Chapter 5: Removing the Training WheelsBuilding Basic Reports

Overview

In Chapter 4, you built your first reports using the Report Wizard. This is like learning to ride your first two-wheeler with the training wheels on. Now it is time for the training wheels to come off, so you can see what this baby can really do! We are going to begin building reports from scratch. We hope these next few chapters provide the handholding you need, and then you can learn to ride sans training wheels without getting skinned knees.

First, we work with the two types of reports you were introduced to in Chapter 4. We begin by building a table report without the use of the Report Wizard. From there, we do the same with a matrix report. After that, we look at two new report types—the chart report and the list report. We end the chapter by working with some of the basic report items that make up each report—namely, the line control, the text box control, and the rectangle control. Along the way, you learn more about the Report Designer that serves as our development platform.

So, the training wheels are off and the wrenches have been put away. Don your helmets; it’s time to ride!