Modify/Show Database Table Format Form

The Modify/Show Database Table Format form has three tabs—Format, Filter and Sort— with buttons and options that can be used to specify a format for printing, displaying, or exporting data tables. After the format has been defined, it can be saved to a file that can be used for multiple output operations, ensuring consistent presentation that reflects user-specific requirements.

Note: After using the options described in this topic, the items listed in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet area will appear in the requested output. Although the items in the Field Name column are listed vertically, they print in the report along the top of the tabular output (i.e., in a horizontal alignment, left to right). Also note that when an item is selected in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet area, the number for that row of data switches from black type to blue type (displayed in the first/far left column of the spreadsheet) .

Format Tab

Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet. Use this spreadsheet to specify the fields to include in the output. Double clicking in a cell will exclude that data type from the output.
- Arrow buttons. Click on an item name and then use the appropriate arrow button to move the selected item up or down in the list. Moving an item up in the list moves it to the left when the table is displayed or printed. Moving an item down the list moves it to the right when the table is displayed or printed.
- Reset Display Order to Default button. Click the Reset Display Order to Default button to restore the program default order of the fields/columns in the table.
General
- Include Field in Report check box. By default, this check box is checked. To exclude a field and its associated data from the table, select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility area of the form and uncheck this check box.
- Repeat Field if Table is Split check box. This check box appears if the form is accessed using the File menu > Custom Report Writer command. Check this check box and select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet to have the selected field (column) on subsequent pages if the table is split. (This is similar to specifying "columns to repeat" when setting up an Excel workbook for printing.) If the number of fields/columns and their associated widths exceed the width specified for displaying or printing the table, SAP2000 will automatically split the table and specify that the first field in the list repeat. The splits and Repeated item will appear in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet area. The program splits and repeats cannot be deleted. Use the Force a Table Split After this Field check box and the Field Width edit box as necessary to achieve the desired pagination.
- Force a Table Split After this Field check box. This check box appears if the form is accessed using the File menu > Custom Report Writer command. Select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and check this check box to specify that the table splits after the selected field.
- Modify Field Name check box and edit box. Select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet, check the check box, and then type a new name in the Modify Field Name edit box.
Field Alignment and Width
- Field Alignment drop-down list. Select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and choose the horizontal alignment for the text in the cells under this field/column heading in the table.
- Units for Field Width drop-down list. Choose to specify the width of this field/column in the table in inches or millimeters. The width of the column is specified using the Field Width edit box.
- Field Width edit box. Select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet area of the form. Use the default or type in a value for the width of the selected field/column.
Floating Point Number Format. The availability of the following options depends on the type of field/data selected in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet area of the form. If these options are not available, the selected item is not a numerical operator with an applicable format.
- Max Number of Characters drop-down list. Select an item in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and then choose the maximum number of characters for displaying the data for that item.
- Zero Tolerance edit box. Select an item in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and then any values less than the value shown in the Zero Tolerance edit box will be displayed as zero for that item.
- Number of Decimal Places edit box. Select an item in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and then select the number of decimal places for displaying the data for that item.
- Min Num of Significant Figures drop-down list. Select an item in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and then select a minimum number of significant figures for displaying the data for that item.
- Always use E Format drop-down list. Select an item in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and then choose yes to have the data displayed using exponential format for that item.
Units
- Display Field in these Units drop-down list. This drop-down list will be available if the Always Display in Current Units check box is unchecked. Select an item in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet and then select from the drop-down list the units of measure to be applied to that item.
- Always Display in Current Units check box. When this check box is checked, the item selected in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet will be displayed in the table in the base units specified when the model was initialized.
Reset to Program Default Field Format
- Selected Field button. Select/click on an item name in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet area of the form and click the Selected Field button to reset all options on this form to program defaults for that field/column.
- All Fields button. Click the All Fields button to reset all options on this form to program defaults for all of the fields/columns.

