Chapter

6
Graphs

Chapter 6

If you have Microsoft Graph installed on your system you can instantly
transform report data into graphs. You can create any type of graphs
including pie, line, area, column and combination graphs which you can
format to suit your needs.

Instantly transform data

into a graph

There are three ways to create a graph:

Select up to three columns and press the Graph button.
Press the Graph button to open Microsoft Graph and define the graph
from scratch.
For a crosstab press the Graph button or right-click and select Chart.

Converting a columnar report to a graph

To create a graph using the point and click method:

1 Select one, two, or three columns of data in a report.

2 Press the Graph button.
You can cancel creating a graph by clicking on the left-mouse button when
the No-drop cursor appears or by pressing the ESC key.

3 Move your cursor within the boundaries of a header or footer. The Graph
cursor appears.

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4 Use the mouse to position the Graph cursor in the header or footer where
you want to place the graph. Click the left mouse button to place the
graph.
To create a graph using Microsoft Graph:

1 Make sure nothing is selected in your report and press the Graph button.
2 Click in the header or footer to place the graph. The graph application
opens.
3 Create a graph in Microsoft Graph. (Refer to your Microsoft Graph
documentation.)
4 When youve finished, choose the Update command on the applications
File menu. This places the graph below the point where you clicked in
your report. For OLE 2.0, click outside the graph.
5 To return to ReportSmith choose File|Exit and File|Return to Report, or
click outside the window.
To reposition a graph within a header or footer:

1 Single-click the graph.

2 Drag it to a new location within a header or footer and release the mouse.
ReportSmith repositions the graph in the new location.
To modify a graph:

1 Double-click the graph. The Graph tool opens. For OLE 2.0, the menus
and toolbars change to show Graph options.

2 Modify the graph. (Refer to your Microsoft Word documentation.)

3 Do one of the following:
Select the Update command on Graph tools File menu when youve
finished editing the graph and then choose the Exit command on the
File menu to return to ReportSmith.
Select the Exit and Return to Report command on the graph application
File menu to cancel or save your changes when prompted and return to
ReportSmith.
Note

You cannot close your ReportSmith document until you exit Microsoft
Graph.
To delete a graph:

1 Select the graph you want to delete.

2 Press the Delete key. ReportSmith deletes the graph from your report.
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Users Guide

To create a graph from a crosstab:

1 Select a crosstab.
2 Press the Graph button on the toolbar or right-click and select Chart from
the pop-up menu.
3 Single-click in a header or footer to place the graph in your report.

Converting a crosstab to a graph

To create a graph based on a crosstab report:

1 Select the crosstab and Tools|Crosstab to display the Crosstab toolbox.

2 Press the Graph button.
When you move your cursor within the boundaries of a header or footer,
the Graph cursor appears.

3 Drag the mouse to position the Graph cursor in the header or footer where
you want to place the graph and left-click the mouse. ReportSmith places
the graph below the point where you press.
4 Click to select the header or footer if the graph exceeds its boundaries. A
box with sizing handles surrounds the header or footer.
5 Drag a sizing handle until the entire graph falls within the boundaries,
then release the mouse button.

Placing a graph
Where you place the graph controls what data is included and how often it
appears in your report. If you drop the graph into a global region like a page
header or report footer, this creates the graph using all the data in the report
and ReportSmith places it in every page or in the report header or footer. If
you drop it into a group header or footer, the Graph tool creates a graph
based on the data in just that group and ReportSmith places it into that group
header or footer. ReportSmith positions the graphs top left corner where you
click the mouse.

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Users Guide