Micro Focus Visual COBOL 2.3 Update 1 for Eclipse (UNIX) > General Reference > COBOL Language Reference > Part 3. Additional Topics > Report Writer > Procedure Division > The GENERATE Statement

The GENERATE Statement

The GENERATE statement directs the RWCS to produce a report in accordance with the Report Description specified in the Report Section of the Data Division.

General Format

Syntax Rules

Data-name-1 must name a TYPE DETAIL report group and can be qualified by a report-name.
Report-name-1 can be used only if the referenced report description contains:
1. A CONTROL clause, and
2. Not more than one DETAIL report group, and
3. At least one body group.

General Rules

In response to a GENERATE report-name-1 statement, the RWCS performs summary processing. If all of the GENERATE statements that are executed for a report are of the form GENERATE report-name-1, then the report that is produced is called a summary report.
In response to a GENERATE data-name-1 statement, the RWCS performs detail processing that includes certain processing that is specific for the DETAIL report group designated by the GENERATE statement. Normally, the execution of a GENERATE data-name-1 statement causes the RWCS to present the designated DETAIL report group.
During the execution of the chronologically first GENERATE statement for a given report, the RWCS saves the values in the control data items. During the execution of the second and subsequent GENERATE statements for the same report, and until a control break is detected, the RWCS utilizes this set of control values to determine whether a control break has occurred. When a control break occurs, the RWCS saves the new set of control values, which it thereafter uses to sense for a control break until another control break occurs.
During the report presentation, an automatic function of the RWCS is to process PAGE HEADING and PAGE FOOTING report groups, if defined, when the RWCS must advance the report to a new page for the purpose of presenting a body group. (See the section Presentation Rules Tables)
When the chronologically first GENERATE statement for a given report is executed, the RWCS processes, in order, the report groups that are named below, provided that such report groups are defined in the report description. The RWCS also processes PAGE HEADING and PAGE FOOTING report groups as described in General Rule 4. The actions taken by the RWCS when it processes each type of report group are explained under the appropriate paragraph. (See the section The TYPE Clause.)
1. The REPORT HEADING report group is processed.
2. The PAGE HEADING report group is processed.
3. All CONTROL HEADING report groups are processed from major to minor.
4. If a GENERATE data-name-1 statement is being executed, the processing for the designated DETAIL report group is performed. If a GENERATE report-name-1 statement is being executed, certain of the steps that are involved in the processing of a DETAIL report group are performed. (See the section The TYPE Clause.)
When a GENERATE statement other than the chronologically first is executed for a given report, the RWCS performs the steps enumerated below, as applicable. The RWCS also processes PAGE HEADING and PAGE FOOTING report groups as described in General Rule 4. The actions taken by the RWCS when it processes each type of report group are explained under the appropriate paragraph. (See the section The TYPE Clause.)
1. Sense for control break. The rules for determining the equality of control data items are the same as those specified for relation conditions. If a control break has occurred then:
  1. Enable the CONTROL FOOTING USE procedures and CONTROL FOOTING SOURCE clauses to access the control data item values that the RWCS used to detect a given control break. (See the section The TYPE Clause.)
  2. Process the CONTROL FOOTING report groups in the order minor to major. Only CONTROL FOOTING report groups that are not more major than the highest level at which a control break occurred are processed.
  3. Process the CONTROL HEADING report groups in the order major to minor. Only the CONTROL HEADING report groups that are not more major than the highest level at which a control break occurred are processed.
2. If a GENERATE data-name-1 statement is being executed, the processing for the designated DETAIL report group is performed. If a GENERATE report-name-1 statement is being executed, certain of the steps that are involved in the processing of a DETAIL report group are performed. (See the section The TYPE Clause.)
GENERATE statements for a report can be executed only after an INITIATE statement for the report has been executed and before a TERMINATE statement for the report has been executed.