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ReportBuilder 2005 Tips and Tricks

• How to make a photo bookmark that will automatically adjust to picture size
• How to add a Database Picker to an Add-In database
• How To Show Comparable Numbers In Your Report When Using Word To Bring In Your Comparable Sheets
• Links to Helpful Programs

How to make a photo bookmark that will automatically adjust to picture size

It is not uncommon for pictures to vary in size and proportions from Report to Report. Fortunately with Bookmark Assistant you can make a bookmark that will adjust itself to ensure that your pictures will always come in to your Report at the correct proportions.  When you select a photo field in bookmark assistant you will notice some options in the bottom left hand corner of Bookmark Assistant.  Using the the size option you can tell the bookmark to bring photos in at a certain size.  By selecting "Custom" from the size drop-down menu you can specify your own custom size.  You will also notice a checkbox that says "Scale to fit width"  Check this box and you will notice that you are now only able to enter the preferred photo width.  Enter the preferred width and then hit the "Insert Bookmark" button.  Now you have a bookmark that will bring a photo into your report at the width that you selected.  In addition it will now adjust the height of that image to ensure that your image is never distorted.

How to place a Database Picker within an Add-In database

THIS TIP IS ASSUMING YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO USE THE DESIGNER FEATURE.
Unfortunately in the Add-In Designer it is not possible to simply just add a Database Picker field to an Add-In Database. However this is "work around" that allows you to place a Database Picker in an Add-In Database.

You will first need to create a new Report Type in Report Designer. This Report Type will contain only one tab. You can design this tab as you would like it to appear in your Add-In Database. Make sure you include your Database Picker within a Section in this tab. Once you have completed this tab you will need to export the tab in the Report Designer.

Now you will need to open Add-In Designer and edit the Add-In Database you would like to add the Database Picker to. Once in that Add-In database use the Import Tab feature in the Add-In Designer. Import the tab that you exported previously. Move the imported tab up or down in the Add-In as you see fit.

You now have placed a Database Picker in your Add-In Database. Remember that you will have to populate the Database Picker for each record in that Add-In Database if you want the information to be brought into your Reports.

How To Show Comparable Numbers In Your Report When Using Word To Bring In Your Comparable Sheets

When using a Word template to bring your comparable sheets into Report Builder you may notice that these comparable sheets lack numbering. For example if you have six sales comparables each comparable sheet would be labeled "Comparable Sale" as opposed to "Comparable Sale 1" through "Comparable Sale 6". However we have discovered that there is a way to change the comparable sheet title so that it will actually number each sheet for you. This is done by using custom numbered bullets in Word.

Currently the comparable sheet titles are just standard text. However if you replace the title of the sheet with a custom numbered bullet you can create numbered comparable sheets. First delete the "Comparable Sale/Comparable Land Sale/Comparable Lease" from the title of your comparable sheet. Now go to the "Format" menu and access the "Bullets and Numbering" menu. Select the tab entitled "Numbered". In the "Numbered" tab select any of the different styles. After selecting a style click the "Customize" button on the bottom right hand corner of the "Bullets and Numbering" window.

Now you will see the "Customized Numbered List" menu. Under the "Number Format" field Type in "Comparable 1". Select the preferred font for your text to the right with the "Font" button. Under the "Number Style" field select the "1, 2, 3 ,.." option.

Helpful Links

We have compiled a list of helpful programs for you. These programs have all been found to be very useful in the typical commercial appraisal office. We are in no way affiliated with any of these products, nor are we endorsing any of these products or companies. These are simply a recommendation for you to try out and then determine for yourself if they are right for you.

Name Manager - Free Download

If you are in need of a utility to manage defined names in your workbooks, this one is a must-have. List all names in your active workbook. Filter them using 13 filters, e.g. "With external references", "With errors", Hidden, Visible. Show just names that contain a substring. Show just names unused in worksheet cells. Edit them in a simple dialog or make a list, edit the list and update all names in one go. Delete, hide, unhide selected names with a single mouse click.

SnagIt Screen Capture - Free trial, $39.95 to buy.

Capture, Edit, Share. Capture anything you see on your computer screen - images, text and even video. Edit your screen captures like a pro with drawing tools, annotations and stunning visual effects.

A picture is worth a thousand words. SnagIt helps you take advantage of this age-old wisdom by changing the way you communicate with your co-workers, friends and family.

APEX SOFTWARE - Click Here for Pricing Info.

Measure, Capture, Deliver. Apex sketching and area calculation software is the premier sketching software for the real estate valuation market. Apex allows the user to sketch simple to complex areas, while automatically calculating that area. With Apex you save time and money in sketching the property, while delivering accurate area calculations and a professional rendering of the property. Apex Software can be used standalone, or integrated with any of the major forms vendors.

CrossEyes - Free trial, $49.99 to buy.

Did you recently switch from WordPerfect and you're now using Microsoft Word? You Need CrossEyes!

CrossEyes is an add-in to Microsoft Word that lets you instantly identify and resolve any document formatting problems - no more guesswork, and no more digging away through the bewildering depths of MS Word! Yes, it works a lot like the Reveal Codes in WordPerfect.

Make your MS Word documents behave the way YOU want them to with this advanced format tracker.

FastStone Image Viewer - Freeware License.

An image browser, converter and editor that supports all major graphic formats including BMP, JPEG, JPEG 2000, GIF, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO and TGA. It has a nice array of features such as image viewing, management, comparison, red-eye removal, emailing, resizing, cropping, color adjustments, musical slideshow and much more.