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Formula Editor Dialog Box
You can use the Formula Editor dialog box to write a formula in a catalog, a custom aggregation in a business view, or a dynamic formula in the current report; or use it to edit an expression to control the value of a property. This topic describes the options in the dialog box.
Designer displays the Formula Editor dialog box when you do one of the following:
- In the Catalog Manager, right-click the Formulas node, select New Formula from the shortcut menu, type a name for the new formula and then select OK, or right-click a formula and select Edit from the shortcut menu.
- In the Data panel, right-click a formula and select Edit Formula from the shortcut menu.
- Select the <New Formula…> or <Edit Expression...> item where a formula list is provided.
- Select the Settings button in the General tab of the New View Element dialog box or Edit View Element dialog box.
The following lists all the options that Designer provides in the dialog box. Some of them are not available depending on where you open the dialog box.
Menu
- File
- New Formula
Select to create another formula. - New Summary
Select to open the New Summary dialog box to create a summary. - New Parameter
Select to open the New Parameter dialog box to create a parameter. - Import UDF Classes
Select to open the UDF Classes dialog box to import user-defined formula classes. - Save
Select to save the formula. - Save As
Select to save the formula with a different name. - Close
Select to close the dialog box.
- New Formula
- Edit
- Undo
Select to undo an action. - Redo
Select to redo an action. - Cut
Select to cut the specified text in the editing panel. - Copy
Select to copy the specified text in the editing panel. - Paste
Select to paste the text that you cut or copied in the editing panel. - Delete
Select to delete the specified ted text in the editing panel. - Search
Select to open the Find/Replace dialog box. You can then search for text in the editing panel, and replace the found text with different text.
- Undo
- View
- Fields Panel
Select to show the Fields panel. - Functions Panel
Select to show the Functions panel. - Operators Panel
Select to show the Operators panel. - Sort Tree
Select to sort the functions in the Functions panel and fields in the Fields panel by names.
- Fields Panel
- Formula
- Check
Select to test the syntax of your formula. If the syntax is incorrect, Designer gives the opportunity to correct the errors. - Add Bookmark
Select to add a bookmark to a specific position. - Go to Previous Bookmark
Select to go to the previous bookmark. - Go to Next Bookmark
Select to go to the next bookmark. - Clear all Bookmarks
Select to clear all of the bookmarks. - Comment/Uncomment
Select to add or remove comments. - Add Operators
Select to add a general operator in the editing panel. - Color Converter
Select to open the color palette to insert the HEX code of a color. - Auto Finish
Select to enable the automatic input of the other part of a sign pair right after you type in the first part when editing the formula. - Formula References
Select to show the formulas that reference the selected UDF function in the Functions panel. - Properties
Select to show the properties of the formula in the Formula Properties dialog box.- Data Type
The property shows the data type of the return value of the formula. - Precision
Specify the precision of the return value of the formula. If the precision is set to 0, all characters of the return value will be displayed; if it is set to N, only the first N characters will be displayed. - Scale
Specify the number of digits to the right of the decimal point for the return value of the formula.
- Data Type
- Check
- Help
Select to view information about the dialog box.
Toolbar
- New Formula
Select to create a crosstab formula. - New Summary
Select to create a summary. - New Parameter
Select to create a parameter. - Save
Select to save the formula. - Save As
Select to save the formula as a new formula by specifying a new name. - Properties
Select to show the properties of the crosstab formula in the Formula Properties dialog box.- Data Type
The property shows the data type of the return value of the crosstab formula. - Precision
Specify the precision of the return value of the crosstab formula. If the precision is set to 0, all characters of the return value will be displayed; if it is set to N, only the first N characters will be displayed. - Scale
Specify the number of digits to the right of the decimal point for the return value of the crosstab formula.
- Data Type
- Sort Tree
Select to sort the functions in the Functions panel and fields in the Fields panel by names. - Fields Panel
Select to show the Fields panel. - Functions Panel
Select to show the Functions panel. - Operators Panel
Select to show the Operators panel. - Help
Select to view information about the dialog box. - Use As
Designer displays the option when you use the dialog box for a dynamic formula. You can use it to specify to use the formula as one of the following view element types: Group, Detail, or Aggregation. When you are creating a dynamic formula, the default value is blank which means that Designer decides whether the formula can be used as an aggregation object; if not, Designer uses the formula as a detail object. 
Cut
Select to cut the specified text in the editing panel.
Copy
Select to copy the specified text in the editing panel.
Paste
Select to paste the text that you cut or copied in the editing panel.
Delete
Select to delete the specified text in the editing panel.
Undo
Select to undo an action.
Redo
Select to redo an action.
Search
Select to open the Find/Replace dialog box to search for text in the editing panel, and replace the found text with different text.
Check
Select to test the syntax of the crosstab formula. If the syntax is incorrect, Designer gives you the opportunity to correct the errors.
Add Bookmark
Select to add a bookmark to a specific position.
Go to Previous Bookmark
Select to go to the previous bookmark.
Go to Next Bookmark
Select to go to the next bookmark.
Clear All Bookmarks
Select to clear all of the bookmarks.
Comment/Uncomment
Select to add or remove comments.
Add Operators
Select to add a general operator in the editing panel.
Color Converter
Select to open the color palette to insert the HEX code of a color.
Fields panel
The panel displays a list of fields that are available to formulas. Those fields may contain table columns, business view elements, formulas, summaries, parameters, and special fields. Select one field and double-click it to insert it into the editing panel at the insertion point.
Functions panel
The panel displays a list of the Logi Report built-in functions and imported user defined formula functions that are available to formulas. When you select one function and double-click it, Designer inserts the selected function into the editing panel at the insertion point completely with its required syntax items (parentheses, commas, and so on).
Operators panel
The panel displays a list of the Logi Report built-in operators that are available to formulas. Select one operator and double-click it to insert it into the editing panel at the insertion point.
Formula text panel
You can edit your formula in this panel. There are several ways to work with formula:
- Select formula components from the Fields, Functions, and Operators panels, and then double-click the components, Designer then inserts them in the formula.
- Type your formula in the editing panel directly.
- Use the above two methods together.
- Paste formula text from the text document of other programs.
Designer marks the line numbers of the formula in the left of the panel to help you check it easily.