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Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook Update
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook Update

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook Update: Over 90 recipes to help you resolve your new SSRS Reporting woes in Dynamics AX 2012 R3

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Profile Icon Agarwal Profile Icon Elangovan Profile Icon Aggarwal
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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.4 (7 Ratings)
Paperback Mar 2015 352 pages 1st Edition
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Paperback
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Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook Update

Chapter 2. Enhancing Your Report – Visualization and Interaction

We will look at the following recipes in this chapter:

  • Creating multiple data regions and charts in reports
  • Creating a chart data region
  • Creating a new layout template
  • Expression in reports
  • Aggregation in reports
  • Adding an image in auto design
  • Formatting reports
  • Adding unbounded parameters in reports
  • Adding filters to data regions
  • Adding document map navigation to reports
  • Creating drill-up/drill-down actions in reports

Introduction

In every industry report, presentation plays an important role. Hence, every report development process places huge focus on the presentation and visualization of the report. This chapter offers you the knowledge of different available options that can be used to enhance visualization in reports through sample implementation. The chapter focuses on enhancing visualization and the interactivity in a report using Visual Studio's inbuilt tools. A report case is picked up and passed through several transformations to make it visually appealing. The flow is such that the concept and the practice are put side by side, so by the time the chapter is finished you will be familiar with the features.

Creating multiple data regions and charts in reports

This recipe will show how different data regions can be used to render data. Usually, a data region, in simple terms, is isolated small reports that share the parameter and datasets. This and the next recipe will help you understand how multiple regions can be created in SSRS. The first of the two data regions will display detailed customer transactions, while the second data region will show a pie chart that shows the total value of the transactions against each customer group.

Getting Ready

This and the other recipes in the chapter will extend the report built in this section. Working through Chapter 1, Understanding and Creating Simple SSRS Reports, should make it easier to create SSRS reports. So, following the guidelines from the previous chapter, create a simple SSRS report.

In the following recipe, we will create a customer account statement, which shows the transactions of different customers, by using multiple data regions:

  1. Create...

Creating a chart data region

We will incorporate our second data region through this recipe. The same report has two sections that summarize the same data in alternate ways.

In this recipe, we will create a chart data region. This chart data region will show the total value of transactions against each customer group. The report will show a summary through the chart, followed by details of the transactions. Creating charts was not possible in the legacy system; however, with the new framework, it is just a matter of a few clicks and setups, as you will see in this recipe.

Note

You can create and modify report definitions (.rdl) in the report builder and report designer in SQL Server Data Tools. Each authoring environment provides different ways to create, open, and save reports and related items.

For more details, visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd207141(v=sql.110).aspx.

Getting ready

This recipe is in continuation of the previously developed report in the Creating multiple data...

Creating a new layout template

In Chapter 1, Understanding and Creating Simple SSRS Reports, we discussed how to use templates to standardize a report. There are several predefined layout and style templates that you can use for your reports. These templates are standard templates for Microsoft Dynamics AX reports and provide consistent layout and style settings.

The following table lists the predefined templates that are available, and describes what each template can be applied to:

Template name

What each template can be applied to

BarChartStyleTemplate

Bar chart data regions

ColumnChartStyleTemplate

Column chart data regions

LineChartStyleTemplate

Line chart data regions

ListStyleTemplate

List data regions (top-down list or horizontal list data regions)

MatrixStyleTemplate

Matrix data regions

PieAndDoughnutStyleTemlate

Pie or doughnut chart data regions

ReportLayoutStyleTemplate

Reports (company information is displayed in the report header)

ReportLayoutStyleTemplateNoCompany...

Expression in reports

Expression is a very interesting property in SSRS reports. It is mostly used to do customizations at runtime. Expressions are basically used to change report appearances and report content at runtime. Microsoft Visual Studio has some built-in functions that can be used in expressions. In this recipe, we will implement the most important feature of printing the alternate line in different colors.

How to do it…

  1. In the template, select the DetailRowStyle | FieldValueStyle node.
  2. For the Background Color property, choose the <Expression...> list:
    How to do it…
  3. The Edit Expression window will pop up.
  4. Type the following expression in the Edit Expression window, as shown in the screenshot:
    =iif(RowNumber(Nothing)mod 3, "#e0e0e0", "#ffe0c0")
    How to do it…
  5. Save the template and go back to the PktCustTransList report for a preview.
  6. The report should now appear with a different color on every third line when previewed, as seen in the following screenshot:
    How to do it…

How it works…

Expressions...

Aggregation in reports

Aggregate functions are very useful in SSRS reports in AX R3 to calculate the aggregate values that show the numeric data. Totals are an obvious need in all reports. For example, the sum aggregate function calculates the total of transaction amounts. SSRS provides easy and powerful aggregation capabilities. This recipe will discuss a couple of aggregation methods and how they can be applied at different levels.

