Keeping Results Together (Keep Together) in Finished Reports

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Article Goal

Create a Finished Report that leverages the Keep Together option to keep grouped results or detail bands from breaking across pages when they could fit together on one page.

Why Use Keep Together?

Keep Together ensures that grouped report data or detail records remain on the same page if possible. This improves readability and prevents fragmented data output.

Without Keep Together: Large data blocks may be split across two pages even if they would fit on one.
With Keep Together Enabled: Data stays intact and grouped properly for professional-looking reports.

Where Do You Enable Keep Together?

You enable Keep Together in the Finished Reports Designer by selecting the desired band (e.g., Group Header or Detail Band) and enabling the setting through the Tasks Button.

Video Tutorial:

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Steps to Enable Keep Together

Step 1: Open the Finished Reports Designer

Access the Finished Reports Designer from VDM after opening or running your View.

Step 2: Select the Band

Click on the band (such as the Group Header or Detail Band) where you want to apply Keep Together.

Step 3: Open the Tasks Button

Click the Tasks Button (gear icon) to the right of the selected band to open its options.

Step 4: Enable Keep Together

Check the box for Keep Together in the band’s task menu.

In this example, both the Group Header Band and the Detail Band had Keep Together enabled.

Step 5: Preview the Report

Click Preview to verify that your groupings or detail records now stay together on one page.

Step 6: Save the Report

Once you’re satisfied with the layout, save your changes to retain the Keep Together setting.

Example Output:

Keep Together Disabled:

Group data may be split across pages.

Keep Together Enabled:

Group data appears on a single page where space allows.

Article Summary

The Keep Together feature in Finished Reports ensures related data—like grouped records or detail bands—are kept on the same page when space allows. This improves report clarity and professional presentation, especially when printing or exporting to PDF. Enabling it is a quick change via the band’s task menu.