Building a Compound Document

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Building a Compound Document

In this section:

Reference:

Output Format Options in Compound Documents

Compose view allows you to build multiple reports and charts on the same canvas. The styling, design, and report building functionality of Interactive Design view and Query Design view is available in Compose view, as well as additional features that simplify building compound documents. You can build and insert multiple queries in the form of reports and charts. You can also insert images and text for presentation and organizational purposes.

Creating a Compound Document From a Single Query

You can take a single query created in Interactive Design view or Query Design view and convert it into a Compound document, displaying it in the Compose view.

When you convert a single query into a compound document, the original query is preserved and a copy of that query is opened as a compound document in Compose view. You can then add additional reports, charts, images, and text.

Inserting a Chart

With InfoAssist opened in Compose view, you can insert multiple charts and reports onto the canvas. Following the procedures below, you can insert charts into new compound documents and documents that are already populated with queries, text, and images.

In Compose view, you can insert a chart in the following ways.

Use the Insert tab.
Drag and drop a data source field onto the canvas.
Double-click a data source field.
Right-click a data source field.

Note: Using the Insert tab, double-clicking a data source field, and right-clicking a data source field will all result in a chart placeholder being inserted in the top left corner of the canvas. Dragging and dropping a data source field onto the canvas will insert the place holder at the location you dropped the data source field.

The following procedures detail how to insert new charts. For more information on how to edit existing charts, see How to Style and Customize a Chart.

Procedure: How to Insert a Chart With the Insert Tab

In Compose view, you can insert charts in a number of ways. Inserting charts with the Insert tab is unique to Compose view. For more information on the Insert tab, see Using the Insert Tab.

With InfoAssist open in the Compose view, select the Insert tab from the Control Panel.

Select Chart in the Queries group, as shown in the following image.

A chart placeholder appears in the top left corner of the canvas.
You can now add fields to the chart using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Procedure: How to Insert a Chart With Drag and Drop

In Compose view, you can insert charts in a number of ways. Inserting charts by dragging data source fields from the Resources panel onto the Layout Canvas can be accomplished in both the Interactive Design view and Compose view. To insert a chart, make sure that Chart is selected in the Destination group of the Format tab. This option is also on the Home tab, in the Format group.

With InfoAssist open in Compose view, select the Format tab from the Control Panel.

Select Chart in the Destination group, as shown in the following image.

Note: Chart can also be selected from the Home tab, in the Format group.

Select a data source field from the Data pane in the Resources Panel and drag it onto the Layout Canvas. Make sure that you drop the data source field onto an open area of the canvas and not on top of another chart or report. A chart placeholder with the selected data source will appear in the Results panel, as shown in the following image.

You can now add fields to the chart using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Procedure: How to Insert a Chart With Double-Click

In Compose view, you can insert charts in a number of ways. Inserting charts by double-clicking a data source field in the Resources panel can be accomplished in the Query Design view, Interactive Design view, and Compose view. To insert a chart, make sure that no query is actively selected on the canvas and Chart is selected in the Destination group of the Format tab. This option is also on the Home tab, in the Format group.

You cannot insert a new chart with a double click if a query is actively selected. If a query is selected, click on the canvas to deselect the query and make the canvas the active object.

Select the Format tab from the Control Panel.

Select Chart in the Destination group, as shown in the following image.

Note: Chart can also be selected from the Home tab, in the Format group.

Double-click a data source field in the Data pane of the Resources Panel. A chart placeholder with the selected data source will appear in the Results panel, as shown in the following image.

You can now add fields to the chart using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Procedure: How to Insert a Chart With Right-Click

In Compose view, you can insert charts in a number of ways. Inserting charts by right-clicking a data source field in the Resources panel can be accomplished in the Query Design view, Interactive Design view, and Compose view. To insert a chart, make sure that no query is actively selected on the canvas and Chart is selected in the Destination group of the Format tab. This option is also on the Home tab, in the Format group.

You cannot insert a new chart with a right-click if a query is actively selected. If a query is selected, click on the canvas to deselect the query and make the canvas the active object.

Select the Format tab from the Control Panel.

Select Chart in the Destination group, as shown in the following image.

