Building a Document

In this section:

Document mode allows you to build multiple reports and charts on the same canvas. The styling, design, and report building functionality of Live Preview and Query Design view is available in Document mode.

In addition, there are many other features that simplify building documents. You can build and insert multiple reports in the form of reports and charts into documents. You can also insert images and text for presentation and organizational purposes.

Inserting Reports From Multiple Data Sources

How to:

With InfoAssist opened in Document mode, you can insert multiple charts and reports onto the canvas. These reports can be from different data sources. With documents, you have the option to add additional data sources to the document.

In order to insert reports from different data sources, the document must have multiple data sources loaded. For more information on adding and switching between data sources, see Data Tab.

Note: You cannot use multiple data sources when working with a Reporting Object.

Procedure: How to Insert Two Reports From Two Different Data Sources

A document can display multiple reports from multiple data sources in the same document.

  1. With InfoAssist open in Document mode, click the Insert tab and select Chart or Report.
  2. If your document has only one data source, insert additional data sources.

    For more detailed instructions on inserting multiple data sources, see Data Tab.

  3. Switch to a data source different than the one used in step 1.

    For more detailed instructions on switching to a different data source, see Data Tab.

  4. Insert a chart or report using this new data source, following the instructions given in Inserting a Report.

    Your document is now populated with reports that have data from different data sources. You can add as many data sources as you need.

Inserting a New Report

How to:

With InfoAssist opened in Document mode, you can insert multiple charts and reports onto the canvas. The procedures in the following sections detail how to insert reports into documents.

In Document mode, you can insert a report in the following ways.

  • Use the Insert tab.
  • Double-click a data source field.
  • Drag a data source field onto the canvas.

Note: When you use the Insert tab or double-click a data source field, a report placeholder is added to the canvas.

Dragging a data source field onto the canvas inserts the place holder at the location you dropped it.

The following procedures describe how to insert new reports. For more information on how to edit existing reports, see How to Style and Customize a Report.

Procedure: How to Insert a Report

  1. Do one of the following, while in Document mode:
    • On the Insert tab, in the Reports group, click Report. Add fields to the placeholder report.
    • On the Home tab, in the Format group, click Report. Double-click a data source to automatically create a report with that data.
    • On the Home tab, in the Format group, click Report. Drag a field to the canvas to create a report.

Inserting a New Chart

How to:

With InfoAssist opened in Document mode, you can bring multiple charts and reports onto the canvas. The procedures in the following sections describe how to insert charts into documents.

In Document mode, you can insert a chart in the following ways:

  • Use the Insert tab.
  • Double-click a data source field.
  • Drag a data source field onto the canvas.

Note: When you use the Insert tab or double-click a data source field, a chart placeholder is added to the canvas.

Dragging a data source field onto the canvas inserts the place holder at the location you dropped it.

The following procedures describe how to insert new charts. For more information on how to edit existing charts, see How to Style and Customize a Chart.

Procedure: How to Insert a Chart

  1. Do one of the following, while in Document mode:
    • On the Insert tab, in the Reports group, click Chart. Add fields to the placeholder chart.
    • On the Home tab, in the Format group, click Chart. Double-click a data source to automatically create a chart with that data.
    • On the Home tab, in the Format group, click Chart. Drag a field to the canvas to create a chart.
  2. Optionally, change the chart format using the options on the Format tab, in the Chart Types group.

Inserting an Existing Report

How to:

With InfoAssist opened in Document mode, you can insert existing charts and reports onto the canvas from the Insert tab. When inserted, these components are referenced but remain independent, supporting modular development with reusable content. Modifications must be made in the individual components separately. These updates will then be reflected in the document during generation.

Note:
  • When working in Document mode, you cannot insert an existing report that has a HOLD.
  • When you insert an existing report, which has already been created and is referenced via-INCLUDE syntax, and then select it on the Document canvas, the data fields do not display in the Query pane.
  • When you insert an existing report that contains a field specified for multi-graph, the field will be placed in the Coordinated field container, by default. If you override this field with another and save the document, this change is not written back to the existing included report. The settings in the original report will be restored when the document is restored.

The following procedure describes how you can insert reports into new documents and documents that are already populated with reports, text, and images.

Procedure: How to Insert an Existing Report With the Insert Tab

You can create a document in the Custom Reports section of the domain and use Standard Reports items as Existing Report components. You cannot use other Custom Report items as components.

