Previous Next

Sorting and Grouping Data : Tutorial 2: Grouping report data : Task 8: Format the report

Task 8:

Now that the report displays the correct data, you can focus on improving the report’s appearance. You perform the following tasks in this section:

n
n
n

Remove credit limit data from the detail rows

To verify that data appears in the correct credit limit groups, it is useful to display each customer’s credit limit. Now that we have verified the data, we can delete the individual credit limit information from the report.

1
2
3

Figure 8-23 Report preview without credit limit data for each row

Figure 8-23
Report preview without credit limit data for each row

Display group headings on the first row of each group

The credit limit group headings appear in their own rows, above the detail rows of each group. In this procedure, you drop the group headings so that they appear in the first detail row of each group.

1
2
Select the cell that contains the group heading, as shown in Figure 8‑24. Be sure to select the cell and not the data element in the cell.

Figure 8-24 Group heading cell selected

Figure 8-24
3
In the general properties of Property Editor, set Drop to Detail. In the report design, the group heading still appears above the detail row because technically the element is still in the group header row.
4

Figure 8-25 Report preview showing dropped group headings

Figure 8-25
Report preview showing dropped group headings

Separate each group with a line

Drawing a line to separate each group makes it easier to see the groups of data.

1
2
3
n

n
4
Add more space between the line and text above it. While the cells are still selected, choose the Padding properties in Property Editor, and set Bottom to 6.0 points, as shown in Figure 8‑26.

Figure 8-26 Property Editor showing padding values for selected cells

Figure 8-26
5

Figure 8-27 Report preview showing a line between groups

Figure 8-27
Report preview showing a line between groups

(c) Copyright Actuate Corporation 2008