Before you begin
You should be familiar with the different types of HTML containers: iFrame and HTML text. The iFrame type contains the URL of a website, while the HTML text type contains HTML tags that are rendered in MicroStrategy Web. For examples and details, see Displaying HTML content in a document: HTML containers.
The formatting properties apply to the HTML container itself. For example, a drop shadow or a border is displayed around the HTML container. The Font and Forecolor properties format the HTML code or URL text in the HTML container (that is, what is shown in Design View).
For the HTML text type, the Font and Forecolor properties overwrite any formatting provided in the HTML tags.
For the iFrame type, the Font and Forecolor properties do not apply to the content of the website displayed by the URL.
For examples, see the Report Services Document Creation Guide.
The following properties are applied to HTML containers using a URL (the iFrame type):
3D Effect and 3D Weight
Border
Drop Shadow and Drop Shadow Depth
Tooltip
Visible
The following list provides some useful formatting suggestions for all HTML containers:
Make the HTML container appear three-dimensional, like a button, with a 3D effect. For detailed instructions, see Applying 3D effects to controls.
"Float" the HTML container above the background by using a drop shadow. For detailed instructions, see Applying drop shadows.
Display pop-up text when a user positions the cursor over the HTML container in MicroStrategy Web with a tooltip. The tooltip can provide extra information, such as an expanded description of the control. For detailed instructions, see Creating pop-up tooltips.
Display text vertically to control the orientation of text fields. Vertical text is displayed in all MicroStrategy Web display modes, and when the document is exported to Excel. The Firefox browser does not display vertical text. For detailed instructions, see Properties and formatting dialog box: Alignment.
Display information to other document designers in Design Mode while hiding it from users viewing the document in Interactive Mode, Editable Mode, Express Mode, or Flash Mode. To do this, you hide the control that contains the information by using the Visible property. For instance, you can put information about a data source in a text field for designers, and then hide that text field in Interactive Mode, Editable Mode, Express Mode, or Flash Mode. For detailed instructions, see Hiding a control.
Format the font of the text in the text field, including style, size, and color. See Formatting text fields for instructions.
The following list provides some useful formatting suggestions for the HTML text type of HTML containers:
Allow the content behind the HTML container to show through by setting the backstyle to transparent. You can also allow a fill color to cover what is behind the rectangle by setting the backstyle to opaque. For detailed instructions, see Applying a transparent background to controls.
Create a gradual color change by blending two colors using gradient colors on the HTML container. For detailed instructions, see Applying gradient colors.