the instructions in the lesson.
Now, let's design our invoice.
1. From the main menu, select option “3 - Define Output”. For the file name, type or select:
fpinvc (or invc)
For the output format name, select “[NEW]” and name the format INVOICE, then press <RETURN>.
For the kind of output, select “3 - A Full Page Form”.
2. The next screen shows the page format default settings. Press <ESC> to record the format settings.
3. In what order should the invoices be printed out? For the field to sort on when printing invoices, select field 1, “customer number”.
With the cursor in the “Sort Field:” entry area, press <1>, and press <RETURN>.
filePro Plus fills in the field length for you. Press <RETURN> again. Since we want the output in ascending order, low invoice numbers before higher, press <RETURN>.
If a customer has multiple invoices, we want to print the invoices in ascending order. Therefore, specify field 2 (the invoice number) as the second sort field.
As you can see, you could enter up to eight fields to sort on. For this tutorial, we will use just the two fields. Press <ESC>.
4. The next screen you see is the one for formatting the way the invoice appears on the printed page. Format the invoice as shown in the following two screens.
5. Note the availability of Help for this procedure. Just press <F1O>.
6. When you have completed formatting the invoice press <ESC> to save it. Press <X> to return to the main menu. Your invoice should look the same as figures 24-1a and 24-1b.
Figure 24-1a. Define Output Formats Screen With
Invoice Format
Figure 24-1a. Define Output Formats Screen With
Invoice Format