Canvas

Overview

This canvas is where multiple types of content can be displayed together. A Canvas can be used for display on:

Reports
Dashboards
Storyboards

To add a Canvas to a dashboard or storyboard, use the same steps you would with any normal single chart report.

Widgets

The report canvas can be made up of four types of widget:

Chart
Text
Image
Shape

Each of these types of widget can be added to the canvas by opening their respective menu in the left side navigation panel.

Canvas Properties

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When using the canvas, there are a range of options you can adjust to suit your needs. To access these options, click on the

settings icon in the top right corner of the canvas.

You will then see the Canvas Properties panel, which can be dragged around the screen to suit your needs.

Gridlines

These settings allow you to define which visual guides will be displayed to aid in the design of your canvas.

Option	Description
Show Gridlines	This option allows you to toggle the display of gridlines in the background of your canvas. These can be used as a guide when laying out your widgets.
Gridline Size	This option allows you to define the size of the grid used by the gridlines setting (see above) in pixels.
Snap to Grid	This option allows you to require all widgets to align to gridlines if enabled, ensuring the layout adheres to your grid.

Guidelines

These settings allow you to define where special guides are displayed to aid in the design of your canvas. These lines differ to gridlines as they are individual lines running vertically or horizontally across the canvas for a single specific location.

Option	Description
Horizontal	This option allows you to add or remove horizontal guides on your canvas, as well as specifying the pixel location.
Vertical	This option allows you to add or remove vertical guides on your canvas, as well as specifying the pixel location.
Show Rulers	This option allows you to toggle the display of rulers across the top and left of your canvas, which can be used to place guidelines more accurately.

Canvas Size

These settings allow you to define the size of your canvas display in pixels. This can be especially useful when you require an exact size for a specific purpose.

Option	Description
Width	This allows you to specify the width of your canvas, in pixels.
Height	This allows you to specify the height of your canvas, in pixels.
Lock Size	This allows you to lock the size of your canvas, so that it cannot be resized by dragging during the design process.

Canvas Design

This setting allows you to define the background colour of your canvas.

Option	Description
Background Colour	This allows you to specify the colour of the background of your canvas. Especially useful when designing a canvas to be placed on a coloured background or image, such as on a storyboard slide.

Chart Widgets

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When viewing a list of available charts, you will notice an icon in the top right corner of each chart in the menu itself.

If a chart has already been added to the canvas, it will have the icon, but if it is still to be used, it will have the icon. Simply drag an available chart from the list on the canvas to use it.

Once added, selecting a chart widget on the canvas will give you access to some basic options, outlined below.

Option	Description
Edit	This allows you to return to the Charts step of the report builder and adjust the selected chart. From here you can return to the canvas by proceeding to the Design step of the builder.
Delete	This allows you to remove the selected chart from your canvas. This will not delete the chart from your report builder entirely.
Order	This allows you to change the order that widgets are displayed in the canvas on the Z-plane, by moving the currently selected chart. The available options are: Bring to Front Bring Forwards Send Backwards Send to Back
Menu	This allows you to open the Chart Widget Properties menu for the selected chart and adjust a range of options.

Chart Widget Properties

Clicking on the icon will allow you to access more detailed settings for the selected chart widget.

Option	Description
Height & Location
X	Specify the x coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.
Y	Specify the y coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.
Width	Specify the width of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.
Height	Specify the height of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.
*Conditional Formatting*
Conditional Format	Enable this button to apply conditional formatting to your chart. (Note: You need at least two charts to make this work.)
Widget Name	Assign a name to your chart widget.
Edit Rules	Click on this to apply conditional formatting rules to your chart widget.

Text Widgets

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When adding a text widget, you will be able to select and drag a widget onto the canvas from a range of sample presets.

Once added, selecting a text widget on the canvas will give you access to some basic options, outlined below.

Option	Description
Delete	This allows you to remove the selected text widget from your canvas.
Order	This allows you to change the order that widgets are displayed in the canvas, by moving the currently selected text widget. The available options are: Bring to Front Bring Forwards Send Backwards Send to Back
Font	This allows you to select a different font to apply to the selected text widget.
Colour	This allows you to select a different colour to apply to the selected text widget.
Size	This allows you to select a different font size to apply to the selected text widget.
Menu	This allows you to open the Text Widget Properties menu for the selected text and adjust a range of options.

Text Widget Properties

Clicking on the icon will allow you to access more detailed settings for the selected text widget.

Option

Description

Text

Font

This allows you to select a different font to apply to the selected text widget.

Size

This allows you to select a different font size to apply to the selected text widget.

Colour

This allows you to select a different colour to apply to the selected text widget.

Style

This allows you to apply a formatting style to the selected text widget, from the following options;

- Bold
- Italic
- Underlined

Alignment

This allows you to align the contents of the selected text widget, using one of the following options;

Left

Centre

Right

Opacity

This allows you to define how transparent (see-through) the contents of the selected text widget is.

Indent

This allows you to add or remove indentation within the contents of the selected text widget.

List Style

This allows you to add numbered or bullet point lists to the content so of the selected text widget.

Spacing

Line

Leading. This allows you to define the amount of spacing between each line of content in the selected text widget. The higher the number, the more space allocated.

Chars

Tracking. This allows you to define the amount of spacing between each character in the selected text widget. The higher the number, the more space allocated.

Height & Location

X

Specify the x coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.

Y

Specify the y coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.

Width

Specify the width of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.

Height

Specify the height of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.

Rotation

Specify the amount your wish to rotate your widget clockwise, in degrees.

Conditional Formatting

Conditional Format

Enable this button to apply conditional formatting to your text widget.

