Section Layouts and Attributes
Exercise 12: Format Groups and Other Formatting Issues
Exercise Objectives
After completing this exercise, you will be able to:
• Use format groups to format columns in your reports
• Use overscores and underscores to highlight a particular level of a row
• Use local summation levels to hide details
Business Example
You need to modify the layout of an existing report to highlight various levels of rows. You use overscores and underscores and local summarization levels to do this.
Task 1:
1. Modify your report Z5##-001 to test the use of format groups.
Figure 67:
2. Explode the rows
Expand the whole line. (Drill-down) 3. Assign Format Groups
Continued on next page
Set the format group for the variance column to the format group 1. Leave the remain format groups set to 0.
4. Update Format Group 1 Information
Reduce the width of the Variance column to 8 and show zero decimal places.
5. Update Format Group 0 Information
Increase the size of the Actual and Plan columns to 18 and show two decimal places.
6. Emphasize Subtotal Rows with Lines
Modify the report so the subtotal rows (** level) are marked by underscores and overscores.
Task 2:
1. How does the report know which format group you are currently modifying?
2. Check and Save the Report
3. Execute the Report from the Report Definition Interface
Task 3:
1. Suppose you prefer not to see the details of the report but just the grand totals and the next level subtotals as shown below. Make the appropriate change to Z5##-001.
Figure 68:
2. Check and Save the Report
3. Execute the Report from the Report Definition Interface
Solution 12: Format Groups and Other Formatting Issues
Task 1:
1. Modify your report Z5##-001 to test the use of format groups.
Figure 69:
a) Choose Information System → Ad Hoc Reports → Report Painter → Report → Change or transaction GRR2.
Select report: Z5##-001 by double clicking on it.
2. Explode the rows
Expand the whole line. (Drill-down)
a) Position the cursor on the first row. Select Edit → Rows → Explode . Choose Expand and Confirm.
3. Assign Format Groups
Set the format group for the variance column to the format group 1. Leave the remain format groups set to 0.
a) In the format group cell above the Variance column enter the value 1.
4. Update Format Group 1 Information
Continued on next page
Reduce the width of the Variance column to 8 and show zero decimal places.
a) While your cursor is positioned on the Variance column, choose Formatting → Columns .
Enter 8 for the column width.
Choose the 0 decimal places format.
Select Continue.
5. Update Format Group 0 Information
Increase the size of the Actual and Plan columns to 18 and show two decimal places.
a) Position your cursor in the Actual or Plan column and choose Formatting → Columns .
Enter 18 for the column width.
Choose the 0.00 decimal places format.
Select Continue.
6. Emphasize Subtotal Rows with Lines
Modify the report so the subtotal rows (** level) are marked by underscores and overscores.
a) Place your cursor on a subtotal row and choose Formatting → Row . Select both the underscore and overscore boxes.
Select Continue.
Task 2:
1. How does the report know which format group you are currently modifying?
a) Based on the current position of your cursor in a column. If your cursor is positioned in a column that is the format group 2, you modify the format group 2 when you make changes to column width.
2. Check and Save the Report
a) Check the report for any error or missing characteristics by choosing Report → Check or use Check or F6.
Save the Report via Report → Save or use Save or CTRL + S.
3. Execute the Report from the Report Definition Interface a) Click Execute or Choose Report → Execute.
Use the following table for the Selection values.
Fiscal year Current year
Period 1 to 12
Cost Center Group H1010 Execute the report with .
Hint: If there is no Actual Data for the current year rerun the report for 2006.
Task 3:
1. Suppose you prefer not to see the details of the report but just the grand totals and the next level subtotals as shown below. Make the appropriate change to Z5##-001.
Figure 70:
a) Choose Information System → Ad Hoc Reports → Report Painter → Report → Change or transaction GRR2.
Select report: Z5##-001 by double clicking on it.
Place your cursor on a subtotal row, then proceed to the menu Formatting → Collapse to.
Select 2-Asterisk Level and Confirm.
Now, the report shows only the 2 and 3-asterisk levels.
Continued on next page
2. Check and Save the Report
a) Check the report for any error or missing characteristics by choosing Report → Check or use Check or F6.
Save the Report via Report → Save or use Save or CTRL + S.
3. Execute the Report from the Report Definition Interface a) Choose Report → Execute or select .
Use the following table for the Selection values:
Fiscal year Current Year
Period 1 to 12
Cost Center Group H1010
Click Execute.
The report only shows the 2and 3 asterisk levels. To drill down to the more detailed levels select .
Lesson Summary
You should now be able to:
• Use the formatting options in sections
• Use the standard layouts
• Use format groups to format columns
• Use the section layout
Unit Summary
You should now be able to:
• Use the formatting options in sections
• Use the standard layouts
• Use format groups to format columns
• Use the section layout
Test Your Knowledge
1. It is possible to expand or compress the summarization levels using the formatting options in the section of a report definition.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
2. The format group numbers are entered below the columns in a section.
Determine whether this statement is true or false.
□ True
□ False
3. You can modify a report layout permanently if the
flag is set in the layout.
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
4. The section layout contains control information on ,
, and .
Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
Answers
1. It is possible to expand or compress the summarization levels using the formatting options in the section of a report definition.
Answer: True
It is possible to expand or compress the summarization levels using the formatting options in the section of a report definition.
2. The format group numbers are entered below the columns in a section.
Answer: False
The format group numbers are entered above the columns in a section.
3. You can modify a report layout permanently if the Change allowed during execution flag is set in the layout.
Answer: Change allowed during execution
4. The section layout contains control information on row totals, row texts, and column texts.
Answer: row totals, row texts, column texts