Define the visual settings for columns in a Profitability Analysis report

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The following describes how to define visual settings for columns allowing you to draw attention to critical information in a report, regardless of what sorting has been done.

You may deem it necessary to draw attention to, for example, low turnover figures or low profit figures. You can easily do this by colour coding either the figures in the applicable columns (foreground) or the entire column (background).

Note: You can set up the visual settings for applicable columns both before the report has been created and after.

When defining these settings before you create the report (i.e. when building the report) you can do it via the following:

Manage PA definitions menu item (the Manage column visual settings icon; alternatively Manage/Column visual settings from the menu bar)

When defining these settings after you have created the report you can do it while viewing the report via the following:

Edit column visual settings on the toolbar – alternatively Settings/Edit column visual settings from the menu bar), or
Edit settings on the toolbar – alternatively Settings/Edit settings from the menu bar.

Note: From both places, it is done on the This PA report page. (See Define the report settings to be valid for a specific Profitability Analysis report for instructions on accessing this page).

To colour code information for one or several columns do as follows:

Access the Visual settings window via any of the methods described above.
You access the window Selection required window. Select the applicable column and click Select
You access the Edit visual settings for: (the name of the column you selected): window

The information in the Sequence column is in hierarchy order, starting with the PA definition and then the first key in the sequence, etc. Click the arrow beside the PA definition to pull down a list. The number of keys in the list depends on the keys on which you sorted the information. Under each sequence key you see different Value levels, meaning you have the option to colour code the Totals, Year or Period values.

Select the applicable Value level for the Sequence key and click the New icon.

You access the Edit visual setting properties window:

Complete the following information:

Apply to:
Enter the sequence and value level for which you want to apply the visual settings.

Sequence: If you selected a value level for a sequence key on the previous window, the name of the sequence key is displayed. You can leave as is, or change to another by clicking on the arrow to pull down a list and making your selection.
Value level: If you selected a value level for a sequence key on the previous window, the value level is displayed in this field. You can leave as is, or change to another by clicking on the arrow to pull down a list and making your selection.

Value range
Enter the from/to value ranges in the fields below, thereby narrowing down the information for which you want to draw attention. This means that only the values in the specified column, for the specified key sequence and Value level that are within this range, will be highlighted.

From value: Enter the from value in the range.
To value: Enter the to value in the range.

Visual settings

Background colour: If you want to assign a background colour for the values in the specified column, click the paint icon beside this field and select the appropriate colour.
Foreground colour: If you want to assign a foreground colour for the values in the specified column, click the paint icon beside this field and select the appropriate colour.
Preview: This field depicts you what your colour coding will look like.

Click OK.

You return to the window Edit visual settings for: (the name of the applicable column) window.

An arrow appears beside the Value level for which you defined the Background or Foreground colour. Click the arrow to drill down to view the properties.

Save the information.

You return to the PA report where you can view this information.