A Report Definition holds the business logic (i.e. code) to assemble the report data. It also holds a number different property values and characteristics of the report. It's the Report Definition File (.rdf) that holds this information and each operational report in IFS Application will have a Report Definition. Often report is used in day-to-day speech, instead of the actual report definition.
The business logic to assemble the report data is implemented in PL/SQL code and the Report Definition share many characteristics with logical units. The translation process of a report is the same as for a logical unit, so is the security and access control. When an operational report is executed a specific method in the report definition is executed. This method assembles the data and stores in format suitable for further processing (i.e. formatting). Access right to the assemble data is given to the user that triggered the report execution and optionally also additional users that should be allowed to access the data. The access control of operation reports is implemented on a data set level, which means that if you are allowed to access the data you are allowed to format in any way.
An operation report can have one or several report layouts. A report layout is a description of how the data should be formatted when printed, previewed or sent as an electronic document. The report layout tool included in IFS Applications is IFS Report Designer, which produces layouts in the form of .rdl files. As input this tool uses the XML schema (.xsd) that is a description of the XML data structure of the assembled data. The XML schema is connected to the Report Definition - each Report Definition will have a XML schema. The schema and the Report Designer layout are both stored in the database and associated with the report definition. Report Layouts can also be developed in other 3rd party tools like Crystal Reports. 3rd party reporting tools are supported through a plug-in concept in IFS Applications.
Report Definitions, XML Schemas, as well as Report Designer layouts are all imported by the IFS Installer as part of the installation.