MicroStrategy ONE

Formatting text fields

When you add a new text field, its formatting is determined by the control defaults. You can change the formatting and appearance as described below:

  • For all formatting options and properties, format text using the Property List. Formatting options include font, alignment, borders (including 3D borders and drop shadows), text layout (such as word wrap), and colors, including gradient colors (two-color combinations). The general and layout properties include the properties that define the text field, such as name, position, size, and hyperlink information.

  • For easy access to basic formatting options, format text using the Formatting toolbar. Basic formatting options are fonts, colors, and basic borders.

  • For easy access to border, background fill, and font color, use the right-click options.

  • For font, alignment, number format, border, and color options, including gradient colors, 3D borders, and drop shadows, use the Format Objects dialog box.

  • For general and layout properties that define the text field, specify the text field properties. Examples of these properties are name, position, and size.

The Property List is the easiest to use, as it contains all the options of the other interfaces on the same screen as the Layout area.

For more information on some of the formatting options, see the following topics:

  • Make the text field appear three-dimensional, like a button, with a 3D effect. For detailed instructions, see Applying 3D effects.

  • Let the content behind the text field show through by setting the backstyle to transparent. You can also allow a fill color to cover what is behind the text field by setting the backstyle to opaque. For detailed instructions, see Applying transparent or opaque backstyles.

  • "Float" the text field above the background by using a drop shadow. For detailed instructions, see Applying drop shadows.

  • Create a gradual color change by blending two colors using gradient colors on the text field. For detailed instructions, see Applying gradient colors.

  • Display pop-up text when a user positions the cursor over the control in MicroStrategy Web with a tooltip. The tooltip can provide extra information, such as an expanded description of the control. For detailed instructions, see Creating pop-up tooltips.

  • Display text vertically to control the orientation of text fields. Vertical text is displayed in PDF view, in all MicroStrategy Web display modes, and when the document is exported to Excel.

  • Display information to other document designers in Design View (MicroStrategy Developer) and Design Mode (MicroStrategy Web) while hiding it from users viewing the document in other MicroStrategy Developer views and MicroStrategy Web modes. To do this, you hide the control that contains the information by using the Visible property. For instance, you can put information about a data source in a text field for designers, and then hide that text field. For detailed instructions, see Hiding controls.

  • Display a scroll bar if the text does not fit in within the size of the text field. For example, if the height of a text field is fixed, the text field does not expand to fit the contents. In Express Mode and Interactive Mode in MicroStrategy Web, and when the document is exported to HTML, a user can scroll through all of the text if scroll bars are displayed. The alternative is that the text is clipped so that only the text that can fit within the size of the text field is displayed.

    • Clipped text is shown in the text field at the top of the document sample below, while a scroll bar is provided for the text field on the bottom. Notice that the scroll bar has been moved to the right, to show the end of the text.

  • Set number formatting options such as decimal spaces, currency symbols, time formats, zip code formats, and so on. For more information, see Formatting numbers in text fields.

  • Format the font of the text in the text field, including style, size, and color.

Formatting text position in a text field

Text display properties control how the text is displayed within the borders of the text field. They include the following options:

  • Horizontal alignment: Controls how the text is aligned horizontally within the control boundaries. The options are centered, left-aligned, or right-aligned. By default, text fields are left-aligned.

  • Word wrap: Determines whether the text is displayed on a single line or multiple lines within the control boundaries. By default, the text field wraps words to multiple lines.

  • Text direction: Controls the orientation of the text within the text field. The options are horizontal, 90 degrees (text is displayed from bottom to top), and -90 degrees (text is displayed from top to bottom). By default, text fields are horizontally oriented. For examples of text direction, see Displaying text vertically.

  • Padding: Defines the space between the text and the borders of the text field. You can specify different amounts of padding between the text and each side of the text field (top, bottom, left, and right). For an example of padding, see Displaying text vertically.

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