How to do it…

In this recipe two aggregations will be implemented:

  • Total value of transactions per customer
  • Count of the total number of transactions per customer

To define the total value of transactions implement the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the Data | AmountMst node.
  2. Set the Aggregation Function property to Sum.

To display the count of records implement the following steps:

  1. Go to the Groupings | AccountNum node in the table data region as shown in the following screenshot:
    How to do it…
  2. Right-click and go to Add | Field.
  3. Set the following properties:

    Property

    Value

    ...

Introduction


In every industry report, presentation plays an important role. Hence, every report development process places huge focus on the presentation and visualization of the report. This chapter offers you the knowledge of different available options that can be used to enhance visualization in reports through sample implementation. The chapter focuses on enhancing visualization and the interactivity in a report using Visual Studio's inbuilt tools. A report case is picked up and passed through several transformations to make it visually appealing. The flow is such that the concept and the practice are put side by side, so by the time the chapter is finished you will be familiar with the features.

Creating multiple data regions and charts in reports


This recipe will show how different data regions can be used to render data. Usually, a data region, in simple terms, is isolated small reports that share the parameter and datasets. This and the next recipe will help you understand how multiple regions can be created in SSRS. The first of the two data regions will display detailed customer transactions, while the second data region will show a pie chart that shows the total value of the transactions against each customer group.

Getting Ready

This and the other recipes in the chapter will extend the report built in this section. Working through Chapter 1, Understanding and Creating Simple SSRS Reports, should make it easier to create SSRS reports. So, following the guidelines from the previous chapter, create a simple SSRS report.

In the following recipe, we will create a customer account statement, which shows the transactions of different customers, by using multiple data regions:

  1. Create...

Creating a chart data region


We will incorporate our second data region through this recipe. The same report has two sections that summarize the same data in alternate ways.

In this recipe, we will create a chart data region. This chart data region will show the total value of transactions against each customer group. The report will show a summary through the chart, followed by details of the transactions. Creating charts was not possible in the legacy system; however, with the new framework, it is just a matter of a few clicks and setups, as you will see in this recipe.

Note

You can create and modify report definitions (.rdl) in the report builder and report designer in SQL Server Data Tools. Each authoring environment provides different ways to create, open, and save reports and related items.

For more details, visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd207141(v=sql.110).aspx.

Getting ready

This recipe is in continuation of the previously developed report in the Creating multiple data...

Creating a new layout template


In Chapter 1, Understanding and Creating Simple SSRS Reports, we discussed how to use templates to standardize a report. There are several predefined layout and style templates that you can use for your reports. These templates are standard templates for Microsoft Dynamics AX reports and provide consistent layout and style settings.

The following table lists the predefined templates that are available, and describes what each template can be applied to:

Template name

What each template can be applied to

BarChartStyleTemplate

Bar chart data regions

ColumnChartStyleTemplate

Column chart data regions

LineChartStyleTemplate

Line chart data regions

ListStyleTemplate

List data regions (top-down list or horizontal list data regions)

MatrixStyleTemplate

Matrix data regions

PieAndDoughnutStyleTemlate

Pie or doughnut chart data regions

ReportLayoutStyleTemplate

Reports (company information is displayed in the report header)

ReportLayoutStyleTemplateNoCompany...

Expression in reports


Expression is a very interesting property in SSRS reports. It is mostly used to do customizations at runtime. Expressions are basically used to change report appearances and report content at runtime. Microsoft Visual Studio has some built-in functions that can be used in expressions. In this recipe, we will implement the most important feature of printing the alternate line in different colors.

How to do it…

  1. In the template, select the DetailRowStyle | FieldValueStyle node.

  2. For the Background Color property, choose the <Expression...> list:

  3. The Edit Expression window will pop up.

  4. Type the following expression in the Edit Expression window, as shown in the screenshot:

    =iif(RowNumber(Nothing)mod 3, "#e0e0e0", "#ffe0c0")
  5. Save the template and go back to the PktCustTransList report for a preview.

  6. The report should now appear with a different color on every third line when previewed, as seen in the following screenshot:

How it works…

Expressions are a powerful means through...

Aggregation in reports


Aggregate functions are very useful in SSRS reports in AX R3 to calculate the aggregate values that show the numeric data. Totals are an obvious need in all reports. For example, the sum aggregate function calculates the total of transaction amounts. SSRS provides easy and powerful aggregation capabilities. This recipe will discuss a couple of aggregation methods and how they can be applied at different levels.

