How to run the same report/subreport against multiple datasets?

rbuser

Is there a way to run the same report or subreport against multiple datasets
as part of the same run?

As a simple example, I have a mailing label that I want to run against three
different datasets as part of the same report run. Is there a way to chain
these datasets together into a single report with each dataset being
traversed after the last has finished? (And not restart a page as I want the
labels to continue from the next available.)

Thanks,
Robert Gesswein

nicocizik

Hi Robert,

Each report/subreport in ReportBuilder is designed to traverse the data of
one dataset. Try placing a Child style SubReport in the detail band for
each dataset you have. Then connect each subreport to each separate
dataset. Now you are essentially creating X number of reports in one with
the capability of traversing X number of datasets.

Note: Be sure to set the ShiftRelativeTo property of each subreport under
the first one so they do not overlap eachother when printing.

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rbuser

Thanks for the quick reply Nick,

I ran across this same method in a couple of the demos (51 & 52 I think)
yesterday. It does work for simple cases and I ran my label example this way
just fine. The problem is with more complex reports. The report I'm
undertaking now is a two column report with two nested subreports and dozens
of controls, shapes, and lines. Many of the controls have event handlers and
the lines are positioned at run time. Using the subreport method means I
have to create lots of unique names, duplicate event handlers, and lots of
extra redundant code. It also means that when I make a change to one
subreport I have to make the same change in many other places.

I think I'll try JIT pipelines to the various datasets along with fake
grouping data. Then I can set the pipeline record count to the total number
of all records from all the datasets and return the appropriate data through
the pipeline. More difficult up-front work but easier report changes I
suspect.

--Robert

nicocizik

Hi Robert,

Sorry, I did not realize you were developing a much more complicated report.
The use of JITPipelines as you said below would definitely be your best bet
to get exactly what you want out of this report. Good luck and let me know
if you have any other questions along the way.

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