A column definition is a report component, also called a building block, which defines the contents of columns in a report. Like row definitions, a basic column definition can be used in multiple reports.

A column definition can contain 2 to 255 columns.

Create a column definition

  1. In Report Designer, click Column Definitions.

  2. On the Filemenu, click New, and then select Column Definition.

  3. Add the information that is defined in the Contents of a column definition section later in this topic.

Open a column definition

  1. Open Report Designer. In the navigation pane, click Column Definitions.

  2. Double-click a column definition to open it.

Add a column to a column definition

  1. In Report Designer, click Column Definitions, and then open the column definition to modify.

  2. Select a column where a new column should be inserted.

  3. On the Editmenu, click Insert Column. The new column appears to the left of the column that you selected.

Delete a column from a column definition

  1. In Report Designer, click Column Definitions, and then open the column definition to modify.

  2. Select the column to delete.

  3. On the Editmenu, click Delete Column.

Contents of a column definition

A column definition includes the following information:

  • A column that displays the descriptions from the row definition.

  • Amount columns that display data from the financial data, an Excel spreadsheet, or calculations on other data in the column definition.

  • Formatting columns.

  • Attribute columns.

This information appears in the following two sections in the column definition:

See Also