Column Properties dialog: Data Format tab

Use this tab of the "Column Properties dialog" to override the data's default display characteristics by specifying custom formats. The options that display on this tab depend upon the data type (text, numeric, or date) of the column or hierarchy level. For example, if the data type is numeric, then you can add the thousands separator to the values.

This dialog is also displayed as:

Data Format dialog
Hierarchical Level Properties dialog: Data Format tab

For more information, see:

Components

Override Default Data Format

This box is displayed for all data types.

Use this box to specify to enter an override format for the column or hierarchy level. Selecting this box enables the remainder of the settings on the tab.

Treat Text As

This list is displayed for the text data type.

Use this list to specify how you want to display the text for the values. You can select from options such as plain text, HTML, or a link. Based on your choice, the "Custom Text Format" field displays the applicable HTML string used to display the data.

If you select the Custom Text Format option, then you can type the custom format into the Custom Text Format field.

Custom Text Format

This field is displayed for the text data type.

Use this field to view the HTML string that corresponds to the option that you selected in the Treat Text As list. This field is read-only for all options except the Custom Text Format option.

When you specify the Custom Text Format option, you use this field to write HTML calls that provide formatting. You can also type any valid HTML string, including JavaScript, VBScript, and so on.

The first character must be an at sign character (@). This enables devices that are incapable of displaying the custom format to display the data in the appropriate default format.

For example, the following example HTML code sets the width and height of a column or hierarchy level in tables and pivot tables. In the example, the text html enclosed in brackets ([html]) means to use HTML, and the at sign (@) character represents the dynamic contents of the column or hierarchy level.

@[html]<span style="width:200px; height:50px">@</span>

If you are unfamiliar with HTML, JavaScript, VBScript, and so on, then consult a third-party reference.

Treat Number As

This list is displayed for the numeric data type.

Use this list to specify how you want to display the number values. You can select from options such as Currency, Percentage, and Month Name. The option that you select determines the fields that display in the Data Format tab.

Currency Symbol

This list is displayed if you selected the Currency option in the Treat Number As list.

Use this list to select the currency symbol to be displayed in the column or hierarchy level. For example, you can select the British Pound or the Polish Zloty.

To use the symbol of a user's preferred currency, select the User's Preferred Currency option. (Users specify their preferred currencies in the "My Account dialog.")

Negative Format

This list is displayed if you selected the Number, Currency, or Percentage option in the Treat Number As list.

Use this field to specify how you want negative numbers to be displayed in the column or hierarchy level. For example, you can select negative numbers to be displayed as -123 or (123).

Decimal Places

This list is displayed if you selected the Number, Currency, or Percentage option in the Treat Number As list.

Use this list to specify how many numbers you want to include after the decimal point when displaying the value in a view. For example, you can specify two decimal places. Decimal values are always rounded rather than truncated.

In this list, you can use the up to options to indicate the maximum number of decimal places to include. In the database, values for a single column or hierarchy level can be stored with various numbers of decimal places. Some might have 2, 4, or 6 for example. If you specify up to 4 in this list, then values are displayed with no more than 4 decimal places, but potentially with less if the value has less than 4 decimal places.

Use 1000's Separator

This box is displayed if you selected the Number, Currency, or Percentage option in the Treat Number As list.

Select this box to include a separator, such as a comma, in numbers that are 1000 or greater.

Custom Numeric Format

This field is displayed if you selected the Custom option in the Treat Number As list.

Use this field to enter a custom number format or to create a custom format mask for a numeric field. See "Custom Format Strings" for custom format strings that you can enter or see "Custom Format Masks" to create a custom format mask for a numeric field.

You can use the number sign (#) to include significant digits, and the number zero (0) to include as many digits as specified, even if the number does not contain that detail.

For example, specifying ##.# in the United States shows 12.34 as 12.3, and specifying ##.000 shows 12.34 as 12.340

Date Format

This list is displayed for the date and time zone data type.

Use this list to specify how you want the date to display in the column or hierarchy level. For example, 5/8/2003 07:34:57 AM or 05/08/2003 7:34:57. If you select the Custom option, then you can create a date format in the Custom Date Format field.

Custom Date Format

This field is displayed for the date and time zone data type and only if you selected the Custom option from the Date Format list.

Use this field to enter a date format. For custom format strings that you can enter, see "Custom Format Strings."

Display Time Zone

This list is displayed for the date and time zone data type.

Use this list to select and apply a specific time zone to the column or hierarchy level. Note the following default conditions:

If you select the Default option and the administrator has specified a system default time zone, then the system default time zone is used to display the time value in the column or hierarchy level.
If you select the Default option and the administrator has not specified a system default time zone, then the user's preferred time zone is used to display the time value in the column or hierarchy level.
If you select the Data time zone option, then the time values are displayed in the column or hierarchy level exactly as they are stored in the database.
If you select a specific time zone (for example, GMT +05:45 Kathmandu) and the administrator has specified a system default time zone, then the system's default time zone is converted into the specific time zone that you selected.

Data Time Zone Offset

This field is displayed for the date and time zone data type.

Use this field to specify an offset for the time zone that you selected. For example, suppose you selected GMT +05:45 Kathmandu. You can specify an offset of 15 minutes to use when displaying time values for columns or hierarchy levels.