Provider Almanac Output Formats

Provider Almanac has many output formats.  In Provider Almanac, the basic process is that you select the data you want to see.  There are numerous selection lists and methods or tools to select groups of data.  Then you run the selection or query.  The results of the query are stored in SQL Server Express in a worktable.  Every type of query and report has a unique name for each year, provider and type of report.  The user can preview the information.  The step of preview creates a .rpt Crystal Reports workfile in the Halmanac directory in your MyDocuments directory.  This output can consist of the following.

• Previewing reports allows the user to see the report in output format before actually printing the report.
• Printed reports allow the user to send the report to a printer.  This output can be stored in a binder or sent to another user.
• Word Format allows the user to send the report to a '.DOC' file that can be imported into Microsoft Word.  This allows the report to be combined with other information.
• Excel Format allows the user to send the report to an 'XLS' file that can be viewed and enhanced by Microsoft Excel.  Microsoft Excel can create graphs of selected fields.  Microsoft Excel can also export the information to many other formats like '.DBF', '.MDB' or even '.CSV' 
• PDF format allows the user to send the report to a '.PDF' file that can be saved to disk.  The Adobe Reader is user to view the report.  The Adobe Reader can be used to email the report.  PDF files are easy to send to users with other types of computers like IBM,   Apple Macintosh or Sun.  

These formats should be sufficient for many users.  Because the information is stored in a Microsoft SQL Server 2005, you can format the data in many other formats.  Also, the data can be exported to special formats using special utilities.  If you need data in a format that is not available, please call/email us and we will help you.

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