Reports and Metrics

The Tools and the Reports menus both provide access to a number of information display windows. Imagix 4D's database contains extensive data collected from your software, and these display windows make that data available to you through the user interface. The difference between the two sets is that the display windows available through the Tools menu are used to visualize this data rather directly, and enable you to navigate through and focus on specific portions of your code.

In contrast, the Reports and the Metric windows available through the Reports menu show information about the full scope of the project. They aren't meant to be focused, and often require that Imagix 4D do extensive analysis and processing of data which has already been collected, before generating an initial display. The objective of these Report menu items is to provide project-wide insight about particular issues, typically measurements and checks related to the quality of the implementation of your software.

The Metrics windows sort and rank symbols according to their software metrics so you can spot areas needing further review. File and Class Summary reports tabulate data from across the database and provide high level statistics about your software. Source Check reports point out exceptions to generally agreed upon design and coding practices. Variable, Function and Task Flow Checks identify potential data and control flow problems, particularly for embedded, real-time software. And the Include Analysis report provides a comprehensive analysis of the dependencies of a file and its header files.

While these display windows can not themselves be focused on specific portions of your code, they do support Imagix 4D's standard navigation, so that you can then use the Tool display windows to further examine areas of interest. The Import Report function enables you to apply this navigation to previously saved reports.