PMFJI, but, no, what you say is not correct. If you want to select fields from tables in the expression builder while you design the report then you have to have the tables (views) available. Either thru the data environment or by having opened them yourself.

You could set up the DE to look like the environment the report will be using while you make and test it. Then delete the DE when you're done. FWIW, it's been easier in my universe to use private data sessions and send messages from my report manager to the report about ranges, etc. I like my form to have the same environment when the report is done that it had when it started...JOWO (just one woman's opinion) :-)

...snip

>...instead, all forms must now have their own DE record to reference any fields in open tables, regardless of the public data session -- Right?