Report Designer Tool Bars

The report designer toolbars vary slightly depending on whether you are modifying a Standard or an Archived report.

The buttons available on the tool bar have the following functions (buttons specific to report types are detailed):

- Opens the Select Report Type window, which allows you to open a different report. This button is only available for archived reports.

- Saves the current report design. If the report is read only, it must be renamed before a modified design can be saved. This ensures that you cannot overwrite the pre-designed reports. You will be asked to confirm that you wish to save the report under a different name. Select the No button to return to the Report Designer window without saving the report. Select the Yes button to proceed to the Save Report As window. Enter a name for the report in the box and select the OK button. Select the Cancel button to close the Save Report As window without saving the report.

- Prints the report according to the settings that you have made in the Print window. This window can be opened by selecting Printer setup from the File menu.

- Allows you to preview the report. The Report Settings window opens.

- Cuts the currently selected element(s) or band(s) from the report and stores them on the Clipboard.

- Copies the currently selected element(s) or band(s) from the report and stores them on the Clipboard.

- Pastes any elements or bands that you have cut or copied on to the Clipboard back on to the report.

- Activates Select mode. You can now use the mouse pointer to select, move and resize elements in the Report Designer window.

- Allows you to place a Label report element on the report.

How do I place a label on a report?

- Allows you to place a Data Field report element on the report. This button is only available for archived reports.

How do I place a new type of data on a report?

- Allows you to place a Report Information Label report element on the report. This button is only available for archived reports.

How do I place an information field on a report?

- Allows you to place an Image report element on the report.

How do I place an image on a report?

- Allows you to place a Shape report element on the report.

How do I place a shape on a report?

Usually, once you have placed an element on the report, the pointer reverts to Select mode. You will see that the button is highlighted and if you click the select mouse button on the report again, no further fields will be placed. If you wish to place a number of fields of the same type on the report, hold down the Shift key whilst selecting the element's tool-bar button. After you have placed the first element, the element's tool bar button remains highlighted. If you click the select mouse button on the report again, another element of the same type will be placed.

The items on this tool-bar have the following functions:

- Select a font from the drop-down list. The text of any selected element(s) will change to appear in the font that you select. All instances of a data field element in the final report will appear in the same font as the data field element in the Report Designer window. A label will appear in the same font as the corresponding label element in the Report Designer window. Similarly, a report information field will also appear in the same font as its corresponding report element.

- Select a font size from the drop-down list. The new size is applied in the final report in the same way as a font. (See above).

- Changes the text in any selected element(s) to bold. This change is applied to report elements in the final report in the same way as a font. (See above).

- Changes the text in any selected element(s) to italics. This change is applied to report elements in the final report in the same way as a font. (See above).

- Underlines the text in any selected element(s). This change is applied to report elements in the final report in the same way as a font. (See above).

- Aligns the text in the element with the left side of its frame, if the element is in the Column header or Details band.

- Aligns the text in the element in the centre of its frame, if the element is in the Column header or Details band.

- Aligns the text in the element with the right side of its frame.

- Allows you to change the appearance of a frame around the selected element(s)

- Aligns the top edges of the frames of the selected elements. This option is only available if you have selected multiple report elements.

- Aligns the bottom edges of the frames of the selected elements. This option is only available if you have selected multiple report elements.

- Centres the selected element(s) vertically within the band.

- Centres the selected element(s) horizontally within the band.

- Moves the currently selected element behind all other elements. This can be useful placing an image element behind text elements such as labels or data fields.

- Moves the currently selected element in front of all other elements.