On the User-Defined Column Details page for a report, you can create up to 20 report columns based on Certain fields.
Each user-defined column can be one of two types:
- The first non-blank value from up to three different columns, with a default text label.
- A combination of multiple columns.
Click Add New to create a new user-defined column.
The existing custom columns are listed in a table. Click one to edit it. Click to delete it.
The custom columns added here are available in the list of Available Data Fields on the Columns page to add to the report.
User-Defined Column
Column Name
- Column Name — The name of the column as it should appear in all report screens.
- Maximum length = 25 characters.
Column Definition
- Column Definition — This section is where you specify which Certain field(s) will make up a user-defined column.
- This section can also create a column that consolidates several columns into a single column in your report output.
- This consolidation saves steps of merging cells in a separate application.
You can select from the same fields as those that appear on the Groups page for the report.
A custom column is defined as a database field or free-text, or multiple columns combined into a single column.
Display the first non-blank from
- Display the first non-blank from (3 drop-down lists, plus a free-text field) — Select this option if the custom column is pulling from one or more Certain fields.
- The custom column must return the first non-blank value for each record in this order.
If no value exists for the record in the field specified, you can enter a label in the free-text field to display in the report instead of an empty cell.
The free-text label examples include '[blank]' or 'missing'.
State/ProvinceProvince/DistrictCity[blank]
This example column would return:
State/Provincefor records that have a value for that field.Province/Districtfor records that do not have aState/Provincevalue.Cityfor records that have neitherState/ProvincenorProvince/District.- the text
'[blank]'for records that do not have values forState/Province,Province/District, orCity.
Combine two or more columns
- Combine two or more columns — Use this option to combine two or more Certain columns into a single report column.
For example: list registrant's full name in a single column.
You can do this by first selecting Prefix in the drop-down list and clicking Append. Then select First Name and click Append. Then select Last Name and click Append. Then select Suffix.
The field below the Append section will show:
<{Prefix}><{First Name}><{Last Name}><{Suffix}>
You can add spaces between fields for proper formatting.
> Note: A user-defined column must have at least one column selected or at least one character entered in the free-text form field. > Once the user-defined column is created it can be added to the report in the Reports > Columns page.