Field Object and Text Object Defaults

Chapter 15 - Configuring Your Design Environment
Mastering Crystal Reports 9
by Cate McCoy and Gord Maric
Sybex 2003

Companies often standardize on a particular format for data in reports. Setting field type defaults can go a long way in preserving a consistent look for all your reports. Many of the settings discussed are set in the global options area using the Fields and Fonts tabs. These are shown in Figure 15.6 and Figure 15.7.

Figure 15.6. Global field formatting

Figure 15.7. Global font formatting

When I look at a list of fields in a database through Crystal Reports, they are not alphabetical. Is this right? Choose File > Options, Database tab, and enable the Sort Fields Alphabetically option.

When browsing field data using the Crystal Reports Browse button, I see data for 500 unique records but I’d rather see unique field values. Choose File > Options, Database tab, Advanced Options area, and enable the Select Distinct Data For Browsing option.

For the current report only, choose File > Report Options and enable/disable the Select Distinct Data For Browsing option.

How can I prevent field headings from being added to the Page Header section whenever I add a field to the Details section? Choose File > Options, Layout tab, and disable the Insert Detail Field Headings check box.

How can I prevent field names from displaying in Design mode? Choose File > Options, Layout tab, and disable the Show Field Names check box.

Some fields in my report show a question mark or asterisk instead of a value. I’ve been told this is because the database is storing a null value in this field. I’d prefer to see zeros or blanks. Can I do this? Choose File > Options, Reporting tab, When Reading Data area, and enable the Convert Database NULL Values To Default check box.

For the current report only, choose File > Report Options and enable/disable the Convert Database NULL Values To Default option.

My company’s standard is to use a cascading style sheet for formatting all our report fields. Where can I set the style sheet Class name reference as the default for all my reports? Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, use the CSS Class Name input box.

When I add fields, I want to anchor them into position so they can’t be moved accidentally. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, enable the Lock Size And Position option.

Can I prevent field formatting options that I want to be universal from being overridden for individual reports? Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, enable the Read-only option.

The data values for fields on my reports have to be centered at all times. Can I set this is as default instead of setting it for each field? Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, choose the Horizontal Alignment option.

I’d like to always start a new page to prevent a field’s worth of data from being split at the bottom of one page and continuing at the top of another. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, enable the Keep Object Together option.

I work with borders quite a bit and don’t like how Crystal splits a border, partially printing it at the bottom of one page and completing it on the next page. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, enable the Close Border On Page Break option.

Can I universally enable the Can Grow option so that any field that has more data than will fit in the field can grow in size vertically? Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; on the Common tab, enable the Can Grow option and choose zero or more lines.

If a field value is a duplicate, I do not want it to appear on my report. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and choose the type(s) of data the setting applies to; then on the Common tab, enable the Suppress If Duplicated option.

All numeric values in my reports need to print in a specific format. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Number button; then on the Number tab, choose the appropriate style for numbers or use the Custom Style option.

My company likes the currency symbol to appear immediately to the left of a number value with no spaces in between. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Number button; then on the Number tab, enable the Display Currency Symbol option and select the Floating radio button.

Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Currency button; then on the Number tab, in the Currency symbol area, select the Floating radio button.

Currency symbols need to appear in a fixed and aligned way and should not depend on the width of the number in the field. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Number button; then on the Number tab, enable the Display Currency Symbol option and select the Fixed radio button.

Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Currency button; then on the Number tab, in the Currency symbol area, select the Fixed radio button.

I need to use a fixed format for all date fields in all reports. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Date button; then on the Date tab, choose a formatting style for dates or customize your own.

I need to use a fixed format for all time fields in all reports. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Time button; then on the Time tab, choose a formatting style for times or customize your own.

I need to use a fixed format for all date/time fields in all reports. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Date And Time button; then on the Date And Time tab, choose a formatting style for dates and times or customize your own.

For Boolean data, I want the values to print with standard values regardless of what the database field actually contains. Choose File > Options, Fields tab, and click the Boolean button; on the Boolean tab, choose a text format using the drop-down list for True Or False, T Or F, Yes Or No, Y Or N, 1 Or 0.

Can I set universal font attributes for all data fields in all my reports? Choose File > Options, Fonts tab, click the Fields button, and set the appropriate font information.

Can I set universal font attributes for all summarized fields in all my reports? Choose File > Options, Fonts tab, click the Summary Fields button, and set the appropriate font information.

I want all text fields to always display and print with the same font. Choose File > Options, Fonts tab, click the Text Objects button, and set the appropriate font information.

I want the titles for all fields to always display and print with the same font in the Page Header area. Choose File > Options, Fonts tab, click the Field Titles button, and set the appropriate font information.

Can I set a default font to be used with charts? Choose File > Options, Fonts tab, click the Charts button, and set the appropriate font information.

I am using Office XP Smart Tags. Can I set default information to tell Crystal Reports where to link? Choose File > Options, Smart Tag tab, and use the Web Server Name, Virtual Directory, and Viewing Page options.

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