MicroStrategy ONE
About formatting a report
Formatting on a report is contained in different formatting layers, which allow you to control the look of the report even when it is pivoted or manipulated. The layers ensure that the formatting continues to highlight significant points of the report.
The formatting layers of a report
Report formatting is contained in different layers, allowing you to control the look of a report when it is manipulated and ensure that the important information is still emphasized. The following list of formatting layers describes how each impacts the final report display and in what order. The list begins with the first layer that is applied to a report; each succeeding layer overwrites the formatting of all its preceding layers.
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The metric level specifies a format for the particular metric, regardless of the report it is on. This formatting, which can be applied to headers and values, is performed in the Metric Editor. Metric level formatting is overwritten by axis and all metrics formatting. Setting those layers to default allows the metric level formatting to display.
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Axis formatting affects all the units of the axis. This zone formatting is overwritten by grid unit formatting. The axis formatting layers are located under the Rows and Columns options on the Format menu.
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Metrics label formatting applies to the text "Metrics" that is displayed on the report. It is based on the axis header formatting. For example, if the metrics are displayed on the columns of the report, then the formatting for column headers is applied to the label "Metrics".
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All metrics formatting has two options:
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All metrics headers formats the metric names. It overwrites the axis formatting.
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All metrics values formats the data zone, or where the metric values are displayed. It overwrites metric level formatting.
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The Format menu contains the All Metrics option.
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Report metric formats an individual metric on a particular report. It does not change the formatting of the metric in other reports. Report metric formatting overwrites metric level and all metrics formatting. To format a metric at the report level, select the metric on the Format menu.
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Grid unit allows you to format an individual report item, such as an attribute. It overwrites axis formatting. Every grid unit is listed on the Format menu.
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Banding enables row or column grouping by color to enhance readability. Banding formats are applied before subtotal formatting to allow subtotals to take priority. Select Grid, then Options to create banding.
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Column subtotals formatting is overwritten by row subtotals when column and row subtotals intersect. Subtotal formatting can be applied as either zone or grid unit formatting:
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In grid unit formatting, the formatting moves with the subtotals. Every grid unit is listed on the Format menu.
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In zone formatting, formatting is based on location. To format subtotals as a zone, select Columns from the Format menu, then choose Subtotal Headers or Values in the drop-down menu.
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The subtotal headers lie on the values zone. Formatting is applied on subtotal headers in the following order, starting with the first layer to be applied:
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Axis values
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Axis subtotal header
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Template unit values
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Template unit subtotal header
For a more detailed comparison of zone versus grid unit formatting, refer to the Advanced Reporting Help.
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Row subtotals formatting takes precedence over column subtotals when the two intersect. As with column subtotals, it can be applied as either zone or grid unit formatting.
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The subtotal headers lie on the values zone. Formatting is applied on subtotal headers in the following order, starting with the first layer to be applied:
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Axis values
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Axis subtotal header
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Template unit values
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Template unit subtotal header
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Custom group formatting allows you to format each custom group element differently, independent of the report format. Set this format in the Custom Group Editor.
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Consolidation elements can also be formatted individually. This formatting applies to any report the consolidation is placed on. To format a consolidation, use the Consolidation Editor.
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Report border creates a border around the whole report.
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To set a report border, right-click the report but not a report object. Select Formatting, then Report Borders.
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Threshold is the last layer applied so it overwrites all other layers.
For an example of how the order of the formatting layers impacts the report display and detailed information on report formatting, see the appropriate topic in the Advanced Reporting Help.