Link Multiple Datasets to Same Data Region

In This Topic

Many a time, we need to display varied data from different datasets into one data region. This is now possible by using the Lookup function in a data region.

The Lookup function returns a value corresponding to a related or a common field with the same data type in another data set. It is set as an expression in the Value property of a data region's Textbox. The Lookup function in ActiveReports is similar to the Microsoft Excel's VLOOKUP.
Using multiple datasets in a data region at design time

Create a Report

In the ActiveReports Designer, create a new Page Report.

Bind Report to Data

As you create a new report, the Report Data Source dialog appears for you to configure the report data connection. You can also access this dialog by right-clicking the Data Sources node in the Report Explorer and then selecting the Add Data Source option.
In the dialog, select the General page and enter a name for the data source.
Select 'SQLite Provider'. The report connects to the SalesResult.db file can be downloaded from GitHub: ..\Samples18\Data\SalesResult.db. See Custom Data Provider for more information.

Add Dataset1
In the Report Explorer, right-click the data source node and select the Add Data Set option or select Data Set from the Add button.

In the Add Dataset that appears, select the General page and let the name of the dataset be Dataset1. This name appears as a child node to the data source icon in the Report Explorer.
On the Query page of this dialog, in the Query field enter the following SQL query.
SQL Query
Copy Code
SELECT M01Product.Category, M01Product.ProductID
FROM M01Product
Click the Validate DataSet icon at the top right hand corner above the Query box to validate the query.

Click OK to close the dialog. Your data set and queried fields appear as nodes in the Report Explorer.
The Dataset1 contains following fields:

Category

ProductID
Add Dataset2

SQL Query	Copy Code
SELECT M01Product.Category, M01Product.ProductID FROM M01Product

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to add another dataset with name Dataset2.

On the Query page of this dialog, in the Query field enter the following SQL query.

SQL Query	Copy Code
SELECT * FROM T01Result

Click the Validate DataSet icon at the top right hand corner above the Query box to validate the query.
Click OK to close the dialog. Your data set and queried fields appear as nodes in the Report Explorer.

The Dataset2 contains following fields:

ID
ProductID
Quantity
PDate
FY

Design Report

From the toolbox, drag a Table data region onto the design surface of the report.

Go to the Properties panel to set the properties of Table data region as follows:

Property Name	Property Value
FixedSize	4in, 4in
Location	0in, 0in
DataSetName	Dataset1

Hover your mouse over the text boxes of the row to access the and set the following fields in the table cells along with their properties.

Cell	Field
TextBox4	Category
TextBox5	ProductID

This automatically places an expression in the details row and simultaneously places a static label in the header row of the same column.

Select TextBox6 of the Table data region and from the Properties pane, set the following properties:

Property Name	Property Value
Value	=Lookup(Fields!ProductID.Value, Fields!ProductID.Value, Fields!Quantity.Value, "DataSet2")
TextAlign	Left

The expression in the Value property returns the value of Quantity from Dataset2, corresponding to the related data field ProductID in Dataset1.

Select TextBox3 of the Table data region and from the Properties pane, set the following properties:

Property Name	Property Value
Value	Quantity
TextAlign	Left

Select the header row using the row handle to the left and in the Properties Panel, set the FontWeight property to Bold.

Preview Report

The final report is shown at the beginning of this page.