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Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 Professional Reporting
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 Professional Reporting

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 Professional Reporting: Discover tips and trick for Dynamics NAV report building

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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Steven Renders
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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.5 (13 Ratings)
Paperback Sep 2015 504 pages 1st Edition
eBook
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R$367.99
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Renews at R$50p/m
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Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 Professional Reporting

Chapter 2. Getting Started with the Tablix

In the previous chapter, we learned how to create our first report. We went through the different report development phases and introduced the report development tools.

This chapter is all about using the Tablix control when creating a layout for the report. It will start by explaining that the Tablix can be used as a List, Table, or Matrix, and then demonstrate the differences between them and when to use which. This chapter also covers different techniques on how to filter, sort, and group information in the report layout. The chapter also introduces some important textbox properties.

Report items

To design the layout of a report in Visual Studio you can use the toolbox, in which you will find all the controls you can use on your report. It's with this toolbox, by clicking on a control and dropping (or by drag and drop or drag and draw), that you can add to the report. You can also right-click on the layout (the body, header, or footer) and insert a control.

Note

There are multiple ways of achieving the same goal. In this book, I will use and demonstrate the steps I apply on a daily basis in real life. Keep in mind that there might be different ways to do the same thing, but I will not document all of them.

The controls in the toolbox can be divided into report items and data regions. Report items represent information, which might come from the dataset. Examples of these types of report items are lines and rectangles. Images and textboxes are independent report items that can be connected to a field from the dataset, but it's not mandatory.

Static report items...

Everything is a Tablix

If you already have some experience in developing RDLC report layouts in Dynamics NAV 2013 or later, then you will surely have noticed that when you select a List, Table, or Matrix from the toolbox and add it to the report body, it shows up as a Tablix in its properties, as you can see in the following screenshot:

Everything is a Tablix

The Document Outline

To open the Document Outline window, go to View, Other Windows, and select Document Outline, or use the shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + T:

The Document Outline

Note

Tablix naming

To see the difference in the properties I recommend changing the name of your List, Table, or Matrix, as I did in this example, to reflect the template you used to create it. An explanation of how you can do this is available in the section, Changing the name of a Tablix.

This was not the case in earlier versions and the reason is that we are now on RDLC version 2010. In RDLC version 2008, the Microsoft SQL Server team decided to merge the List, Table, and Matrix data regions into a new object...

List versus Table versus Matrix

So, let's have a closer look at the Tablix and investigate the difference between a List, a Table, and a Matrix.

The List is actually completely different from the Table and the Matrix. When you add a List to your report, you will see a List that contains a Rectangle. In the following image you can see this in the Document Outline:

List versus Table versus Matrix

Note

This example is available in the object: Packt - CH02-1

In this example, I added a List from the Toolbox to the report body. Then I dragged and dropped three fields from the Report Data in the List, which I renamed as List_1. Then, I dragged the captions from the Parameters on top of the List. Next, I spent some time aligning the textboxes in the list with the textboxes above the list.

The result looks as follows:

List versus Table versus Matrix

You will probably find this a cumbersome way to create a simple list report, and it is. Any changes in the layout require you to realign the textboxes, which is time consuming. That is why a List data region is almost...

Filtering and sorting

Filtering and sorting are important concepts when running a report and, in many cases, are offered to the users as options in the request page.

How can I implement filters?

For every data item in your dataset there will be a separate tab in the request page allowing the users to apply filters on any of the fields of the tables. You can use the following properties to manage this:

  • ReqFilterFields: The fields you put in here are the default fields that will be shown for this data item in the request page.
  • DataItemTableView: If you select a key in this property then the data item disappears from the request page, unless you have selected RegFilterFields. The user will not be able to select a sorting order for this data item.
  • ReqFilterHeading and ReqFilterHeadingML: Both can be used to change the name FastTab for the data items in the request page. By default, the table name is used.

Now, sorting and filtering is almost always something a developer is going to apply. The question...

Grouping

When you add data to a Tablix, in many cases you will add groupings to create a different view on the data. When you add a group it is better to give it a proper name, so you know why it is there. You can create multiple and different types of groups in a Tablix and, in this section I will explain what a group is and the difference between parent-child and adjacent groups.

How can I implement grouping?

