FIX: One-to-many report that is based on two views causes errors (135563)

SYMPTOMS

If you use the One-to-Many Report Wizard to create a report and specify a view for both the parent and the child table, you will be unable to modify or print the report after creation.

The following error occurs when the report is modified through the menu, or through a MODIFY REPORT command:

The Child Order property of a relation object in the data
environment is no longer valid. The relation is being removed.

The following error occurs when the report is printed through a REPORT FORM command:

Index tag is not found.

CAUSE

A one-to-many report relies on a relation between the parent and child table. It is impossible to create a persistent relationship based on two views in the data environment because views are not indexed. This is by design. However, the wizard fails to check whether the tables specified in the report are actually views. When the report is modified or printed at a later date, the errors occur.

WORKAROUND

Specify a .DBF table for both the parent and the child table in the wizard. If you're using a view to limit the scope of the records included in the report, consider using a SET FILTER condition or the FOR clause of the REPORT FORM command to limit the records included in the printed report.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem has been fixed in Visual FoxPro 5.0 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Open the vfp\Samples\Mainsamp\Data\Tastrade database.
On the File menu, click New Report and then click the Wizard button.
Select "product listing" from the list of available tables as the parent table. Add all fields to the list, and click Next.
Select "order history line items" as the child table. Add all fields to the list, and click Finish.
Select the Save Report option, and exit the Report Wizard.
Attempt to modify or print the report. An error will occur.