How to Use Icons

Icons can be shown both separately in a text area or be included as a column in a graphical table. The behavior of the icon is quite similar in both places, but some differences exist. Therefore, this list of step instructions has been split into three different sections: Graphical table specific information, Text area specific information, and General information applicable to both instances

Graphical table specific information

When icons are included in a graphical table, the settings for the icon column normally control a number of separate icons, potentially one for each value in the graphical table row axis.

To add an icons column to a graphical table:

Right-click on the graphical table to display the pop-up menu.
Select Add > Icon.

Response: A new icon column is added to the graphical table. A first attempt to set up a suitable icon is made by the application, but you probably want to adjust the settings.

Comment: You can also add a new icon column by using drag-and-drop. See Drag-and-Drop to learn more. Or, you can add a new icon from the Axes page of the Graphical Table Properties dialog.

Right-click on the new column and select Icon Settings from the pop-up menu.

Comment: Note that each icon column added to a graphical table has its own settings.

On the Icons page, select a column, hierarchy, or expression in the Calculate icons using field.
Define one or more rules (see below) to control what icons to show and when.
On the General page, you may want to change the Name of the new column to something that describes what the icon shows.

Comment: You can hide the name from the graphical table by clearing the Show name in header check box. (The entire header row of the graphical table can also be hidden by clearing the Header row check box on the Appearance page of the Graphical Table Properties.)

If desired, make other changes to the default settings, such as changing the filtering scheme on the Data page, adding an action, etc.
When you are done, click Close.

To remove an icon column from a graphical table:

Right-click on the column header of the icon column you want to remove.
Select Remove from the pop-up menu.

To change the column header for an icon column:

Open the Icon Settings dialog and go to the General page.
Type a new Name for the column.
Make sure that the Show name in header check box is selected.
Click Close.

To hide the column name from a graphical table:

Open the Icon Settings dialog and go to the General page.
Clear the Show name in header check box.

Comment: The entire header row of the graphical table can be hidden from the Appearance page of the Graphical Table Properties.

Click Close.

To lock the icon column so it does not react to filtering:

Open the Icon Settings dialog and go to the Data page.
Make sure that the Specify separate data limiting radio button is selected.
Clear all check boxes under Limit data using filterings.

Comment: You can also select one filtering scheme and keep from modifying any of the filters in it.

Click Close.

Text area specific information

When an icon is used in a text area it behaves slightly different from when it is included in a graphical table. For example, you will not get instant feedback to your changes since the icon does not show up until you leave the edit mode. However, the placement of the edit box tells you where in the text area the icon will show up. Below are some useful tips for working with icons in the text area.

To add an icon to a text area:

Create a text area where you want the icon to reside.
Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar to make sure that the text area is in edit mode.

Comment: You can also right-click and select Edit Text Area from the pop-up menu.

Type some descriptive text in the text area regarding what the icon will show.
Click on the Insert Dynamic Item button,, and select the Icon option.

Response: The Icon Settings dialog is displayed.

On the Icons page, select a column, hierarchy, or expression in the Calculate icons using field.
Define one or more rules (see below) to control what icons to show and when.

Comment: If desired, make other changes to the default settings, such as changing the filtering scheme on the Data page, adding an action, etc.

Click OK.

Response: The icon is added to the text area. Exit edit mode to view the final result.

To change the size of the icon in a text area:

Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar to make sure that the text area is in edit mode.

Response: The outline of the icon is shown as a gray box.

Click on the gray edit box to select it and drag either of the corners to resize the box.

Comment: The size slider within the Icons page of the Icon Settings dialog can only resize the icon within the current edit box. If the slider is set to Max, then the edit box limit will be the limit of the icon. If the slider is set to Min, then the icon will be small, even if the edit box is made larger. Hence, it is recommended that the slider in the Settings dialog is used only for fine tuning the size of really small icons.

Click on the Toggle Edit Mode button, , in the text area title bar again.

Response: The Edit mode is closed and you see the final result.

Comment: You can always reset the size of the icon to the original size if you change your mind. Just open the Format Control dialog by right-clicking on the gray box, click on the Reset button and then OK, and the size will be reset.

To lock the icon so it does not react to filtering:

Open the Icon Settings dialog and go to the Data page.
Clear all check boxes under Limit data using filterings.

Comment: You can also select one filtering scheme and keep from modifying any of the filters in it.

Click OK.

General information

To add actions performed when clicking on the icon:

Open the Icon Settings dialog and go to the Actions page.
Select the Perform action on click check box.
Click on Settings....

Response: The Action Settings dialog is displayed.

Type a good Description explaining what will happen when clicking on the icon.

Comment: The description can be shown in the tooltip for the icon.

Add the desired actions and click OK.

To add a rule defining the color and shape:

Icons need at least one defined rule for anything to be visible. It is the rules that determine what to display and when.

Open the Icon Settings dialog and go to the Icons page.
Click Add Rule....

Response: The Add Rule dialog is displayed.

Define the Rule type to apply.
Set the Value for the rule.
Specify the Color and Shape to use when the rule is applied.
Click OK.

Comment: You can add more than one rule. If you add many rules, the rules are prioritized from top to bottom. You can click and drag a rule in the Rules list to change the order.