How You Can Group Fields
After you have created fields, you can group them in the report document work area using the following commands:
• TableField
• StackField
• MatrixField
You access these commands from the Layout menu. Select the Group command, then select the desired command from the slide-off menu.
Group Table Fields
A table field presents data in rows and columns.
To group fields into a table field
1. Select any field you want to include in the group.
Sizing handles appear around the selected field.
To select several fields, hold down the Shift key while drawing a rectangle around them with the mouse.
When you release the primary mouse button, all selected fields are highlighted.
2. Click Layout, Group, TableField.
The TableField Properties dialog appears.
The TableField Properties dialog lets you edit the current table field. The field or fields you want to edit must be selected.
3. Set the properties as desired.
4. Click OK.
You are returned to the detail page of the report, which now displays a table field.
Table Field Properties
You can set the following properties for table fields:
Has Column Title
Specifies whether the column gets a title. Set to ON to add to the top of each column a trim corresponding to the title of the column. This trim behaves the same way as trim created from the palette, for example, you can change the value by clicking the Select Mode icon in the field palette.
Has Fixed Height
Lets you define the table field size. If the number of lines to be printed is fewer than the visible rows number, blank lines are printed to fill in the table field.
Number of Visible Rows
Lets you select the number of rows you want in a generated a table field. The table field continues to the following page if the database selection returns more than the desired number of lines for the table field. The table field may have fewer than the number of visible rows if the selection returns fewer rows (no blank lines).
Group Stack Fields
A stack field appears as a set of fields that remain aligned if you rearrange or reorder them. The stack can include any combination of fields. A stack field aligns fields either horizontally or vertically, and keeps them together in a group.
To group fields into a stack field
1. Select the fields you want grouped.
Sizing handles appear around the selected field.
To select several fields, hold down the Shift key while drawing a rectangle around them. When you release the primary mouse button, all selected fields are highlighted.
A solid outline appears around the grouped fields.
2. Click Layout, Group StackField.
The specified fields are grouped together into a stack field as indicated by the solid outline.
3. Set the properties as desired.
Set Stack Field Properties
You can set Stack Field properties in the StackField Properties dialog.
To set stack field properties
1. Right-click the stack field.
The StackField Properties dialog appears.
3. Click OK, or click Open API Code to view or edit the Open API code.
If you click OK, you are returned to the detail page of the report, which displays the stacked field.
More information:
Stack Field Properties
You can set the following properties for stack fields:
Orientation
Specifies whether the field is to be displayed vertically or horizontally
Default Child Gravity
Selects the position of each simple field relative to its cell in a stack field. Depending on the Orientation setting, there are either three vertical options or three horizontal options.
Child Margin
Sets the distance (in 1000ths of an inch) between the individual stack field components and the Left, Right, Top, or Bottom boundary of the stack field
Rotation
Defines the desired rotation in degrees. This setting overrides any child field setting. Changes to rotation appear only after the report is run.
Group Matrix Fields
A matrix field appears as a rectangle that contains fields arranged in rows and columns. The component fields stay aligned even if you rearrange or reorder them. The matrix field can include any combination of fields. A matrix field presents data in a rectangular array.
To group fields into a matrix field
1. Select the fields you want grouped.
Sizing handles appear around the selected field.
To select several fields, hold down the Shift key while drawing a rectangle around them. When you release the primary mouse button, all selected fields are highlighted.
2. Click Layout, Group, MatrixField.
The specified fields are grouped together into a matrix field as indicated by the solid outline.
3. Set the properties as desired.
Set Matrix Field Properties
After creating a matrix field, you can edit its properties in the MatrixField Properties dialog.
To set matrix field properties
1. Right-click the matrix field.
The MatrixField Properties dialog appears.
3. Click OK, or click Open API Code to view or edit the Open API code.
When you click OK, you are returned to the detail page of the report, which displays the matrix field.
More information:
Matrix Field Properties
You can set the following properties for matrix fields:
Default Child Gravity
Selects the position of each simple field relative to its cell in a matrix field
Child Margin
Sets the distance (in 1000ths of an inch) between the individual matrix field components and the Left, Right, Top, or Bottom boundary of the matrix field
Collapse Policy
Specifies what happens when an entire row or column in the matrix is empty. Valid options are:
NONE
Specifies that empty rows and columns are allowed and maintained. If you set the Rows and Columns properties, the settings are enforced.
BOTH
Specifies that empty rows and columns are removed automatically, as soon as the last field is removed from the row or column. Setting either the Rows or Columns property has no effect.
EMPTY ROWS
Specifies that empty rows are removed automatically, as soon as the last field in the row is removed. Setting the Rows property has no effect. However, empty columns are maintained, and the Columns property is enforced.
EMPTY COLUMNS
Specifies that empty columns are removed automatically, as soon as the last field in the column is removed. Setting the Columns property has no effect. However, empty rows are maintained, and you can set the Rows property.
Default: BOTH
Rotation
Defines the desired rotation in degrees. This setting overrides any child field setting. Changes to rotation appear only after the report is run.
Note: If any grouped fields overlap other fields, use the Cut and Paste toolbar buttons to move fields around so they do not block other fields.