For non-uniform layout of data we tend to display data-items within a table within table cells. We associate the underlying query with the page. This has never caused any problems with version 8.1. All values are rendered properly, no matter how complex the report.
In version 8.3 some table-columns refuse to show any data, though the tabular output indicates that these dataitems are succesfully calculated by the C8 engine. Has anything changed with the 8.3 version? Does anyone have similar experiences?
After days of testing we finally noticed that somewhere in the development proces a dataitem had been added to the page header. This had the effect of only rendering data on the report for the value chosen by Cognos (no problem with one distinct value, but a problem with more than 1 possible value)
Surprisingly, Cognos does not give any error when it has to choose from multiple values. It simply picks one with disasterous reffect.
The lesson learned is to never allow data-items in a page header and stick to parameter display values only.