> #### 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 report.

> 2 | In New Data Binding, create a new column binding:

> 1 | In Column Binding Name, specify a unique name for the column binding.

> 2 | In Display Name, optionally specify a different name to display in the report design. If you leave this property blank, the report design displays the Column Binding Name value.

> 3 | In Data Type, select a data type appropriate for the data returned by the expression you specify next.

> 4 | 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, choose the expression builder button to launch the expression builder. Figure 3-2 shows an expression in the expression builder that combines the values of two data set fields selected from the Customers data set.

> Figure 3-2 The expression builder showing a column-binding expression
> Choose OK when you finish constructing the expression. Figure 3-3 shows an example of a column-binding definition.

> Figure 3-3 New column-binding definition

> 5 | Choose OK to save the column binding.

> In the layout editor, the report design displays [Contact_Name] in the location where you inserted the data element, indicating that the data element uses the column binding you defined.

> 3 | Preview the report. The data element displays the data defined in the column binding expression.

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