Basic Report Layout
A layout is a set of pages that defines the appearance
and formatting of a report. When you design the layout of a report,
you
- present the data in a meaningful way
- design the report by adding formatting, such as borders, color, and page numbers
- specify how the data flows from one page to the next
Pages
Pages are containers for the layout objects that you use to build a report. A page is made up of the following mandatory and optional components:
- page header (optional)
- page body (mandatory)
- page footer (optional)
When you run a report, the amount of data queried often exceeds one page. As a result, pages are added until all the data is shown. You have control over how data flows from one page to the next.
Objects
You add layout objects to a page when you create a report. The most commonly used objects are text, blocks and tables. Blocks are often used to lay out horizontal bands of information. Use blocks to hold text or other information.