How to do it…

In this recipe two aggregations will be implemented:

  • Total value of transactions per customer

  • Count of the total number of transactions per customer

To define the total value of transactions implement the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the Data | AmountMst node.

  2. Set the Aggregation Function property to Sum.

To display the count of records implement the following steps:

  1. Go to the Groupings | AccountNum node in the table data region as shown in the following screenshot:

  2. Right-click and go to Add | Field.

  3. Set the following properties:

    Property

    Value

    Caption...

Left arrow icon Right arrow icon

Description

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook is recommended for Dynamics AX developers and .NET-based SSRS developers looking to familiarize themselves with the new AX reporting framework.

Who is this book for?

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook is recommended for Dynamics AX developers and .NET-based SSRS developers looking to familiarize themselves with the new AX reporting framework.

What you will learn

  • Create and deploy reports in AX 2012 R3
  • Understand the SSRS report programming flow
  • Modify the reporting framework
  • Create RDPbased reports
  • Design tabular matrices and chartbased reports
  • Debug reports, the reporting framework, and business logic
  • Migrate reports from the legacy reporting framework
  • Get to grips with unit testing and troubleshooting SSRS reports

Product Details

Country selected
Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Mar 27, 2015
Length: 352 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784395384
Vendor :
Microsoft
Languages :

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Product Details

Publication date : Mar 27, 2015
Length: 352 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781784395384
Vendor :
Microsoft
Languages :

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Table of Contents

11 Chapters
1. Understanding and Creating Simple SSRS Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Enhancing Your Report – Visualization and Interaction Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Report Programming Model Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Report Programming Model – RDP Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Integrating External Datasources Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Beyond Tabular Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Upgrading and Analyzing Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Troubleshooting and Other Advanced Recipes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Developing Reports with Complex Databases Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Unit Test Class and Best Practices Used for Reports Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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adnan baloch May 19, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Businesses depending on ERP to make their decisions have a great need to generate their own customized reports. In Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, the reporting component is powered by SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). This book demystifies the generation of reports using SSRS through easy to understand code samples. However, a sound understanding of object oriented concepts is a prerequisite. The book starts off by showing how to create a simple report using a query as a data source. The formatting of the report is made quick and easy with the help of the auto design feature. Ranges are utilized to help the users filter the data according to their needs. Finally, the report is deployed so it is visible as a menu item in AX. The second chapter tackles sprucing up the report through charts and custom images based on the evaluation of user defined expressions. The next chapter delves into the Report Programming Model in AX and explains how the Model-View-Controller pattern is used in the reporting framework of AX to generate data based on specified parameters and display the report. A particularly useful recipe in this chapter deals with using the same controller for calling multiple reports simulataneously while also handling their security. When reports are dependent on the analysis and consolidation of data provided by the business logic, the Report Data Provider(RDP) comes into play. Creating a report with multiple data sources in a single table as well as displaying company images in the report is made possible thanks to RDP. Connecting SSRS reports with external data sources like XML feeds, SQL server and OLAP are discussed in the next chapter. Adding a map sub report as well as using precision design to create a flexible sub report are also explained clearly. Using charts and gauges and adding validation in reports is made possible with AX 2012. The recipe showing how to upgrade from previous reports is very reassuring to longtime users of Dynamics AX. Surrogate fields introduced in AX 2012 can prove to be quite powerful. However, their proper use is shrouded in mystery for the uninitiated. Two practical examples demonstrate how to leverage surrogate fields in query-based as well as RDP-based reports. A chapter on troubleshooting provides a good deal of solutions for common issues encountered in deployment, rendering and data in reports. Tips are also provided for dealing with barcode generation and improving the performance of language-specific reports like Sales Invoice. Readers plagued by performance problems will particularly appreciate the section showing how to troubleshoot the cause of slowdown by using the free Report Log Viewer tool. The final chapter deals with creating unit classes for contract, controller and RDP classes to aid in testing the feature logic. The book bids adieu to the readers with some great time-saving and productivity-enhancing best practices for report development.
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Brian Apr 05, 2015
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Deepak gives you the easy route to become an AX report expert. Great reference book for recall and patterns too!
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gcc Spain May 20, 2015
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This book drives you, in a very practical way, from the basics of Ax reporting to the most complex scenarios. Troubleshooting and performance tips are also really helpful. In my opinion it is a must for Ax technical community
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Filippo Gallocchio Apr 23, 2015
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Great book!Deepak has huge experience and that's make all easier
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Pradeep May 06, 2015
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Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 Reporting Cookbook is really a very useful to develop the SSRS report for a beginner level to an expert level. This book is explained in detail of developing a report with detailed screen shots and step by step explanation of development of a report. This book is very useful to me, so suggest to all technical consultants .....
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