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Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009: Professional Reporting
Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009: Professional Reporting

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009: Professional Reporting: Discover all the tips and tricks for Dynamics NAV report building

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Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009: Professional Reporting

Chapter 2. Creating a Report in the Classic Client

When Dynamics NAV 2009 was introduced, it also came with the capability to add a Role Tailored Layout for a report. The previous version had only the Classic Layout. This chapter is all about the Classic Layout, how to create it, and all of the capabilities of the good old Classic Report Designer.

The knowledge obtained in this chapter is required for when you migrate towards the Role Tailored Client or when you are already using the Role Tailored Client with the new report layout. This is because the Classic Report Designer is, currently, the starting point for the development of all types of reports in Dynamics NAV. First, we learn how to walk, then how to run and win the race.

In this chapter, we will learn about:

  • Using the report wizard

  • Creating a simple list report

  • Creating an Excel-like layout for a report

  • Printing a report to Excel

  • Report functions

The Report Designer


Reports are used to present information from the database, structure and summarize information, and print documents such as invoices. Reports can also be used to process data without printing anything.

Reports can be created or customized via the Report Designer, which can be found in the Object Designer.

The Report Designer is the development environment that is available in the Dynamics NAV Classic Client to create or customize report objects. It contains a data item designer to define the data model for the report, a section designer to design the layout of the report for the Classic Client, and a request form designer to create an optional request form in which the user can select options when running the report.

The workflow for designing a Classic report in Dynamics NAV 2009 can be visualized with the following diagram:

There are two ways to create a new report: from scratch or by using the wizard. I will start with an explanation of the report wizard and then dive...

Creating a simple List report


The first thing you have to do when you want to design a new custom report is create the data model. Where is the data coming from that I want to show in the report? Is it all in one table or do I need multiple tables? If there are multiple tables, how will I connect the records from the different tables? A good suggestion that I can give is to first make a draft drawing on a piece of paper of the layout of the report you want to create. Write down the fields that need to be visible on the report and then find out which table they are coming from. After that, if there are multiple tables find out how the tables are related and write that down.

This way, when you open the designer you already know what you need to do. Many novice and experienced developers make the mistake of not thinking before they begin. And then it can get confusing very quickly in the report designer.

Now that we have a good idea of the tables that we will require, it's time to open the report...

What is a ProcessingOnly report?


A processing-only report is a report that does not print but instead only processes data or C/AL code. Processing table data is not limited to processing-only reports. Reports that print can also change records. This section applies to those reports as well.

It is possible to specify a report to be "Processing Only" by changing the ProcessingOnly property of the Report object. The report functions as it is supposed to (processing data items), but it does not generate any printed output.

When the ProcessingOnly property is set, the request form/page for the report changes slightly, as the Print and Preview buttons are replaced with an OK button. The Cancel and Help buttons remain unchanged.

When the ProcessingOnly property is set you also cannot create any sections.

There are advantages to using a report to process data rather than a code unit:

  • The request page functionality that allows the user to select options and filters for data items is readily available...

Creating an Excel-like layout for a report


This is how the sections look like when you take the Work Order report into design mode:

When you look a little closer and click on one of the cells, you will notice that when you have a look at its properties, they are the properties of a Shape control. When you select a Shape control in the toolbox and put it on a section you can decide via the property ShapeStyle which type of Shape you are adding.

These are the possible values for the ShapeStyle property of a Shape control:

  • Rectangle

  • Rounded Rectangle

  • Oval

  • Triangle

  • NWLine

  • NELine

  • HorzLine

  • VertLine

You have to put the Shape control on top of the other controls (labels, textboxes) that contain the actual data. To do this you can select a Shape and bring it to front or send it to back using the Format menu on top of the report designer like this:

Tip

Overlapping controls

As you can see, putting two controls on top of each other can provide an added value. Another example of when this technique is applied is...

Report functions


Certain functions can only be used in reports. These functions can be useful for complex reports:

  • CurrReport.SKIP

    Use this function to skip the current record of the current data item. If a record is skipped, it is not included in totals and it is not printed. Skipping a record in a report is much slower than never reading it at all, so use filters as much as possible.

    A good trigger to use this function in is the OnAfterGetRecord trigger of a data item.

  • CurrReport.BREAK

    Use this function to skip the rest of the processing of the data item currently being processed. The report resumes processing the next data item. All data items indented under the one that caused the break are also skipped.

    A good trigger to use this function in is the OnAfterGetRecord trigger of a data item.

  • CurrReport.QUIT

    This function skips the rest of the report. It is not an error, however. It is a normal ending for a report. Also, the OnAfterReport trigger will not be executed if you use this function in...

Summary


In this chapter, we have covered the basics on how to create a simple report. We've seen how to implement sorting, grouping, totalling, and how to indent data items. You also have an idea on what's involved to be able to print a report to Microsoft Excel. And when you want to make changes or customizations to these kinds of reports it can quickly become complicated.

Furthermore, you should also have an idea by now of the limitations of the Classic report designer. A good example is the lack of colors at runtime. Also, the steps that need to be performed to have an Excel look and feel can become very tedious. Regarding the interactivity features of Classic reports, those are limited to what you can do with the request form.

