A template should enable the user to quickly determine how to use and freely edit most elements in it. The following guidelines enable you to improve the usability of a template:
Set the following optional template properties:
The display name of the template
The display name should represent the purpose of the template, such as a list or cross tab. If you do not specify a display name, the name of the template file is used.
A brief description of the template
A description provides additional information that helps the user decide which template to use, appearing as a tooltip when the user hovers the mouse pointer over the thumbnail image of the template.
The image to use as the thumbnail image of the template
An image provides a graphical preview of the template. If you do not provide an image, a gray box appears displaying the text, “No preview”.
Report Template, shown in Figure 25‑1, compares two template images in Report Studio. The first thumbnail image shows a template for which properties are not specified. The next one shows a template for which general properties are set. As shown in Figure 25‑1, it is easier for a user to decide which template to select if you specify properties when creating the template.
Figure 25‑1 Displaying two templates: one without properties set and the other with properties set
Decide which report elements in the template are editable. Examples of editable elements include labels for displaying report titles, section titles, or column headings, and empty tables into which users insert data. Examples of non-editable elements include company logos and standard copyright statements.
Provide meaningful names for each report element, so the user can easily identify the element. If you do not specify a name, Report Studio displays the name of the element type, such as Text or Label. The View menu, shown in Figure 25‑2, lists all the elements in one of the default templates, so users can choose whether to display or hide the elements in the report.
Figure 25‑2 Report items listing all the template elements
Provide instructions for using each editable element. For example, a table can display a message, such as “To get started, drag available data from the left or click here if no data is available,” shown in Figure 25‑3.
Set the following optional template properties:
