Useful formatting suggestions for Grid/Graphs

The following list provides some useful formatting suggestions for Grid/Graphs:

Make the Grid/Graph appear three-dimensional, like a button, with the 3D effect. For more information, see Applying 3D effects to controls.
"Float" the Grid/Graph above the background by using a drop shadow. For more information, see Applying drop shadows.
Let the content behind the Grid/Graph show through by setting the backstyle to transparent. You can also allow a fill color to cover what is behind the Grid/Graph by setting the backstyle to opaque. For more information, see Applying transparent or opaque backstyles.
Create a gradual color change in the background of the Grid/Graph with gradient colors. For more information, see Applying gradient colors.
You can also define the background color for cells selected in Grid/Graphs used as selectors, for display in Flash Mode and Express Mode in MicroStrategy Web. For procedures, see Formatting the backgrounds of Grid/Graphs.

The backstyle and background only apply to any part of the Grid/Graph container that the actual grid or graph does not cover. For example, the grid can be smaller than the Grid/Graph container (see Formatting the Grid/Graph container vs. title bar for more information).

Specify the default grid Autostyle, which is the report Autostyle applied to any new Grid/Graph added to the document as a grid. For more information and a procedure, see Setting the default grid Autostyle.
Quickly change a Grid/Graph from a graph to a grid and back with the Quick switch button. The quick switch button is available in MicroStrategy Web only; you cannot use it in MicroStrategy Developer. However, in MicroStrategy Developer you can determine whether quick switch is available in MicroStrategy Web. For more information, see Enabling quick switch for Grid/Graphs.
If the Grid/Graph is displayed as both a grid and a graph simultaneously, you can configure the properties that control how the grid and graph display within the borders of the Grid/Graph object. For a procedure, see Configuring Grid/Graphs in Grid and graph mode.
Display pop-up text with a tooltip when a user positions the cursor over the Grid/Graph in MicroStrategy Web. The tooltip can provide extra information, such as an expanded description of the dataset report. For more information, see Creating pop-up tooltips.
Display a Grid/Graph to other document designers in Design view while hiding it from users viewing the document in PDF view (MicroStrategy Developer or MicroStrategy Web), Editable Mode, and Express Mode on MicroStrategy Web. For more information, see Hiding controls.
Allow users to minimize and maximize the Grid/Graph in MicroStrategy Web with a title bar. The title bar also displays a title, which helps identify the Grid/Graph. Title bars provide documents with a portal grid mode and help you create a dashboard look and feel. For more in formation, see Adding title bars to Grid/Graphs.
Enable a transition animation for Flash Mode in MicroStrategy Web. A transition animation is a visual transition that occurs when a Grid/Graph is first displayed in Flash Mode. Examples are Blur, Fade, and Iris. For more information, see Enabling transition animations for Grid/Graphs and panel stacks in Flash Mode (Web).

For examples of Grid/Graph formatting, see the Document Creation Help.