Expression Fields -> Constants?

When you go to create an expression, the very first set of fields is
Constants with a plus sign next to it. When I click it, however, it says "no
constants available for this property". What is this? What is it supposed
to do? And how does one get it populated?
Thanks,
Catadmin
--
MCDBA, MCSA
Random Thoughts: If a person is Microsoft Certified, does that mean that
Microsoft pays the bills for the funny white jackets that tie in the back?
@.=)Was wondering the same for myself.
We have a deployment issue where the hyperlinks are constants for a site,
but on each report server, the hyperlink could be pointing to a different
location.
( Not a point to a report, but to a web app location )
So a constant that a non-progammer can change would be very useful.
Whilst one can use a parameter as a constant, you have to set this for every
report!
This is painful if you have 50 reports!
A global constant would be very useful.
The other way is to write a dll which points to a text file where you put
your constants in.
But if the Constants collection could be set and used, that would simplify
deployment and even things like setting fonts for headings, could be listed
here.
"Catadmin" wrote:
> When you go to create an expression, the very first set of fields is
> Constants with a plus sign next to it. When I click it, however, it says "no
> constants available for this property". What is this? What is it supposed
> to do? And how does one get it populated?
> Thanks,
> Catadmin
> --
> MCDBA, MCSA
> Random Thoughts: If a person is Microsoft Certified, does that mean that
> Microsoft pays the bills for the funny white jackets that tie in the back?
> @.=)|||Finally solved the constant problem.
When you are writing an expression, the constatns section will be there but
will only have values if you are writing an expression say in a background
color property.
To use contants used in all reports use the web.config file. This works
great and makes changing a constant in all reports quick and painless.
Regards,
Tom Bizannes
"Catadmin" wrote:
> When you go to create an expression, the very first set of fields is
> Constants with a plus sign next to it. When I click it, however, it says "no
> constants available for this property". What is this? What is it supposed
> to do? And how does one get it populated?
> Thanks,
> Catadmin
> --
> MCDBA, MCSA
> Random Thoughts: If a person is Microsoft Certified, does that mean that
> Microsoft pays the bills for the funny white jackets that tie in the back?
> @.=)

Expression Constants

When I edit an expression for a textbox, I notice a 'Constants' node in the
tree along with Globals, etc. How/Where do i define the constants that will
show up here? For example, i would like to define a path to a server in a
constant, be able to use it for various expressions, and only have to change
it in one place when i move my report from dev/staging/production.JeffW wrote:
> When I edit an expression for a textbox, I notice a 'Constants' node
in the
> tree along with Globals, etc. How/Where do i define the constants
that will
> show up here? For example, i would like to define a path to a server
in a
> constant, be able to use it for various expressions, and only have to
change
> it in one place when i move my report from dev/staging/production.
You can't define constants to show up in this area. This is for
pre-defined constants. To create a constant to use, you can create one
with the VB.NET syntax in the code section. To see constants in this
area, you can (for example) go to the properties of a text box and
click on the expression button (fx) of a property that uses constants,
for example most of the alignment properties have constants that you
can use here.
Dan|||Thanks Dan. That clears it up
"dan" wrote:
> JeffW wrote:
> > When I edit an expression for a textbox, I notice a 'Constants' node
> in the
> > tree along with Globals, etc. How/Where do i define the constants
> that will
> > show up here? For example, i would like to define a path to a server
> in a
> > constant, be able to use it for various expressions, and only have to
> change
> > it in one place when i move my report from dev/staging/production.
> You can't define constants to show up in this area. This is for
> pre-defined constants. To create a constant to use, you can create one
> with the VB.NET syntax in the code section. To see constants in this
> area, you can (for example) go to the properties of a text box and
> click on the expression button (fx) of a property that uses constants,
> for example most of the alignment properties have constants that you
> can use here.
> Dan
>