Data Binding Modes

The Report Designer uses one of the following modes to provide dynamic content to your reports: expression bindings or standard data bindings.

Expression Bindings

Expression bindings enable you to use complex expressions that include two or more fields and various functions. Expressions also allow you to calculate complex summaries without scripts and conditionally shape your data without formatting rules.

This mode is enabled in the Report Designer if the Property Grid provides the Expressions tab.

Data Bindings

Standard data bindings enable you to assign a single data field to a report control or use report scripts to provide custom logic.

This mode is enabled in the Report Designer if the Property Grid does not provide the Expressions tab.

Conversion Dialog

The following dialog appears only when expression bindings are enabled in the Report Designer, and you open an existing report that uses standard data bindings:

This dialog prompts you to convert your report to use expressions (the new binding mechanism). Click Yes to run the report conversion, click No to open the report without changes.

See the section below for information on how to use expressions instead of data bindings.

Binding Mode Comparison

Bind to a Single Data Field

• The Field List panel allows you to drop fields onto the design surface or existing report controls. All binding ways are identical in the data bindings and expression bindings modes.

  

• The control's smart tag enables you to select the target data field in the corresponding drop-down list.

  Expression Bindings	Data Bindings

• You can select a report control and bind it to data in the Property Grid.

  Expression Bindings	Data Bindings
  Switch to the Expressions tab and specify a data field for the Text property.	Expand the (Data Bindings) category and assign a data field to the Text property.

See the following topics for more information:

• Bind Report Controls to Data (Expression Bindings)
• Bind Report Controls to Data (Data Bindings)

Bind to Multiple Data Fields

Expression Bindings	Data Bindings
Use the mail merge functionality. Click the Expression property's ellipsis button and specify the expression.	Use the mail merge functionality.

Calculate Summary

Expression Bindings	Data Bindings
Select the summary function in the Expression Editor's Summary section. All functions has the 'sum' prefix. See Calculate a Summary for more information.	Select the summary function in the Summary Func drop-down list. See Calculate a Summary for more information.

Complex Bindings, Custom Summary

Expression Bindings	Data Bindings
Use the Expression Editor to construct an expression of any complexity. Refer to Calculate an Advanced Summary for an example.	Use report scripts. Refer to Calculate a Custom Summary for an example.

Conditionally Customize Appearance

Expression Bindings	Data Bindings
Use the Expression Editor to construct expressions for a control's appearance and style properties. Refer to Conditionally Change a Control Appearance for an example.	Create formatting rules and assign them to report controls. Refer to Conditionally Change a Control Appearance for an example.