2. Installation and Interface Tour
2.5 The Report Canvas and Pages
In short: The canvas is the page area, 16:9 and 1280 × 720 pixels by default.
Start with a problem
Zoya placed visuals by eye, then the page looked squeezed on her laptop and the two charts were different widths.
Explain simply
The canvas is the page area, 16:9 and 1280 × 720 pixels by default. Change it in Format › Canvas settings with no visual selected. Page tabs at the bottom add, rename, duplicate, hide and reorder pages.
Show the data
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Canvas | 1280 × 720 px (16:9) |
| Outer margin | 20 px left and right |
| Gap between visuals | 20 px |
| Visuals in a row | 2 |
About this data: This table uses columns: Setting, Value. This table uses columns: Width of each visual. This table uses columns: Positions. Values shown are the lesson examples already on this page (not a new dataset).
Fictional sample data. Practice file: visuals_orders_apr_may_2026.csv (source: src/practice/).
Demonstrate
- Click empty canvas › Format › Canvas settings: check Type 16:9.
-
Work out the visual width: (1280 − 20 − 20 − 20) ÷ 2.
Your result should look like this:
Width of each visual 610 px -
Select the first chart › Format › General › Properties: X 20, Width 610. Second chart: X 650, Width 610.
Your result should look like this:
Positions Chart 1: 20–630 px · Chart 2: 650–1260 px -
Double-click the page tab › rename
Overview. Right-click › Duplicate page › renameDelivery. - View › Mobile layout to design a phone version of the page.
Show the result
Your result should look like this (fictional sample):
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Chart 1 | X 20, width 610 |
| Chart 2 | X 650, width 610 |
| Right margin | 1280 − 1260 = 20 px |
| Pages | Overview, Delivery |
Explain what happened
Fixed sizes and positions make visuals line up exactly; the right margin equals the left margin (20 px).
Explore further
- Use View › Gridlines and Snap to grid for quick alignment.
Detailed reference for this lesson:
- The white area in the middle is the canvas. The default page size is 16:9 (1280 × 720 pixels). You can change it in Format pane › Canvas settings when no visual is selected.
- Page tabs at the bottom let you add (+), rename (double-click), duplicate, hide and reorder pages.
- Mobile layout (View tab) lets you design a separate phone-friendly layout for each page.
Ravindra Bagale's Tip
I often see this: report pages built on the default canvas and then squeezed onto a laptop screen. Decide the canvas size (16:9 is standard) before placing visuals, and give pages meaningful names like "Overview" or "Delivery" instead of "Page 1". Clear?
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – मराठी
मला खूप वेळा दिसतं: default canvas वर report pages बनवले जातात आणि मग laptop screen वर कोंबले जातात. Visuals ठेवण्याआधी canvas size ठरवा (16:9 standard आहे), आणि pages ना "Page 1" ