AX1833

Defining column groups for a web report

You can define column groups in web reports so that certain columns can display together under a group header. For example, your report might have several actuals columns followed by several budget columns, and you want these columns to display under the group headers "Actuals" and "Budget".

To define a column group, first you add the group "container" to the Column Definitions box of the grid, then you add table columns to the group container.

To define a column group:

1. In the Report Canvas of the Report Builder, click the plus sign in the top right corner of the Column Definitions box, and then click Add Column Group.

   

   A new empty column group is added to the Column Definitions box.

   

2. Drag and drop the desired columns into the column group. You can drag columns that are already present in the Column Definitions box, or you can drag columns from the table tree in the Data Panel directly. Calculated columns can also be placed in a column group.

   

3. Select the column group box, and use the Column Group Configuration panel to define the header text and other properties. See the following section for more information on the available properties.

The column group displays in the grid with its child columns underneath.

Example web report with column groups

Once a column group has been created, you can work with it as follows:

• Reordering groups: You can reorder column groups by dragging and dropping the group to another location within the Column Definitions box.

• Deleting groups: You can delete a column group by clicking the X icon on the group box. However, if you still want to use the columns in the group, you should drag and drop the columns out of the group before deleting the group. If you delete the group with columns in it, all of the columns will be deleted as well.

• Configuring groups: Click the column group box to edit the Column Group Configuration properties in the Configuration Panel.

• Nested groups: Currently, nested groups are not allowed. You cannot drag and drop a group within another group.

You can work with columns within the group as follows:

• Adding columns: You can continue to add columns by dragging and dropping them into the group box.

• Removing columns: You can drag and drop columns out of the column group box to remove them from the group. If you don't want the column to be in the report at all, you can use the X icon on the column box to remove it.

• Reordering columns: You can reorder columns in the group by dragging and dropping them within the group box.

• Configuring columns: Columns in a column group can be configured as normal. Select the column box within the group box to bring up the Column Configuration properties in the Configuration Panel.

Column group properties

The following column group properties are available for web reports on the General tab of the Column Group Configuration panel:

Item	Description
Header	The header text to display on the group header. Enter the desired header text.
Hide column	Specifies whether the column group is hidden in the report: If enabled, then the group is hidden in the report. The group remains visible in the Column Definitions box so that you can continue to configure the group as needed. If disabled (default), then the group is visible.
Autowrap header text	Specifies whether header text wraps: If enabled, then header text that exceeds the group width will wrap. If disabled (default), then header text that exceeds the group width is truncated. The user can resize the group wider to view the full header text.
Header alignment	The alignment of the header text over the columns in the group. Select one of the following: Default, Left, Right, Center. Group headers use center alignment by default.
Data filter	Optional. Defines a filter to limit the data shown in the columns within this group. This is equivalent to defining the same data filter at the column level for each column in the group. Click the Edit button to open the Filter Wizard and define a filter. Once you have defined a filter, it displays in the Data filter box. If you want to change or remove the filter, click the Edit link again and change or delete the filter within the Filter Wizard. The Data filter box is not directly editable. Data filters defined at the group level are combined with any filters defined at the column level. If the group contains calculated columns, the group filter is applied to all columns referenced in the calculation. If the calculation references grid columns, the group filter is combined with any other filters applied to the grid columns (either at the column level or at the group level, if the column belongs to a different group). Additionally, if a data filter is defined at the grid level, it is also applied. All relevant filters are combined using AND to determine the data that can display in a particular column.