Columns

Every report consists of a number of columns that contain data for the selected element types(s). The Column area of the New Report Template form enables the columns to be specified together with their layout, sorting, display units, sub-totalling and totalling. The area contains a list where the columns, and information about them, will be displayed when specified and four buttons, for creating, modifying, moving and deleting columns. Their use is detailed in the following sections.

4.1.3.1 Creating New Columns

Clicking the New… button on the New Report Template form displays the Creating Column form.

A valid attribute, pseudo attribute or expression for the selected element type(s) may be entered in the Expression textbox.

The expression may contain mathematical and string manipulation operators.

The Sorting options list contains different sorting methods for alphanumeric and numerical column content.

The report may be sorted on more than one column. If sorting is specified for a column it is given a Precedence number which determines the order in which the columns will be sorted, i.e. 1 being the first column to be sorted, 2 the second column to be sorted, etc.

The sorting precedence will appear in the Precedence options list. If the report is sorted on more than one column the precedence may be modified by selecting a different precedence number from the options list.

The Units options list contains different unit options, both metric and imperial, for length, area and volume.

The Any/mm units may be used for any other measurement unit, e.g. weight, the values for which will be in kilograms.

Alphanumeric columns do not require units to be set.

Clicking the Column Layout… button displays the Layout for Column <n> form, where <n> is the sequential number of the column in the Columns list.

The form has four main areas where different aspects of the column layout may be specified.

Layout area

The Spaces before column textbox enables the number of spaces before the column contents are displayed to be specified. The default is 2.

The Column Width textbox enables a number of characters for the column width to be specified. If the column entry is longer than the column width it will be truncated at the specified number of characters.

Leaving the Column Width textbox blank (the default) sets the column width to the longest column entry in the report is used as the column width.

The Justify options list enables the column entry to be Left, Right or Centre justified.

By default, alphanumeric columns are left justified and numeric columns are right justified.

Numeric Display area

The Numeric Display area enables the formatting of numeric columns to be specified. The values may be output as Decimal or Fractions by selecting the appropriate radio button.

If Decimal is selected the Decimal Places textbox enables the number of decimal places to be specified.

The default is 2.

If Fraction is selected the Denominator textbox enables the denominator for the fraction may be specified.

The default is 64.

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• US – this option formats feet and inch output as 12'- 5 11/16".

• PDMS – this option formats feet and inch output as 12'05.11/16.

The default setting is US.

The Leading Zeroes options list enables leading zeroes for the output to be On (the default) or Off.

Text Display area

The Text Display area enables unset text and column headings to be specified.

A text string may be entered in the Unset Text textbox. This string will be displayed whenever a column value is unset. The textbox is blank by default.

The Headings options list enables column headings to be set On, Off or by Page. The Page option is used in conjunction with PageInfo options, see section ???.

The Heading Text radio buttons enable the type of heading text to be specified. The following options may be selected:

• Expression Text – this option uses the expression text entered in the Expression textbox on the Creating Column form.

• Default – this option uses the PDMS attribute name, where possible. This may be the same as the expression text.

• Custom – this option enables multiple lines of text to be entered in the activated Custom text textbox.

Values, Totals and Subtotals

At the bottom of the form three options lists may be used to specify how the values of the columns will be displayed.

The Values options list has the following options:

• On – this option displays the column expression for each element included in the scope of the report.

• Off – this option displays no values for the column.

• Sub – this option displays a value only when a subtotal is created.

• 1st – this option is only available if the column is sorted and enables only the first instance of the column expression value to be displayed until the value changes.

The default value is On.

The Totals options list has two options, On and Off (the default). If set to On numeric columns will be totalled at the bottom of the report. Totalling has no affect on alphanumeric columns.

The Subtotals options list has a variable amount of entries depending on how many columns are sorted.

The default value is Off, i.e. no subtotals will be displayed. Subtotalling has no affect on alphanumeric columns.

See section 4.2.1 for details of totals and subtotals.

Clicking the OK button on the Layout for Column <n> form saves the column layout settings. Clicking OK on the Creating Column form saves the column details and displays it in the list on the Create New Template form.

4.1.3.2 Modifying Columns

Selecting a column in the list and clicking the Modify… button on the New Report Template form displays the Modifying Column <n> form, where <n> is the column number.

The form is identical in functionality to the Creating Column form described earlier and all aspects of the column definition may be modified.

The Previous Column and Next Column buttons may be used to navigate between the columns 4.1.3.3 Moving Columns

Selecting a column in the list and clicking the Move… button on the New Report Template form displays the Move Column form.

The current column number is displayed and the To options list displays the column numbers. Selecting a column number from the options list re-orders the columns with the current column in the selected location.

4.1.3.4 Deleting Columns

Selecting a column in the list and clicking the Delete button displays a confirmation message.

Clicking the Yes button deletes the column and clicking the No button retains the column.

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