Formatting selectors using the Format Objects dialog box

To change the alignment, font, border, and color options, including gradient colors (two-color combinations) of a selector, use the Format Objects dialog box. You can select 3D borders and drop shadows, as well as gradient colors for the background, with this interface. You can format both the container and the title bar of the selector. (The container displays the selector items, while the title bar displays above the container, as shown in Formatting selectors.)

Prerequisites

• This procedure assumes you have added a selector to the document. For instructions, see Inserting selectors into documents.

• To format the title bar, you must display the title bar. For instructions, see Displaying title bars in selectors.

To format a selector

1. Open the document to be formatted. (How?)

2. Select the selector to be formatted.

3. From the Format menu, select Format. The Format Objects dialog box opens.

   • To format the container (which displays the selector items)

4. Select Container in the object list on the left.

5. Use the Alignment tab to align the text vertically and horizontally within each selector item:

   • Set the Horizontal alignment to Left, Right, or Center.

   • Set the Vertical alignment to Top, Bottom, or Center.

6. Use the Font tab to select the font name, script, and size; whether the font is bold, underlined, italicized; and whether to apply color or strike out the text. This font formatting applies to the selector items. For instructions, see Format the font.

7. Use the Border tab to define the border around the selector container. For instructions, see Format the border.

8. Use the Background tab to set the background fill of the selector container. Choose one of the following:

   • To use a single color as the background, set the Background style to Solid. Use the Fill color drop-down list to select the background color.

   • To shade the selector using gradient colors, which combine two colors:

   • Set the Background style to Gradient.

   • Use the Color 1 drop-down list to select the first color to apply to the container.

   • Use the Color 2 drop-down list to select the second color to apply. Color 1 and Color 2 are blended together.

   • Click one of the squares to set the direction of the shading between the two colors. The colors can blend left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top.

     If you choose Horizontal centered or Vertical centered instead, you are applying a three-way or mirror gradient, which are displayed in Flash Mode (MicroStrategy Web). In other MicroStrategy Web view modes and in MicroStrategy Developer, three-way gradients are rendered as non-mirrored gradients. For more information, see Applying three-way (mirror) gradients.

   • To allow what is behind the container to show through, set the Background style to Transparent.

9. You can also use the Background tab to define the background color for items selected in Drop-down, Listbox, and Link Bar selectors. For an example, see Formatting the backgrounds of selectors. Choose one of the following:

   • If you want to specify a color, click Selection color, and choose a color from the color palette.

   • If you want the color to be automatically set to contrast with the selector's background, choose Automatic from the Selection color drop-down list.

     The Selection color is applied in Flash Mode in MicroStrategy Web. In all other MicroStrategy Web modes, the Selection coloris applied only to Link Bar selectors.

10. Use the Effects tab to apply a 3D effect or a drop shadow, and overwrite the border settings. For instructions, see Applying 3D effects to controls, and Applying drop shadows to controls.

    • The 3D effect makes the selector appear three-dimensional, like a button.

    • A drop shadow "floats" the selector on top of the background.

11. Select Title in the object list on the left.

12. Use the Alignment tab to align and pad the text within the title bar, as described below:

    • Set the Horizontal alignment to Left, Right, or Center.

    • Set the Vertical alignment to Top, Bottom, or Center.

    • Change the amount of space between the text and the border of the control (padding), by typing numbers in the Left, Right, Top, and/or Bottom fields.

13. Use the Font tab to select the font name, script, and size; whether the font is bold, underlined, italicized; and whether to apply color or strike out the text. This font formatting applies to the title bar. For instructions, see Format the font.

14. Use the Border tab to define the border around the title bar. For instructions, see Format the border.

15. Use the Background tab to set the background fill of the title bar. Choose one of the following:

    • To use a single color as the background, set the Background style to Solid. Use the Fill color drop-down list to select the background color.

    • To shade the selector using gradient colors, which combine two colors:

      • Set the Background style to Gradient.

      • Use the Color 1 drop-down list to select the first color to apply to the title bar.

      • Use the Color 2 drop-down list to select the second color to apply. Color 1 and Color 2 are blended together.

      • Click one of the squares to set the direction of the shading between the two colors. The colors can blend left to right, right to left, top to bottom, or bottom to top.

        If you choose Horizontal centered or Vertical centered instead, you are applying a three-way or mirror gradient, which can be displayed in Flash Mode (MicroStrategy Web) only. In other MicroStrategy Web view modes and in MicroStrategy Developer, three-way gradients are rendered as non-mirrored gradients. For more information, see Applying three-way (mirror) gradients.

    • To allow what is behind the title bar to show through, set the Background style to Transparent.

16. Click OK to accept the changes and return to the Document Editor.

Related Topics

• Formatting selectors

• Useful formatting suggestions for selectors

• Providing interactivity to users: Selectors