How to Configure Page Setup in Canned Reporting with Helical Insight
                     How to Configure Page Setup in Canned Reporting 
with Helical Insight
In any reporting system, the way a report is laid out on the page can make or break its readability 
and usefulness. Page Setup in Canned Reporting ensures that reports look professional, print cleanly, 
and follow the layout expectations of users or stakeholders. In Helical Insight canned reporting 
module, configuring page setup is one of the first—and most important—steps in building reports 
that function well in both digital and print contexts. If not set properly, issues like truncated 
content, misaligned sections, or blank pages may arise.
In this article, we’ll go through how to configure page setup in Helical Insight’s canned reporting: 
from accessing page properties to fine-tuning columns, handling no-data pages, and following 
best practices.
Accessing Page Properties in Helical Insight Reports
Before you can configure the page, you must reach the property pane for the overall report. In 
Helical Insight:
Click somewhere on the empty area of the canvas (i.e. not on a specific component) to bring up the 
report-level properties.
The right-side property pane will now show options under Page Setup (along with margin, page 
properties, and other settings)
These settings are distinct from component-level properties (text, lines, charts, etc.), so always ensure 
no object is selected when configuring page setup.
Once you have this pane, you can explore all the page-related configuration sections: page size, 
orientation, margins, columns, and more.
Adjusting Page Size, Orientation, and Margins
The first and most basic settings in Page Setup in Canned Reporting are the page dimensions, 
orientation, and margins:
Page Size & Orientation: You can choose standard paper sizes such as A0 through A10, B0 through 
B5, Legal, Letter, etc. There’s also an option to define a custom page size if none of the defaults meet 
your needs.
Orientation can be set to Portrait or Landscape, depending on report layout and content.
Margins: You can specify Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margins (in pixels). These margins define the 
safe “buffer” in which report content should remain. Anything outside might be cut off or improperly 
rendered.
Correctly setting these parameters ensures that the report content fits within expected boundaries, 
avoiding layout issues when exporting or printing.
Configuring Columns, Print Order, and Layout Options
Many reports require multiple columns—especially when producing side-by-side copies (for example, 
one for management and one for the end user). Helical Insight offers detailed controls:
 Column Count: Specifies how many columns the report should be divided into.
 Column Spacing: Defines the gap between columns if more than one column is used.
 Column Width: Allows you to set fixed widths for each column when using multi-column 
layouts.
 Print Order (Horizontal / Vertical): Determines whether data is laid out row-wise (horizontal) 
or column-wise (vertical). For example, horizontal print order spreads across 
columns first, then moves to the next row, while vertical fills one column fully before 
proceeding to the next.
These settings give granular control over how data flows into the layout, ensuring the report renders 
in the most readable form.
Handling No-Data Pages and Report Display Settings
A common issue in reporting is dealing with datasets that return zero rows. Helical Insight provides 
options under When No Data to control what the user sees:
 No Pages: If selected, no page is displayed when there is no data.
 Blank Page: A blank page is shown even when data is absent.
 All Section No Details: All sections or templates are shown, but with no actual detail rows.
 No Data Section: A custom script or text box can be shown (e.g. “No records found”) in place 
of the dataset.
Additional display settings include:
 Show/Hide Input Parameters in View Mode: You may choose whether filter or input 
parameters appear in the final viewable report, or if values are passed via URL instead.
 Summary / Header / Footer Options: Control whether the summary appears on a separate 
page, whether column footers float, and whether headers repeat on multiple pages.
 Ignore Pagination: This option forces all data to appear on a single page (useful for scrolling 
views, but should be used carefully in printable reports).
These settings help ensure that your report behaves gracefully in edge cases (like missing data) and 
flows well under different printing/viewing scenarios.
Best Practices for Optimizing Page Setup in Canned Reports
To get the most from Page Setup in Canned Reporting, follow these recommended best practices:
 Start with Page Setup Before Adding Components: Always configure the page (size, margins) 
early, before dragging in components. This ensures your layout is stable and avoids 
rework later.
 Use Consistent Styles & Templates: Define reusable page styles (fonts, colors, border styles) 
and apply across components. This ensures visual consistency and speeds up report 
creation.
 Limit Complexity in Multi-column Layouts: While multi-column layouts are powerful, 
overcomplicating them can lead to hard-to-read reports. Use them judiciously for 
side-by-side content or dual versions of a report.
 Test with Sample Data & Edge Cases: Test reports with large data sets, small sets (including 
zero rows), and varying record sizes to verify layout holds up. Use the When No Data 
settings to define behaviour ahead of failure.
 Avoid Overstretching Margins: Don’t push margins too low — leave buffer space so content 
doesn’t get cut off in browsers or during export. Always preview before finalizing.
 Document Settings for Team Use: When working in teams, document the chosen page setup 
parameters (e.g. standard page size, margins, column count) so new reports follow 
the same standard.
 Preview Frequently: Use the preview mode to check how changes in setup affect the final 
output. Previewing helps catch layout issues early (e.g. components overlapping, text 
cut-off).
By following these best practices, your canned reports in Helical Insight will be clean, readable, and 
consistent across use cases.
Conclusion
Configuring Page Setup in Canned Reporting in Helical Insight is a foundational step that ensures your 
reports render correctly in both view and print modes. From selecting page size, margins, and 
orientation to defining multi-column layouts and handling no-data cases, Helical Insight provides rich 
settings to control the look and behaviour of your reports.
By accessing the property pane, carefully adjusting layout options, and following best practices, you 
can create robust canned reports that withstand varying data scenarios and look professional. Proper 
page setup is more than just aesthetics—it’s about delivering reliably formatted, readable reports 
every time.