Note: Chart can also be selected from the Home tab, in the Format group.

Right-click a data source field in the Data pane of the Resources Panel. A menu will appear, as shown in the following image.

Select from the available right-click options, which are listed below.
- Include as Measure - For measure (numeric) fields.
- Include as Category Axis - For dimension (non-numeric or date) fields.
- Include as Legend Series - For dimension (non-numeric or date) fields.

A chart placeholder with the selected data source will appear in the Results panel, as shown in the following image.

Note: The chart placeholder will turn into a live preview of the chart once both X-axis and Y-axis data fields are selected.

You can now add fields to the chart using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Inserting a Report

With InfoAssist opened in Compose view, you can insert multiple charts and reports onto the canvas. Following the procedures below, you can insert reports into new compound documents and documents that are already populated with queries, text, and images.

In Compose view, you can insert a report in the following ways.

Use the Insert tab.
Drag and drop a data source field onto the canvas.
Double-click a data source field.
Right-click a data source field.

Note: Using the Insert tab, double-clicking a data source field, and right-clicking a data source field will all result in a report placeholder being inserted in the top left corner of the canvas. Dragging and dropping a data source field onto the canvas will insert the place holder at the location you dropped the data source field.

The following procedures detail how to insert new reports. For more information on how to edit existing reports, see How to Style and Customize a Report.

Procedure: How to Insert a Report With the Insert Tab

In Compose view, you can insert reports in a number of ways. Inserting reports with the Insert tab is unique to Compose view. For more information on the Insert tab, see Using the Insert Tab.

With InfoAssist open in the Compose view, select the Insert tab from the Control Panel.

Select Report in the Queries group, as shown in the following image.

A report placeholder will appear in the top left corner of the canvas.
You can now add fields to the report using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Procedure: How to Insert a Report With Drag and Drop

In Compose view, you can insert reports in a number of ways. Inserting reports by dragging data source fields from the Resources panel onto the Layout Canvas can be accomplished in both the Interactive Design view and Compose view. To insert a report, make sure that Report is selected in the Destination group of the Format tab. This option is also on the Home tab, in the Format group.

With InfoAssist open in Compose view, select the Format tab from the Control Panel.

Select Report in the Destination group, as shown in the following image.

Note: Report can also be selected from the Home tab, in the Format group.

Select a data source field from the Data pane in the Resources Panel and drag it onto the Layout Canvas. Make sure that you drop the data source field onto an open area of the canvas and not on top of another chart or report. A report with the selected data source will appear in the Results panel, as shown in the following image.

You can now add fields to the report using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Procedure: How to Insert a Report With Double-Click

In Compose view, you can insert reports in a number of ways. Inserting reports by double-clicking a data source field in the Resources panel can be accomplished in the Query Design view, Interactive Design view, and Compose view. To insert a report, make sure that no query is actively selected on the canvas and Report is selected in the Destination group of the Format tab. This option is also on the Home tab, in the Format group.

You cannot insert a new report with a double click if a query is actively selected. If a query is selected, click on the canvas to deselect the query and make the canvas the active object.

Select the Format tab from the Control Panel.

Select Report in the Destination group, as shown in the following image.

Note: Report can also be selected from the Home tab, in the Format group.

Double-click a data source field in the Data pane of the Resources Panel. A report with the selected data source will appear in the Results panel, as shown in the following image.

You can now add fields to the report using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Procedure: How to Insert a Report With Right-Click

In Compose view, you can insert reports in a number of ways. Inserting reports by right-clicking a data source field in the Resources panel can be accomplished in the Query Design view, Interactive Design view, and Compose view. To insert a report, make sure that no query is actively selected on the canvas and Report is selected in the Destination group of the Format tab. This option is also on the Home tab, in the Format group.

You cannot insert a new report with a right-click if a query is actively selected. If a query is selected, click on the canvas to deselect the query and make the canvas the active object.

Select the Format tab from the Control Panel.

Select Report in the Destination group, as shown in the following image.

Note: Report can also be selected from the Home tab, in the Format group.

Right-click a data source field in the Data pane of the Resources Panel. A menu will appear, as shown in the following image.

