How to create and modify form codes or report settings in Sage 100
Description
Cause
Resolution

Note: These instructions apply to modules upgraded to Business Framework (also known as "Level 4") standards.

The Sales Order, Invoice Printing form is used as an example in the steps below, but it could also be . In Report Manager, forms for modules not upgraded are indicated by an asterisk (for example: *Job Invoice).

  1. Open Sales Order, Main menu, Invoice Printing
  2. For Form Code, enter a new form code and press the Enter key
  3. Note: For reports, this would be Report Setting instead of Form Code
  4. For new form codes, the Template Selection window should display. Select one of the following templates, and click OK
    • Preprinted Laser - This option assumes the paper stock comes pre-printed with logo, label, column headers, etc.
    • Plain - This assumes the paper stock is blank.
    • Marbled - This rarely used option will print a marbling effect on the paper.
    • Dot Matrix - This rarely used form type is optimized for dot matrix printers.
  5. For Description, enter a description of the form
  6. Select sorting and filtering options as needed.
  7. Print or Preview the form to retain the settings for that form code
  8. To make edits to that specific form once selected in the Printing Screen click on the Designer button
  9. Crystal Reports full installation package must be installed to get to the new form
  10. Make changes and or do a simple save as and save to the name given.  Do not change the name of the form being saved.  Sage looks for that specific name during processing.  
  11. Once that step is completed the Folder is created in the background where it stores this new form that has been created and modified.  See below for examples of save structure.


Additional Information:

Notes: xxx = company code wherever used in this article.

Form code settings are saved when the form is printed, and they are automatically retrieved when that form code is selected again by the same user for the same company. The following selections are saved for each form code:

  • Sort options
  • Main panel selections
  • Messages
  • Number of copies
  • Collation setting
  • Multi-part
  • Printer

Report paths and names:

Report paths and names are based on the selected form code and template.

  • Settings are saved after the form is printed or previewed.
  • Form codes are not necessarily tied to a specific report but are tied to specific form template types (preprinted, plain, marbled, and dot matrix).
  • Form Codes are not user specific.
  • A specific folder is created only if the form is modified in Crystal Reports Designer or if it is processed in Report Manager.
  • Printer settings are not saved for the "Standard" form codes. Create a new form code to save printer settings.
  • After new form codes are created, they can be modified by clicking the 'Designer' button at the Print Options window or in Report Manager. For more information, click the 'Help' button in Report Manager.

The following examples display the locations of the files when the form code is created in Sales Order Invoice Printing:

  • "Standard" form code, with the "Preprinted Laser" template:
    • ..\Mas90\Reports\SO_Invoice1.rpt
  • "Standard1" form code, with the "Plain" template:
    • ..\Mas90\Reports\SO_Invoice2.rpt
  • "Standard2" form code, with the "Marbled" template:
    • ..\Mas90\Reports\SO_Invoice3.rpt
  • "Standard3" form code, with the "Dot Matrix" template:
    • ..\Mas90\Reports\SO_Invoice4.rpt

The following examples display the locations if the forms listed above are modified in Crystal Reports Designer or in Report Manager:

  • "Standard" form code, with the "Preprinted Laser" template:
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard\SO_Invoice1.rpt
  • "Standard1" form code, with the "Plain" template:
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard1\SO_Invoice2.rpt
  • "Standard2" form code, with the "Marbled" template:
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard2\SO_Invoice3.rpt
  • "Standard3" form code, with the "Dot Matrix" template:
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard3\SO_Invoice4.rpt

Form code selection hierarchy:

Modified forms are selected first by company code. If a form does not exist at one level, the next level is used. If no modified forms exist, the standard form is used. Forms are selected in the following order (with examples):

  • ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\
    \\
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_ABC\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard1\SO_Invoice3.rpt
  • ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_ABC\Reports\SO_Invoice3.rpt
  • ..\Mas90\MAS_System\Reports\\\
    • ..\Mas90\MAS_System\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard1\SO_Invoice3.rpt
  • ..\Mas90\Reports\
    • ..\Mas90\Reports\SO_Invoice3.rpt

Printer settings

The printer information is retained by form code. The Windows default printer is selected automatically when a form code is created or selected for the first time at a workstation. If a different printer is selected, the new printer becomes the default printer for that form at that workstation. Reports that have no 'Report Name' like the Sales Journal or custom reports added to the menu will always use the Windows default printer.

