Overview
The "Generator 1" is an option found in the Report screen in the top-right corner.
It allows the creation of custom reports that directly query the database and displays the results in a simple grid display.
Important: Gen1 reports are written in the form of SQL database queries. It is therefore recommended that you only attempt to create your own reports or edit existing ones if you are familiar and proficient with this process and with the Weighsoft database structure.
We would suggest that if you require a report you follow the steps outlined in the Request a New Report article
Benefits of Gen 1 reports
Versatility
Because gen1 reports query the database directly they can be written to look at every area of the system (as opposed to the Generator 2 which only looks at Transactions).
Automation
Gen1 reports, once created, can be scheduled and sent out automatically to any email address, internal or external.
Limitations of Gen 1 reports
Due to the nature of how they work there are some limitations to Gen1 reports.
The results cannot be formatted
The results of a Gen1 report will always be displayed in a simple "spreadsheet" style format in plain text. No formatting can be applied to the reports either as they are displayed in Weighsoft or how they are exported.
Technical knowledge required to edit
As stated above, the creation and editing of a Gen1 report should only be attempted if you are familiar with SQL queries and the database structure of Weighsoft. Due to this, any errors entered into the report script will result in the report displaying no data or possibly even cause issues elsewhere in the system.
For example - an incorrectly written report could cause the system to go into a loop, causing slowness or even system crashes for all other users