Adding, Editing, and Deleting Fields in the Report

Use the ToolBox to add fields to your report.

VSReport Designer only has one type of field object; the icons in the Toolbox simply set the properties of the field to make it look and act in a certain way. Each icon creates a field and initializes the field's properties as follows:

Icon

Name

Description

Label field

Creates a field that displays static text.

Bound field

Creates a field that is bound to the source recordset. When you click this button, a menu appears and you can select the recordset field. Bound Fields are not limited to displaying raw data from the database. You can edit their Text property and use any VBScript expression.

Expression Field

Creates a calculated field. When you click this button, the code editor dialog will appear so you can enter the VBScript expression whose value you want to display.

Check box Field

Creates a bound field that displays a Boolean value as a check box. By default, the check box displays a regular check mark. You can change it into a radio button or cross mark by changing the value of the field's Checkbox property after it has been created.

Unbound Picture field

Creates a field that displays a static picture, such as a logo. When you click this button, a dialog box will appear to prompt you for a picture file to insert in the report. A copy is made of the picture you select and is placed in the same directory as the report file. You must distribute this file with the application unless you embed the report file in the application. When you embed a report file in your application, any unbound picture files are embedded too.

Bound Picture field

Creates a field that displays a picture (or object) stored in the recordset. When you click this button, a menu appears so you can select a picture field in the source recordset (if there is one; not all recordsets contain this type of field).

Line field

Creates a line. Lines are often used as separators.

Rectangle field

Creates a rectangle. Rectangles are often used to highlight groups of fields or to create tables and grids.

Subreport field

Creates a field that displays another report. When you click this button, a menu appears and you can select other reports that are contained in the same report definition file.

Page Break field

Creates a field that inserts a page break.

After you click any of these icons, drag the mouse over the report and the cursor will change into a crosshair. Click and drag to define a space that the new field will occupy, and then release the button to create the new field. If you change your mind, press ESC or click the arrow button to cancel the operation.

You can also add fields by copying and pasting existing fields, or by holding down the control key and dragging a field or group of fields to a new position to create a copy.

To add, edit, or delete fields in a report

  1. In the Report Designer, click View > Design or click the Design icon on the toolbar. The report opens in the design mode.

  2. Follow the procedures below depending on the fields that you want to add, edit, or delete.

To draw a line

To draw a rectangle

To add or edit text

  1. Insert a rectangle, or double-click or right-click an existing rectangle, then click Properties. The Field Properties dialog box appears.

  2. Scroll to Text in the Property column, click the Value column, then type the text; press ENTER.

To add labels

To add data fields

To create a VBScript expression

  1. Click Calculated field  on the toolbar. The VBScript Editor appears.

  2. Type the VBScript expression. For example, type:

    3. =count (Transaction ID)

  3. Click OK.

  4. Drag the pointer and place it under the respective field where you want the result to display.

  5. Click the Preview icon on the toolbar to view the result.

To insert images

  1. Click Picture . The Open dialog box appears.

  2. Click an image, then click Open.

  3. Drag the cursor to draw a box where you want the image to appear.

To delete fields