oracle - Problem in understanding BI Publisher report rtf template

Question

I am new to BI Publisher reporting. I am seeing a rtf template file for a report that is run in Oracle APEX. I downloaded this template file from "Report Layouts" section of "Shared Components" from an APEX Application.

The problem is I don't understand the meaning of an element in the .rtf file. The element is:

<?variable@incontext:g1pos;position()?><?variable@incontext:g1;current-group()?>

This expression has a display text property = 'V'. So in the template I only see 'V' on its place but when I check the BI Properties for this element, I see the expression that I gave above.

when the report is executed, I don't see anything corresponding to this element. And when I google for variables in .rtf report templates, I see a syntax <xsl:variable name=,... to define a variable

Hence I don't understand the meaning of above expression, and what its purpose is... Can someone please help??

Answer 1

It is tricky to explain, I have only used in in templates. The variables are reset in a loop or template.

<?variable@incontext:g1pos;position()?>

Get the value of position() and sets it to g1pos. I am assuming there is a for-each or template command just before this line. It is just a way of setting variables.

To see the value of the variable, try printing it with the $ command before the for-each loop closes.

<?for-each-group:G_EMPBANK;./DEP?>
<?variable@incontext:DEPT_ID;M_DEPT_ID?>
<?$DEPT_ID?>
<?end for-each-group?>