Format Line dialog

This dialog appears when you double-click a line in a chart, or right-click it and select Format Line from the shortcut menu. It helps you to format the selected chart line in the chart, and consists of the following tabs:

• General tab
• Fill tab
• Node tab
• Border tab
• Data Label tab
• Behaviors tab

OK

Applies the changes and closes the dialog.

Cancel

Does not retain any changes and closes the dialog.

Apply

Applies all changes and leaves the dialog open.

Help

Displays this help document.

General tab

For 2-D lines

Specifies the general format of the 2-D line chart. See the tab.

Layout

Specifies the layout of the 2-D lines in the chart.

• None
  If selected, the lines will display trend over categories.
• Stacked
  If selected, the stacked lines will display the trend of the contribution of each data value over categories.
• 100% Stacked
  If selected, the 100% stacked lines will display the trend of the percentage each data value contributes over categories.

Depth

Specifies the depth properties for lines of the chart.

• Use Depth
  Specifies whether to make the lines in the chart three-dimensional. You can also use a formula to control the property.
  • Depth
    Specifies the depth of the lines, in pixels.
  • Direction
    Specifies the direction for depth of the lines, in degrees.

For 3-D lines

Specifies the general format of the 3-D line chart. See the tab.

Thickness

Specifies the thickness of the 3-D lines in the chart, in pixels.

Fill tab

Specifies the fill properties. See the tab.

Fill

Specifies the fill effect of the chart lines.

• Color
  Specifies the color schema for the selected chart line.
• Transparency
  Specifies the transparency of the color schema.
• Pattern List
  Opens the Color List dialog to modify color pattern for each line.

Area

Specifies properties for the areas which are formed by the chart axes and the lines. Applies to 2-D lines only.

• Color
  Specifies the color schema for the selected chart line area.
• Transparency
  Specifies the transparency of the color schema for the selected chart line area.
• Area Pattern List
  Opens the Color List dialog to modify color pattern of the areas.

Line

Specifies the pattern of the chart lines.

• Line Style
  Specifies the style of the selected chart line.
• Thickness
  Specifies the thickness of the selected chart line, in pixels.
• Line Pattern List
  Opens the Line Pattern List dialog to modify pattern of the lines in the same data series.

Sample

Displays a preview sample of your settings.

Node tab

Specifies properties for nodes of the 2-D line chart. See the tab.

Use Single Color

If checked, the line nodes will use the single color pattern.

• Shape
  Specifies the shape properties of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Style
    Specifies the style of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Transparency
    Specifies the transparency of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Width
    Specifies the width of the nodes in the selected chart line, in pixels.
  • Height
    Specifies the height of the nodes in the selected chart line, in pixels.
  • Show Node
    Specifies whether to show nodes in the selected chart line. Only when it is set to true, the node related properties for the line chart can take effect. However, it does not control the properties Show High Point and Show Low Point and the Color property for each.
    • Color
      Specifies the color of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Show High Point
    Specifies whether to show the line node in the highest point in the selected chart line.
    • Color
      Specifies the color of the node in the highest point in the selected chart line.
  • Show Low Point
    Specifies whether to show the line node in the lowest point in the selected chart line.
    • Color
      Specifies the color of the node in the lowest point in the selected chart line.
  • Show Highlight Point
    Specifies whether to show the highlight point when you hover the mouse over a node in the selected chart line.
    • Color
      Specifies the color of the highlight point in the selected chart line.
• Border
  Specifies the border properties of the nodes in the selected chart line. Available when the node is not of the plus, multiplication, star1 or star2 style.
  • Border Color
    Specifies the color for the border of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Transparency
    Specifies the transparency for the border of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Line Style
    Specifies the line style for the border of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Thickness
    Specifies the thickness for the border of the nodes in the selected chart line, in pixels.
• Line
  Specifies the line properties of the nodes in the selected chart line. Available when the node is of the plus, multiplication, star1 or star2 style.
  • Line Style
    Specifies the line style of the nodes in the selected chart line.
  • Thickness
    Specifies the line thickness of the nodes in the selected chart line.
• Node Pattern List
  Opens the Node Pattern List dialog to modify the node pattern for each chart line.

Use Single Color with Condition

If checked, each node can have its single color pattern based on defined conditions. You can click the Advanced or Normal button to switch between the two editing modes to edit the conditions.

