Almost all computer software generates detailed transaction reports. Analyzer can read information stored as a printed report. This application is useful when you want to access data stored in a complex database format rather than a flat file. This technique opens up almost any data for independent analysis using Analyzer.
The first step in processing a report as data is to capture the information in a disk file. In most minicomputer and mainframe environments this is straightforward because files are typically spooled before printing. You do not have to print the file; just copy the spool file before it is deleted. You usually end up with a fixed-length file that has a record length of 133, which is easy to process in Analyzer.
In a non-mainframe environment, it can be slightly more difficult to capture data. If you are in a LAN environment, you can use the LAN spooler in the same way as a mainframe spooler. In a stand-alone environment, you can use a number of public domain, shareware and inexpensive utilities to save printer text to a disk file. You usually get a variable-length CR/LF file, which Analyzer is able to read.
When you process a report file as data, treat it as a special case of a multiple-record-type file. See Report Files for full details on how to read report files.