4.2.1 Setting up the Layout Grid
To create the grid layout for a tabular report, follow the steps below:

1. Click the 'Layout View' button in the toolbar. This toggles the report into Layout mode. (The report by default has just a single cell.)
2. Right-click in an existing cell of the tabular layout, and select the desired operation from the context menu.

To select multiple cells, drag the mouse across the desired cells.
The available operations include inserting new rows or columns into the grid, deleting rows or columns from the grid, splitting a cell into multiple rows or columns, and merging cells into a single cell.
3. (Optional) To quickly create a new grid cell at a particular location, follow the steps below:

a. Click the 'Draw Area' button on the toolbar.
b. Draw a new cell at the desired location. This creates rows and columns on the grid to accommodate the new cell.
3. Repeat the above steps to create the desired layout grid.
4. To set properties for a grid cell, right-click the cell and select 'Properties' from the context menu. This opens the 'Cell Properties' dialog box.

a. Under the Format tab, set the desired cell border style and color. Select 'Repeat Contents on Each Page' to print the contents of the region on each page of the report.
b. Under the Background tab, set the background color or image for the region.

3. Click the 'Layout View' button in the toolbar again to exit Layout mode and return to Normal mode.
In Normal mode, you can add report elements to the grid cells that you created. Click in the desired grid cell to place the insertion point in that cell. Then click or drag an element from the Toolbox panel. (See Inserting Elements.)

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