Data regions are report items which can contain other report items to repeat for all rows of data instead of showing only the first row. Data Dynamics Reports offers five types of data regions: Table, List, BandedList, Matrix, and Chart.
Table
The table data region shows data in rows. By default, a table has three columns and three rows. Once set at design time, the columns are static, while the rows repeat for each row of data.
The default rows are the header, detail, and footer. The header and footer can be removed, and group headers and footers can be added to suit your needs. Each cell contains a TextBox report item by default, but you can replace the TextBox with any other report item, including another data region.
List
The list data region allows you to arrange your data in any way you like. You can place any report item, including another data region, in the list, and it will repeat for each row of data.
Banded List
The banded list data region offers the freeform style of the list, but with groups added in bands. (ActiveReports and Access users will probably be most familiar with this layout.) By default, the banded list contains three bands: a header, a detail band, and a footer. You can insert groups in the banded list, and choose whether to show a group header and group footer band.
You can place any data region in header, footer, group header, and group footer bands. Other report items can be placed in any band in the banded list. Report items in the detail band repeat for each row of data, and report items in the group header and footer bands repeat for each group instance. The main header and footer rows render once at the beginning and end of the banded list, respectively, and are a good place for titles and grand totals.
Matrix
The matrix data region shows data in a pivot table or cross tab fashion. In a matrix, both columns and rows can expand to accommodate the data. You can create dynamic or static columns and rows in a matrix, and you can nest other data regions within the matrix.
Chart
The chart data region shows data in a graphical format that makes the data quickly and easily understood. All of the most popular chart types are included, and you can choose to make many of them three-dimensional.
For more information on each of these types of data region, see Using Data Regions.