Groups can be created manually, but sometimes they are created automatically, for example when you use the wizard in report builder or when you drop a field on the grouping pane. Groups are also structured in hierarchies. The hierarchies are defined by the relationships and can be horizontal or vertical. When you create groups, the rows that they contain become dynamic.

In a Tablix, there are also static rows. Static rows don't belong to a group. Static rows are used to display totals or labels. They will only display once. A dynamic row is a part of a group, and is usually rendered...

Formatting report items

Now we need to have a look at formatting because, as you will have noticed, the amounts or quantities in the report are not formatted in the way we are used to in Dynamics NAV. This is because the dataset that is generated by Dynamics NAV contains the numerical values without formatting. It sends a separate field with a format code that can be used in the format properties of a textbox in the layout. Numerical fields have a Format property. This Format property is populated by Dynamics NAV and contains, at runtime, an RDL format code that you can use in the Format property of a textbox in Visual Studio.

To get started with formatting, perform the following steps:

  1. When you right-click on a textbox, a menu appears in which you can select the properties of the textbox, as shown in the following screenshot:
    Formatting report items

    Note

    I'm using object: Packt - CH02-4 as the example for formatting but, of course, this can be applied in any report that has numerical fields.

  2. In the Textbox Properties...

Report items


To design the layout of a report in Visual Studio you can use the toolbox, in which you will find all the controls you can use on your report. It's with this toolbox, by clicking on a control and dropping (or by drag and drop or drag and draw), that you can add to the report. You can also right-click on the layout (the body, header, or footer) and insert a control.

Note

There are multiple ways of achieving the same goal. In this book, I will use and demonstrate the steps I apply on a daily basis in real life. Keep in mind that there might be different ways to do the same thing, but I will not document all of them.

The controls in the toolbox can be divided into report items and data regions. Report items represent information, which might come from the dataset. Examples of these types of report items are lines and rectangles. Images and textboxes are independent report items that can be connected to a field from the dataset, but it's not mandatory.

Static report items are items...

Everything is a Tablix


If you already have some experience in developing RDLC report layouts in Dynamics NAV 2013 or later, then you will surely have noticed that when you select a List, Table, or Matrix from the toolbox and add it to the report body, it shows up as a Tablix in its properties, as you can see in the following screenshot:

The Document Outline

To open the Document Outline window, go to View, Other Windows, and select Document Outline, or use the shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + T:

Note

Tablix naming

To see the difference in the properties I recommend changing the name of your List, Table, or Matrix, as I did in this example, to reflect the template you used to create it. An explanation of how you can do this is available in the section, Changing the name of a Tablix.

This was not the case in earlier versions and the reason is that we are now on RDLC version 2010. In RDLC version 2008, the Microsoft SQL Server team decided to merge the List, Table, and Matrix data regions into a new object...

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Description

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a multi-lingual, multi-currency business management solution that organizations use to manage their accounts, supply chain, sales, payroll, and HR. It is an ERP tool for organizations that is fast to implement, easy to configure, and simple to use. It is widely used because simplicity is a part of its development, product design, usability, and implementation. This book will help you to master, analyze, and deliver the most challenging reporting requirements in Dynamics NAV 2015. The book starts by explaining report development and it's different phases such as data model, layout, and testing you go through. It introduces you to RDLC and the different controls in the toolbox, such as the Tablix, in its many forms. You will learn to use expressions to make your layout dynamic and to overcome typical problems. Moving on, the book will teach you to visualize data and be able to understand and read a report as it is intended. You will also learn to use Microsoft Word to create a layout for a report. With Power BI and Power Pivot, Power View, and Power Map, you will learn how easy and powerful it is to bring your data to life, so you can spot trends and perform in depth analysis of your business. Reporting Services is also explained as another way that you can apply the knowledge you have about RDLC to build RDL layouts outside of Dynamics NAV. By the end, you will create different types of charts so you can visualize key performance indicators inside the Dynamics NAV application.

Who is this book for?

If you are a consultant, developer, customer, user, or just interested in the reporting capabilities of Dynamics NAV, then this book is for you.