  1. With InfoAssist open in Document mode, click the Insert tab.
  2. In the Reports group, click Existing Report.

    An Open dialog box appears.

  3. Browse to the report that you want to insert and click Open.

    The report placeholder is added to the canvas.

    Note: You cannot edit an existing report that is inserted into a document.

Creating a Document From a Single Report

You can take a single report created in Live Preview or Query Design view and convert it into a document, displaying it in Document mode.

When you convert a single report into a document, the original report is preserved and a copy of that report is opened as a document in Document mode. You can then add additional reports, charts, images, and text.

Inserting Text and Images

How to:

With InfoAssist opened in Document mode, you can bring text and images onto the canvas. The following procedures describe how you can insert text and images into new documents and documents that are already populated with reports, text, and images.

Note: You can only do this in Document mode.

The following procedures detail how to insert text and images. For more information on how to edit existing text and images, see Editing Components in a document.

Procedure: How to Insert Text

  1. With InfoAssist open in Document mode, click the Insert tab.
  2. In the Objects group, click Text Box.

    A text component is added to the canvas, containing default text.

  3. Double-click, or right-click, the text component to edit the text.

    For more information on editing and styling the text, see How to Edit Text.

Procedure: How to Insert an Image

  1. With InfoAssist open in Document mode, click the Insert tab.
  2. In the Objects group, click Image.

    An Open dialog box appears.

    Note: By default, the Open dialog box displays image files in the current WebFOCUS Content folder.

  3. Browse to the desired image and click Open.

    The selected image is added to the canvas.

Editing Components in a Document

How to:

The reports, controls, and text in a document can be edited, moved, resized, and deleted. Each of these components has a context menu which can be accessed by right-clicking the component.

Images can be moved, resized, and deleted, but they have no context menu and cannot be edited. Right-clicking an image brings up the option to delete it.

Procedure: How to Resize a Component

You can resize a component in the following ways:

  • Using the component sizing handles.
  • Changing the height and width on the Layout tab, in the Size & Arrange group.
  • Accessing the options on the Size tab in the Size and Position dialog box.

The resize feature is available for all components that can be added to a document.

  1. Open or create a document with at least one report, text component, control, or image.
  2. Resize the component in one of the following ways:
    • Sizing Handles: Select the component and drag the sizing handles that appear around it. As you manually increase the height and width of the component, the new values appear in the corresponding text boxes in the Size & Arrange group of the Layout tab.
    • Ribbon: You can use the ribbon in one of the following ways:
      • Select the component in the document. On the Layout tab, in the Size & Arrange group, enter values in the Height and Width fields.
      • On the Layout tab, in the Size & Arrange group, click the dialog box launcher to open the Size and Position dialog box, as shown in the following image.

    • Shortcut Menu: Right-click the component and select Size and Position. The Size and Position dialog box opens.

      Note: You must right-click the corner of the component. For charts, if you click on any other point in the chart, the Size and Position option will not display.

      From the Size and Position dialog box, open the Size tab, as shown in the following image.

      Size and Postion Dialog Box

      Use the Height and Width options to change the position of the selected component. You can adjust the pixel size of the object with the Size options or the scale percentage of the object with the Scale options.

      You can lock the aspect ratio using the Aspect Ratio button, which is available when working with charts, images, and text boxes while working in Document mode. With the aspect ratio locked, changing the width automatically changes the height to keep the component to scale, and changing the height automatically changes the width.

    Note: The Auto Overflow option is only available while working with reports in Document mode through the Size & Arrange group. With Auto Overflow set, you cannot manually set the height and width of a report. The area of the report expands automatically to show all data.

    When two objects are selected, the Relative Position button sets the bottom-left corner of the component that is higher on the page to the upper-left corner of the one that is lower. Once a relationship is created, arrows appear to show that relationship while both items are still selected.

Procedure: How to Move a Component

You can move a component by clicking it, or by accessing the Position section of the Size and Position dialog box. This feature is available for all components that can be added to a document.

You can also align components with each other so that their horizontal or vertical position matches. For more information, see How to Align Components.

  1. Open or create a document with at least one report, text component, control, or image.
  2. Select the component and move it by using one of the following methods:

    • Drag the component anywhere on the canvas.

      or

    • Right-click the component and click Size and Position.
      • On the Size and Position dialog box, click the Position tab.
      • Use the Horizontal and Vertical options to change the position of the selected component.

