Setting Report Properties

The properties of a report can be specified in the Element Properties window. The following properties can be specified:

You can select the size of the page from a list of pre-defined sizes in the “Sizes” combo box. When you select a pre-defined size its width and height will be displayed in the “Width” and “Height” properties (you cannot edit width and height of the pre-defined size). You can also select a “Custom” size in which case you will be able to specify the width and height of the page.

Choose either portrait or landscape orientation.

Specify margins between the edges of the page and the design from the top, bottom, left and right in points.

Specify the number of vertical columns in the report or presentation as well as the width of each column and spacing between columns in points.

Specify whether a report layout will be vertical or horizontal. In the vertical layout data elements iterated in the iterative bands (all bands except Summary and Title) are laid out vertically – each item is placed below the previous one (see the Defining Presentation section for an example of such a layout). In the horizontal layout elements in the iterative bands are laid out horizontally – each item is placed next to the previous one unless there is no more horizontal space on the page.

To set the properties of a report band (see Report/Presentation Bands), click on any band area that does not contain elements of the design. The properties of the selected band will be displayed in the Selection Properties window. The following properties of the band can be specified:

Specify the name of the band. This name is shown as a watermark in the Design Area. You can only define the names of the group bands that you add to the design yourself (see Viewing Bands). You cannot change the names of the pre-defined bands.

Specify the height of the band. Note that you can also drag the band’s divider in the design area to change the height of the bands on both sides of the divider being dragged.

This option is only applicable to the Title, Summary and group bands. If this box is checked the elements of the band will be printed on a new page in the resulting document.

This option is only applicable to group bands. If checked indicates that when a new group is started a new column should be started as well.

This option is only applicable to group bands. If checked indicates that the group header should be printed not only at the start of the group but also on each new page.

This option is only applicable to group bands. If checked indicates that page number should be reset when a new group is started.

This option is only applicable to group bands. It indicates minimum amount of vertical space needed at the bottom of the column in order to place the group header on the current column.

Specify the height of the group header (only applicable to group bands).

Specify the height of the group footer (only applicable to group bands).

This option is only applicable to group bands. It indicates the expression that will be calculated by the report engine to check whether a new group should be started. The new group will be started if the value of the expression changes. For example, if the group condition is specified as Product.Category the new group will be started whenever the category of the product changes (this works especially well if products are sorted by category). Specify any valid report expression as group condition – see also Reports]]). You can press F3 at any time while typing the expression to bring up the Context Assistant.