Expressions are used to define the value of a data field or text field item, the values shown in a table column, specific properties such as the background color of an item, or for many other purposes. The most basic expression is a reference to a specific data field, but expressions can also contain mathematical functions on different data fields.
An expression always starts with an equals sign. The most basic expression is one that refers to a specific data field, for example the sequence name: =Sequence_Name.
However, you may need to create more complex expressions during template development. For example, you may filter for sample names with a certain prefix, compare numbers with a certain threshold value, or calculate one value from another using a custom formula.
The Expression Editor, which is part of RTE, helps you build dynamic expressions that include data fields and logical or mathematical functions.
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All expressions are written in Microsoft Visual Basic. Therefore, you can use any function available in Visual Basic. The only consequence may be that the Expression Editor shows a red, serrated line, if the used functions are not modelled by RTE. In addition, the preview on the report item in the properties dialog or in the Editing Pane may not be shown correctly. However, when the report template is generated, the functions are nevertheless used correctly. For more information on Microsoft Visual Basic, refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/visual-basic/. |
The notation of functions or data fields in the Expression Editor is not case-sensitive. |