The Column Mode property controls how Reports Builder fetches and formats data for instances of repeating frames. The Column Mode property causes the space that a repeating frame occupies to be maintained even when the repeating frame runs out of instances. This prevents any objects to the right of it from moving.
Column Mode is used mainly for master repeating frames or repeating frames that contain fields that may expand vertically or horizontally (that is, elasticity is Variable or Expand).
Applies to |
Repeating frames | ||||
Value |
| ||||
Default |
No | ||||
Required/Optional |
Optional |
You can only specify Column Mode for repeating frames that have either:
Print Direction of Across and Horizontal Elasticity of Fixed
Print Direction of Down and Vertical Elasticity of Fixed
Repeating frames with a Print Direction of Across/Down or Down/Across cannot have Column Mode specified.
The figure shows a sample layout in which you might use Column Mode. (Assume that X has Horizontal Elasticity of Fixed.)
The figure below shows Instances 1 through 3 if repeating frame X has Column Mode set to Yes. The positioning is the same on logical pages 1 and 2, even though Instance 2 completed on logical page 2. Note that the width of the logical page limits the instances that can begin formatting on page 1. Thus, Instances 4 and 5 format on page 3.
The figure below shows the positioning of Instances 1 through 5 if repeating frame X has Column Mode set to No. Instance 2 now completes in a different position on logical page 2. Also, Instance 3, which did not complete on logical page 1, is in a different position on logical page 2 than it was in on logical page 1.
Assume there are two pages of instances for the A and C repeating frames, but only one-half page of instances for the B repeating frame, as shown in the figure below. If you do not specify Column Mode for repeating frame B, the instances of repeating frame C will appear on page two where B would have appeared. If Column Mode is selected, however, C will continue to appear in its same x- and y-coordinates.
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