What you will learn

  • Understand why reports are designed in a specific way and then apply this knowledge to your advantage
  • Develop document reports using different techniques
  • Apply filtering and sorting, and create groups
  • Use RDLC to visualize information
  • Visualize information, KPIs, and trends using expressions, Gauges, Charts, Data bars, Indicators, and Spark lines
  • Create and optimize your dataset for RDLC and for Word layouts
  • Use Power BI with Dynamics NAV to bring your data to life
  • Build Reporting Services reports on top of Dynamics NAV

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Sep 18, 2015
Length: 504 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785284731
Vendor :
Microsoft

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Product Details

Publication date : Sep 18, 2015
Length: 504 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785284731
Vendor :
Microsoft

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Table of Contents

12 Chapters
1. How Do I Start to Create a Report? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Getting Started with the Tablix Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Expressions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Data Visualization Techniques Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Document Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Tips and Tricks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Performance Optimization Techniques Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Word Report Layouts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Power BI Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Reporting Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Charts in Dynamics NAV Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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Amazon Customer Jun 10, 2016
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Amazon Customer Nov 25, 2015
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Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2015 Professional Reporting by Steven Renders.Excellent book that worth every penny.Switching from NAV Classic to NAV RTC report is not a easy job. This book give me a very solid information to start write reports in NAV RTC.I highly recommend this book if you want to learn or increase your NAV reporting skill.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Alain Krikilion Nov 13, 2015
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Let the title NOT fool you! When I saw the title, I was immediately thinking: a book about how to write RDLC reports. After seeing the Table of Contents, I realized it is much more than that.Well, the title does NOT say it only about RDLC reports. Does it? No. It is about reporting in general.Who is this book for? Mostly for NAV Developers. But also for the everyone who works with NAV. Just to know what are the possibilities to do reporting with NAV. And most of these tools come for free! With these tools you can dazzle your customers with the beautiful reports you can create! And with some explanation, you can offload some report-creation to the customer too!The book starts with the first 7 chapters about RDLC reporting as expected. It starts with the basics and which each next chapter, it is going more in-depth. We see the basics, Tablix, Expressions, Data Visualization Techniques, Document Reports, Tips&Tricks, performance.With chapter 8 we Word Reporting and how to manage them.Chapter 9 had a lot of surprises for me with Power BI. I knew about Power BI, that the word "Power" isn’t there for nothing. But I was really surprised with all the "Powers" it has!Chapter 10 is about SQL Server Reporting Services. I have been studying that for a short time before RDLC was not it the NAV dictionary but stopped with it because I wouldn’t be using it in a short time, so I would forget it. Yes, SSRS (=SQL Server Reporting Services) uses RDLC too, but has a whole other range of possibilities that NAV RDLC reporting doesn’t have. There is the word "Service" in it! And no, I am not going deeper into this. I leave that up to you to discover.And then, the final chapter is about Charts in Dynamics NAV. We all know there are charts in NAV, but have you ever used them? Do you know how to use them? If no, than this chapter is for you!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Sami May 28, 2019
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I am a new NAV developer, and I have been watching Steven's videos and reading this book really helps me a lot. Thank you
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Serdar Ulutas Dec 15, 2015
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I am a NAV developer who works with classic client and interested in learning the RTC version. My experience with RDLC reports has been pretty frustrating. I can say Steven Renders' book helped me to gain great deal of knowledge related to NAV RDLC reporting data-model and I feel more confident with the RDLC reports. The book actually gives more information that I expected (especially chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11). The screenshots in the book are exceptionally clear. I enjoyed the conversational narration with tips and warnings. I find it easy to read and examples are easy to apply in NAV.* Chapters# 1,2,3: I believe developers,like myself, who upgrade their skills will benefit the most from these chapters. Some examples were exemplary that I learnt stuff that I thought it was impossible to do in NAV. The book gives a good line of examples from simple report design to advanced row-column groupings with totaling and visually appealing reports with great, interesting tips and tricks.* Chapter 6,7 have plenty of good tips and design guidelines. I think the tips in this book are kind of tips and tricks that you can apply to most of your reports.* Chapter 4 (data-visualization techniques), Chapter 8 (Word-layouts) and Chapter 9 (Power BI): So far I have worked with classic client, excel reports and SOAP web services. I am not sure if I will work with Power BI but I really liked seeing the possibilities in RDLC reports. I'll probably come back to these chapters for a review.Overall, I definitely recommend this book to developers who struggle with the new report design in NAV and looking for a good start to learn it. If you are an expert in RDLC reporting and looking for reference related to Word Layouts, Power BI and Reporting Services, please check other users' comments.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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