Using Labels in Reports

To use labels with your reports, you need to open a report template and add at least one of these objects:

Once an object exists, right-click on it to access its Properties dialog box. Finally, use the Rules Tree Editor to define rules that use one or more label templates.

When you apply your report template, PC-DMIS follows the rules you specified and uses the chosen label templates.

Understanding Stand-Alone Label Ordering

If you use stand-alone Label objects in your report template, be aware that, by default, PC-DMIS fills them with measured data in the report in front-to-back order. To illustrate this, when you add stand-alone labels, PC-DMIS defines each label by a progressive alphanumeric ID (Label1, Label2 …LabelN where N indicates the final label number). While label IDs don't control the order in which the labels are filled, they are discussed here to more easily illustrate how ordering takes place. During report creation, assuming you haven't modified the label IDs in any way, LabelN is activated and filled first, while Label1 is activated and filled last.

This only happens with stand-alone labels, not with labels used within the TextReportObject or CadReportObject.

Changing Stand-Alone Label Ordering

Since PC-DMIS may not initially fill the labels in the order you would like, you can change the drawing order of the labels to determine which labels are filled first with menu items located on the Edit | Order submenu.

You can also use the To Front or Back icons on the Layout Bar.

After you change the drawing order, PC-DMIS fills the top most drawn label first and the bottom most drawn label last. For example, suppose you have three large labels that fill up a single section with Label1 at the top, Label2 in the middle, and Label3 at the bottom. Initially, it fills up Label3 first, then Label2, and then Label1. To guarantee that PC-DMIS displays your data in measurement routine order, you can change the drawing order of the labels, like this:

  1. Select Label1 and choose Edit | Order | Bring to Front.

  2. Select Label2 and choose Edit | Order | Sent to Back.

  3. Select Label3 and choose Edit | Order | Send to Back.