# Table

Presents data from a data set in using a tabular layout.

### Description

A table presents the rows from a data set in a tabular arrangement. The columns property is optional and defines the columns. The header appears at the top of the table, and on each new page. The table can contain groups. The footer displays totals and appears at the bottom of the table. The detail appears for every row in the data set.

A table can omit the data set. In this case, it displays a set of rows defined by its container. See the "Combining a List and a Table with a Single Data Set" section below for details.

### See Also

## caption

Text to appear as a table caption in HTML.

### Description

This property provides text to appear as the table caption in HTML. The text can be localized. From the HTML 4.0 spec:

When present, the CAPTION element's text should describe the nature of the table. ? Visual user agents allow sighted people to quickly grasp the structure of the table from the headings as well as the caption. A consequence of this is that captions will often be inadequate as a summary of the purpose and structure of the table from the perspective of people relying on non-visual user agents.

### See Also

## header

Rows to appear at the top of the table, and optionally at the top of each page.

### Description

The table header appears at the top of the table, and optionally at the top of each page. The table header usually contains column headings. Unlike a list, the table header is not designed to display introductory information. Instead, to display such information, use the table combined with a list as described in the "Combining a List and a Table with a Single Data Set" section below.

### See Also

## footer

Rows to appear at the bottom of the table.

### Description

The footer defines a set of rows to appear at the bottom of a table. The footer often contains totals.

### See Also

## groups

Level breaks within the data. Each has its own header & footer.

### Description

Groups provide a way of organizing data within a table. Groups appear from the most general (outermost) to the most specific (innermost). For example, a table can display sales by sales region and sales rep. The region and rep represent groups. The region is the outermost group. The rep is the innermost group.

### See Also

## detail

Rows to display for each row in the data set.

### Description

The detail rows appear for each row in the data set. Rows can be conditionally selected. For example, an accounting report can display a different row for debits vs. credits.

### See Also

## columns

A list of Column elements that describe the table columns.

### Description

This slot describes the columns within the table. This column definitions are optional. If omitted, BIRT infers the columns from the table structure itself, and BIRT will size the columns based on their contents. If provided, then the table must contain no more than the number of columns described. Use this property when you want to control the size, color, border, or other properties of each column.

### See Also

The Column Definition structure in the ROM Layout Specification.

## onCreate

Script executed when the element is created in the Factory.

### Description

Executed when the element is created in the Factory. Called after the item is created, but before the item is saved to the report document file. See the scripting spec for additional information about this script. Applications should perform visual customization in the on-render script instead.

## onPrepare

It is for a script startup phase. No data binding yet. The design of an element can be changed here.

### Description

It is for a script startup phase. No data binding yet. The design of an element can be changed here.

## onRender

Script executed when the element is prepared for rendering in the Presentation engine.

### Description

Executed when the element is prepared for rendering in the Presentation engine. Changes made to the element are written to the target output format, but not saved to the report document file. This is the preferred place for visual customizations.