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| <p class="head">BIRT Tutorial</p> |
| <p class="subhead">Setting Data Properties</p> |
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| <h1>About Data Properties</h1> |
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| <p>In addition to the visual properties we just saw, BIRT provides a set of |
| data-related properties for each report item. We'll use these to control the |
| sort order of the customers within our report.</p> |
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| <p>Data sets in BIRT are reusable: you can use the same data set multiple times. |
| For example, suppose you want to show year-to-date (YTD) sales three ways: by |
| month, by sales rep, and as a chart. With BIRT, you define the data set once, |
| but present it three times. Each use of the data set can provide data properties |
| that customize the data set to that particular use.</p> |
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| <p>Data properties include:</p> |
| <ul> |
| <li>Data set binding: lets you specify the data set to use with any given |
| report item.</li> |
| <li>Parameter binding: you can pass data into the data set. For example, you |
| can create a "master/detail" subreport by using data set parameters to pass |
| data from the current row in the master report to the detail for the |
| subreport. For example, you can obtain a list of customers from one database, |
| then have the subreport display orders from a different database.</li> |
| <li>Filters: provide filter conditions unique to a given presentation. For |
| example, a list of transactions might list all transactions, but then use |
| filters to display sales in one chart, returns in another.</li> |
| <li>Groups: provide ability to create subtotals in addition to visual affects |
| we've seen so far.</li> |
| <li>Sorting: controls the order of the detail rows within a table. This is the |
| property we'll use.</li> |
| </ul> |
| <h1> |
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| Setting the Detail Sort</h1> |
| <p> |
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| We're ready to specify the sort order for customers within our report.<ul> |
| <li>Select the table.</li> |
| <li>Choose the Sorting tab within the Property Editor. (Note: Sorting is a tab |
| on the bottom, not a page on the left as we've used thus far.)</li> |
| <li>Click the Add button to add a new line.</li> |
| <li>Use the pull-down under Sort Key to choose "CUSTOMERNAME".</li> |
| <li>Leave the Sort Direction at Ascending.</li> |
| </ul> |
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