Microsoft Data Report Designer

[OneSource]

Hi all.

In my app, I'm gonna need to generate some reports. I've never used the Microsoft Data Report Designer, and I'm looking for some feedback, hints, suggestions, etc. from those of you who may have.

TIA.

[tstephens]

Watching this subject come up. I've decided either no one knows much about the data report manager, or it's just not used very much. I wish someone would share their knowledge.

[OneSource]

I haven't lost hope! But it is fading!

[Nathan]

The data report designer is a rather simple report program... not only in that it is fairly simple to use but it is only really good for simple reports... However with a bit of work you can create more complex ones. I've been using it for about 3 months now and have created about a dozen different reports with different degrees of complexity. Let me know what you want to know about it and I'll try to answer some of your questions.

[OneSource]

[orasbot]

MS Data Reporter Stinks! Better use other reporting tools.

[William]

I have a question about the Reporter. Is there a way to
use arrays of data in the report designer? Or how to
get a recordset from different tables?

Just a Question

-William

[Nathan]

Once you learn how to use it the datareporter doesn't stink... and it helps when you distribute your final program... ie. it compiles into the .exe and you don't have to pass crystal files around... However I will agree that if the report is really complex sometimes crystal is still better... but most of the time you only need the datareport designer.

anyway to answer the question about how to get a recordset from multipul tables...
If they are header and detail tables you can use a child command in the dataenvironment or use a shape command when you get the data for your recordset. If it is just all detail information spread out among different tables then you should be able to create your dataenvironment command as you normally would. You can also load information from the screen (ie. form info) to a datareport through code if you have a label to textbox on the report to put it in. example: DataReport1.Sections(2).Controls("lblInfo").Caption = frmMain.txtInfo.Text
Section 2 = Page Header

Any more questions anyone just ask and I'll try to help.

[tstephens]

Nathan,
Thank you for taking the time to respond. We are using the data report to run a report off a query. The only problem is that once the report is run, if you make changes to the query or add items to the report, it does not refresh, or update the report.

[Nathan]

re: refreshing datareport

I haven't had much experience with this but... the datareport does have a refresh function. What you could try to do would be to refresh the recordset using it's refresh through code when the changes occur and then using the refresh function for the datareport.

Another option would be to just close the datareport and recordset and then open them both again.

Let me know if either work...

[tstephens]

Thanks Nathan. I'll let you know if it works. We actually have tried the second half of you suggestion and it did not work. Maybe the other will.