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>>Even when it works, the "calculate it within the report" approach was somehow always disappointing to me. Very soon it would get into something that just can't be done that way, or would get too complicated, or (the worst) was actually needed somewhere outside of the report, so it had to be repeated in a different form. Which eventually taught me that having intelligent report is a fine but futile art. Preparing the data to report is, IMO, best done in a piece of code - SQL plus some grinding - and the display of the results is where a reporting engine should be in charge. Then if that code needs to be reused elsewhere (a bizobject? another report? grid with totals?), it can be.
>
>I was (maybe still am) trying to create what you call "intelligent" report. And maybe it is futile. I will reply to Cathy Pountney's message with more explanation of what I am trying to do (since she asked).

My general assertions don't necessarily mean they are applicable everywhere (or anywhere but in my code). You know your stuff better than I do (surprised? :).