Column Data Options (Forms Design)

How Do I...

The Column Data Options dialog allows you to set the properties for the selected column data object on the forms design window.

ClosedWhat are column data objects?

Column data objects are collections of data fields arrayed in a table or column format. Use column data objects on forms where you list line items, such as purchase orders, sales invoices, and customer statements.

Editing Column Data Fields

The Edit Fields section contains a grid which displays the fields that are included in the column data object and allows you to change these fields. Each column data field represents a column on the form.

ClosedAdding a column

  1. Select the Add Field button.
  2. The Add Field dialog will open.
  3. Select the field that you want to add to the column data object and click OK.
  4. The field is now shown in the list of column data fields.

ClosedRemoving a column

  1. Select the field that you want to remove from the column data object.
  2. Select the Remove Field button.
  3. The field is removed from the list of column data fields.

ClosedMoving a column

Moving a field allows you to change the order of the columns as they appear on the form. For example, the first field listed in the grid will be the first column shown in the column data object.

  1. Select the field that you want to move.
  2. Select the Move Up or Move Down button to move the selected field up or down in the list of column data fields.

ClosedChanging a column heading

The Field Heading is the column heading that prints on the form.

  1. In the list of column data fields, select the field heading that you want to modify.
  2. Edit the field heading.

ClosedChanging the width of a column

  1. In the list of column data fields, select the width for the field that you want to adjust.
  2. Enter the new field width which can be specified to three decimal places.

ClosedFormatting a numeric column

This option allows you to specify the way that numeric data appears in the column. For example, you may want to change the number of decimal places that display in the column.

  1. If the column data field is numeric, a button will appear in the Format column of the list of column data fields.
  2. Select the button in the Format column for the field that you want to format.
  3. The Number Formatting dialog appears which will allow you to change the format of the number field.

ClosedAligning a column heading

This option specifies the alignment of the column heading on the form. You can choose to align the heading to the left, right, or center of the column.

  1. Select the Title Alignment option for the field heading that you want to align.
  2. Select Right, Left, or Center from the drop list.
Changing Fonts

ClosedChanging the font for the column headings

ClosedChanging the font for the column data

Adding a Border

ClosedWhat types of borders can I add?

None: No border

Box: Creates a box around the columns.

Table: Inserts vertical lines between the columns.

Grid: Inserts vertical lines between the columns and horizontal lines between the rows or line items.

Advanced Options

Select the Advanced button to show these options. Select the Hide Advanced button to hide these options.

Row Spacing: Normally, it is best to leave this option set to Automatic. The program will set the optimum spacing for the font size you have selected. However, if there is a problem printing or you just want to tweak the spacing, you can specify the spacing between the rows of data fields by entering an amount or selecting an amount from the drop list. You can enter any amount from -10 to 100. (However, the font size may limit this range.) The number that you enter is just for the space between rows; do not include the height of the font size. The negative amount allows you to tighten the spacing to account for letters that drop below the line (y or g, for example); this can be useful when you print on lined paper.

Column Margins: Use this option to adjust the width of the margins in the columns of the column data object, allowing you to move data away from the margin lines of the columns. The Automatic default is the width of a single space character for the font selected. To change the margin, enter a point size or select a point size from the drop list. The point size you select here will determine the number of spaces for the margin.

Size and Location: Use these options to specify the size and position on the form for the column data object. The top position is the distance from the top edge of the paper to the top edge of the object. The left position is the distance from the left edge of the paper to the left edge of the object. (These numbers are expressed in inches or centimeters, depending on the display option you selected in the Options tab.) You can also set the height of the column data object, in inches or centimeters. You can only view the width. You can also modify the order in which the column data object prints on the form. Most of the time, you will not care about the object order. Tell me more about object order on forms.

Note: You cannot decrease the size of a column data object horizontally. Therefore, the Width box is gray or unavailable. It will display the total width of the object. While it may be possible to click and drag a column data object to a smaller size, do so at your own risk; the data may no longer fit when you print the form. However, you can adjust the width of each column in the Edit Fields table.

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Published: March 21, 2017
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