Stories Design Pane: Layout
General layout rules
To build any template, we follow layout structure and rules. There are three sections in any template layout, Column axis, Row axis and Filter. Their positions are illustrated in the chart below:
Data Grid/ Information is retrieved from system based on the Intersection of row and column axis with additional filtering applied based on filter members selected.
It is mandatory for column axis and row axis, meaning there needs to be least one dimension member in each of row and column axis, for system to identify the intersection and retrieve the data.
Filter is optional axis and used to define other field members applicable for entire report. This axis can be blank (with no field) if all fields are assigned to row and column axis.
The simplest layout structure of an axis will have members from one field like in above example, 2022, 2023 and 2024 are member of Time field, and they are spread on the same row.
If additional dimension is required in report for more details, multi-dimensional axis can be created with members of different fields. In the example, row axis can have two fields as Company and Account, and these dimensions are displayed in two columns.
Report axis
Row, Column, and Filter together are referred as Report axis.
Based on model selection in the definition field of design pane, the fields assigned to that model will be auto populated in respective areas (such as Row, Column and Filter).
Note: The structure, report axis fields, and members for a model are defined already during the model creation phase. Hence, the fields are defaulted accordingly. However, if user wants to restructure the layout, they can drag and drop dimensions among along axes and change them.
Layout
Layout enables to define the position of entire template.
If the Row/Column axes are dynamic, they can define the template's position with field members. Clicking the icon displays a popup with the suggested start cell for the report and the range for row and column. This allows users to visualize the report structure layout.
By default, start cell of report is B5 but user can change to another cell by selecting preferred cell directly in sheet and then click the Edit icon of Start Cell. Note that start point of any report should be out of excel range from A1 to B4.
If both row and column axes are static with direct members entry in sheet, layout is already defined, and it will show exact ranges for row and column when user clicks the Layout button.
Set Range
Set Range helps in defining or adapting the static templates to JustPerform.
Enabling the checkbox placed at Row and Column area, helps define whether the axis is static or dynamic. By default, the Set Range box of both axes is Unchecked, and user has to define position of row and columns fields and their members on excel sheet for Set Range template.
Static layout helps users to use their preferred existing templates or templates with fixed layout without dynamic changes & keeping it static. JustPerform helps in defining the layout with cell positions & member identifications to save/retrieve the data in those Intersections.
Generally, financial reports like Consolidated Financial Statements, Balance Sheets, Income Statements, and Cash Flow reports, where financial accounts, entity, time, etc., are defined in a static layout, can be positioned in an Excel sheet and adapted for static reports.
When the "Set Range" checkbox is unchecked, the axes change back to a dynamic style, displaying filters and dropdown lists for each field.
Preferences
This feature allows user to define field attributes, properties and their sequencing to be displayed in template. By default ID -Description attribute is displayed in the template and can be modified using preferences for dynamic templates as set range templates have fixed field members and attributes to display
When Set Range is checked and the axis is static (e.g., column axis), a warning sign appears next to the Preferences selection to inform the user that they must define the detailed position of field members in the static axis. Clicking on Preferences opens a new window where the user can set the range for static field members and identify the dimension property to be displayed in the report. Once the range is set and updated successfully, the warning sign will disappear.
When Set Range is unchecked and the axis is dynamic (e.g., row axis), filters and dropdown lists are shown at the axis dimension for users to select desired members. Clicking on Preferences opens a new window with options for dimension properties to be displayed in the report.