Examples of Ad Hoc Searches

When you run the Open Items by Product report, you can enter search selection (search format) criteria to specify which line items will be listed. Any field contained in the Subscription, Name, or Product files can be used in the search criteria. Refer to the following examples from the Billing module for more information.

Example 1: To search by bill date

From Billing, select Generate reports to display the Generate reports window.
Select Open Invoices from the Report Types list.
Select Open Items by Product from the Available Reports list.
Click Options and select Search Format to display the Select Search Instructions window.
Click New to display the Search Instructions window.
Enter the new search instructions. For example, enter the following data to search for bills with a non-zero balance run on 10/1/01:

Subscriptions.BILL_DATE = 10/01/2001
Subscriptions.BALANCE <> 0

Note: BILL_DATE corresponds to the Run Date field on the Process billing window (from Billing, select Process billing). Make sure to consider whether the Run Date was overwritten.

Click Save to accept the search instructions and close the Search Instructions window.
Click OK to close the Select Search Selections window.
Click Run to generate the report.

If you select the Calculation mode, entering the following calculation expression on the Comparison Value window verifies that the Bill Date matches today's date.

from Name,Subscriptions
where (Name.ID = Subscriptions.ID
and Name.MEMBER_TYPE = 'M')
and Subscriptions.BILL_DATE =
'2000-03-06'(Specific date)

If searching for multiple customer types, use the following command sequence:

From Name,Subscriptions.ID
and Name.CUSTOMER_TYPE = 'M'
or Name.CUSTOMER_TYPE = 'CM'
and Subscriptions.BILL_DATE =
'2000-03-06' (Specific date)

Warning!

Any ad hoc search instruction must also include any filter that would already be inherent within the cycle and renewal printing process (for example, specific customer type and/or categories, printing flags, and specific products).

Example 2: To search for specific products

You can create meaningful searches to look at the status of open billing balances. For example, if you want to see the balances for specific products, set the PRODUCT_CODE equal to those codes only:

From Billing, select Generate reports to display the Generate reports window.
Select Open Invoices and select Open Items by Product.
Click Options and select Search Format to display the Select Search Instructions window.
Click New to display the Search Instructions window.
Enter the new search instructions.

To search for product codes with a balance:

Subscription.PRODUCT_CODE = BASIC,JOUR
Subscription.BALANCE <> 0

To specify comparisons for the codes to be excluded:

Subscription.PRODUCT_CODE <> PAC,SCHOL
Subscription.BALANCE <> 0

To print open items for an entire group or type of product, such as all open subscription lines:
```
Product.PROD_TYP = SUB
Subscription.BALANCE <> 0
```

Note: Make sure there are no spaces between the comma and the values you are searching on.

Click Save to accept the search instructions, and close the Search Instructions window.
Click OK to close the Select Search Selections window.
Click Run to generate the report.

Example 3: To search by customer type

Any field in the Name table can also be used for searching. Customer type is a common search option.

From Billing, select Generate reports to display the Generate reports window.
Select Open Invoices and select Open Items by Product.
Click Options and select Search Format to display the Select Search Instructions window.
Click New to display the Search Instructions window.

Enter the new search instructions with this criteria:

Name.CUSTOMER_TYPE = M
Name.STATUS Begins with A
Subscription.BALANCE <> 0

Click Save to accept the search instructions, and close the Search Instructions window.
Click OK to close the Select Search Selections window.
Click Run to generate the report.