Using the Table Design Interface

Let’s name the rest of the fields this time using the Table Design View.

Steps:

1.    From the Report interface, select the Table tab to display the Table view and then click Autosize Columns . This function resizes the columns of the table so that the contents of each cell fit better.

2.    Select Table Design  from the Table ribbon to display the Table Design view.

The Table Design view presents a list of all of the fields you have trapped and will appear on your table, as well as their general properties.

If you wish to view the template properties, simply check the box labeled Show Template Properties at the lower left-hand corner of the view. You’ll also see the now-familiar Data Preview panel at the bottom left corner of the interface.

While the Table Design view allows you to change field names and properties similar to the Field Definition window, it also allows you to perform external lookups, specify formula fields, define filters and sorts, and define address blocks, among others. We’ll discuss these functionalities one by one in later lessons. For now, we’ll focus on changing field names using the Table Design window.

3.    In the name field, locate the cell with the entry ACCOUNT NUMBER and change it to Account Number by clicking on the cell and typing over the original entry.

4.    Locate the cell with the entry CONTACT and rename it toContact.

5.    Replace the name eg_536017 with Order Number.

6.    Replace the name 04/10/10 with Ship Date.

7.    Replace the field name eg_05/01/10 with Report Date.

8.    Replace the field name eg_Page 01 with Page Number.

9.    Click Accept  to accept your field name definitions and close the Table Design view.

10.  The Table Design interfaces closes and you are returned to Table view. Click Autosize Columns  on the Table ribbon to view as many of the fields as you can.