Is it possible to dot-walk using a reference variable in a report?

[billi_lumley]

Is it possible to dot-walk using a reference variable in a report?   I've tried using reports that point to a database view (sc_task and sc_option_item_mtom tables), a variable log report and sc_request_item however cannot see how to dot-walk using a reference variable that points to the location table so that I can pull additional location information.   What am I missing?

[Jane Stone]

This is a fantastic explanation of how to use Variables in a report, but my problem is that I want to dot-walk through the variable. My example is that I have a catalog item associated with offboarded users. The offboarded user (which would be a reference to sys_user table) is stored in a variable. I want to be able to dot-walk through the offboarded user variable value to the sys_user record and get location and end-date for the offboarded user... but there is no option to dot-walk through. Perhaps I am missing something?

[Uncle Rob]

Well punch me straight in my eye ball.
It appears you're right... it doesn't seem to want to dotwalk once it gets to the variables.

 This makes my inner Dawson sad.  😞

[Uncle Rob]

Ugh... you also can't dotwalk through a reference when adding columns to a list report either.

[Jane Stone]

Exactly!  That's the frustration, because you would expect that since it is a referenced field value, you should be able to, but as a variable it doesn't let you.

[Severin Reber]

Hi Jane

I have found a solution for this that worked for me.

All you need is the SN Utils plugin for your web browser and the Sys ID's of the variables.

1. go to the sys_report table
2. open the record of the corresponding report
3. double click on Select fields for list -> Thanks to SN Utils you should now be able to add the required variables "manually". In my case, for example, this looks like this (see Att.):

yellow: Are the variables
variables.4db4882c1b1dbc10ac8e21f5604bcbef
variables.181016f11b8dfc50ac8e21f5604bcb87

turquoise: Are the variables incl. dot-walk
variables.4db4882c1b1dbc10ac8e21f5604bcbef.u_number
variables.181016f11b8dfc50ac8e21f5604bcb87.company.u_number

The report should then display not only the variable but also the dotwalk field of the variable.

Important: The variable itself must always be displayed. Means: Only variables.4db4882c1b1dbc10ac8e21f5604bcbef.u_number cannot be displayed in the report. The variable itself variables.4db4882c1b1dbc10ac8e21f5604bcbef must also be displayed. Then it will work.