Using text objects
Task 2: Format the Fields
Format the fields and column headings to properly display the data.
1. Resize the fields and labels to fit the text as needed.
2. Format the currency field, Order Amount, with no decimals and no currency symbol.
3. Format the text field, Region, and its column heading label to be centered.
4. From the Report Explorer panel, format Order Date to print with no time portion.
5. Change the color of all column headings to print bold and in blue. Use Select all Section Objects.
6. Create a text object that will print “Customers & Orders Report” as the title in the Report Header.
7. Format the report title text box.
8. Save the report as Positioning+ objects.rpt.
Note: Save all activity reports to My Documents.
BOC310 Lesson: Formatting Objects
Solution 3: Position, Size, and Format Report Objects
Task 1: Rearrange and Resize Fields
Rearrange the fields in this order, from left to right: Region, City, Customer Name, Order Date, Order Amount and Order ID. You will need to resize these fields to display the data.
1. Open the report, Creating a report.rpt.
Hint: It is recommended that you make the changes from the Design tab. From this view, you are working with placeholders rather than from the Preview, which includes actual data. This can effect the speed of the report design process.
a) Navigate to My Documents to find the report.
2. In the Details section, rearrange the fields in the specified order from left to right, by using guidelines. The labels should remain in the Page Header section.
a) Click on the horizontal ruler to add a vertical guideline to indicate the placement of the field. Repeat for each field.
b) Drag the field to the vertical guideline. The red corners indicate that the field is snapped to the grid guideline. Repeat for each field.
Hint: Select both the field and its corresponding column heading label to move at the same time. Press the CTRL key to select multiple fields.
Task 2: Format the Fields
Format the fields and column headings to properly display the data.
1. Resize the fields and labels to fit the text as needed.
a) Select each field. Press the Shift + the left or right arrow keys to resize the field.
Hint: Select multiple fields to resize. Then, click Format -> Make same size -> Both. Or, only select either width or height to be the same.
2. Format the currency field, Order Amount, with no decimals and no currency symbol.
a) Right-click the Order Amount field and select Format Field.
b) From the Number tab, select a format with no decimals.
c) Clear the Display Currency Symbol checkbox. Click OK.
3. Format the text field, Region, and its column heading label to be centered.
a) Press the CTRL key and select both the Region field and its label.
b) Right-click the selected fields and click Format Objects.
c) From the Common tab, select Centered from the Horizontal Alignment dropdown menu. Click OK.
4. From the Report Explorer panel, format Order Date to print with no time portion.
a) Right-click Order Date and select Format Field.
Hint: If the Report Explorer isn't already open, click Report Explorer from the Standard toolbar.
b) In the Format Editor, from the Date and Time tab, select a date format that does not include time. Click OK.
Continued on next page
BOC310 Lesson: Formatting Objects
5. Change the color of all column headings to print bold and in blue. Use Select all Section Objects.
a) Right-click the section, in this case the Page Header section, to launch the menu.
Click Select All Section Objects. All the column headings are now selected.
b) Select Format - > Format Objects.
c) In the Format Editor, from the Font tab, select the following font options and click OK.
Font options
Style Bold
Color Blue
6. Create a text object that will print “Customers & Orders Report” as the title in the Report Header.
a) Select Insert -> Text Object. Create a text box, that is the same width as the page margins, with the cursor in the Report Header section.
b) Double-click into the text box and type Customers & Orders Report.
7. Format the report title text box.
a) With the report title selected, click Format -> Format Text.
b) In the Format Editor, select the following options to format the report title.
Format Editor
Tab Option Selection
Paragraph Horizontal Alignment Centered
Font Size 20
Font Color Navy
Border Line Style (for Left,
Right, Top, Bottom)
Single
Border Drop Shadow checkbox selected
8. Save the report as Positioning+ objects.rpt.
Note: Save all activity reports to My Documents.
a) Select File -> Save.
BOC310 Lesson: Formatting Objects
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Format fields using the Formatting toolbar and the Format Editor
• Lock an object's format
• Use text objects
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• Create a report using different methods report
• Choose a data source type
• Add tables to a report
• Describe linking
• Build a report from the Design view
• Navigate toolbars
• Add objects from Field Explorer
• Add objects from Report Explorer
• Add objects from Repository Explorer
• Determine data field type
• Preview a report
• View a report
• Explain the differences between working in the Design and Preview tabs
• Describe page controls
• Describe the status bar
• Add summary information
• Save a report
• Add reports to the Workbench
• Check a report for errors
• Position objects using a grid
• Position objects using guidelines
• Position objects using free form placement
• Lock an object's position and size
• Move objects
• Align objects
• Resize objects
• Cut, copy, and paste objects
• Format fields using the Formatting toolbar and the Format Editor
• Lock an object's format
• Use text objects
Unit Summary BOC310