Setting a Relative Position Between Objects in Document Composer

How to:

Reference:

You may set a relative (vertical) relationship between objects. Similar to the flowing report option, you can select multiple report and graph objects and set a relationship. The following relationship options are available from the Positioning toolbar in Document Composer:

Note: There is currently no method of controlling horizontal overflow. The report always expands beyond the bounding rectangle and is clipped at the end of the page.


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Procedure: How to Relate Surrounding Objects to a Report

A surrounding object can only be related to one flowing report. However, a flowing report can have multiple surrounding objects related to it.

  1. In Document Composer, select an object from the Design View.
  2. Select two reports, or a graph and a report, by using the Ctrl key to select the surrounding objects.

    Note: When primary object is selected, there are clear boxes around the edges. When the surrounding object is selected, there are solid black boxes around the edges. The surrounding object is that which is related to the primary object.

  3. Set the relationship between the objects by selecting the Relate Bottom_ Left button from the Positioning toolbar.

    Note: The relationship buttons are only available from the Positioning toolbar when multiple objects are selected.

    An arrow appears in Design View, indicating that the relationship has been set.

    In the following image, the graph is the surrounding object to the report:

  4. Run the report.

Note: If the document contains multiple reports, and the relationships have been set, the first report runs at run time. Once it is complete, the surrounding reports follow.

Note: If the document contains a report and a graph, and the relationship has been set, the report runs first, at run time. Once it is complete, the graph follows.


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Reference: Rules for Setting Relationships Between Objects

The following rules apply when setting relationships between objects:

Setting relationships (relate top left to bottom left)

This sets a relative distance between the flowing report and a surrounding object. The surrounding object is rendered immediately following the end of a flowing report, with the related distance between the end of the flowing report and the beginning of the surrounding object.

Fixed objects

A fixed object cannot be broken across a page break. It needs enough vertical space to fit on the last page of the flowing report.

If the surrounding object is fixed in size, such as a graph or a fixed report, then you must set the Sizing Requirement property to ensure that there is enough space to display the object. If not, the object is automatically rendered at the top flow margin of the next page.

Flowing object (reports)

A flowing report can be broken across pages. The reporting server determines if there is enough room to begin rendering the surrounding flowing report.

You can optionally set the sizing requirement for a report that is relatively positioned to ensure that the report is not broken at the wrong spot. For example, to ensure that the heading appears with information below it.

Note: The sizing requirement is only applicable to a report that is relatively positioned to another flowing report. It does not apply to any other object.

Draw object

Relationships do not apply to draw objects such as images, lines, and text. Draw objects (not repeating objects in the Page Master) can be placed above flowing reports in a page layout, but draw objects placed below a flowing report (not repeating objects in the Page Master) should be placed outside of the bottom flow margin.

Setting a relationship between a report and a graph

If the overflow property of the report is set to flowing, and there is no set relationship between the graph and report, then the report will overlap and display on top of the graph at run time. There is no way for Document Composer to automatically set relationships, so you must set the relationship between the report and the graph.

Note: A surrounding object can only be related to one flowing report. However, a flowing report can have multiple surrounding objects related to it. The surrounding object is that which is related to the primary object.


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