[CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Mark Shamoun — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:57:54 GMT

Any comments from the Bentley team clarifying how these expressions work?

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Mark Shamoun — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 07:52:50 GMT

Hi Jon, i posted a bad example as thats a property i use in ORD for Named elements. A better example for this would be this.GetElement().ElementDescription

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Jon Summers — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:27:26 GMT

[quote userid="334014" url="~/products/microstation/f/microstation-forum/247440/ce-ms23-reports---calculated-column-expressions-of-model-object-element-properties"]I would like to use an expression like "this.GetElement().Name" to get the Name property of an element[/quote]

A DGN element doesn't have a name. It does have a description. That is shown in our Area Report example...

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Jan Šlegr — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:01:13 GMT

[quote userid="334014" url="~/products/microstation/f/microstation-forum/247440/ce-ms23-reports---calculated-column-expressions-of-model-object-element-properties/772698"]im hoping that the Expressions are not just limited to Report Column data[/quote]

I think it's all about what symbol provider is configured to be available for "reports engine".

[quote userid="334014" url="~/products/microstation/f/microstation-forum/247440/ce-ms23-reports---calculated-column-expressions-of-model-object-element-properties/772698"]and can somehow be extended to operate on the objects being reported also.[/quote]

Expressions in reports are Technology Preview, so I guess it is good time to discuss such extension here or to create an idea.

I do not know how reports work internally, so maybe existing flexibility (reports can work with plenty of objects, not only graphical elements) makes implementation of "elements specific" expressions complicated?

[quote userid="334014" url="~/products/microstation/f/microstation-forum/247440/ce-ms23-reports---calculated-column-expressions-of-model-object-element-properties/772698"]If so, it will allow users to get the most out of their data in Reports, otherwise quite limiting in my opinion.[/quote]

From my point of view it looks like that expressions, accessing elements data, should be part of Items, attached directly to elements. And expressions, working with reports itself, should be part of report definition.

But maybe it's only because of early development stage and such feature is planned already ;-)

With regards,

Jan

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Mark Shamoun — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 10:12:56 GMT

Thanks Jan, im hoping that the Expressions are not just limited to Report Column data and can somehow be extended to operate on the objects being reported also. If so, it will allow users to get the most out of their data in Reports, otherwise quite limiting in my opinion.

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Jan Šlegr — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 09:43:39 GMT

Hi Mark,

based on your answer and hands-on testing, I think I understand the issue now :-)

What confused me was "model object element properties", which makes the question more complex than it is ("Report Calculated column cannot work with reported element").

I guess it is a feature (limitation) of this technology preview: When calculated column is used, the expression does not support "this" specification, so it is not possible to write an expression, that accesses the reported element.

It seems that "objects", available in Item Type expressions and Report expressions are similar, but not the same: In Item Type, e.g. "this" is available, whereas in Report, "Column" is available.

With regards,

Jan

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Mark Shamoun — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 08:01:22 GMT

Hi Jan,

This may explain better - eg. i have a Report for line objects and added a column for its Level property. If i then create a Calculated Column Expression and use the EC expression that normally gets me the level name, it doesnt work. No normal "this.GetElement" EC expressions look to return a value so i am thinking there must be something different with these expressions.

I am trying to use these EC Expressions here to display properties that are not "standard" as I do with Item Types. I am hoping these behave the same so i can get usable Reports for Civil data (in ORD, etc.)

RE: [CE / MS23] Reports - Calculated Column Expressions of model object element properties?

Jan Šlegr — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 04:47:23 GMT

Hi Mark,

I am not sure I understand your question right. Is it possible to share a few elements example to demonstrace, what properties you want to include into the report?

Regards,

Jan