One of the challenges of using an enterprise-wide reporting tool such as Management Reporter is that multiple users can access the application and each user can create his or her own building blocks. As we've seen, the building blocks are extremely portable and can be used in multiple Report Definitions. Through good training and careful report design, our users can be taught to utilize existing building blocks to assist in the creation of new reports before creating a brand new set of building blocks.
Inevitably, however, we encounter the building block sprawl. This is especially common in multicompany and multiuser environments. The symptoms of the building block sprawl usually make this a pretty easy disease to diagnose:
Selecting Row Definition or Column Definition in the Navigation Pane reveals a seemingly unorganized collection of building blocks that, in some cases, may extend past the bottom of the screen.
Multiple building blocks exist that...