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This section describes the report-specific expression syntax.

 

Expression Syntax

An expression is a text string that specifies what data to take and how to process it to obtain a value. For instance, the following expression returns an integer value of 5:

 

3 + 2

 

An expression string can consist of multiple lines that include constants, operators, function calls, fields or parameters, report items, and comments:

 

 

Constants

•String constants
Wrap string constants in apostrophes. If a string contains an apostrophe, double the apostrophe.
[Country] == 'France'
[Name] == 'O''Neil'
 

•Date-time constants
Wrap date-time constants in '#'.
[OrderDate] >= #2018-03-22 13:18:51.94944#
 

•True
The Boolean True value.
[InStock] == True
 

•False
The Boolean False value.
[InStock] == False
 

•Enumeration
Specify an enumeration value by its underlying integer value.
[Status] == 1
 

•Guid
Wrap a Guid constant in curly braces. Use Guid constants in a relational operation with equality or inequality operators only.
[OrderID] == {513724e5-17b7-4ec6-abc4-0eae12c72c1f}
 

•Numeric
Specify numeric constant types in a string form by suffixes:

oInt32 (int) - 1

oInt16 (short) - 1s

oByte (byte) - 1b

oDouble (double) - 1.0

oSingle (float) - 1.0f

oDecimal (decimal) - 1.0m
 

 

•?
A null reference that does not refer to any object.
We recommend that you use the IsNull unary operator (for example, "[Region] is null") or the IsNull logical function (for example, "IsNull([Region])") instead of ?.
[Region] != ?

 

Operators

•+
Adds the value of one numeric expression to another or concatenates two strings.
[UnitPrice] + 4
[FirstName] + ' ' + [LastName]
 

•-
Finds the difference between two operands.
[Price1] - [Price2]
 

•*
Multiplies the value of two operands.
[Quantity] * [UnitPrice]
 

•/
Divides the first operand by the second.
[Quantity] / 2
 

•%
Divides one numeric operand by the other and returns the remainder (modulus).
[Quantity] % 3
 

•|
Performs a bitwise inclusive OR operation on two numeric expressions. Compares each bit of its first operand to the corresponding bit of its second operand. If either bit is 1, the corresponding resulting bit is set to 1. Otherwise, the corresponding resulting bit is set to 0.
[Number] | [Number]
 

•&
The bitwise AND operator. Compares each bit of its first operand to the corresponding bit of its second operand. If the two bits are 1, the corresponding resulting bit is set to 1. Otherwise, the corresponding resulting bit is set to 0.
[Number] & 10
 

•^
Performs a bitwise exclusive OR operation on two numeric expressions.
[Number] ^ [Number]
 

•==
Returns True if both operands are equal; otherwise, it returns False.
[Quantity] == 10
 

•!=
Returns True if the operands are not equal; otherwise, it returns False.
[Country] != 'France'
 

•<
Less than operator. Used to compare expressions.
[UnitPrice] &lt; 20
 

•<=
Less than or equal to operator. Used to compare expressions.
[UnitPrice] &lt;= 20
 

•>=
Greater than or equal to operator. Used to compare expressions.
[UnitPrice] &gt;= 30
 

•>
Greater than operator. Used to compare expressions.
[UnitPrice] &gt; 30
 

•In (,,,)
Tests for the existence of a property in an object.
[Country] In ('USA', 'UK', 'Italy')
 

•Between (,)
Specifies a range to test. Returns True if a value is greater than or equal to the first operand and less than or equal to the second operand.
[Quantity] Between (10, 20)
 

•And (&&)
Performs a logical conjunction on two Boolean expressions.
[InStock] And ([ExtendedPrice]> 100)
[InStock] &amp;&amp; ([ExtendedPrice]> 100)
 

•Or (||)
Performs a logical disjunction on two Boolean expressions.
[Country]=='USA' Or [Country]=='UK'
[Country]=='USA' \|| [Country]=='UK'
 

•~
Performs a bitwise negation on a numeric expression.
~[Roles] = 251
 

•Not (!)
Performs a logical negation on a Boolean expression.
Not [InStock]
![InStock]
 

oReturns a numeric expression's value (a unary operator). +[Value] = 10

oReturns the negative of a numeric expression's value (a unary operator). -[Value] = 20

•Is Null
Returns True if an expression is a null reference (one that does not refer to any object).
[Region] is null

 

Operator Precedence

When an expression contains multiple operators, these operators are evaluated in the following sequence:

 

•Literal values

•Parameters

•Identifiers

•OR (left-associative)

•AND (left-associative)

•The '.' relationship qualifier (left-associative)

•==, !=

•<, >, <=, >=

•-, + (left-associative)

•*, /, % (left-associative)

•NOT

•Unary -

•In

•Iif

•Trim(), Len(), Substring(), IsNull()

•'[]' (for set-restriction)

•'()'

 

Group elements with parentheses to change operator precedence. For instance, operators are applied in the default order in the following expression:

 

Accounts[Amount == 2 + 48 * 2]

 

In the next expression, the addition operation is applied first, because its associated elements are grouped with parentheses, and the multiplication operation is applied last.

 

Accounts[Amount == (2 + 48) * 2]

 

Functions

The expression language includes a set of functions that extend an expression's capabilities:

 

•Logical functions

•Date and time functions

•Math functions

•String functions

•Functions for expression bindings and calculated fields

•Functions for stored procedures

•Functions for the Summary Expression Editor

 

You can also implement custom functions.

 

See the following topic for a complete list of functions that are available in expressions: Functions in Expressions.

 

Case Sensitivity

Operators are case-insensitive. Case sensitivity of values can depend on the data source. For instance, SQL Server Express 2005 is configured as case-insensitive. In this case, the following filter expression always evaluates to True:

 

Lower(Name) == Upper(Name)

 

Escape Keywords

You can mark a keyword-like field name with the @ escape character. In the expression below, the CriteriaOperator.Parse method interprets @Or as a field named Or, not the logical operator OR.

 

@Or = 'value'

 

Escape Characters

Use a backslash (\) as an escape character for characters in an expression, as shown below:

 

\[

 

\\

 

\'

 

Use an apostrophe (') as an escape character for string literals:

 

'A parameter''s value is:' + ?parameter1

 

Data Fields and Calculated Fields

Enclose a data field or calculated field's name in square brackets ([ and ]):

 

 

Ensure that the field with the specified name exists in the report's data source and data member.

 

You can refer to data fields from a data member that is not specified as the report's data member (only the first record is returned):

 

 

Report Parameters

Use the following syntax to insert report parameters in an expression:

 

•Type a question mark before a parameter's name.
?parameter1
 

Enumerations

Do one of the following to assign an enumeration value to a property:

 

•Specify an enumeration value by its underlying integer value.
[Borders] = 1
 

•The Expression Editor can help you specify a string value for built-in enumerations:
 

 

Comments

The expression language supports comments. For example:

 

 

Comments start with the /* sequence and end at the matching */ sequence.