The Canvas is the main workspace in the Report Designer module where report design is carried out. All elements that make up the report (Label, Box, Table, Image, Divider, etc.) are located in this area, and the page layout of the report is managed through the Canvas.

Thanks to the Canvas, users can:

• Visually position the report content on the page,
• Adjust the alignment and spacing between elements,
• Preview how the report will appear both on screen and in print.

The Canvas enables you to create professional report designs by offering free positioning and grid-based layout support.

Free Position and Grid (Dotted) Mode

The positioning of elements on Canvas is performed using two different view modes.

Free Position Mode

In Free Position mode, elements can be freely moved on Canvas without any alignment restrictions. In this mode:

• Elements are placed in the desired position by dragging them with the mouse.
• X and Y coordinates are automatically updated.
• Original and flexible layouts can be created.

Free Position mode is suitable for reports requiring special design or visually heavy layouts.

Grid (Dotted) Mode

Grid mode provides an isometric (dotted paper) view. When this mode is enabled:

• The Canvas is displayed with a grid consisting of evenly spaced dots.
• Elements are moved by aligning them to these points.
• This ensures a more symmetrical and organized page layout.

Grid mode is recommended especially for reports to be printed, table-heavy content, and designs requiring alignment precision. Users can switch between Grid and Free Position modes as needed.

Rulers, Measurement Units, and Print Compatibility

The horizontal and vertical rulers on the canvas allow you to manage the position and size of report elements on the page based on measurements. With rulers, you can create a controlled page layout throughout the design process.

Measurement Units and Custom Page Usage

Report Designer supports different measurement units; however, manual adjustment of the measurement unit is only possible when the Custom option is used in the Paper Size field.

When a custom page is selected:

• The measurement unit can be selected as pt (point), mm (millimeter), or inch.
• The selection is made via the Select Box in the Paper Size field.

• When the measurement unit is changed:
  
  • The values on the rulers,
  • the width, height, x, and y fields in the Styling panel
  • are automatically updated according to the selected measurement unit.

When standard paper sizes (A4, A3, A5, Letter, etc.) are used, the measurement unit is determined by the system and cannot be changed manually.

Print Compatibility

The measurement unit selection is critical for creating print-compatible reports. When using a Custom page:

• It is recommended to select the mm or inch measurement units for scenarios where printing will be performed.
• The unit of measurement can be easily selected via the Select Box in the Paper Size field.
• This selection allows the report content to be designed to match the expected dimensions in the print output.

Guide lines are added to the rulers to support the alignment of elements and prevent the page layout from being distorted during printing.

Page Margins and Padding

Page margins (padding) ensure that the report content is placed within a safe area within the page boundaries. Thanks to the padding settings, content:

• Does not extend beyond the page margins,
• Has a more balanced and readable layout,
• Reduces the risk of cropping during printing.

When Grid (Dotted) mode is active, padding areas are displayed without dots. This allows the user to:

• Visually distinguish the content area from the margins,
• Easily check whether the report remains within the print boundaries.

Since padding settings directly affect the overall layout of the report, it is recommended to determine them early in the design process.