Linking and Unlinking Headers

Linking fields in the page header section and the detail section enables you to create column headings that appear on every page and assists in the accurate layout of your reports.

Use the Link Header and Unlink Header commands from the Edit menu to individually link and unlink page header and detail fields.

Checking the Build Linked Header check box on the Report Properties dialog enables you to automatically build linked page headers. However, once this option is set, linked fields cannot be unlinked. As items created when this option was not set are not linked if this option is subsequently set, you should set this option before beginning your report layout.

The Link Header and Unlink Header commands from the Edit menu are applied independently of this option. For details about using the Build Linked Header check box, see "Using the Details Sheet" under "Setting Report Properties", earlier in this chapter.

To link page header fields and detail fields

  1. While holding down the Shift key to enable multiple selections, select both fields you want to link. Select a report field in the report layout detail section for which you want to create a linked header and select a literal field in the report layout page header section. Linked page header fields must be literal fields. For details about inserting report fields, see "Inserting Report Fields", earlier in this chapter. For details about inserting literals, see "Inserting a Literal", earlier in this chapter.

  2. Select the Link Header command from the Edit menu. The selected fields are linked. The dimensions of the literal field are adjusted to match those of the report field.

Linked fields are moved and resized simultaneously, in proportion to each other. Changes to the alignment of one linked field are duplicated in the other.

Initially, the text displayed by the header field is that (if any) of the literal field. Once the field is linked, it can no longer be changed directly. Change the header text by changing the Title property of the linked report details field, by using the Title text box of the Field Properties dialog. For details about the Field Properties dialog, see "Setting Field Properties" under "Using the Detail Functions", later in this chapter.

The page header is automatically deleted when you delete the linked report detail field.

To unlink linked page header and detail fields

  1. Select either of the linked fields.

  2. Select the Unlink Header command from the Edit menu.

The linked fields are then unlinked.