Lesson 4: Adding a Table Data Region
After the query is defined, you can start defining the report layout. The report layout consists of tables, text boxes, images, and other items that you want to include in your report. In Reporting Services, items that contain repeated rows of data from underlying datasets are data regions. You create a report layout by dragging and dropping data regions and other report items onto the design surface in the Layout tab. Once you add data regions, you can choose which fields to add to each data region.
To add a table data region and fields to a report layout
Click the Layout tab.
In the Toolbox, click Table, and then click on the design surface. Report Designer draws a table, with three columns, spanning the width of the design surface.
Note
The Toolbox may appear as a tab on the left side of the design area. To open the Toolbox, move the pointer over the Toolbox tab. If the Toolbox is not visible, in the View menu, click Toolbox.
In the Datasets window, expand the report dataset to display the fields.
Note
If the Datasets window is not visible, in the View menu, click Datasets.
Drag the OrderDate field from the Datasets window to the middle (detail) row of the first column in the table.
When you drop the field into the middle cell, two things happen. First, the detail cell will contain the following text: "=Fields!OrderDate.Value". This text is a field expression that specifies data values for the OrderDate field. Fields that you add to a Detail row are always specified as expressions. Second, a column header value is automatically placed in the first row, just above the field expression. By default, the column is the name of the field.
Drag the SalesOrderNumber field from the Datasets window to the middle (detail) row of the second column in the table.
Drag the TotalDue field from the Datasets window to the middle (detail) row of the third column in the table.
Note
You will not use all of the fields in the query in this tutorial. The additional fields are used in a later tutorial.
The following diagram shows a table data region that has been populated with these fields: OrderDate, SalesOrderNumber, and TotalDue.
.gif "Table data region with fields")
Next Task
You have successfully defined the layout for your report. Next, you will preview the report to see what it looks like. See Lesson 5: Previewing the Basic Report.
See Also
Concepts
Tutorial: Creating a Basic Report
Other Resources
Using Expressions in Reporting Services
Working with Table Data Regions
Working With Fields in a Report Dataset
Working with Data Regions
Understanding Report Layout and Rendering
Understanding Data Regions