By default, printer settings, such as landscape, are not enforced in the printer dialogs. The settings are returned from the form itself. For example, if the printer is set to landscape orientation, and the form uses portrait orientation, the form prints in portrait. To change to landscape, click the 'Printer Setup' button and change the orientation. The selected orientation is saved automatically.
Note: The exception is multi-part printing, which uses the default printer setting.

Report Manager:

The 'Add New Format' window imports form codes or report settings for use by Report Manager.
Note: Form codes cannot be created in Report Manager. The form code or report setting must first be defined in the print options window within the module.

How to create a single form code for all users:

  1. Open Library Master / Setup / Report Manager, select the appropriate module and form (for example: Sales Order / Invoice Printing), and click the 'Maintain' button.
  2. Select a form template if prompted.
  3. At the 'Add New Format' window, select "Standard" from the 'Form Code' field.
  4. Click the 'Proceed' button to open the 'Maintain' window.
  5. Select the form code, and click the 'Design' button to modify the report in Crystal Reports Designer.
  6. Save the changes.

How to set up form codes for different users who print the same form:

  1. In the form printing window within the module, create form codes for users that require different settings (for example: different printers).
  2. Open Library Master / Setup / Report Manager, select the appropriate module and form (for example: Sales Order / Invoice Printing), and click the 'Maintain' button.
  3. Select the 'All Codes' check box in the 'Add New Format' window.
  4. Select the company code.
  5. Click the 'Proceed' button to open the 'Maintain (xxx)' window.
  6. Select the form code, and click the 'Design' button to modify the report in Crystal Reports Designer.
  7. Save the changes.

How to set up one form code for multiple users, if multiple form codes already exist in the form printing window:

  1. Create unique form codes for users that require different settings (for example, different printers).
  2. Open Library Master / Setup / Report Manager, and select the appropriate module and form code.
  3. Select the 'All Codes' check box in the 'Add New Format' window.
    Note: Do not add the users' form codes in Report Manager. See steps below if additional codes exist in Report Manager.
  4. Select the company.
  5. Click the 'Proceed' button to open the 'Maintain (xxx)' window.
  6. Select the "(All)" form code, click the 'Copy' button, and perform either of the following:.
    • Click the 'Copy To' lookup button and select the form code.
    • Select the 'All Codes' check box, and select the company code.
  7. Click the 'Proceed' button.

How to set up one form code for multiple users, if multiple form codes already exist in Report Manager:

  1. In Windows Explorer, go to ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\\.
    • Example: ..\Mas90\MAS_ABC\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\.
  2. Make a backup of the ..\\ folder and all subfolders.
    Note: This action backs up all of the custom .RPT files for this company.
  3. Rename or delete all ..\\ folders.
    • Example: ..\Mas90\MAS_ABC\Reports\SO_InvoicePrinting\Standard1\.
  4. Users now print the same form from ..\Mas90\MAS_xxx\Reports\.
  5. To modify the form, open Report Manager, select the "(All)" form code, and click the 'Design' button.
DocLink: How to create graphical form codes on the fly (3.71)
DocLink: How to find or access additional Crystal Reports resources and help for Sage 100
DocLink: How to add a UDF to a custom Crystal Report form or report
DocLink: How to install Crystal Reports Designer for Sage 100
DocLink: How to setup and use Multi-Part Form Printing in Sage 100
Defect ID
Steps to duplicate
Related Articles