Forms Editor (Reference)

Reports → Tutorial | Concept | How-to Guide | Reference

Editor Interface

Toolbar Components

• Font Controls - Type, size, style
• Paragraph - Alignment, spacing, indentation
• Insert - Tags, symbols, tables, images
• Format - Colors, borders, backgrounds
• Tools - Preview, print, export

Text Area

Main editing canvas with:

• Real-time preview
• Drag-and-drop support
• Context menus
• Grid alignment

Adding Dynamic Content

Tags

Insert real-time tag values:

Method 1: Direct typing

{Tag.TagName}
{Tag.TankFarm/Tank1/Level}
{Tag.Production/Production_Count}

Method 2: Tag Browser

1. Right-click toolbar Tag button
2. Browse and select tag
3. Tag inserted with formatting

System Tags

{Info.Date}           // Current date
{Info.Time}           // Current time
{Client.UserName}     // Logged user
{Page.Number}         // Page number
{Page.Total}          // Total pages

Tables

Static Tables

Fixed structure with manual content:

1. Click Table button
2. Specify rows and columns
3. Configure appearance:
   • Borders and shading
   • Cell alignment
   • Column widths
4. Populate cells manually or with tags

Example:

| Parameter | Value | Status |
|-----------|-------|--------|
| Level | {Tag.Tank1_Level} | {Tag.Level_Status} |
| Temp | {Tag.Tank1_Temp} | Normal |

Dynamic Tables

Query-driven content:

1. Insert query reference
2. Map columns in first two rows:
   • Row 1: Display names
   • Row 2: Database columns

Example:

| Product Name | Quantity | Price |
| ProductName | Qty | UnitPrice |
{Dataset.Query.ProductList}

The table auto-populates from query results.

Symbols and Graphics

Adding Symbols

1. Click Symbol button
2. Select from library
3. Symbol updates dynamically

Creating Trend Symbols

1. Right-click trend in display
2. Select Make New Symbol
3. Insert via Symbol button
4. Trend updates with latest data

Localization

Enable Translation

Set dictionary before generation:

csharp

@Client.Localization = "Spanish";  // Use Spanish dictionary
@Client.Localization = "";         // Use default

Translatable Elements

• Tag descriptions
• Table headers
• Static text with locale keys
• Custom messages

Translation Callback

For dynamic translation:

csharp

public void OnReportCustomTableCell(string reportName, 
    string columnName, DataRow row, TableCell tableCell)
{
    if (row["ItemName"].ToString() == "{object}")
    {
        string translated = @Client.Locale(row[columnName].ToString());
        Run cellText = (tableCell.Blocks.FirstBlock as Paragraph)
            .Inlines.FirstInline as Run;
        cellText.Text = translated;
    }
}

Headers and Footers

Creating Headers

1. Create separate report form
2. Design header content:

========================================
     Company Name
     {Info.Date} - {Info.Time}
     Production Report
========================================

Creating Footers

1. Create footer form
2. Add page numbering:

Page {Page.Number} of {Page.Total}
Generated by: {Client.UserName}

Linking to Main Report

1. Open main report properties
2. Set Header property to header form
3. Set Footer property to footer form

Special Features

Alarm Audit Trail

Add alarm history to reports:

{Alarm.Group.AuditTrail}

With custom messages:

csharp

@Alarm.AuditTrail.AddCustomMessage(
    "User: {" + @Client.UserName + "} logged",
    null, null, null, "{object}", null, null
);

Append Mode

Accumulate data in existing file:

1. Set Append column to 1
2. New data adds to file
3. Preserves historical records

Dynamic Cell Colors

Apply conditional formatting via callback:

csharp

public void OnReportCustomTableCell(string reportName, 
    string columnName, DataRow row, TableCell tableCell)
{
    double value = Convert.ToDouble(row[columnName]);
    if (value > 90)
        tableCell.Background = Brushes.Red;
    else if (value > 80)
        tableCell.Background = Brushes.Yellow;
}

Export Formats

Best Practices

1. Test preview - Verify before saving
2. Use templates - Reusable headers/footers
3. Validate queries - Check data availability
4. Handle nulls - Default values for missing data
5. Size images - Optimize for output format
6. Test translations - Verify all languages
7. Archive reports - Implement retention

Troubleshooting

Missing data:

• Verify tag names and paths
• Check query execution
• Confirm data timing

Formatting issues:

• Match font availability
• Check export format limits
• Review page margins

Translation problems:

• Confirm dictionary loaded
• Check locale keys
• Verify callback function

Performance:

• Limit query results
• Optimize images
• Reduce complex formatting

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