Column picker component

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Applies to: TBM Studio 12.0 and later

A column picker lets users customize a table in a report by adding columns to the table. An example column picker and accompanying table are shown in the following image. A column picker applies to all tables in a report unless it is contained within a group object. If the picker is in a group object, it applies only to the tables within the group.

Key points:

Below are the key points about creating column pickers:
  • Label fields added to a picker are added to tables as rows (in the context of the Component Configuration panel) grouped by the values in the first column of the table. A horizontal column picker with label options is shown in the following image:

  • Numeric fields added to a picker are added to tables as values (in the context of the Component Configuration dialog) in separate columns. If the columns in the table are grouped, a column is added into each group.
  • Locked fields give the most predictable results. However, generally, you will get satisfactory results if you use unlocked fields.
  • A column picker can be displayed as a set of checkboxes or as radio buttons. Use check boxes for multiple selections. Use radio buttons for single selections.
  • The checkboxes and radio buttons can be oriented vertically or horizontally.

Add a column picker

  1. From the Report tab, click Column Picker. A Column Picker component is added to the report. The Column Picker Configuration pane is displayed as shown in the following image:

  2. From the field at the top of the dialog, select the object representing the table where the columns will be added.
  3. From the Project Explorer, drag one or more values into the Available Fields area.
  4. Close the dialog by clicking in a blank area of the report.

Choose checkboxes or radio buttons

In a column picker, the columns can be displayed as a set of checkboxes or radio buttons. Checkboxes let the user select one or more columns. Radio buttons allow the user to select a single column. The Multiple Selection option displays checkboxes. The Single Selection option displays radio buttons.

To change the display option:
  1. Select the column picker component in the report.
  2. From the Picker tab, select the Single Selection or Multiple Selection option.

Vertical or horizontal orientation

The picker options can be oriented vertically or horizontally using the Layout options on the Picker tab.

Use as a date picker

You can use a column picker to give users the ability to filter a table by dates. In the report shown in the following image, a user can select from Current Month, Current Half, and Year To Date. The selection is reflected in the Jun FY2014 heading above the two grouped columns: Cost and Budget.

To create this type of report:
  1. Group the columns in the table and enter the following dynamic text for the group title: <%=CurrentDate()%>.
  2. Add the column picker using the date values as shown in the following image: