## Fields

Many of the fields used in the construction of a report can be referred to in your formulas. For example, database, parameter, running total, SQL expression, summary, and group name fields can all be used in a formula. You can also refer to other formula fields in your formula.

The easiest way to insert a field into your report is to double-click a field's name in the Report Fields tree. This ensures that the correct syntax for the field is used.

#### How fields appear in formulas

Database, parameter, formula, running total and SQL expression fields have their names surrounded by braces. Database field names are taken from the database. For example:

- database field: `{Employee.Last Name}`

Parameter, formula, running total, and SQL expression field names are specified when the fields are created.

- parameter fields also includes a question mark: `{?my parameter field}`
- formula fields include an at sign: `{@another formula }`
- running totals fields include a pound sign: `{#my running total}`
- SQL expression fields include a percent sign: `{%my SQL expression}`

Summary and group name fields look like function calls. However, they are really shorthand notation for a report field.

- sum summary field: `Sum({Orders.Order Amount}`, `{Orders.Ship Via})`
- group name field: GroupName`({Orders.Ship Via})`

Seagate Software, Inc. http://www.seagatesoftware.com Please send comments to: techpubs@seagatesoftware.com