PII work file needed on SUB REPORT, not MAIN REPORT

Trying to convert a Job Cost report from pre-2018 to 2018.  The file uses a subreport to get the employee information for a LABOR posting (not done through TimeCard/TimeTracker).  The employee information is parsed from the Comment field in the JC Detail Transaction file.

When adding the report to the menu, it asks about adding the PII work file, and I say yes.  It adds it to the main report, which does me no good.  I can't add it to the subreport - says the file doesn't exist.  If you delete it from the main report, you also can't add it back in (says it doesn't exist).

Even if I try to start with a standard Job Cost report - no love.  I'm starting to feel totally screwed on this report, which is just silly.  Anyone have a way around this?