Example of creating variable width hyperblocks

Formula lists are dynamic which makes them useful in situations in which the report designer does not know what the content of the report will be. For example, you can create a relational list which returns multiple columns from a relational data source. If you insert that list in a hyperblock in a report, only the first column of data is displayed. To display the remaining columns, you must create additional output cells in the hyperblock, or expand the hyperblock and insert a separate RDB formula for each column of data. If you do not know which relational list will be used in the report, for example in a database independent report, then you cannot know how many additional output cells to create, or how many RDB formulas.

To use a formula list to display multiple columns of a relational list:

  1. Create a relational list.
  2. In cells B7 to C7, create a vertical hyperblock from the relational list. Name the hyperblock HBV.
  3. In the Accessories pane of the Application Explorer, right-click Formula Lists and select New Formula List.
  4. Click the plus icon, in the Input pane of the formula list designer.
    The Edit Formula dialog is displayed.
  5. In the right pane of the Edit Formula dialog, specify =name of relational list.columns
  6. In the Type column of the formula list designer, select XML.
  7. Select name in the Caption field.
  8. Drag the formula list onto cell C6 to form an overlapping, horizontal hyperblock. Name the hyperblock HBH.
    The vertical and horizontal hyperblocks intersect at cell C7.
  9. In cell C7, create this RDB formula: =RDB(HYPERBLOCK("HBH"),B7,C6)
    In Design mode, #VALUE is displayed. In View mode, the report displays data from each column of the relational list.