Select from the available right-click options, which are listed below.
- Include as Row Label (BY) - For dimension (non-numeric or date) fields.
- Include as Column Label (ACROSS) - For dimension (non-numeric or date) fields.
- Include as Measure - For measure (numeric) fields.

A report with the selected data source will appear in the Results panel, as shown in the following image.

You can now add fields to the report using the canvas and the Resources Panel. For more information on how to use the Resources Panel to add additional fields to the query, see Understanding the Resources Panel.

Inserting Queries From Multiple Data Sources

With InfoAssist opened in Compose view, you can insert multiple charts and reports onto the canvas. These queries can be from different data sources. With compound documents, you have the option to add additional data sources to the document.

In order to insert queries from different data sources, the compound document must have multiple data sources loaded. For more information on adding and switching between data sources, see Using the Data Tab.

Procedure: How to Insert Two Queries From Two Different Data Sources

Compound documents have the ability to display multiple queries from multiple data sources on the same document.

With InfoAssist open in Compose view, insert a chart or report following the instructions in Building a Compound Document.

If your document has only one data source, insert additional data sources. For more detailed instructions on inserting multiple data sources, see Using the Data Tab.

Switch to a data source different than the one used in step 1. For more detailed instructions on switching to a different data source, see Using the Data Tab.

Insert a chart or report using this new data source, following the instructions given in Building a Compound Document.
Your compound document is now populated with queries that have data from different data sources. You can add as many data sources as you need.

Inserting Text and Images

With InfoAssist opened in Compose view, you can insert text and images onto the canvas. Following the procedures below, you can insert text and images into new compound documents and documents that are already populated with queries, text, and images. Inserting text and images is a feature unique to Compose view and cannot be done in Interactive Design view or Query Design view.

The following procedures detail how to insert text and images. For more information on how to edit existing text and images, see Editing Components in a Compound Document.

Procedure: How to Insert Text

With InfoAssist open in the Compose view, select the Insert tab from the Control Panel.

Select Text in the Objects group, as shown in the following image.

A text component will appear in the top left corner of the canvas with default text, as shown in the following image.

Double-click or right-click on the text component to edit the text. For more information on editing and styling the text, see How to Edit Text.

Procedure: How to Insert an Image

With InfoAssist open in the Compose view, select the Insert tab from the Control Panel.

Select Image in the Objects group, as shown in the following image.

An Open dialog box appears, as shown in the following image.

Browse to the desired image and press OK.

The selected image will appear in the top left corner of the canvas, as shown in the following image.

Editing Components in a Compound Document

The queries and text on a compound document can be edited, moved, resized, and deleted. Each of these components has a context menu which can be accessed by right-clicking on the component. Images can be moved, resized, and deleted, but they have no context menu and cannot be edited. Right-clicking on a image will only bring up the option to delete it.

Procedure: How to Move and Resize a Component

You can move and resize of a component by clicking on it. This feature is available for all components that can be added to a compound document.

Open or create a compound document with at least one query, text component, or image.

Click the component. Sizing handles will appear around the border, as shown in the following image.

You can now resize the component, use the arrow keys to move the component, and use the mouse to drag the component anywhere on the canvas.

Procedure: How to Style and Customize a Report

When you click a component, it enables you to perform functions such as moving and resizing, as explained in How to Move and Resize a Component. After a single click, the Control Panel can be used to affect all settings of the selected component except for fields. You can double-click or right-click on a component, which allows you to select individual fields to be edited through the Context menu or Field tab.

The procedure below applies only to reports. Charts can be edited and have a context menu that is covered in How to Style and Customize a Chart. Text can be edited and has a context menu that is covered in How to Edit Text. Images cannot be edited.

Open or create a compound document with at least one report.

Click the report. Sizing handles will appear around the border, as shown in the following image.

Take note of the groups on the Field tab. The groups of the Field tab are still grayed out and inactive, as shown in the following image.

Right-click the report, and select Edit Report, as shown in the following image.

Note: You can also activate the report by double-clicking it, which has the same functionality as right-clicking and then selecting Edit Report.

You can now select fields within the report. Select a field by clicking on it in the canvas and take note of the now active groups on the field tab, as shown in the following image.

