Q: Expressions and snippets

Yes, the expression must follow these rules:

• Text must be in double quotation marks. For example, "name".
• The word 'null' represents a blank date. For example, SALES.LEDGER.DATE.ACCOUNT_OPENED=NULL.
• Dates must be entered between # characters. For example, #01/12/2001#.
• Spaces between functions, variables and numbers/text are ignored.
• Text functions can be entered in either upper of lower case.

Tip: For ease of reading, you can indent parts of an expression or start parts on a new line.

There are two types:

• _ for single characters.

• % for multiple characters.

  To use % as a wildcard, enter it as part of a word between double quotation marks. If you use % outside of quotation marks, it will be interpreted as a function.

The editor can help you because:

• It shows the variables and functions you can use in an expression so you don't have to remember them.
• It checks that the expression is valid.
• It shows tooltips for function parameters.
• It provides 'syntax colouring' to make it easier to read the expression.
• It has a predictive text feature.

Right-click the expression and choose Copy. Right-click the report area where you want to paste the expression, and choose Paste.

Select the expression, then press Delete.

Double-click the expression to open the Expression Editor.

The expression is not correct and should be amended. The error will be highlighted in red in the Expression Editor.

Recursive expressions occur when two expressions reference each other and the calculation cannot be completed.

For example, expression A is expression B divided by two; but expression B is expression A multiplied by two.

Open the Expression Editor (double-click the expression on your report). From the Functions pane on the right, scroll down to the Snippets folder. Double-click the snippet you require to insert it in the expression.

Choose Tools > Expression Snippets Manager. Select the snippet and click Modify. Click Build to edit the snippet using the Expression Editor.

Double-click the expression. The Expression Editor appears. Click Save As Snippet. The Expression Snippets window appears. Enter details for the snippet then click OK.

Choose Tools > Expression Snippets Manager. Select the snippet and click Remove.