bcharnz

Hello

I have 2 questions:

1.) I am attempting to create a custom report that includes the contract as well as some modifcations to the proposal report. First starting with a "proposal with images", In the report designer. I am looking to add the contract at the end of the proposal. I find the "grpSummaryDetail" section and insert a page break above the "subSummaryDetail" so my summary always starts on the new page. Second, I insert a second page break just after the "subSummaryDetail" and then insert a text box that is "bound" to the Sub contract" report. So I have add the contract report as a sub report. The output does not start the contract section on a separate page even though I have a page break inserted immediately before it? Help?

2.) How to I chage the margin settings that are in a report. Currently it looks like every report is forced with a 1" top, bottom and side margins..?

RandyB

Originally Posted by bcharnz

2.) How to I chage the margin settings that are in a report. Currently it looks like every report is forced with a 1" top, bottom and side margins..?

This is mostly a manual process, but once you're done, you can save and never have to do it again. I'm currently working on a help video and a set of proposals with .5" margins, which may be what you're looking for. To keep you going in the meantime, here are some quick instructions:

1. Create a Custom Report Based on Existing Report
Tools > Reporting Center
Tools > Report Designer
File > New...

2. Set Margins & Paper Size
4th page of New Report Wizard

3. Set Canvas Width
Use the mouse to drag the right edge of the drawing canvas (part with dots) to the desired width. It is 6.5" by default (8.5" paper with 1" margins). If you reduce margins by .5", you can add 1" to the canvas width. It helps in step 6 if you know how much the canvas increased/decreased.

4. Left Margin, Headers and Footers are automatic
No need to adjust the left edge or the headers and footers. These will adapt automatically.

5. Adjust Cover Page objects (H, V center)
Move objects on the cover page (if there is one) so that they are centered horizontally and vertically

6. Adjust Right Margin objects
Move objects in the rightmost column so that they align with the new right edge of the drawing surface. I find it useful to select the object, then use the Location property and change the X location by adding the extra amount of canvas. For example, if I use .5" margins and my canvas is 1" wider, I just add 1 to the X location for these objects.

7. Adjust Subreports
This may not be absolutely necessary, but you may wish to realign the following subreports as well. You can either grab the subreport boundaries and move, or go into the subreports and change the margins there. See the help video "Subreports and VAT" for more information on how to do this.

Proposal Level 2
Misc Costs
Proposal Summary

8. Publish the new report

This is easier than it sounds, and step #6 is the one that takes the most time. Usually takes me about 10 minutes now that I know what I'm doing.

- Randy

RickC

Originally Posted by bcharnz

1.) I am attempting to create a custom report that includes the contract as well as some modifcations to the proposal report. First starting with a "proposal with images", In the report designer. I am looking to add the contract at the end of the proposal. I find the "grpSummaryDetail" section and insert a page break above the "subSummaryDetail" so my summary always starts on the new page. Second, I insert a second page break just after the "subSummaryDetail" and then insert a text box that is "bound" to the Sub contract" report. So I have add the contract report as a sub report. The output does not start the contract section on a separate page even though I have a page break inserted immediately before it? Help?

I have followed your steps above and can not duplicate the issue. Here are a couple thoughts:

1) There's no need to insert the pagebreak before the "subSummaryDetail" subreport control as the section has it's "NewPage" property set to "Before". This means that the section will always start on a new page. Since the subSummaryDetail control is the first control in the section, it will appear at the top of the page.

2) When you add the pagebreak after the subSummaryDetail control, be sure that it is not overlapping any other controls on the report design surface.

3) When you place a sub report control to the report for the Contract, ensure that the control is below the pagebreak (not overlapping) and resize it to the correct height and width while ensuring that it is not overlapping any controls below it. (see attached image: The subreport control is selected to show a gray outline around it so you can see how it is positioned in the designer)

See my attached PDF of the output I received.

The other option is to always add new sections, reorder them, hide the header/footers you don't need, set the NewPage property of the section as desired and put the sub report control in that section.

Regardless, it sounds as if what you are doing is correct. It is probably a minor layout issue as described above.


-R

bcharnz

Originally Posted by RickC

1) The other option is to always add new sections, reorder them, hide the header/footers you don't need, set the NewPage property of the section as desired and put the sub report control in that section. -R

Great Thanks... This helped...

Above you mention another option is to create a new section. I am not sure how to do this and can't seem to find any reading on it.

I would now like to add the scope of work sub report to my main report in between the cover page the the actual proposal. The dilemma is that I would like the scope of work page to have the "Scope of work" header on top but the main report automatically generates the "Proposal" header on every page. Not sure how to insert a new page after the cover page but before the proposal pages...

RickC

Originally Posted by bcharnz

Above you mention another option is to create a new section. I am not sure how to do this and can't seem to find any reading on it.

If you Right-Click on the report design surface, you will get a context menu. Select Insert > Group Header/Footer.

This will insert a group at the center-most part of the report (just above and below the detail section.

To move the sections:
Right-Click on the report design surface, select "Reorder Groups" and use the dialog to move the new group to the desired location (the new one will be at the bottom to start).

Originally Posted by bcharnz

I would now like to add the scope of work sub report to my main report in between the cover page the the actual proposal. The dilemma is that I would like the scope of work page to have the "Scope of work" header on top but the main report automatically generates the "Proposal" header on every page. Not sure how to insert a new page after the cover page but before the proposal pages...

The label that says "Proposal" in the page header can be manipulated by script, but that may be a huge pain, an easier way to do it may be to:

Add a Page break to the "ReportHeader" section below all of the cover page controls and such, then copy and paste the image and label from the top and change the text to Scope Of Work.

Then add a textbox control to below the image that is bound to the scope of work field. Do this by selecting the dtr:ScopeOfWork field in the Data Explorer and dragging it into the report. Position and resize it, save and publish. See images.

Hope this helps.

-R