When you insert a panel stack into a document or dashboard, its formatting is determined by the control default for panel stacks. Each control type (text field, selector, panel stack, and so on) has a control default, which contains a full set of formatting settings to specify the default format. For more
information on control defaults, including how to apply them and how to change them, see the Document Creation Guide.
You can change the formatting of each new panel stack as desired. You can use different interfaces to define the formatting. Which interface you use depends on your personal preference and what options you want to change.
For more information on the different formatting interfaces, see Deciding which interface to use to format panels and panel stacks, page 95.
For panel stacks, you can apply different formats to different parts of the control (see Defining the parts of a panel stack, page 66 for detailed
92 Formatting panels and panel stacks © 2012 MicroStrategy, Inc.
descriptions of the various parts). The following table summarizes the formatting options available for each part of a panel stack.
Example: Formatting a panel stack
The following images contain a selector as well as a panel stack, and are displayed in MicroStrategy Web. The panel stack (the holder for the panels) contains two panels, named Panel1 and Panel2, and a title bar. The selector, which is displayed as a button bar, allows you to switch between panels. The formatting of the selector is not discussed in this section; for information on formatting selectors, see Formatting selectors, page 170.
The panel stack container has a raised 3D effect, visible around the border of the panel stack, including the title bar. The title bar, which displays the text
“Panel2” in the sample below, is formatted grey with italicized text.
In the image above, the panel named Panel2 is displayed, and its background is white. In the image below, Panel1 is displayed. Its background uses
gradient colors, blending from black to grey.
Panel Stack Part Formatting Options Container
The object that holds the actual control
• Borders, including 3D borders, drop shadows, and rounded corners (Flash only), as well as standard border options such as color and style
Title bar
(Optional) Displays a title to identify the panel
• Font
• Background color options, including gradients
Individual panels
The different “pages” or layers of information in a panel stack
• Background color options, including gradients
© 2012 MicroStrategy, Inc. Formatting panels and panel stacks 93 Notice that the formatting of the border and the title bar do not change when different panels are displayed. Borders are applied to the panel stack and the title bar formatting is the same for all panels.
The following procedure re-creates this example, using a variety of
interfaces. Complete instructions for formatting panel stacks using various interfaces are provided in the Desktop Help. See also Deciding which
interface to use to format panels and panel stacks, page 95 for information on formatting tasks and the interfaces to use.
To format a panel stack
1 Open the dashboard using the Document Editor in Design View.
Add the panel stack and selector
2 Add a panel stack. Insert a second panel (Panel2) into the panel stack.
This panel becomes the current panel (the panel currently displayed in Design View). For detailed instructions, see Inserting a panel stack, page 70 and Inserting additional panels in a panel stack, page 75.
3 Create a selector linked to the panel stack (set the target to the panel stack). Use a button bar for the selector style. For detailed instructions, see Chapter 4, Providing Interactivity to Users: Selectors.
4 Select the panel stack to begin formatting it.
To apply a 3D effect to the panel stack container
You can use either the Property List or the Format Objects dialog box to format the panel stack container. The following steps use the Property List.
5 To make the panel stack appear three-dimensional, set 3D Effect in the Property List: Appearance section to Raised. Raised outsets the panel stack like a button, as opposed to Sunken, which insets the panel stack like a pushed button.
6 Set 3D Weight to 3, to increase the thickness of the 3D line. This setting is measured in points.
94 Formatting panels and panel stacks © 2012 MicroStrategy, Inc.
To apply a color to Panel2
You can use the toolbar, the Property List, or the Format Objects dialog box to format the current panel, which is Panel2. The following steps use the toolbar.
7 Click the arrow next to the Fill icon in the toolbar and select White.
To change the current panel
Background formatting applies to the current panel only. By changing the current panel, you can format the background of each panel in the panel stack.
8 Right-click the panel stack, point to Panels, and then select Display previous. Panel1 is displayed and is now the current panel.
To apply a gradient color to Panel1
Gradient colors gradually change the background of the current panel from one color to another. The following steps use the Property List to apply the gradient color to the current panel.
9 In the Property List: Appearance section, set Backcolor to light grey.
10 Set Backstyle to Gradient.
11 Set Gradient color to black.
12 Set Gradient variant to Right to left, which sets the direction of the shading between the backcolor and the gradient color. The backcolor (grey) is shaded into the gradient color (black) from right to left.
To format the title bar
Use the Format Objects dialog box to format the title bar.
13 Right-click the panel stack and select Format. The Format Objects dialog box opens.
14 In the object list on the left, click Title.
15 On the Background tab, select Grey-50% as the Fill color.
16 On the Font tab, select Arial as the Font Name.
17 Set Italic to Yes.
© 2012 MicroStrategy, Inc. Formatting panels and panel stacks 95 18 Set Color to Blue.
19 Click OK to return to the dashboard.