Displaying messages in the place of widgets

Widgets can be displayed and interacted with in MicroStrategy Web, and on an iPhone with MicroStrategy Mobile. For PDF View, you can select what is displayed to replace the widget if the widget cannot be displayed for some reason. (For more information on the display options, see Determining how a widget is rendered in non-Flash modes.) If you choose to hide the Grid/Graph to which the widget is attached, you can display a message rather than blank space. This message can indicate to users that the missing widget cannot be displayed in the current mode, or provide other information. Use a text field to display the message, which is displayed in place of the missing widget in PDF View.

For example, a Thermometer widget is displayed in Flash Mode. In Interactive Mode, where the widget cannot be displayed, the following message is displayed in a text field that replaces the display of the widget:

Switch to Flash Mode because you are missing the thermometer widget.

In Editable Mode and Design Mode, the Grid/Graph connected to the widget is displayed. If the Grid/Graph does not completely cover the text field, the text field is displayed as well.

Note: You can determine how a widget is displayed in different display modes. For instructions to specify how the widget is displayed in each mode, see Determining how a widget is rendered in non-Flash modes.

To display a message in place of a widget

  1. Open the document that contains the widget in Design or Editable mode.

  2. Right-click the widget's Grid/Graph and select Properties and Formatting. The Properties and Formatting dialog box opens.

  3. From the left, select Widget.

  4. From the Alternative Display drop-down list, select Hide Grid or Graph.

  5. Clear the check box for the display modes in which you want to hide the widget. For example, to hide the widget in Express Mode and Interactive Mode, clear the DHTML check box. The Will render as column updates to list how the widget is displayed in each display mode.

    Note
    : When a widget is displayed in Flash Mode, or on the iPhone or iPad, only the Show Grid or Graph option is available. If you specify another alternative display option, the widget still displays as a Grid/Graph in those modes. For more information on the Widget options in the Properties and Formatting dialog box, see Properties and Formatting dialog box: Widget.

  6. Click OK to save changes.

  7. From the Insert menu, select Text, then click the place in the document in which you want to add the message and type the text you want to display in place of the widget. For more detailed information, see Adding text and data to a document.

    Note
    : Ensure that the size of the text field is no larger than the widget, and that the text field is placed so that the widget covers the entire text field. Check whether the widget covers the text field by switching the document to Editable Mode or Design Mode.

  8. Right-click the text field, point to Order, and then Send to Back.

  9. Save the document.

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