Updated June 2022; see History
One of the standard export/extension modules included with APEX is a routine that converts reports to XLS spreadsheet. The function is accessible via toolbar buttons—one to perform the export, another to configure it. Following is a guide to understanding and troubleshooting the APEX export process.
| • | The Export to XLS button is enabled if and only if the A-Shell subroutine PRTXLS.SBX is present and available. It should be located in the BAS: directory, normally DSK0:[7.6]. If the Export to XLS button is inactive (grayed out), it is because this essential file is missing. |
| • | When the Export to XLS button is clicked, A-Shell/ATE calls PRTXLS.SBX which analyzes the report and creates a corresponding XLS document. |
| • | PRTXLS reads the export configuration file prtxls.ini which also resides in the BAS: directory. Some of the export options may be accessed via the Configure XLS Export button, next to the Export XLS button on the toolbar. |
| • | PRTXLS uses the LibXL function library to write the exported data into the new format. The LibXL library is contained in the file libxl.dll, which resides in the A-Shell \bin directory. It must be version 3.7.2 or later. |
| • | PRTXLS creates a new file called <sourcefilename>{-suffix}.xls. The -suffix is used to create unique filenames to avoid overwriting existing files and is based on an option in the configuration file. |
| • | The DATA tab contains the rows of the report that appear to be the primary data lines. |
| • | The REMNANTS tab contains the lines in the original report which were NOT considered data lines (headers and other adornments.) |
| • | The ORIGINAL tab contains the complete original report. |
| The idea is that this file will allow the user to quickly and easily compare the exported data to the original data and detect any errors. The file <sourcefilename>.xls is placed in the c:\apex folder unless another folder has been specified in the ini file. |
History
2022 June, A-Shell 6.5.1717.5, PRTXLS 2.1(218): Made improvements to the column separation logic. Columns with only one space of separation are now more reliably separated. Also close a crash loophole.
2017 July, A-Shell 1610, PRTXLS.SBX 2.0(101): The basic XLS engine was changed from a Perl script, which required a Perl server, to the LibXL function library. The Perl configuration is no longer supported, and the export function is now fully contained within A-Shell and its associated libraries.
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