The Report Layout frame in the preceding figure allow you to specify the layout of the report sections and other report components, such as margins and alignment, trim, columns, and aggregate functions.

A Report Layout frame is divided into some or all of the following report sections, depending on the report style you choose:

Each report section is marked off by lines of dashes labeled with the name of the section.

You use the Layout operation to create or delete report sections. You use the Create and Line operations to add blank lines and other components to a report section, and the Delete operation to delete them from a report section. These operations are summarized in Report Layout Frame Menu.

The report's bottom margin is identified by the line marked End‑of‑Report. The report's right margin is identified by a vertical line that is marked End. Initially, the right margin line is located beyond the right edge of your screen, although in the preceding figure it has been moved so that you can see it.

Use the Move operation, as described later in this chapter, to move these margins and thus expand or contract the size of your report. Both report margins, as well as the report section dividers, optionally display ruler marks every fifth column or row, and a decimal digit every tenth column or row. Use these rulers as alignment guides to help you determine the coordinates for report components.

The Report Layout frame also provides optional horizontal and vertical straight edge alignment guides for aligning report components. If straight edges are turned on, the vertical and horizontal straight edges appear initially in the last column of the report specification and the last row of the Detail section, respectively. Move straight edges with the Move operation, as you would a piece of trim or other report component.

The following figure shows straight edges aligned on the Hours column and rulers turned on. For best results, use a monitor with a line graphics character set.

You cannot delete the section markers from the Report Layout frame. However, you can turn rulers and straight edges on or off independently of each other by choosing the Rulers operation on the Report Layout frame. On the pop-up menu, set each alignment guide to y (yes) or n (no). Regardless of whether the alignment guides are set on or off, the section markers, margin lines, and straight edges do not print on your report.

Trim is a report component that consists of all lines, words, and characters, other than data or aggregates that print on your report. You can place trim in any section of the report.

Headings are considered trim. A heading provides a description of the contents of a column or aggregate. A heading can only be associated with a column or aggregate. You can edit, add, delete, and move headings to any section of the report. Headings are not available in Labels reports.

Columns and aggregate functions are report components that deal with the data in your report. Columns contain the actual data obtained from the table, view, or JoinDef on which the report is based. You use an aggregate function, such as sum or count, to calculate the value of a specified column up to the occurrence of a break.

Columns and aggregate functions are represented on the Report Layout frame by fields containing:

Fields that represent data columns appear in the Detail section of the Report Layout frame. The Report Layout frame does not initially display the names of the columns associated with the fields in the Detail section. You can use the Name operation to obtain the column name for a field. (See Obtain the Name of a Column.)

At the bottom of the frame is the Report Layout menu. It allows you to perform the following operations: