Report Designer: Adding Controls

Customize a report layout using the following elements, available from the Add menu in the Report Designer. When you select a control in the right pane of the Report Designer, its properties appear in the left pane. See also Create a Report.

Add menu	Description
DB Column	Adds any database attribute retrieved by the body section SQL statement. See also Report Designer: DB Column. Note: This control is identical to the text control, but you can select a DB attribute from a list. If you know the attribute name, you can enter it as text control content as well. Make sure the attribute name is in {} braces. You can also mix parameters, such as {Column}, with static text, functions, and parameters. You can also use a form control, which is similar to the DB Column control. For control properties, see Report Designer: Text Control
Text	Adds a text control. Use this control to add static text, such as headings, annotations, and comments. See also Report Designer: Text Control
Picture	Adds a picture to the report. To embed a WMS URL, add a picture control and enter the URL as file name. See also Report Designer: Picture Control
Line	Adds a line. Modify the line parameters in the right pane by dragging the line or in the left pane by editing the properties. See also Report Designer: Line Control.
Chart	Adds a chart. See also Report Designer: Chart Control.
Function	Processes functions, which display the results of calculations in the report. Add functions only to body sections that contain records (SQL statements). See also Use Functions in Reports.
SQL	Processes SQL values. See also Use SQL Values in Reports.
Special	Inserts controls for the layout sections, such as page count (total number of pages), page number (index), page x of y, continue page (subsequent page), record count (total number of records), record index, print date, print time, and unit (for adding unit placeholders). Not First Record is used in functions to identify the first record and, for example, to apply a differing style or to suppress data. The value returns -1 (true) or 0 (false). Do not use this as a stand-alone. Instead, use it with the Suppress property. For example, in the Suppress property of a text control, enter {Report.RecordNotFirst}. Then, the control is only shown for the first record and suppressed for all following records. Sum displays the sum of values listed in the previous body section, for example, the length of all listed pipes. Use this control only in foot sections. The Sum function is inserted as a text control with the content {Report.Sum(ColumnName)}. Replace ColumnName with the name of the attribute for which you want to calculate the sum, for example, LENGTH. Average displays the average of the listed values. The Average function is inserted as a text control along with the content {Report.Avg(ColumnName)}. Replace ColumnName with the name of the attribute you want to calculate the average of. See also Report Designer: Page Controls and Report Designer: Unit Placeholder.
Plugin Function	Adds functionality using the API.
Parameter	Processes parameters.
Form Control	Adds a form control in a body section that contains an SQL query. All the DB controls of the queried table are displayed. You can select one or more controls. Note the difference between DB Column and Form Control: A DB attribute displays the value that is stored in the database. A form control displays the database value as it has been defined in the form designer. See also Report Designer: DB Column Example: A database attribute is displayed with a check box control. It can have only the values 0 and 1. In the form, the display of 1 is mapped to the string “closed” and 0 to “Open”. If you use the DB column control, the report shows only the values 1 or 0. If you use the form control, the strings are shown.
Child Group	Inserts a group with head, body and foot section. You can add a child group to the master group or to any child group (between body and foot section). You can define nested groups (child group with child groups) to print master-detail information. See also To create a master-detail report.
Zone	Inserts a zone into a section. Select the section to which you want to add a zone. For example, use zones to define conditions to suppress. See also Report Designer: Suppress a Zone.
Page	Inserts a page. In the right pane, each page is shown on a separate tab. You can add multiple pages with different layout and content to your report. For example, you can create a report head or title page. See also Report Designer: Page Controls.