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Create a New Report
To create a new report simply pick the File/New... menu item to bring up the following wizard.
There are seven tabs on the new report dialog. The Report Info tab allows you to specify either a Tablular report or a list report. If you want to create another style of report (e.g. Matrix or Chart) simply pick Table. After you complete the wizard you can delete the Table report item and insert a new report item (Matrix, Chart, ...).
The Name and Author fields specify meta information about your report. They don't affect the visual display of the report. The Description field provides meta information but is also used as the title of report. That is a Textbox with text from the description will be placed in the Page Header location of the report.
The Orientation specifies the expected page size of the report.
The RDL Schema specifies which version of the Report Description Language specification you'd like to create. If you're creating a report for Microsoft Reporting Services this should coorespond to the Reporting Services version you are running. If in doubt leave the default of 2005.
The Connection tab is where you'll specify which Connection type you want. If the connection type you want is not in the list or you don't know the Connection string you need cancel the dialog and go to the DataSources help page for how to add it to your system.
The Parameters tab allows you to define runtime parameters for your report. Parameters allow you to define a single report and have it behave differently at runtime depending what values the user provides. There are actually two types of parameters; report and query. This dialog will automatically create both types of parameters for you so that you can use these parameters in your SQL query and have the user prompted for them when running the report.
The syntax you place in the SQL edit control depends on the type of Connection you've picked. See the DataSources help page for additional information.
If you picked the Table report type the Grouping tab will allow you to define a single level hierarchical report. After you create the report you may add or delete addition levels of hierarchy.
At this point you've defined the report and can hit the OK button to go to Design mode to make additional changes. The Report Syntax and Report Preview tab are informational only.
The Report Syntax tab simply shows you the RDL syntax that has been created on your behalf. You may not modify the syntax on this dialog but after you complete the dialog you can directly edit the RDL syntax if you wish. This option is for advanced users that understand the RDL syntax.
The Report Preview runs your report so that you can judge whether you've chosen the proper values while filling out the wizard values. You can go back to any tab and change values until the report looks like you want it to. After you hit the OK button you'll be placed in the Designer tab allowing you to make additional changes not supported by the wizard.