A lot, if not all, of the shortcomings or difficulties that are inherent to the Classic report designer are solved, more intuitive and more user and developer friendly in RDLC reports for the Role Tailored Client.

The idea of this chapter was to give you a good introduction...

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Key benefits

  • Get an overview of all the reporting possibilities, in and out of the box
  • Understand the new architecture and reporting features in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009 with this book and e-book
  • Full of illustrations, diagrams, and tips with clear step-by-step instructions and real-world examples

Description

Microsoft Dynamics NAV is widely used in enterprises with its enhanced reporting features, but there still isn’t a book that covers reporting in depth, until now. This book will show you what’s possible and exactly how to develop reports for Dynamics NAV 2009. Learn why reports are designed in a specific way and then apply this knowledge to your advantage. Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009: Professional Reporting is an essential guide to understanding the effort involved in creating reports in Dynamics NAV 2009, and all of the available reporting possibilities. Reading this book will result in a better understanding and it will help you save time during development.The book starts with an overview of what kind of reports you can create without a developer using charts, dimensions, and analysis views. The next chapter will introduce the new architecture of Role Tailored Client (RTC) reports and the basics on how to create them or have them generated. Moving on we will discuss data visualization, where you will learn how and when to implement all the available Visual Studio controls. Document reports and other types of specific reports are covered next, and you will get to know all the best workarounds for getting them to work correctly.Knowing other related features is vitally important to obtain a helicopter view of all the reporting possibilities of Dynamics NAV, and the next chapter will introduce Business Intelligence concepts and available technologies that could be used in combination with the Dynamics NAV database. Technology is evolving rapidly and new versions of Dynamics NAV are in the pipeline, so the book will also provide you with a view to the future and how to prepare for it.

Who is this book for?

Whether you are a Dynamics NAV consultant, developer, customer, project manager, or just interested in the reporting capabilities of Dynamics NAV, this book can provide you with information from a helicopter view down to the smallest details, tips and tricks, and workarounds. Empowered with the information in this book you should be able to master, analyse and deliver the most challenging reporting requirements in Dynamics NAV.

What you will learn

  • Create reports using RDLC technology in the Role Tailored Client
  • Use the Visual Studio Report Designer and customize it to meet your requirements
  • Develop Document reports
  • Estimate the time required to develop specific types of reports
  • Explore the hidden Dynamics NAV report capabilities
  • Use expressions to simulate conditional formatting in Dynamics NAV reports
  • Learn everything about Charts and Chart types in the RTC
  • Get a view of the other technologies in the BI world and how to integrate them to the Dynamics NAV database
  • Add interactive features such as Visibility Options, Interactive Sort, Document Maps, and Pictures to the report

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Publication date : Oct 03, 2011
Length: 352 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781849682459
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Product Details

Publication date : Oct 03, 2011
Length: 352 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781849682459
Vendor :
Microsoft
Languages :

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Table of Contents

7 Chapters
Charts and Dimensions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Creating a Report in the Classic Client Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Creating Role Tailored Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Visualization Methods Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Developing Specific Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Reporting and Business Intelligence Tools Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
A View of the Future Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon 3.6
(5 Ratings)
5 star 60%
4 star 0%
3 star 0%
2 star 20%
1 star 20%
Matthias Günther Feb 14, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
GUT
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Samuel Schnetzer Dec 30, 2011
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I would recommend this book to everyone that is into NAV Reporting.Very well-arranged with lots of screenshots.With this book the entrance/change to RDLC Reports is a lot easier.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Daniel Rimmelzwaan Oct 14, 2011
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
If there is anything that you don't understand about reporting in Microsoft Dynamics NAV, then this is the book for you. Steven Renders delivers a must read book that includes step by step tutorials through the maze of different reporting options.In my opinion, this book sets the standard for reports training in NAV. Not only does it walk you through classic report design, it also explains how to properly develop RDLC reports. You will find out how to create the right dataset, how to get data into the header and footer sections. Finally it also gives you a glimpse into the future of reporting in Dynamics NAV.This book will give you the knowledge that you need to really understand how it works. EVERY NAV developer should have a copy.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Bernd Jan 15, 2014
Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 2
Das Buch enthält Reporting Tipps für Dynamics NAV 2009 Role Tailored Client (RTC). Nicht für den Classic Client geeignet. Da habe ich versäumt, eine Leseprobe online zu studieren. Da Dynamics NAV 2009 aber mit beiden Clients ausgeliefert wird, halte ich einen Hinweis hierzu für wichtig. Andernfalls denkt man fälschlicherweise, dass beide Clients behandelt werden.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Aliz Aug 05, 2012
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
This is a very well written book, but the low rating in this review comes about for the Kindle edition. The images in the Kindle edition are low resolution and completely unreadable. Zooming on the KT or even using the DX does not matter, the images can not be read on the Kindle.I am not sure if this is the publisher's fault and Amazon's fault, but they are both responsible for charging for unreadable material. Very disappointing, particularly that Amazon recently commissioned a survey on the use of Kindle. Did they not see what was selling already?This is my third review for a Packt Publishing text, and I have a number of them on Kindle. They all suffer the same fault.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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