Reuse a layout object

You can save time by reusing layout objects that you add to a report instead of re-creating them.

For example, you have a multiple-page report and you want to show the company logo in the page header of each page. Insert the logo once and reuse it on all other pages.

Note: While unsupported components are filtered out when you create a layout component reference, if you select a container that includes an unsupported component, an empty placeholder will be displayed in the layout instead of the component. Additionally, if an unsupported component is added to that container in the source report in the future, a placeholder will appear in the layout of the consuming report. You will need to use the Overrides property to override these unsupported components and replace them if needed.

Procedure

  1. Click the object to reuse.
    Tip: To quickly select the parent of an object, click the object, and then click the Select ancestor icon select ancestor icon in the title bar of the Properties pane.
  2. In the Properties pane, ensure that the Name property is specified for the object.

    If the name is not specified, add a value that begins with a letter to uniquely identify the object, and press Enter.

  3. To reuse the object in another report, open that report.
  4. Click the Toolbox icon The toolbox icon, and expand the Advanced section.
  5. Drag the Layout component reference object to the location in which it will be reused.
  6. In the Component Location box, do one of the following:
    • To reference an object in the current report, click This report.
    • To reference an object in another report, click Another report, click the ellipsis button, and open the report.
      Note: In active reports, you cannot reference objects from another active report.
  7. In the Available components to reference box, click the object, and click OK.
    Note: 11.1 visualizations and Data table controls are not supported as references from another report, and are not included as selectable controls when defining a layout component reference. To use these objects, add them to a container, such as a block or table, and create a reference to the container. However, this workaround can only be used with the This report option.
  8. If the referenced object is in another report, click the Layout component reference object and in the Properties pane, set the Embed property to specify how to store the referenced object in the report:
    • Click Copy to store a copy of the object.

      The copy is not automatically updated if the source object is modified.

      Note: In active reports, you can store referenced objects only by copying them to the report.
    • Click Reference to store a reference, or pointer, of the object.

      The reference of the object is automatically updated if the source object is modified. For example, if you open or run the report, you see the modified object.

Results

A copy or reference of the object appears where you placed the Layout component reference object. If a source object is changed, you can update reused objects.
Tip: You can also create a new report or template and add all the objects to share. All your shared objects then reside in a single location, like a library.