Report Designer
You can modify the way a report is presented and laid out.
- Highlight the report you want to change from the list in the Report Type window and click Modify.
- Follow the Modify Report wizard through, making any changes as required, until you get to the summary page.
- On the summary page, choose Save & Design. The Report Designer appears.
The main area of the window displays the current design of the report so that you can see the position of bands and report elements. The design area of the window also displays a grid to assist you in placing elements on the report.
By default, a ruler is displayed along the top edge of the design area. You can turn the ruler off or change the units used in the Report Options window.
The name of the report you are currently modifying is displayed in the title bar of the window.
The Grid
There are two types of grid in the Report Designer. The first, mentioned above, is simply a visual aid to the positioning of report elements which appears in the design area of the window.
The second grid is not visible but elements are automatically aligned to it. This makes lining up elements easier. You can set the distance between the lines on this grid using the Report Options window. For example, if you set the X grid size to 10 pixels, you can only place report elements at 0, 10, 20 etc pixels across the screen. This makes it easier for you to line up a column of different elements at 20 pixels.
Selecting Objects
Before you can select any elements, you must activate Select
mode by selecting the 
button on the Report
Designer tool bar.
There are a number of ways that you can select objects in the report for editing.
- select a band
Click inside a band with the select mouse button but outside the frame of any report elements. The size of a report element's frame is indicated by a mark in each corner if the frame itself is not visible.
- select a single element
Click the select mouse button inside the report element's frame. The size of a report element's frame is indicated by a mark in each corner if the frame itself is not visible.
- select multiple elements using the Shift key
Hold down the Shift key and click the select mouse button on each element that you wish to select.
You can only select multiple elements within the same band.
- select multiple elements by dragging a box
Hold down the Ctrl key. Hold down the select mouse button and move the pointer across the screen. You will see a box drawn between the point at which you first pressed the select mouse button and the current position of the mouse pointer. When the box contains all the elements you wish to select, release the mouse button and the Ctrl key.
You can only select multiple elements within the same band.
An element that is selected is surrounded by eight small black squares, as shown in the diagram:
Figure 8 - A selected and unselected element
In this example, the Billing Code element is selected.
Click the menu mouse button on any selected element to open the Report Designer Pop-Up Menu. This menu allows you to edit the element's properties and move elements in front of and behind others.
Moving and Resizing Elements
Once you have selected an element, you can move or resize it.
- moving an element using the mouse
Hold down the select mouse button on the element and drag the element to its new position. If you have selected multiple elements, they will all move, relative to their original position.
You cannot move a report band, since these are positioned according to the type of band e.g. page headers appear at the top of the page.
- moving an element with the keyboard
Select the element(s) you wish to move and press the arrow keys on the keyboard. The element will move a small distance the direction of the arrow. You can change the amount the element moves with each key press in the Report Options window.
- moving an element without using the grid
If you wish to move an element without it being aligned to the grid, hold down the Shift key whilst using the select mouse button to drag the element to its new position. This allows you to position the element anywhere on the report.
- resizing an element with the mouse
Select the element you wish to resize. Hold down the select mouse button on one of the six dots that appear around the element. The mouse cursor becomes an arrow that indicates in which direction you can resize the element. A box appears around the element. This box changes size as you move the mouse pointer. When the box is the size you wish the element to be, release the mouse button. The element will be resized accordingly.
The text itself is not resized, only the frame around the element.
Bands can only be resized vertically. They must always have a horizontal width equal to the width of the entire report.
- resizing an element without using the grid
To resize an element without aligning it to the grid, hold down the Shift key whilst dragging out the elements new size with the mouse.
Deleting Elements
Elements can be deleted from the report by selecting them, then either
- press the Delete key
or
- select the Delete option from the Edit menu