#### How to create a column binding

This procedure shows an example of creating a column binding for a data element.

1. Drag a data element from the palette and drop it in the table. Select Data Binding displays all the column bindings defined previously for elements in the table.
2. Create a new column binding:

1. Select the first empty row and, in Name, specify a unique name for the column binding.
2. In Data Type, select a data type appropriate for the data returned by the expression you specify next. If you are not sure what the data type is, use the default type, Any.
3. In Expression, specify the expression that indicates the data to return, using one of the following methods:

- Type the expression directly in the Expression field.
- If you need help constructing the expression, click in the empty field, then choose the ellipsis button to launch Expression Builder. Figure 4-2 shows an expression in Expression Builder that combines the values of two data-set fields selected from the Customers data set. Choose OK when you finish constructing the expression.

Figure 4-2 Expression Builder showing a column-binding expression

4. In Aggregate On, use the default value, N/A. The Aggregate On option applies only to aggregate expressions that perform calculations over a specified set of data rows.

Figure 4-3 shows an example of a completed column binding.

Figure 4-3 Example of a user-defined column binding
3. Select the column binding you created by clicking the check box next to the column-binding name, then choose OK. The data element uses the selected column binding. When you preview the report, the data element displays the data defined in the column binding.