Filter Tab

Filter Type options. The selection made here determines the appearance of the form and the input requirements.
None option. This is the default. When this option is selected, no filtering criteria have been established for the output.
Quick option. Use this option when filtering depends on a criterion, rather than criteria, to specify the pattern through which matching data is allowed to pass.
1. Field drop-down list. Choose the field (or column) containing the values to be compared to establish the scope of the pattern.
2. Operator drop-down list. Choose an operator (that is, a character such as >, <, = and the like), to specify the how the comparison of the data is to be accomplished.
3. Value edit box. Specify the Value to which other values in the Field are to be compared based on the chosen Operator to complete the filter pattern.
Basic option. Choose multiple fields, operators, and values to specify the pattern through which matching data is allowed to pass.
1. Click in a cell in the Operator column to access a drop-down list of characters such as >, <, = and the like. Remove an Operator and selecting None from the drop-down list.
2. Type the appropriate text in the Filter Value cell to specify when data should be included in the table.

Clear All Filters button. Click the Clear All Filters button to remove all filters applied to the table.

Advanced option. When this option is selected, the Advanced Filter-SQL String input area becomes available. Use the area to specify an SQL string for filtering the data in the tables.

Sort Tab

Use the options on this form to specify the sorting pattern for the data in the tables. The criteria specify the order in which the data (not the fields/columns) will be presented in the tables.

Sort By drop-down lists. Select the first or primary field to be used to sort the data. Use the other drop-down lists to specify addition fields to be used to sort the data. As indicated by the names of the drop-down lists, the data in the field selected in the first drop-down list will be used to sort all rows of data (in ascending or descending order). Then the data in the field selected in the next drop-down list will be used to sort all rows of data in the table and so on. To remove a sort criterion, select the blank option from the drop-down list.
Descending check box. Check this check box to have the data sorted in descending order.
Clear Sort button. Click the Clear Sort button to remove all sorting criteria.

All Tabs

Apply Format to Table
- Apply Format from File button. Click the Apply Format from File button and select a style sheet file (.fmt) to apply to the field selected in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet. As explained below, create a .fmt file using the Save Table Format to File button.
- Apply Program Default Format button. Click this button to apply the program default style sheet file (.fmt) to the field selected in the Display Order and Field Visibility spreadsheet.
Save Table Format to File button. Click this button to access a form for saving the options specified on this form to a .fmt file. After the file has been saved, it can be retrieved and applied to other reports by clicking the Apply Formats from File button and selecting the .fmt file name.

Access the Modify/Show Database Table Format form using any of the following actions:

Method 1:

Click the File menu > Advanced Report Writer command to display the Create Custom Report form.
Select a DB file (click the Find Existing DB File button) for which a report is being created.
Select the table(s) to be included in the report by highlighting the name(s) in the List of Tables in Current Database File display area
Click the Add Selected DB Table(s) to Report button. The name of the selected table(s) will appear in the Items Included in Report display area.
Highlight the name of a table and click the Modify/Show button to display the selected table.
Click the Format, Filter, or Sort command on the Format-Filter-Sort menu on that form to display the Modify/Show Database Table Format form.

Method 2:

Use any of the commands to display the Choose Tables For {Editing, Display, Printing, Export} form.
Expand the tree associated with a table type by clicking on the plus (+) symbol preceding the table type name. Continue expanding the tree until the table appears (Table: {Name}).
Right click on the table name and select Display Table from the resulting drop-down list.
Select In SAP 2000 from the next drop-down list to display the table form.
On that form, select the Format, Filter, or Sort command on the Format-Filter-Sort menu to display the Modify/Show Database Table Format form.

Method 3:

Click the Tabular Data button on the Aluminum Stress Check Information form, the Concrete Column Design Information form or the Steel Stress Check Information form to display the Aluminum Details form, Steel Stress Check Information form and Concrete Details form.
Click the Format, Filter, or Sort command on the Format-Filter-Sort menu to display the Modify/Show Database Table Format form.

Method 4:

Click the Options menu > Database > Edit Format File command to access the Database Table Formats File form.
Use the Database Table Formats File form to specify the filename and path for a format file (.fmt) to be edited.
After the filename and path have been specified, the Table Format File Data form will display.
Highlight a table name in the Tables in Format File list.
Click the Modify/Show Format Data for Selected Table button to access the Modify/Show Database Table Format form.