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How to: Configure Output for Data Groups

You can control the way output from data groups appears in your report or label. The following sections describe ways to configure output for data groups:

  • Specifying Page or Column Breaks for Data Groups

  • Preventing Orphaned Group Headers

  • Repeating Group Headers

Specifying Page or Column Breaks for Data Groups

You can use page or column breaks to specify that records for each group start on a new page or column.

To specify page or column breaks for a data group

  1. Open the report or label in the appropriate designer.

  2. On the Report menu, click Data Grouping.

    The Report Properties dialog box opens.

    Note

    If the _REPORTBUILDER system variable is not set to the default Report Builder or is set to a third-party builder, the Data Grouping dialog box displays or a different dialog box might display. For more information, see _REPORTBUILDER System Variable and Data Grouping Dialog Box.

  3. In the Report Properties dialog box, click the Data Grouping tab if it is not selected.

  4. In the Group nesting order list, select the data group expression you want.

  5. In the Group starts on area, select New page or New column.

    Tip

    To start the data group on a new page and reset page numbering to 1, click New page number 1.

For more information, see Data Grouping Tab, Report Properties Dialog Box (Report Builder).

Preventing Orphaned Group Headers

Sometimes the output from a data group might appear partially on one page and then finish on the next. In this scenario, the group header might appear near the bottom of the page with most of the records appearing on the next.

To avoid this scenario, set the minimum distance that a group header will display from the bottom of the page. If the group header will appear closer to the bottom than the distance you specify, the header appears on a new page.

To prevent orphaned group headers

  1. Open the report or label in the appropriate designer.

  2. On the Report menu, click Data Grouping.

    The Report Properties dialog box opens.

    Note

    If the _REPORTBUILDER system variable is not set to the default Report Builder or is set to a third-party builder, the Data Grouping dialog box displays or a different dialog box might display. For more information, see _REPORTBUILDER System Variable and Data Grouping Dialog Box.

  3. In the Report Properties dialog box, click the Data Grouping tab if it is not selected.

  4. In the Group nesting order list, select the data group expression you want.

  5. In the Start group on a new page when less than box, select or type the minimum distance you want.

    Tip

    A recommended value is one to three times the height of the Detail band plus the Group Header height.

For more information, see Data Grouping Tab, Report Properties Dialog Box (Report Builder).

Repeating Group Headers

When records from a group continue on the next page, you can repeat the group header for those records.

Tip

You can mark multiple group bands to repeat their contents when a group continues to a new page. If you want controls in a group header band to repeat when the group continues on the next page, make sure you mark the group header band containing those controls to repeat their contents. Marking only one group header band only repeats the controls for that band.

To repeat the group header on the next page

  1. Open the report or label in the appropriate designer.

  2. On the Report menu, click Data Grouping.

    The Report Properties dialog box opens.

    Note

    If the _REPORTBUILDER system variable is not set to the default Report Builder or is set to a third-party builder, the Data Grouping dialog box displays or a different dialog box might display. For more information, see _REPORTBUILDER System Variable and Data Grouping Dialog Box.

  3. In the Report Properties dialog box, click the Data Grouping tab if it is not selected.

  4. In the Group nesting order list, select the data group expression you want.

  5. Click Reprint group header on each page.

    Tip

    Clearing the Reprint group header on each page box prevents the group header from repeating.

For more information, see Data Grouping Tab, Report Properties Dialog Box (Report Builder).

See Also

Tasks

How to: Edit Data Groups in Reports

Other Resources

Working with Report Data Groups