Basic work with objects

The report consists of objects that are intended to display text and graphics. The objects are also bands, page and object itself.

The basic work is labeling, selecting, deleting, moving, resizing and setting up a new object.

Selecting the object

If you want to move the object, change the size or properties, you must first select it. Select the object by clicking on it with the mouse. The object gets the platter, which means it is currently selected. Simultaneously select multiple objects by holding down the Shift key and clicking objects. You can also select more objects by holding down the Ctrl key and pressing and holding the left mouse button. Drag the mouse over the work surface. A dashed rectangle appears. All objects, which are entirely or partially in this rectangle, are selected. When we have selected the desired objects, we release the mouse button.

Deleting the object

Delete the object by selecting it and pressing the Delete key.

Moving the object

To move the object, use the mouse to place on it. The pointer gets the shape of a hand. Press and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse to the new location. There, the left button is lowered and the object remains in that place. In case when we move an object which is connected to another object, this one also moves.

Resizing the object

First we select the object. Then we place ourselves in the corner of the object, where the mouse pointer changes the shape. The mouse pointer changes to the line with arrows at both ends. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the mouse in the desired direction.

Hiding objects

We hide the objects by selecting a checkmark in the Visible properties in the context menu. If this setting has a band, all the objects on it are also hidden.

Setting up the new object

If you want to put a new object on the report, you first click on the icon with the object type in the object toolbar. Move the mouse over the work surface and click on the place where you want to place it. You will review the process below - when creating a new custom report.

Setting up a grid for mapping objects

When moving objects on the report, they are difficult to align, as the objects are moved in by a continuous form. Therefore, you can setup a grid that allows you to move through certain steps. You set the grid properties in the designer options window. You can turn it on or off in the standard toolbar by clicking the button . By clicking the button , you allow objects to be automatically attached to the grid.

Editing text

Editing the text is usually in text fields, but it is possible to add text along the system fields.

In example, we will replace the text in the "Workers" field with a new "Report of Workers and Their Addresses".

We do this by double-clicking on the object. Replace the old text with a new one by deleting the old text and entering a new one.

Click the OK button in text editor and expand the box with the new text if necessary.

Hiding objects

You can hide objects using right click menu on the object and use the Visible property in the context menu. If this setting has a band, all the objects on it are also hidden.

Deleting objects

Objects on the printouts can be deleted. However, some objects also have a program code on a report that determines their properties. If we delete such an object, we must also delete all the program code that applies to it. If we move such an object to another band, we must also move the corresponding code there. Otherwise, a window with an error message will appear.

Changing of properties of objects

We access the properties of objects by selecting the object. In the View menu, select the Toolbars | Object Inspector. In the window that appears, we can determine the properties mentioned in the tables below.

An important feature of objects within the band, which can be set only in the object inspector, is Align.

Before moving objects, it is advisable to change the property Align to the baNone in the object inspector, and then change it again to its own needs.
The vast majority of objects on system reports have the Align property different from baNone, which means they are tied to either on the edge of the band or to each other.