User defined report sections - a more complex report

The objective for our next report is to see all the titles for each author. Start by creating a new query called 'examplequery' using the following SQL statement

select name, title from authors, literature where author_id=author

Create the new report based on this datasource. Create one field in the datasection and connect it to the column 'title'. It now looks like our previous report. Create a new userdefined section by clicking on the 'Sections' button in the left toolbar. A new dialog opens.

Figure 7.3. the reportsection dialog

the reportsection dialog

Add 'name' into the field below 'Section to add' and press the button with the right arrow. You will see that a new pair of sections have now embraced the datasection. Press the 'Exit' button to close the dialog. Add a field to the newly created 'name' sectionheader and set 'name' as the column. Now have a look at the result. Looks neat, doesn't it?

Add a new field to the 'name' sectionfooter and set 'name' as the column. Replace the valuefield entry with 'There are %COUNT% titles for the author "%VALUE%" in this database'.

Figure 7.4. A complex report

A complex report

Some additional sectionfooter field properties have been set: the border lines and wordbreak set to "yes".