Formatting options that are available for columns

Some basic formatting options are available when you define columns of data. You can define column formatting in three places:

  • On Format (RW20.1)

  • On Define Format (RW20.2)

  • On Column Options (RW20.3)

Options

The Report Writer application does not have the full spectrum of formatting options that you might find in some spreadsheet or word processing software packages. For example, you cannot change fonts or colors. However, you can change a number of formatting options for the numeric data in your report columns that can enhance the overall presentation of your report. Formatting options include:

  • Adding decimals and separators

  • Selecting the format for negative numbers, such as displaying them with a dash or in brackets

  • Adding a symbol to a value, such as $ or %

  • Rounding values to the nearest hundreds, thousands, or millions

  • Printing or not printing blank lines

  • Underlining column headings and totals

  • Justifying totals to the left, right, or not at all

  • Ignoring sign reversal options

  • Displaying column totals as a debit or credit balance

Setting default column options

Because you can define some of the same information in different places, it is important to understand how the information defaults and to know which selection the application uses for formatting.

  • Selecting a column width or column spacing value on Format (RW20.1) overrides any column width or column spacing value that you select on Define Format (RW20.2).

  • Selecting any column option, such as adding decimals or separators, on Column Options (RW20.3) overrides any column defaults selected on Define Format (RW20.2).

    Illustration: defaulting hierarchy for format options

Use defaults to save time when formatting columns. For example, you might want to create a report that has five columns with dollar values and one column that displays percentages. You can set the column defaults on Define Format (RW20.2) to include the $ symbol and two decimal places. Then override these defaults on the one column that contains percentages on Column Options (RW20.3), changing the symbol to % and dropping the decimals.

The values on Define Format (RW20.2) are global defaults and never change, unless you override them on Format (RW20.1) orColumn Options (RW20.3). If you change a column on Column Options (RW20.3), then Define Format (RW20.2) never overrides that change.