Hyperblocks

Overview

A hyperblock is an object used to display list elements in a report. You can create hyperblocks by drag & drop or in the Create Hyperblock dialog. By default, a hyperblock consists of a key output cell and a value cell.

See Creating hyperblocks.

• The key output cell contains the reference to the list on which the hyperblock is based. For relational lists, it displays the first column of the relational data.
• The value cell is blank and can be expanded horizontally and vertically by dragging its edges. You create formulas in the value cell to return data.

Unlike other list objects (for example, combo boxes) a hyperblock exists only in Design Mode. In View Mode, the value cell is copied once for every element of the list. If the value cell contains a formula, a value is calculated for each list element and displayed.

Hyperblocks (horizontal and vertical) can be overlapped so that they share the same value cell. In View Mode, the lists on which the hyperblocks are based form the axes of the report.

See Overlapping hyperblocks.

You can also nest hyperblocks so that one hyperblock completely encloses one or more other hyperblocks.

See Nesting hyperblocks.

Hyperblocks have properties.

See Editing hyperblock output properties.

Multiple output cells

You can create additional output cells, each with its own settings. A use of multiple output cells is to display multiple columns from a relational data source without using separate RDB formulas.

See Relational lists.

See Creating multiple output cells.

Hyperblocks and global/local lists

Hyperblocks can contain local or global lists. Changes to the definition of a local list only affect the report in which the list is used. Changes to global lists affect all reports in which the list is used and so can affect other users.

See Lists

The lists in the Database Structure are global lists. When they are dragged onto the worksheet to create a hyperblock, they are copied into local lists. To link a hyperblock to a global list, hold down the <Ctrl> key whilst dragging.

When you use the Create Hyperblock dialog to create a hyperblock, you can choose whether the list is local or global.

Dual output of hyperblocks

A hyperblock displays list elements. In the Object Properties dialog of the hyperblock you specify how the elements are displayed.

See Creating hyperblocks.

The options are:

• Unique name
• Caption
• Attribute
• User-defined
• Special format string.

The unique name is the name of an element created by the ODBO provider and is required by formulas. But, it is often more convenient to work with captions . So, Caption is selected by default in the Object Properties dialog when you create a hyperblock.

The unique name and caption options can also be specified by using a text format in the key output cell. Right-click the key output cell and select Format Cells. By default, the category on the Number Format tab is Text and "~" is selected as the format. Change this to "@" to display the unique names.

If a formula returns a unique name, but you want to display the caption, use the "~" text format in the cell containing the formula.

Formatting the contents of the hyperblock

You can format the contents of the value cell in the hyperblock in the same way as you format other cells.

SeeFormatting cells.

Level-specific formatting of the key output cell

You can assign different formats to the key output cell and to multiple output cells. For example, you can apply different formats to the elements at different levels of a hierarchy.

SeeEditing hyperblock output properties.