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Report Wizards - Designing Reports

The Report Column Layout dialog is the first of three potential steps when creating or modifying a report. From this dialog you will select the columns to appear in the report, their layout from left to right and which columns should be totaled or averaged.

The list on the left represents those fields (columns) which are available while the list on the right displays those fields which have been selected for the report. The text displayed in these lists will become the column heading(s) in the report. Selected fields will be printed from left to right as they appear from top to bottom. When the Column Layout has been completed press the Next button to continue.

This Overview section consist of the following topics: Select each for more information.

You may design the report's layout using the following techniques.

To add fields to the report...​

  • Highlight a field in the left list and press the Add -> button to move the field from the available field list to the selected field list.

  • Double-click any field in the available field list to move the field to the selected field list.

  • Drag-and-drop any field from the available field list to the selected field list.

To remove fields from the report...​

  • Highlight a field in the right list and press the <- Remove button to move the field from the selected field list to the available field list.

  • Double-click any field in the selected field list to move the field to the available field list.

  • Drag-and-drop any field from the selected field list to the available field list.

To change the column layout...​

  • Selected fields will be printed from left to right as they appear from top to bottom in the selected field list.

  • Click up arrow to move a column up (or to the left in the report).

  • Click down arrow to move a column down (or to the right in the report).

To enable column totals or averages...​

  • Highlight a field in the right list. The Average and Total checkboxes will normally be enabled if the highlighted column is numeric.

  • Click the Total checkbox to enable column totaling or the Average checkbox to average all values in the column.

  • To change a column from Total to Average (or vice versa) deselect the current option and both options will once again become enabled.

Sort Orders

Default Sort Order​

This option uses the default sort order specified by the developer of this application. When this option has been selected group heading and footing options will not be available.

Predefined Sort Order​

This option will provide a list of sort orders that have been pre-defined by the developer of this application. This option is the most desirable of the three because it allows group heading and footing options. Pre-defined sort orders are usually faster than custom sort orders defined with the next option.

Custom Sort Order​

This option allows you to display the report in any desired order. When enabled, this option will allow you to invoke the Report Wizard's ad-hoc sort designer. The sort designer will allow you to create up to three sort levels. Each level may be ascending or descending and the entire sort may be case sensitive or insensitive.

Group Breaks

A group break occurs each time the breaking field's value changes. This enables the report to subdivide itself into sections (with subtotals and/or to start a new page) as they pertain to a specific group.

Break Levels​

When a non-default sort order is selected you may customize up to two group break levels. The first break level represents the first field in your sort order. Likewise, the second break level represents the second field in your sort order. The following options allow the customization of each these group breaks.

Group Identifier in Heading​

When enabled, this option will create a group heading break and print the value of the group field in the group heading.

Group Identifier in Footing​

When enabled, this option will create a group footing break and print the value of the group field in the group footing.

Group Totals​

When enabled, this option will create a group footing break and print the totals (or averages) for those fields where totaling (or averaging) has been enabled by the end-user.

New Page After Group​

When enabled, this option will force a new page after the group break.

Suppress Report Detail Rows​

This option will prevent report detail rows from printing thereby printing group footings and/or headings only. This feature is quite useful for producing summary level reports. This option is not available unless a group heading or footing has previously been enabled.

Special Feature Note​

When the sort order allows two break levels and the first break level options are not enabled. If you choose to place the second break level's group identifier in the header or footer, the first break level's identifier will also be printed with the second break level.

Report Design Considerations

Field Selection​

  1. Fields will be displayed left to right in the report as they appear top to bottom in the selection list.

  2. The report will automatically adjust to landscape mode when appropriate.

  3. When the width of all fields exceeds landscape width, the report will attempt the "best fit" within landscape. Notification will occur when this condition exists.

Totals and Averages​

  1. Any numeric field may be set to total or to average.

  2. Totals will appear (for the selected columns) at the end of the report and are optionally available in the group footing options.

Sorting​

  1. Custom sorting on large databases may be very time consuming. For the fastest results, use a predefined sort option.

  2. Select sort options that allow for the appropriate grouping, totals and summary reports.

Grouping​

Grouping options can play a significant role in the overall appearance of the report.

The following grouping options manifest in a report as follows;

  1. Place totals in either group footing to create report subtotals for each group.

  2. Omit report detail to produce summary reports based on group the group footing subtotal and label.

  3. Place group labels in the 2nd level but not the first level and both (1st and 2nd level) labels will print on the summary row.