Design report layouts part 2

  • 28 minutes

Video: Designing report layouts - Part 3

In this 21-minute video, Peter Myers and Chris Finlan describe how to design report layouts, including setting properties dynamically.

A couple of key points to share with your students when you deliver this section:

  • Use a report variable to hold a value for time-dependent calculations

    • They are calculated once, and can be used in expressions throughout a report
    • The value is preserved throughout a session, until the report is processed again

  • Use report items to add visual interest to the layout

  • Use a subreport to display another paginated report inside the body of a main paginated report

    • Any paginated report can be embedded, providing it is stored in the same workspace as the parent report
    • Typically, the parent reports pass parameters to the subreport
    • Sub-reports can repeat within data regions, especially the List

  • Use expressions to assign dynamic values to properties

  • Use functions from:

    • A variety of .NET namespaces
    • Custom code (code block)

  • Use the Code block to embed complex functions, or functions that are used multiple times within a single report.

    • Code must be written in VB.NET
    • Can leverage any available .NET Framework libraries

View the video here.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/eaFFzkT6pxE

Video: Designing report Layouts - Part 4

In this 6-minute video, Peter Myers and Chris Finlan put together all the theory and demonstrate designing a report template.

Tip

If you have students who are new to report creation, a discussion on the value of templates is appropriate here.

View the video here.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/0z576TI27Vg