• Normal
  • Select Field
    Lists all the available fields to which the conditional fill can be applied. Select the field on which you want to define the conditions from the drop-down list.
  • Value
    Specifies the value of the condition. You can select the value from the drop-down list or input it directly in the text box. Available when you select a category or series field from the Select Field drop-down list.
  • Start Value
    Specifies the start value of the condition. Input the value directly in the text box. Available only when you select a value field from the Select Field drop-down list.
  • End Value
    Specifies the end value of the condition. Input the value directly in the text box. Available only when you select a value field from the Select Field drop-down list.
  • Color
    Specifies the color that will be applied to the values which meet the condition.
  • Transparency
    Specifies the transparency for the color of the condition.
  • 
    Adds a new condition line.
  • 
    Removes the selected condition line.
  • Label
    If checked, you can modify the condition expression of the selected condition line which will be shown as the legend entry label.
  • Value
    Specifies to display data in the condition expression as value. Available only when you select a value field from the Select Field drop-down list.
  • Percent
    Specifies to display data in the condition expression in percent. Available only when you select a value field from the Select Field drop-down list and takes effect only on 100% Stacked Line 2-D chart.
• Advanced
  • Condition
    Displays the condition you have defined in the Edit Condition dialog.
  • Color
    Specifies the color that will be applied to the values which meet the condition.
  • Transparency
    Specifies the transparency for the color of the condition.
  • 
    Opens the Edit Conditions dialog to create or edit a condition.
  • Label
    If checked, you can modify the condition expression of the selected condition line which will be shown as the legend entry label.
  • Value
    Specifies to display data in the condition expression as value. Available only when you select a value field from the Select Field drop-down list.
  • Percent
    Specifies to display data in the condition expression in percent. Available only when you select a value field from the Select Field drop-down list and takes effect only on 100% Stacked Line 2-D chart.

Use Multiple Colors with Condition

Not supported on line chart.

Sample

Displays a preview sample of your selection.

Border tab

Specifies properties for borders of the 3-D lines, which take effect only when the Border property on chart paper is set to true in the Report Inspector. See the tab.

Border Type

Displays the type for border of the lines. The default value is solid, and cannot be changed.

Color

Specifies the color for border of the lines.

Transparency

Specifies the transparency for the color of the border.

Line Style

Specifies the line style to apply to border of lines.

Thickness

Specifies the thickness for the border, in pixels.

End Caps

Specifies the ending style of the border line.

• butt
  Ends unclosed sub paths and dash segments with no added decoration.
• round
  Ends unclosed sub paths and dash segments with a round decoration that has a radius equal to half of the width of the pen.
• square
  Ends unclosed sub paths and dash segments with a square projection that extends beyond the end of the segment to a distance equal to half of the line width.

Line Joint

Specifies the line joint style for the border line.

• miter
  Joins path segments by extending their outside edges until they meet.
• round
  Joins path segments by rounding off the corner at a radius of half the line width.
• bevel
  Joins path segments by connecting the outer corners of their wide outlines with a straight segment.

Sample

Displays a preview sample of your selection.

Path

Specifies the fill pattern of the border line.

• Outline Path
  Specifies the fill pattern of the border line to be outline path.
• Fill Path
  Specifies the fill pattern of the border line to be whole path.

Dash

Specifies the dash size of border line.

• Auto Adjusted Dash
  If selected, the dash size will be adjusted automatically.
• Fixed Dash Size
  If selected, the dash size will be fixed size.

Data Label tab

Specifies properties for data labels displayed on the lines. See the tab.

Static Data Label

Specifies properties of the static data labels on the lines. Not supported on 3-D line charts.

• Show Static Data Label
  Specifies whether or not to show the static data labels on the lines. Only when it is checked can the following static data label related properties take effect.
• Position
  Specifies the position of the static data labels on the lines.
  • auto fit
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed automatically.
  • top center
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed on the top center of the line nodes.
  • top left
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed on the top left of the line nodes.
  • top right
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed on the top right of the line nodes.
  • bottom left
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed at the bottom left of the line nodes.
  • bottom center
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed at the bottom center of the line nodes.
  • bottom right
    If selected, the static data labels will be displayed at the bottom right of the line nodes.
• Suppress Label When 0
  If true, the static data label whose value is 0 will not be displayed on the chart.

Font

Specifies the font format of text in the data labels.

• Font list
  Lists all the available font faces that can be selected to apply to the text.
• Font Size
  Specifies the font size of the text.
• Font Color
  Specifies the font color of the text.
• Transparency
  Specifies the transparency of the text.
• Rotation
  Specifies the rotation angle of the text around its center, in degrees. The default value is 0.
• Shearing
  Specifies the gradient of the text.

Effects

Specifies the special effects of text in the data labels.

• Style
  Specifies the font style of the text. It can be one of the following: plain, bold, italic, and bold italic.
• Strikethrough
  Specifies the style of the horizontal line with which the text is struck through. It can be one of the following: none, thin line, bold line, and double lines.
• Underline
  Specifies the style of the horizontal line under the text. It can be one of the following: none, single, single lower, bold line, bold lower, double lines, bold double, patterned line, and bold patterned.
• Superscript
  Raises the text above the baseline and changes the text to a smaller font size, if a smaller size is available.
• Embossed
  Makes the text appear to be raised off the page in relief.
• Outlined
  Displays the inner and outer borders of each character.
• Subscript
  Lowers the text below the baseline and changes the text to a smaller font size, if a smaller size is available.
• Engraved
  Makes the text appear to be imprinted or pressed into the page.
• Shadowed
  Adds a shadow beneath and to the right of the text.

Behaviors tab

Specifies some web behaviors to the lines. This tab is only available for library component. See the dialog.

Adds a new web behavior line.

Removes the selected web behavior.

Moves the selected web behavior up a step.

Moves the selected web behavior down a step.

Events

Specifies the trigger event.

Actions

Specifies the action you want the event to trigger.

• 
  Opens the Web Action List dialog to bind a web action to the event.

Related topics:

• Formatting the lines