Reusable Project Includes and Subreports
Previous versions already allowed users to reuse common elements in different report templates, by the help of report elements. The Report Server 28 now offers more convenient options: The new version supports the addition of project includes and subreports in report templates. Developers who are alredy familiar with List & Label have known this option for some time.
In order to use elements in the designer as project modules or sub-reports, you’d first have to switch to the properties of the corresponding report template. Then add report templates of the same type as a project include or subreport, using familiar selection functions. In addition, all data sources, report elements and uploaded images are added to the linked report template when printing and also in the designer. This function satisfies one of the most frequent customer requests.
Deactivate Scheduled Reports
As a response to another frequently requested wish it’s now possible to deactivate selected scheduled reports.
New Options for Export Formats
A variety of new settings are available now for numerous export formats and export templates.
Word Export
The Word export is equipped with new input fields for additional document properties.
Excel Export
Protect your spreadsheets with a password, if desired.
Excel Formulas in Spreadsheets
Also new is the option to automatically generate Excel formulas. If this option is turned on, text beginning with ‘=’ is interpreted as formula and transferred to the Excel file.
PDF Export
There are two new options for the encrypted PDF export to control the editing process: now you can choose whether commenting and filling out form and signature fields is allowed, or not.
More New Features
New Variables
The Report Server Designer provides some new variables:
Report.Name Report.ID Report.LastChangeDate
SSL/TLS Support
The FTP upload action connects to FTP servers secured with SSL/TLS. In addition, there’s a new option “Check SSL certificates (recommended)” which controls whether the certificate used by the server should be checked by the operating system (certificate from a trusted root certification authority – certlm.msc), or whether even untrusted certificates are accepted by the system.
Microsoft SharePoint
The SharePoint action for scheduled reports is back! It has been deactivated previously in List & Label 26, as a result of switching to .Net Core. This means that SharePoint Online can now be used again as a storage target for generated reports.
More Report Server Designer Features
- Automatic page break in the Designer preview at the end of the document
- The object list window now supports multiple selection of report container elements
- New barcode type: EPC (European Payments Council) QR code
- New Designer function: UTF8Encode$()
- Significantly faster filling of child report parameters
- The object list window provides filters to quickly find specific objects
- All of those windows allow a simple filter reset via button click in the filter input field
- Adding page breaks anywhere using a new designer function PageBreak$()
We Extended the Supported Database Systems for Installation
- Microsoft SQL Server 2022
- PostgreSQL 15
We hope there’s something for everybody in this bouquet of new features. Also, I’d like to emphasize again how much we appreciate your input, your feedback and your wishes. Keep it coming!
For over 20 years Alexander Horak is engaged in software development and has already worked at combit during his computer science studies. Nowadays, he is Head of Development of the combit Report Server, an ASP.NET MVC based Enterprise Reporting solution. In his spare time he loves soccer and is an active supporter of FC Bayern Munich.
