Reporter – Field Expression Builder

Overview
The Field Expression Builder is used to either:

Create or modify the content of Data Fields to include the result of either a Logical, Date, String or Mathematical calculation made using one or more selected Data Fields, and/or;
Create or modify data selection criteria at report run time, and/or;
Create or modify the criteria used to determine how and when fields are reported.

Example:
To calculate the balance on a nominal ledger account and display this as a Generated Number field.

On the Fields Select Page of the Report Maintenance form add a Generated Number field – see Report Maintenance – Fields Select Page.
On the Fields Adjust Page of the Report Maintenance form click the Expression Builder Button to open the form.
On the Table drop down click on up and down arrows to scroll through list of Data Tables, point at required table and click OK to select. A list of the selected table’s data fields is displayed.
Point at and click on Debit Field and then click on Add Field Button. ‘Nombal.Debit’ is displayed in the top window of the form.
On the Math Drop Down, click on up and down arrows to scroll through list of operands, point at ‘-‘ and click OK to select.
Point at and Click on ‘Credit‘ in Field display and then click on Add Field button. ‘Nombal.Debit – Nombal.Credit‘ is displayed in the top window of the form
Click Verify button to display ‘Expression Valid‘ or message indicating problem with an expression’s content or syntax.
Click OK to save expression and include in report or Cancel to close the form without update.

To open the Field Expression Builder

On the main menu click Reporter > Report Definitions to open Report Maintenance form.

To create or modify a Data Field’s contents:

On Fields Adjust Page point at and click on the Data Field to be created or modified.
Click on Expression Builder button on the RHS of the Expression Field.

To create or modify a field’s Display Criteria

On Fields Adjust Page point at and click on the Data Field to be created or modified.
Click on Expression Builder button on the RHS of the Use When field.

To create or modify a field’s Selection Criteria

On Criteria Page click on Expression Builder button on the RHS of the Value/Runtime Prompt field.