Breaks defined
A break is a division within a block in which data is grouped according to a selected dimension, detail, or measure into self contained sections. These sections are represented as smaller tables within the same block of data.
You use breaks to display all the data for each unique value of an object in separate parts.
Using breaks has two main advantages:
• You can more efficiently organize how your data is represented.
• You can display subtotals.
Breaks compared to sections
A section breaks up the data into multiple free-standing cells called section headers. Each section header contains one value for a dimension, with a block of data that corresponds to the dimension value.
A break divides the data up within one block. One column contains the values for a dimension, detail, or measure, which are repeated for each other row of values in the block.
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Working with reports Using sections, breaks and sorts
Default sort order in breaks
When you insert a break on an object, the values for the object are automatically sorted in ascending order as follows:
• If the values are numeric, the lowest value appears in the first row of the table, the highest in the last row.
• If the values are alphabetical characters, then the values are sorted in alphabetical order from top to bottom.
You can change this sort order at any time.
You can set multiple breaks and set a sort priority on each break, so that you control how the data is displayed when you insert multiple breaks across several dimensions details, or measures.
To insert a break
1. Click a table cell in the column or row where you want to insert a break.
2. Click Insert/Remove Break on the Reporting toolbar.
Web Intelligence divides the table up into as many mini tables as there are unique values for the selected cell. Web Intelligence inserts a footer at the end of each break.
To prioritize breaks
A table can contain multiple breaks that you can prioritize. For example, you can decide to break on [Year] then on [Quarter], or on [Quarter] then on [Year].
1. Right-click the table that contains multiple breaks and select Edit Format.
The Properties tab shows the properties relevant to a table.
2. Click the ... button next to the Breaks > Break priority property to display the "Breaks" dilaog box
3. Click Vertical breaks or Horizontal breaks to display the type of break you want to prioritize.
• If the selected table is a vertical table, then all the breaks are applied to columns. These are called Vertical breaks.
Working with reports
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Using sections, breaks and sorts• If the selected table is a horizontal table, then all the breaks are applied to rows. These are called Horizontal breaks.
• If the selected table is a crosstab, then breaks can be applied to rows or to columns. You can choose the priority for the Horizontal breaks and for the Vertical breaks.
4. Select the break whose priority you want to change and click the Up/Down buttons to promote/demote the break in the list of breaks.
To define display properties for a break
When you first insert a break on data, certain display options are applied by default. You can edit these settings and set options for the following:
• Display properties – how the results display on the break
• Page layout properties – how the breaks display on the report page Description
Property
A header is displayed for each part of the table, crosstab, or form when you insert a break.
Show break header
A footer is added after the last row for a table or column for a crosstab when you insert a break. When you apply a calculation to the data, the result is shown in the footer.
Show break footer
Removes all duplicate values from the data in a table or crosstab when you insert a break. Each value is only shown once.
Remove duplicates
Active when Remove Duplicates is selected. It merges empty cells and centers the value name over the merged cells.
Center values across break
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Working with reports Using sections, breaks and sorts
Description Property
Displays each part of the table crosstab, or form created by a break on a new page.
Start on a new page
Where possible, keeps each break section on the same page. This option is not taken into account when a block is larger than one page.
Avoid page breaks in blocks
Repeats the header at the top of the table on every new page when a table goes over onto a new page.
Repeat header
Repeats the footer at the bottom of the table on every new page when a table goes over onto a new page.
Repeat footer
Repeats the current value on each new page.
Repeat break value on a new page
1. Right-click a cell in the column/row on which you have defined a break and select Edit Format on the menu.
The Properties tab appears, displaying a property group called Breaks which contains the break properties.
2. Set the break properties in the Breaks property group.
To remove a break
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Working with reports
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Using sections, breaks and sortsExample: