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General comments/suggestions about Report Designer

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Report Designer (standalone)
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Derek
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Derek asked on 02 Dec 2014, 01:48 PM
I've been using this tool, and it works well, but there are a few areas for improvement that I see.

Templates
Templates are great, except that there is no permanent link to the template. In essence, it's the same as creating a base report, and modifying it each time. While that's helpful, it would be great if we could go to the template and change something, and have it propagated  through the reports that use that template. For example, let's say I create a template, and then build ten reports from that template. If the user then decides they want a minor change, for example a change to the report header or a style change, then we need to go to each of the individual reports and make the change. Previously we used to build one or more report structures, and then derive all other reports from that, which gave us the ability to make a change in only one place.

Styles
First, is it possible to get an import/export of styles? I know there is an option to use external style sheets, but it would be cleaner if styles can be embedded in the report and moved from report to report where necessary.

Second, styles are duplicated when using templates. Let's say I create a report, use a wizard to add a table, using one of the preset styles. The styles get added to the report. I modify the style definitions in the report, and save this as a template. I then create a report usign that template,use a wizard to add a table, and the style names are duplicated in the report. I have to manually go in and delete the styles that were added, leaving only my original style definitions. If I keep using wizards to add items to the report, the number of defined styles keeps growing.

These things seem minor but they're time-consuming and irritating when trying to manage a large number of reports.

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Nasko
Telerik team
answered on 05 Dec 2014, 10:54 AM
Hello Derek,

Currently, the Report Templates of the Standalone Report Designer do not support propagating the changes in the template to all of the already created reports from it. You can request this feature in our Ideas & Feedback portal.

Exporting and using exported stylesheets in other reports can be achieved using the steps described in the Exporting and Reusing Style Sheets help article. This is the solution which is available in Telerik Reporting at this time. Again, if you have any suggestions for improvements, please share them with the community and we will be glad to review them.

Regards,
Nasko
Telerik
 

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Report Designer (standalone)
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Derek
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Nasko
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