New Layout/Report (New Layout/Report assistant)

In this panel of the New Layout/Report assistant, you specify the database table this layout will access, a name for the layout, the type of layout that you want to create, and a default view for the layout.

Note  You may want to review the following Help topics before creating the layout: Creating and managing layouts and reports, Considerations when you create a Report layout, and Printing labels and envelopes.

  1. For Show records from, choose the table that contains the records that you want this layout to display.
  2. For Layout Name, type a descriptive name for the layout.

    The layout name automatically appears in the menus used for choosing layouts, such as the Layout pop-up menu. (To change this setting, see Managing layouts.)

  3. Choose the type of layout you want to create.

    Depending on the type you choose, additional options may become available.

    4. Choose

    To

    Computer

    Create a layout to be used on a laptop or desktop computer screen.

    Touch Device

    Create a layout to be used on a touch-compatible input device. Then choose iPad, iPhone, or Custom Device.

    To change the layout's default orientation to portrait, click Portrait orientation control; to change the orientation to landscape, click Landscape orientation control.

    If you choose Custom Device, you can change the value (from 1 to 32000 points) for Width, Height, or both. The custom values you enter will be used for all custom device layouts until you change the values. (The default custom values for portrait orientation are width: 800, height: 1145; and for landscape orientation are width: 1280, height: 665.)

    Printer

    Arrange data for printing on labels or envelopes or in a report. Then choose Labels, Vertical Labels, Envelopes, or Report.

    For more information about each layout type, see About layout types.

  4. If you chose Computer or Touch Device, you can then choose the view in which you want records displayed or choose to create a report.

    Your layout will be displayed only in the view you selected. To display the layout in all views, do not choose a view in this panel. After you close the assistant, you can choose additional views for the layout using the Layout Setup dialog box (see Setting up form, list, and table views for a layout).

    5. Choose

    To

    Form

    Display records in Form View. Records are displayed as a standard form: fields are by default displayed each on a separate line, in the order you specify. In Browse mode and Find mode, you see one record, or form, at a time. Form View is good for data entry or onscreen browsing.

    List

    Display records in List View. In Browse mode, you see records in a list. Depending on the size of the layout, you may see several records at a time. List View is good for viewing or printing multiple records in rows (a list of records).

    Table

    Display records in Table View. The fields are displayed in a grid in the order you specify from left to right. Field names are the column headings.

    Report

    Display or print data in a report. You can create many variations of Report layouts; for example, create a simple report with rows and columns of data (formerly a predefined layout type known as the List view layout), or a complex report with data grouped by specified values with subtotals and grand totals.

  5. When you have finished making your choices:
    • For labels, vertical labels, envelopes, or reports, click Continue. You see the next panel in the assistant.

Notes 

  • When you create a report, you have the option of creating a script that will sort a report later in the assistant. The script simplifies the process of viewing and printing the report. The report must be sorted properly to display summary information, and it's easy to forget which fields need to be sorted.
  • Table View provides a view of your data in a spreadsheet-like format that allows you to quickly rearrange fields, add or delete records, or define fields in Browse mode. For example, you can quickly reorder or resize columns (fields) with just a mouse click (if those options are set). See Working with data in Table View.
  • You can also use Table View to view summary data, by grouping your data by one or more columns (fields) and check subtotals for each group or grand totals for the table. The summary results recalculate and update in real time when you change data values in Table View. See Creating dynamic reports in Table View.
  • Merge fields and text placed in Report layouts are assigned the text style of the particular part. See Creating and working with styles in layouts.

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