ICT Department HomePageDataPower2 Tutorials - Table Layouts

Although DataPower makes it very quick and easy to prepare a layout, it does not automatically have a 'Table' layout view of the data. A 'Table' layout is ideal for printing as it allows you to print out many records, one above the other, on one sheet of paper.

In DataPower you need to make a new layout, with the fields lined up on one row, ideally with a header that contains the title of each field.

This tutorial will take you through the steps needed to produce a 'Table' layout showing all 10 records from a typical 'Form' type of data-entry layout such as the one on the below on the right.

It is recommended that you make your table layout before you add too much formatting to your data-entry layout, otherwise you will have to remove it all from the copy that DataPower makes when you make a new layout.

Tutorial:

  1. Make a copy of your original layout by selecting: Layout => New Layout...

  2. In the box enter a name for your new layout such as 'Printout'

  1. DataPower will go into 'Edit Layout' mode so you can now edit this copy of the original layout.

  2. Use Edit => Select All to select all the fields and then press <Delete> on the keyboard. (This only deletes the fields from the layout, it does not delete them from the database!)

  3. Add a page header using: Arrange Header/Footer => Main Header and then add a footer in the same way.

  4. Add the fields back into the printout layout using: Field => Add Field. (Or use the drop-down arrow circled on the toolbar)  DataPower should insert the field and put its title in the Header. (You may want to resize the each field as you add it. If you still run out of space, try setting the page to Landscape using File => Print SetUp)

  5. Use the text edit icon to add a title in the Header.

  6. Use the same icon to add details such as your name, ICT group etc. in the Footer.

The layout below is fine for entering and editing data, but it would be wasteful of paper if was used to print out more than 1 or 2 records.

  1. You can click on the OK button at any time to see how the table layout looks and then press F5 to carry on editing it. (To see all the records you will need to use: Layout => Alter Type => All Records)

  2. To fit as many records as possible on one page you can reduce the height of the Body section of the page. (To alter it, use the mouse to drag up the line that separates the Body and the Footer, marked by the red cross on the diagram).
  1. Your final layout should look something like the example on the right.

  2. You can improve the look of the printout by removing the default background colour and possibly adding a 'thin border' to the fields.

  3. Before you PRINT, use Print Preview to see how well the printout fits on the page. You can use File => Print Options to adjust the scale, or tick the Scale to Fit box.

Quick Summary:

  1. Create a new layout
  2. Delete all the fields
  3. Add a Header and Footer
  4. Add the fields back in
  5. Alter the layout type to 'All records'
  6. Print-Preview and Scale if necessary
 
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