Note: You can also select a field within the report by clicking on the field in the Query pane of the Resources Panel. Make sure that the report that contains the field you would like to edit is selected on the canvas.

You can now edit the selected report through right-click commands, which bring up the Context menu or use of Control Panel, which contains options similar to those of the Context menu. For more information on styling and customizing reports, see Customizing and Styling Report Queries.

Procedure: How to Style and Customize a Chart

When you click a component, it enables you to perform functions such as moving and resizing, as explained in How to Move and Resize a Component. After a single click, the Control Panel can be used to affect all settings of the selected component except for fields. You can double-click or right-click on a component, which allows you to select individual fields to be edited through the Context menu or Field tab.

The procedure below applies only to charts. Reports can be edited and have a context menu that is covered in How to Style and Customize a Report. Text can be edited and has a context menu that is covered in How to Edit Text. Images cannot be edited.

Open or create a compound document with at least one chart.

Click the chart. Sizing handles appear around the border, as shown in the following image.

Take note of the groups on the Field tab. The groups of the Field tab are still grayed out and inactive, as shown in the following image.

Right-click the chart, and select Edit Chart, as shown in the following image.

Note: You can also activate the chart by double-clicking it, which has the same functionality as right-clicking and then selecting Edit Chart.

You can now select fields within the chart. Select a field by clicking on it in the canvas and take note of the now active groups on the field tab, as shown in the following image.

Note: You can also select a field within the chart by clicking on the field in the Query pane of the Resources Panel. Make sure that the chart that contains the field you would like to edit is selected on the canvas.

You can now edit the selected chart through right-click commands, which bring up the Context menu or use of the Control Panel, which contains options similar to those of the Context menu. For more information on styling and customizing charts, see Creating and Customizing Chart Queries.

Procedure: How to Edit Text

When you click a component, you can perform functions such as moving and resizing, as explained in How to Move and Resize a Component. You can double-click or access the Context menu by right-clicking on a component.

The procedure below applies only to text. Reports can be edited and styled and have a context menu that is covered in How to Style and Customize a Report. Charts can be edited and styled and have a context menu that is covered in How to Style and Customize a Chart. Images cannot be edited.

Open or create a compound document with at least one text component.

Click the text. Sizing handles appear around the border, as shown in the following image.

Right-click the text, and select Edit Text, as shown in the following image.

Note: You can also activate the context menus by double-clicking the text, which has the same functionality as right-clicking and then selecting Edit Text.

A cursor appears over the text. Click anywhere in the text box and begin entering text.

Highlight the text you would like to edit and right-click, a context menu appears.

Using the options in the Context menu, you can style the text and insert quick text.

The text component menu options are as follows.

Value	Description	Format Options
Font	Changes the font of the selected text.	Not available
Size	Changes the size of the selected text.	Not available
Bold	Changes the font weight of the selected text.	Not available
Italic	Applies or removes italics from the selected text.	Not available
Underline	Applies or removes underline from the selected text.	Not available
Text color...	Changes the text color.	Not available
Cut	Cuts the selected text.	Not available
Copy	Copies the selected text.	Not available
Paste	Pastes text from the clipboard.	Not available
Insert date/time	Inserts Date or Time quick text with various format options.	MM/DD/YY HH.MM.SS MMDDYY MMDDYYYY DDMMYY DDMMYYYY YYMMDD YYYYMMDD
Insert page #	Inserts page number quick text with various format options.	Page X Total pages Page X of Y

Procedure: How to Delete a Component

The procedure below applies to all components in the Compose view.

Open or create a compound document with at least one component.

Right-click the component, select Delete and the component will be deleted from the canvas.

Note: You can also delete a component by clicking it and pressing the Delete key.

Reference: Output Format Options in Compound Documents

The output types available in Compose view are dependent on the queries that are within the compound document.

If a compound document has chart queries in it, you will not be able to choose Active Report, Active Flex, or Active PDF as the output type. A compound document with only report queries in it can output in any format. Images and text within a compound document have no effect on the available output formats. For more information on output types, see Output Format Options.

Note: If an Active output format (Active Report, Active Flex, Active PDF) is selected, the chart button on the Insert tab will be grayed out and inactive.

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