Adding Non-printing User Tools to a Layout

The lesson requires the file: Students.fp7

Objects can be added to a layout to assist database users to manipulate such things as sort order without printing the objects on the final printed output. We are going to create a columnar report and add buttons to allow the user to click on a particular column heading and sort the report data. The buttons will not be displayed on the final printed report.

1. Using the "Students.fp7" file, select View -> Layout Mode. Choose Layouts -> New Layout. Name the layout "Student Music Interests" and click on Columnar List/Report and click Next. Make sure the simple Columnar List/Report option is selected and click Next. Hold the Ctrl key down and select the fields "First Name", "Last Name", "Musical Instrument", and "Music Style" and click Move and then Next. Don't worry about a sort order yet. Just click Next. Select the Default layout style and click Next. For footer information select Current Date for the lower left choice and Page Number for the lower right choice then click Next. Do not create a script. Just click Next. Choose to view in Layout Mode and click Finish.

2. Select the "Musical Instruments" field and make it 2" wide. Move the "Musical Style" field a little more to the right and make it 2" wide.

3. Click on the Text tool and type the following text above the column headings: "Right click on the first entry in a column to sort." Then, click on the text object and Select Format - Sliding Printing and check the "Do Not Print Selected Objects" checkbox and click OK.

Now select View -> Preview Mode and you will notice the instructional text is not displayed. Remember, however, that if a report needs to be viewed in preview mode to see the data, such as a subsummary report, you cannot use nonprinting objects on the layout for navigation or instructional purposes.

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