The Data Field Options dialog allows you to set the properties for the selected data field on the forms design window. This affects how the information in this particular field appears when it prints on the form.
The Field Name appears in the forms design window to designate the location of the field on the form. You cannot change this name. If you have the Placeholder Text option selected, you will see the maximum characters on the form instead of this name. Tell me more about selecting the Placeholder Text option.
Changing the Format and Border
The Formatting and Border section allows you to change the text alignment, border properties, and whether or not to print zero dollar amounts on the form.
Text Alignment: Use this option to set the data in the field to be left justified, right justified, or centered.
Border Thickness: Use this option to draw a border or box around the field. If you want to add a border, choose the thickness from the drop list. Choose None if you do not want to have a border around the field.
Border Color: Use this option to select a color for the border after you add it to the field.
Background Color: You can select a background color for the field using the For Data option. If the field is a numeric field, you can use the For Negative Numbers option to specify a different background color for the field when it contains a negative number.
Print Zero Dollar Amounts: If you are formatting a numeric field, select this checkbox to print zero dollar amounts in the field instead of leaving it blank.
Changing the Font
The Fonts section allows you to specify the font characteristics for the data that appears in the field. It also allows you to specify font characteristics for negative numbers if you are modifying a numeric field.
Data Font: Use this option to specify the font characteristics for the field data. You can also select a color for the field data. Select the More Options button to open the Windows Font dialog if you need to make more detailed font selections.
Negative Numbers Font: This option is only available for numeric fields. Use this option to specify the font characteristics for the field when it contains a negative number. When the field contains a positive number, it will use the data font characteristics. This allows a negative number in the field to stand out on the form. You can also select a color for the field data. Select the More Options button to open the Windows Font dialog if you need to make more detailed font selections.
Advanced Options
Select the Advanced button to show these options. Select the Hide Advanced button to hide these options.
Fill Character: Use this option to enter a single character that will print on the form to fill up unused space within the field. For example, the Check Amount in Currency data field on check forms fills unused space with asterisks (****$3.95). The fill character can only be used if the data fits on a single line on the form. For most fields, the default fill character is a blank character.
Object Order: Use this option to modify the order in which the field prints on the form. Most of the time, you will not care about the object order. Tell me more about object order on forms.
Size and Location: Use this option to specify the size and position of the field on the form. The top position is the distance from the top edge of the paper to the top edge of the field. The left position is the distance from the left edge of the paper to the left edge of the field. (These numbers are expressed in inches or centimeters, depending on the display option you selected in the Options tab.) You can also set the height and width of the field, in inches or centimeters.
Maximum Characters: This is a character representation of what will print in the data field. Use this option to designate the maximum number of alpha or numeric characters allowed when printing the data. For numeric fields, it is also used to format the numbers (for example, -NNNN.nn). This information is shown on the forms design window when you have the option to show placeholder text selected. Otherwise, the field name is shown. Tell me more about selecting the Placeholder Text option.