Custom sorting

I have a parameter in my report called SortType and depending on the value of the parameter I want to sort by a particular column. I have tried doing this by using a custom function as follows:

Function SortTypeValue() As String
If Report.Parameters!SortType.Value = "1" Then
Return "=Fields!StockDesc.Value"
else Return "=Fields!StockCode.Value"
End If
End Function

Then in the sorting tab I have entered in the expression field: =Code.SortTypeValue().

However this is not doing anything. The data is just displayed in the order it is taken from the database. Can this be done? If so can anybody please tell me what I am doing wrong?

Thanks in advance.
Dynamic use of parameters for grouping can be achieved using the following syntax:

=Fields(Parameters!ParamName.Value).Value

Maybe this will also work for sorting

--

Your code is going to return the same value regardless of sort type anyway.
=Fields!StockDesc.Value
You don't need it if the above method works.

--

You can set interactive sorting so the user can sort on any column they wish:

right click on the column header
interactive sort
tick tickbox
set sort expression to the value held in that particular column (i.e. if column is sales amt then =fields!salesamt.value)

done

if you need to do this for a whole raft of columns, it is quicker to do it in the (F4) properties window:
expand the 'user sort' propery and set the 'sort expression' drop down as per the column name
NB keep sort expression selected otherwise when you click on the next column you wish to add a sort to, the properties collapse|||You say my code will return the same value regardless of sort type anyway. Why? Each condition returns a different string.

If I was to use =Fields(Parameters!ParamName.Value).Value I would still need a way to determine which column the user wants to sort on so I know which ParamName to insert.|||To paraphrase the jerky boys "my eyes is going crazy"
but you still don't need the code anyway.

With regards to using my technique for sorting.....

It works.

I just created a very simple report.
I added one parameter called 'sort by'

I just set the values of this to the names of the db columns returned. Spelling exactly as per db cols!

In the table, sorting tab, i just added this

=Fields(Parameters!sortby.Value).Value

go to the preview, Pick your column name, run

simple|||

One step further. . .

Create the parameter as described by "adolf garlic" and also create a parameter named "SortDirection" and give the parameter values "Ascending" and "Descending"

In the table/sort "Expression" field(s) enter:

=Iif(Parameters!SortDirection.Value = "Ascending", Fields(Parameters!SortBy.Value).Value, "")

=Iif(Parameters!SortDirection.Value = "Descending", Fields(Parameters!SortBy.Value).Value, "")

and set the proper direction for both expressions.|||Thanks adolf garlic. Works like a treat. Exactly what I was after.
sql

Custom Charts...

Does reporting services currently allow me to write my own particular chart
that will appear inline int he report as the stock reports do?
reports and reports, but I would like to have some specific views that arent
in the chart selection.
Thanks in advance
Weston WeemsThere are several options:
* RS 2000:
You could draw your chart in a custom assembly and retrieve the value via
the Image.Value expression. Note: the custom assembly would be responsible
to retrieve all the data needed to draw the chart.
If you search the archives of this newsgroup you should find some related
postings from me and other people about how to do this.
* RS 2005:
In addition to what you can do on RS 2000, you could take advantage of the
new CustomReportItem feature and write your own custom processing control.
In this case, you could leverage the capabilities of the RS processing
engine to retrieve, group, sort, filter the data for you and the custom
processing control can read the already processed data through an object
model and then draw the chart image and return it as Image "rendering item".
More information and samples about this will be available when SQL Server
2005 is going to be released.
Robert M. Bruckner
Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
"Weston Weems" <wweems@.NOSPAMno-span-gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23lzKjnWXFHA.2128@.TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Does reporting services currently allow me to write my own particular
> chart that will appear inline int he report as the stock reports do?
> reports and reports, but I would like to have some specific views that
> arent in the chart selection.
> Thanks in advance
> Weston Weems
>

Custom authorization on a particular report

Hi,
I have created a report that displays order summaries based on a parameter
CustomerName. I have many customers and want to give them all access to this
report. I've installed the Forms Authentication sample and am able to
authenticate, so each customer has a login.
The problem is that I want each customer to be able to view only his own
order summary (i.e. the CustomerName parameter to the report must be set to
the customer's login id and he cannot change it). Is there a way to pass the
username given in Forms Authentication to the report?
Passing it in the URL is no good because users can modify the URL. The
authorization pieces in the Forms Authentication sample seem only to grant or
deny access on to a particular report, but not on parameters to the report.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
DonYou can use the global user!userid, don't pass this as a parameter.
Bruce L-C
"Don" <Don@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:37361218-AD5E-4B95-BF84-3C863FFD1738@.microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> I have created a report that displays order summaries based on a parameter
> CustomerName. I have many customers and want to give them all access to
this
> report. I've installed the Forms Authentication sample and am able to
> authenticate, so each customer has a login.
> The problem is that I want each customer to be able to view only his own
> order summary (i.e. the CustomerName parameter to the report must be set
to
> the customer's login id and he cannot change it). Is there a way to pass
the
> username given in Forms Authentication to the report?
> Passing it in the URL is no good because users can modify the URL. The
> authorization pieces in the Forms Authentication sample seem only to grant
or
> deny access on to a particular report, but not on parameters to the
report.
> Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Don