Size and Position tab
This topic describes the positioning options of objects other than hyperblocks. The positioning options are on the Size and Position tab.
This table shows the options of the Size and Position tab:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Depends on cell size and position | Makes a list object expand and contract with the cell in which it is placed. For example, if the column width or the row height expand, both the cell and list object expand too. |
| Only depends on cell position | The list object keeps its size but may be pushed out of position by other objects. |
| Independent of cells | The list object keeps its size and position regardless of surrounding cells, even if expanding an adjacent object results in the two objects overlapping. |
| Width and Height | Specify the height and width of the object. |
| Anchor and position options | Specify the position of the object by editing the Anchor and Distance to Borders fields. |
You can position objects in headers or footers, or in the data area of a report but, typically, you use headers and footers to ensure that objects remain in position if the report is scrolled vertically or horizontally.
The Distance to Borders field represents the object and the area of the report specified in the Vertically to field. The Distance to Borders options are always partially enabled but are fully enabled only if you select the Independent of cells option.
The representation of the object has eight controls, one at each corner, and one on each side. The controls do not represent points on the object, they instead indicate positions in which the object can be placed within the specified area.
The Anchor and delta options are enabled only if you select the Independent of cells option. The Delta field is indicated by a triangle. The Anchor options have effect if you specify a visible report area, a header, a footer, or a data area. The data area is the area not occupied by a header or footer.
The controls at the corners of the object indicate these approximate positions in which you can place the object within the area:
- Above the center of the area and to the left
- Above the center of the area and to the right
- Below the center of the area and to the left
- Below the center of the area and to the right
To position an object within one of these areas, click the appropriate corner of the object. Then specify its precise position by specifying its distance from the vertical and horizontal borders of the area.
The controls at the mid points of an object's borders are delta points. Delta points enable you to specify the object's distance above or below, or to the left or right of the center of the area, and a distance from the horizontal or vertical borders. For example, click the delta point on the left border of an object and specify a distance from the left border of the area. Then, in the Delta field, specify the object's distance above or below the center of the area. Or, click the delta point on the top border and specify the object's distance from the top of the area. Then specify the object's distance to the left or right of the center of the area. An example of how the delta options are used is to position adjacent and buttons at either side of the center of a footer.
Outside a header or footer, if you anchor an object to the window it stays in place if you use the window's scroll bars to scroll the data. This can result in the object being superimposed on the data. If you anchor an object to the visible area, the object scrolls with the data. This can result in the object scrolling out of view.
If you specify header or footer, and visible report areas, different colors are used for the column and row headings within those areas. Within the visible report area the headings are of a darker shade of grey than those outside it. Within headers and footers, the headings are of a different color than the rest of the row headings in the report. For the currently selected cells, the column and rows headings are yellow. This color coding helps to identify the different areas in complex report designs.
In Design Mode, you can use the keyboard arrow keys to reposition objects such as command buttons and text objects. You can also reposition list views other than hyperblocks. But, if a list view is associated with a list, first click on the Objects toolbar.