Expressions
When you generate a report, each expression calculates to produce a value. This value can come directly from the database, or be the result of further calculations on the information in the database.
An expression is a formula, ▼ which can include:
- Numbers
- Text
- Variables, which are your data names and the table it belongs, such as REPORT.PAGE
- Functions, used for complex mathematical processing such as string functions
- Operators that can be words such as NOT or LIKE and symbols such as less than <, greater than >, or equal to =. They include wildcards such as %, which replace single or multiple characters and are used to search for values where there's more than one possible result
Build an expression
- Select the document you want to amend, then click Edit. For example:
- Sage 50 Payroll: Go to Payroll, then Reports
- Sage 50 Accounts: Go to Invoices and credits, then Reports
- On the menu bar click Report, then Report Properties.
- Enter a new report name and description, then select OK.
- On the menu bar, click Toolbox, then Add Expression.
- Select the area of the document where you want the new expression to appear.
- Use the formatting rules when building expressions to create your own expression. Or use one of the common expressions for Sage 50 Accounts or Sage 50 Payroll.
- Click OK.
- On the menu bar click File, then Save As.
- Enter a new file name then select Save.
- On the menu bar click File, then Exit.
Common Expressions
We've gathered the most common expressions to help you add expressions, for both:
We've also gathered using dates in expressions on Sage Accounts reports. For example, the age of a transaction or the first day of the financial year.
Snippets
The Expression Editor in Sage Report Designer - Snippets contains a feature you can use to save common expressions and calculations to use in future expressions and filters.
Functions
A Report Designer - Function is a predefined formula that performs calculations using specific values in a particular order.
To help to build expressions, you can use the following ▼ functions and operators:
| General | Show averages, If statements, totals. |
| Date | Show the number of days in the month, convert alphanumeric fields into date fields. |
| Sign | Show the Debit or Credit values. You can also show all values as positive, or as the reverse of their original sign. |
| String | Convert a numeric field to an alphanumeric string, remove all unused spaces in a variable. |
| Value | Round up or down the decimal places. |
If statements
In Report Designer - Using If statements in the Expression Editor are being used on a report to say if a certain condition is met. If a condition is met, perform one action; otherwise, perform a different action. You can use an If statement to return certain values depending on the condition specified.