Using the Layout Properties dialog box

On the Layout Properties dialog box you can set all the options that are available for formatting query results.

About this task

The Layout Properties dialog box uses a tree structure to represent the columns in the query results. Depending on what you have selected in the query results, the Layout Properties tree displays branches for all columns in the query results or for a single column in the query results. You can apply formatting options to entire columns, individual cells, column headers, and summary cells. The options are divided into the following groups:
  • General
  • Font
  • Format
  • Conditional

To apply formatting to the query results:

Procedure

  1. Open the Layout Properties dialog box in one of the following ways:
    • Right-click in a column's header cell and select Font or Format from the pop-up menu.
    • Select Results > Font.
    • Select Results > Format.
  2. The Layout tree opens differently depending on what you have selected from the query results. If you have not selected a specific column, then the tree displays all the columns in the query results. If you have selected a column, the tree displays the branch associated with that column. With only one or more columns selected and displayed, the Show all columns check box is available. Select this check box to display all the query results columns in the Layout tree. Clear the check box to display only the selected columns.
  3. Click the plus sign to the left of the column name to expand the branch. For each column in the query results, the Layout tree has three branches. They are named Header, Detail, and Grand Total. The names of the branches are the same for each column. If expandable, there is plus sign to the left of each branch. Click the plus sign to expand the branch.
  4. The level of the branch that you select in the Layout tree determines what formatting you can perform on the column of data. As you select each branch, the Layout Properties dialog changes. The formatting fields that can be used on the selected branch are made available.
  5. To specify the formatting options that will apply to the entire column, select a column name branch. The General page opens within the Layout Properties dialog box. From this page you can specify a header name, column width, and summary row height.
  6. To specify the font and formatting options that will be used for the column's header in the query results, select the Header branch for the column. The Font and Format pages open within the Layout Properties dialog box.
  7. You can specify default and conditional formatting for the detail and summary cells of the column. Default formatting applies to all the cells in the column except for those that meet specific conditions. Conditional formatting applies to any cells in the column that meet specific conditions.
  8. To specify the default font and formatting options that will be used for each cell in the column, expand the Detail branch for the column, then select the Default branch. The Font and Format pages open within the Layout Properties dialog box. Select the Font tab to specify the formatting options that will apply to the font that is used to display the data in the column's detail cell. Select the Format tab to specify how the data will be formatted in the detail cell of the column.
  9. To specify conditional formatting options for a column's detail cells, expand the Detail branch for the column, then select the Default branch or an existing condition branch. The fields used for specifying conditional formatting become available. Specify the condition name and expression. You can add one or more conditions for the detail cells.
  10. To specify the default font and formatting options that will be used for a column's summary line, expand the Grand Total branch, then select the Default branch for the column. The Font and Format pages open within the Layout Properties dialog box. Select the Font tab to specify the formatting options that will apply to the font that is used to display the data in the column's summary line cell. Select the Format tab to specify how the data will be formatted in the summary line cell of the column.
  11. To specify conditional formatting options for a column's summary cell, expand the Grand Total branch for the column, then select the Default branch or an existing condition branch. The fields used for specifying conditional formatting become available. Specify the condition name and expression. You can add one or more conditions for the summary line cell.
  12. Click Apply. The General, Font, or Format options that you have specified are saved.
  13. You can repeat this process to set up unique formatting options for each column in the query results. You can also duplicate the options that you have specified for one column and apply them to other columns using either of the following buttons:
    • Apply to all columns: Use this button to apply the Font or Format options that you have specified to all the columns that are currently selected from the query results. For example, if you specify special font options for the Detail Default branch of a column, and select the Apply to all columns button, the font options that you have specified will be applied to the Detail Default branch of each column that is currently selected and displayed in the Layout Properties tree.
    • Apply to all levels: Use this button to apply the Font or Format options that you have specified for the current level of the column to all levels of the column. For example, if you specify special font options for the Detail Default branch of a column and select the Apply to all levels button, the font options that you have specified will be applied to the Grand Total Default branch for the column.
  14. Click OK. The Layout Properties dialog box closes. The format information that you have specified is saved and applied to the columns in the query results.