Using Controller Class in Developing SSRS Reports in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

Overview

Controller class is used to control the report execution as well as preprocessing of the report data. The SSRS reporting framework uses this class to modify the report dialogs, calling the SQL Server reporting services, as well preprocessing parameters for the report.
Following are the scenarios where Controller class can be used:

1. Modifying a report query based on the input data
2. Modifying report contract data based on the input data
3. Control a report parameters dialog
4. Open different reports/designs from the same menu item based on the input data
5. Reports that are opened from a form

To create a controller class, extend it with SrsReportRunController.

Prerequisites

1. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012
2. Reporting services extensions must be installed in Dynamics AX

Sample Controller Class

1. Create a new class. Open AOT → Classes
2. Right Click on Classes and select New Class. Name it as SSRSDemoController.

• Open the Class declaration by right clicking on it and selecting View code.

• Now write the following code:

class SSRSDemoController extends SrsReportRunController

{

}

• Create a new method and write the following code:

public static client void main(Args args)

{

//define the new object for controller class

SSRSDemoController ssrsDemoController;

ssrsDemoController = new SSRSDemoController();

//pass the caller args to the controller

ssrsDemoController.parmArgs(args);

//set the report name and report design to run

ssrsDemoController.parmReportName(ssrsReportStr(SSRSSessionQuery,Design));

//execute the report

ssrsDemoController.startOperation();

}

Examples of Controller Class Usage

Based on different scenarios, different methods are overridden as shown in the following examples:

1. Modifying report query based on the input data

• Used in those scenarios where a report query needs to be modified based on the caller args parameters or recorded before the report parameter dialog is rendered.
• Override prePromptModifyContract method to modify the report query as shown below:

public void prePromptModifyContract()
{
    //add a range in the report query  
      SrsReportHelper::addParameterValueRangeToQuery(this.getFirstQuery(),tableNum(SSRSReportDemo),fieldNum(SSRSReportDemo, RecId),SysQuery::value(this.parmArgs().record().RecId));
}

Note: prePromptModifyContract is called by report controller before the parameter dialog is shown to the User.

• Modifying report contract data based on the input data

• Used in those scenarios where report contract parameters need to be modified based on the caller args prior to the execution of the report.
• Override preRunModifyContract method to modify the report contract as shown below:

protected void preRunModifyContract()
{    
    //define object for report contract
    SSRSDemoContract contract;

    //get the reference of the current contract object
    contract = this.parmReportContract().parmRdpContract() as SSRSDemoContract;

    //modify the parameter value of the contract
    contract.parmType(this.parmArgs().parm()); 
}

Note: preRunModifyContract is called by report controller before the report is run.

• Control report parameters dialog

• In some scenarios, a report parameter dialog should not be visible to the end user. Controller class is also used to control the visibility of the report parameter UI.
• Add the following code in the main method of the controller class before startOperation method call to hide/show the report parameter UI:

//hide the report parameter dialog
ssrsDemoController.parmShowDialog(false);

• Open different reports from the same menu item based on the input data

• It is used in those scenarios where different reports or different designs of a same report need to be opened from a same menu item depending upon the caller args.
• Write the following code in main method to achieve this scenario:

public static client void main(Args args)
{    
    //define the new object for controller class
    SSRSDemoController ssrsDemoController;
   
    ssrsDemoController = new SSRSDemoController();
    
    //pass the caller args to the controller
    ssrsDemoController.parmArgs(args);
        
    //if report is run from edit mode then run the EditDesign of the report otherwise run the NewDesign of the report
    if(args.parmEnum() == FormOpenMode::ForEdit)
    {
        //set the report name and report design to run
        ssrsDemoController.parmReportName(ssrsReportStr(SSRSSessionQuery,EditDesign));    
    }
    else
    {
        //set the report name and report design to run
        ssrsDemoController.parmReportName(ssrsReportStr(SSRSSessionQuery,NewDesign));    
    }   
    
    //execute the report
    ssrsDemoController.startOperation();   
}

• Reports that are opened from a form

• Controller class is also used when reports are opened from a form and are needed to show selected record details.
• Use either prePromptModifyContract method or preRunModifyContract method to achieve this scenario.

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