Rpx files

Rpv includes a very convenient kind of file: RPX.

RPX format is a data format that, combined with an existing RPV format file will let you prepare reports with variable number of pages and is able to handle large ammounts of data.

RPX or RPD? Which one is better? Which one shall I use?

First of all, the RPX format was added to the existing formats. RPD format is still available and it will be.
Second, they both are different. Each has its own application, even when they can be similar sometimes.

The main difference between the two formats is that RPX allows undefined number of pages for your report and the format of the data can be variable. For RPD format, we have always a defined number of pages and the format of the report is always the same.

So, RPX is better and I shall use that?

There is no doubt that Rpx is the most important format. Rpd is an old format that was included in version 2.0 of Rpv Printing System. However, if you need to prepare an invoice for example or a form that contains a predefined number of pages, Rpd can be a great option.

• Quicker development. Your program will contain less code. ONLY THE NECESSARY to export the data to a delimited
  file. By using templates, you can save more than 40% of the coding time.
   
• Programs more stable. Your programs will be more stable because they will not be modified every time you need to alter
  the report. In most of cases, altering the template (external) will be enough.
   
• Programs easier to be understood by others. What your program does it not to format the report. What your program
  does is to EXPORT THE DATA to a plain delimited file that will be formatted later by the program according the parameters
  given in the template.

Both, RPX and RPD have the same advantage: you can modify your template without compiling your program and you can "decide" when to show a field or not. This means that you may want to include some data in your RPX/RPD file and after that you don't show it in the final report.

See also:

The quickest guide for programmers II