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Expression Editor

The Expression Editor provides the capability for constructing expressions in the Web Report Designer.

This topic consists of the following section.

  • Expression Editor Overview
  • Expression Syntax
  • Using the Expression Editor

Expression Editor Overview

The Expression Editor's visual interface allows you to type an expression manually or select predefined functions, operators and operands. The editor supports a variety of aggregate, date-time, logical, math and string functions. You can also use logical and arithmetic operators and fields of a data source to which a report is bound.

expression-editor-calc-field-1

After you finish constructing an expression, click Save. If an expression contains any errors, the expression-editor-error-icon icon appears meaning that the expression should be rewritten.

Expression Syntax

The following syntax conventions should be taken into account when using the Expression editor.

  • A data field is referenced in the expression by enclosing its name in square brackets (e.g., [ProductName]).
  • Report parameters are inserted using the "Parameters." prefix before their names (e.g., [Parameters.parameter1]).
  • String values are denoted with apostrophes. To embed an apostrophe into an expression's text, type a double apostrophe (e.g., 'It''s sample text').
  • Date-time constants should be enclosed with hashtags (e.g., [OrderDate] >= #1/1/2016#).
  • To specify a null reference (one that does not refer to any object), use a question mark (e.g., [Region] != ?).
  • If an expression involves the use of different types, you can convert them to the same type using dedicated functions (e.g., Max(ToDecimal([Quantity]),[UnitPrice])).

Using the Expression Editor

Expressions can be used for calculating query parameters and calculated fields values as well as for specifying conditions of formatting rules.

  • To edit an expression for a calculated field, access its settings in the Field List and click the ellipsis button for the Expression property.

    expression-editor-calc-field-0

  • To specify an expression for a query parameter, in the Configure Query Parameters wizard page, set the parameter type to Expression and click the ellipsis button for the Value property.

    web-designer-report-wizard-04-configure-parameters-expression

  • To construct a condition for a formatting rule, access its settings in the Properties panel and click the ellipsis button for the Condition property.

    expression-editor-formatting-rules-0

    If the specified expression does not return a Boolean value, the error expression-editor-error-icon icon appears on an attempt to save the condition.

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