Procedure: How to Align Components

You can align components with each other so that their horizontal or vertical positions match. You must have multiple components selected to use the align options.

The alignment is anchored by the component that is in the farthest position of the selected alignment. For example, if you select two components and click Align Left, the components align horizontally with the component farthest to the left.

  1. Open or create a document with at least two components.
  2. Select a component.
  3. Select a second component by holding the Ctrl key and clicking a component.

    Note: You can select multiple components simultaneously by holding the Ctrl key and with the left mouse dragging a selection box around the components. When you release the mouse, sizing handles appear around each component that you selected. If the components display with light-grey coloring, this indicates that the components are selected.

    Sizing handles appear around the components, as shown in the following image.

    Sizing Handles Around Multiple Components
  4. Align the components using one of the following methods:

    • Right-click one of the selected components and select an alignment option from the Align drop-down menu, as shown in the following image.

      Alignment Drop Down Menu

      or

    • Access the alignment options from the Align drop-down menu. The menu is available on the Layout tab, in the Size & Arrange group.

      The selected components align, as shown in the following image.

      Components Aligned at Top
  5. Click anywhere in the canvas to deselect the components.

Procedure: How to Style and Customize a Report

When you select a component, you can perform various functions on the component, such as moving and resizing it, as explained in How to Move and Resize a Component. After clicking a component, you can use the ribbon to affect all settings of the selected component, except for fields. You can right-click a component to select individual fields to edit through the context menu.

In addition to reports, you can style and customize charts and text. For more information on charts, see How to Style and Customize a Chart. For more information on text, see How to Edit Text.

Note: Images cannot be edited.

  1. Open or create a document with at least one report.
  2. Click the report.

    The Query pane becomes active and you can now select fields within the report. Select a field by clicking it in the canvas or in the Query pane.

    For more information on styling and customizing reports, see Customizing and Styling Report.

Procedure: How to Style and Customize a Chart

When you select a component, you can perform various functions on the component, such as moving and resizing it, as explained in How to Move and Resize a Component. After clicking a component, you can use the ribbon to affect all settings of the selected component, except for fields. You can double-click or right-click a component to select individual fields to edit through the context menu or Field tab.

In addition to charts, you can style and customize reports and text. For more information on reports, see How to Style and Customize a Report. For more information on text, see How to Edit Text.

Note: Images cannot be edited.

  1. Open or create a document with at least one chart.
  2. Click the chart.

    The Query pane becomes active and you can now select fields within the chart. Select a field by clicking it in the canvas or in the Query pane.

    You can now edit the selected chart using commands available through the context menu or the ribbon.

    For more information on styling and customizing charts, see Creating and Customizing Chart.

Procedure: How to Edit Text

When you select a component, you can perform various functions on the component, such as moving and resizing it, as explained in How to Move and Resize a Component. After clicking a component, you can use the ribbon to affect all settings of the selected component, except for fields. You can right-click a component to select individual fields to edit through the context menu.

In addition to editing text, you can style and customize reports and charts. For more information on reports, see How to Style and Customize a Report. For more information on charts, see How to Style and Customize a Chart.

Note: Images cannot be edited.

  1. Open or create a document with at least one text component.
  2. Click the text box.

    Sizing handles appear around the border and the text box toolbar becomes active.

  3. Click anywhere in the text box and begin entering text.
  4. Highlight the text you would like to edit, and right-click it. A menu of options appears, as shown in the following image.
    Text Menu of Options
  5. Using the menu options, you can style the text and insert quick text.

    The text component menu options are as follows:

    • Font. Opens a list of available fonts for the selected text.
    • Size. Opens a list of available text sizes for the selected text.
    • Bold. Formats the selected text in bold.
    • Italic. Formats the selected text in italics.
    • Underline. Underlines the selected text.
    • Text color. Opens the Color dialog box where you can select a color for the selected text.
    • Cut. Cuts the selected text.
    • Copy. Copies the selected text to the clipboard.
    • Paste. Pastes the selected text from the clipboard.
    • Date. Opens a list of date quick text in various formats.
    • Time. Opens a list of time quick text in various formats.
    • page #. Opens a list of page number quick text in various formats.

Procedure: How to Delete a Component

The following procedure applies to all components in Document mode.

  1. Open or create a document with at least one component.
  2. Right-click the component and click Delete.

    The component is deleted from the canvas.

    Note: You can also delete a component by clicking it and pressing the Delete key.