Widget Name

Assign a name to your text widget.

Edit Rules

Click on this to apply conditional formatting rules to your text widget.

Image Widgets

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When adding an image widget, you will be able to select either from a list of existing images, or upload a new one.

When selecting images, you will use the Image Manager lightbox, which allows you to search existing images, or upload new files.

Once added, selecting a text widget on the canvas will give you access to some basic options, outlined below.

Option	Description
Change	This allows you to select a different image file to use with the currently selected image widget.
Delete	This allows you to remove the selected image widget from your canvas.
Order	This allows you to change the order that widgets are displayed in the canvas, by moving the currently selected image widget. The available options are: Bring to Front Bring Forwards Send Backwards Send to Back
Menu	This allows you to open the Image Widget Properties menu for the selected image and adjust a range of options.

Image Widget Properties

Clicking on the icon will allow you to access more detailed settings for the selected image widget.

Option	Description
Image Options
Opacity	This allows you to define how transparent (see through) the image of the selected text widget is. The higher the number, the stronger the appearance.
Aspect Ratio	This allows you to toggle whether the image should maintain the original aspect ratio. Maintaining aspect ratio means that the image is the same shape as the original image, just scaled up or down. Disabling this option will allow the image to be stretched out of shape either vertically or horizontally.
Height & Location
X	Specify the x coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.
Y	Specify the y coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.
Width	Specify the width of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.
Height	Specify the height of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.
Rotation	Specify the amount your wish to rotate your widget clockwise, in degrees.
*Conditional Formatting*
Conditional Format	Enable this button to apply conditional formatting to your image widget.
Widget Name	Assign a name to your image widget.
Edit Rules	Click on this to apply conditional formatting rules to your image widget.

Shape Widget

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When adding a shape widget, you will be able to select and drag a widget onto the canvas from a range of sample shapes, lines and icons.

There are three types of shape widgets, as listed below:

Name	Description	Screenshot
Shape	Lets you choose any type of shape to add to your chart or reports.
Line	Apply a line to your report or chart using this.
Icon	Add an icon to your report or chart.

Once added, selecting a shape widget on the canvas will give you access to some basic options, outlined below.

Option	Description
Delete	This allows you to remove the selected shape widget from your canvas.
Order	This allows you to change the order that widgets are displayed in the canvas, by moving the currently selected shape widget. The available options are: Bring to Front Bring Forwards Send Backwards Send to Back
Fill Colour	This allows you to select a different fill colour to apply to the middle of the currently selected shape widget.
Stroke Colour	This allows you to select a different stoke colour to apply to the outline of the currently selected shape widget.
Stroke Width	This allows you to specify a thickness for the outline of the currently selected shape widget.
Menu	This allows you to open the Shape Widget Properties menu for the selected shape widget and adjust a range of options.

Shape Widget Properties

Clicking on the icon will allow you to access more detailed settings for the selected shape widget.

Option	Description
Shape Options
Fill Colour	This allows you to select a different fill colour to apply to the middle of the currently selected shape widget.
Stroke Colour	This allows you to select a different stoke colour to apply to the outline of the currently selected shape widget.
Stroke Width	This allows you to specify a thickness for the outline of the currently selected shape widget.
Fill Opacity	This allows you to define how transparent (see through) the fill colour of the selected shape widget is. The higher the number, the stronger the appearance.
Height & Location
X	Specify the x coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.
Y	Specify the y coordinates of the top left corner of the currently selected widget, in order to position it exactly on your canvas.
Width	Specify the width of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.
Height	Specify the height of the currently selected widget, in pixels, in order to resize it exactly.
Rotation	Specify the amount your wish to rotate your widget clockwise, in degrees.
*Conditional Formatting*
Conditional Format	Enable this button to apply conditional formatting to your shape widget.
Widget Name	Assign a name to your shape widget.
Edit Rules	Click on this to apply conditional formatting rules to your shape widget.

Canvas Widget Menu

Right-click on any widget or object in the Report Canvas to bring up a menu. Following is a description of the menu options. Note that some may different depending on the selected widgets.

Option	Description
Copy	Copy the selected object, or multiple objects to the clipboard.
Paste	Paste the copied object(s) onto the canvas.
Duplicate	Creates a duplicate copy of selected object(s) and displays it onto the report canvas.
Edit Chart	Allows you to edit the selected chart, if the report contains multiple charts. This will open the selected chart in edit mode.
Align	Aligns the selected object(s) on the report canvas according to the following options: Left: aligns selected objects on their left side. Centre Vertically: centred vertically, but doesn’t change position horizontally. Right: aligns objects on their right side. Top: aligns objects to top. Centre Horizontally: centered horizontally, but doesn’t change position vertically. Bottom: aligns objects to bottom. Centre: centrally aligns the object.
Arrange	Change the arrangement of the selected object by moving it to the foreground or background. Options are: Bring to Front: moves the selected object to the front of all other objects if multiple are stacked on top of one another. Bring Forwards: moves the selected object a step forward, when multiple objects are stacked on top of one another. Send Backwards: moves the selected object to the back of other objects if multiple are stacked on top of one another. Send to Back: moves the selected object a step backward, when multiple objects are stacked on top of one another.
Transform	Apply quick rotation options to the selected object. Options include: Rotate 180: Rotates the object 180 degrees, so if it's upright, it rotates upside down. Rotate 90 CW: Rotates the object 90 degrees in a clockwise motion. Rotate 90 CCW: Rotates the object 90 degrees in a counterclockwise motion. Clear Transform: Remove any type of the above transforms applied to the object. Note: this option is not available for charts.
Delete	Deletes the selected object(s).

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