How to display different images and styles without using variables

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Context
When developing complicated reports, we could use many variables to control conditional styles as well as to display different images based on different conditions. Is there a clean way to handle these situations without using variables?  This document is intended to provide a method to display images and styles without using variables.  See sample screen below

The design view is attached here


Please download report specification for detail review.

Display different images

Use variables

1. Define a query and  a variable

2. Assign variable to the image
3. Select image URL based on variable values

Not using variables

1. Define the same query with image URL data item

2. Directly assign URL source to dataitem

Comment:  The approach of not using variables is preferred, as it is much more clear process and report is much better organized, especially for complicated report.

Alternate shading

Use variables

1. Define a query item
2. Define a variable

3. Assign style variable to list column body

4. Select variable values and make silver background

Not using variables

1. Define the same query

2. Highlight column body and define a conditional style

Comment:  The approach of not using variables is preferred, as it is much more clear process and report is much better organized, especially for complicated report.