When adding conditional formatting or other constraints on data-driven report
elements, you have the option of using a built-in Formula Editor to help you build
an expression with a graphical interface. All element properties in Report Designer
can have formulas. You can type in your own formula by hand, but it's much easier to
use the built-in Formula Editor to build an expression.
The Formula Editor provides you with basic math and comparison operators so that you
don't have to enter them manually. Also provided are concatenate and percent
functions. Click the
(Field Selector) to select
fields in the report.
Follow the instructions below to use Formula Editor:
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Click on the element you want to add a condition or constraint to.
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In the Style pane, select the property you want to add a constraint to,
then click the round green + icon on the right side of the field.
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Click the ... button.
The Formula Editor window appears.
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Select a function category from the drop-down box.
The default category is All.
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Select a function from the Functions list.
If you click on a function, a description of what it does will appear in the
tan-colored field at the bottom of the window.
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Double-click on a function to bring up the option fields.
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Erase the default values in the option fields, and replace them with your own
settings. If you need to associate a column with a function, click the Select
Field button to the right of the field, then select the data or function
you want to use.
Follow proper SQL syntax in your options; all values must be in quotes, and
all column names must be in uppercase letters and enclosed in square
brackets.
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When you're done, click OK, then click Close.
You have applied a formula to a report element.