Formatting with Multiple Columns
The default layout of a report is designed so that each detail record uses the entire width of the page and each row is printed below the one before it. Sections aren’t designed to only use a partial page width. However, if you want to print mailing labels or a newspaper style report, then you need to use sections that are small enough that they can be repeated across the page. Setting the Format With Multiple Columns option lets you do that.
When selecting this option, a Layout tab appears in the dialog box. This tab lets you set the column width and spacing so that your information is put onto mailing labels. You can also set whether the records go down the page first and then to the next column, or go across the page first before going down to the next row. Figure 6-8 shows the options on the Layout tab.
Figure 6-8. The Layout tab of the Section Editor.
The only problem with using the Layout tab is that it takes a little experimentation to get the formatting perfect. Precision is a necessity when printing labels and making a mailing list could take some work. You are much better off by using the Report Expert dialog box to create mailing labels. As Figure 6-9 shows, using the Report Expert lets you pick from a list of standard Avery numbers for the label format. Unless you are using a custom designed label, you can let Crystal Reports do all the work for formatting the label. This makes it easy to create mailing labels that print perfect the first time!
Figure 6-9. The Mailing Labels Report Expert.
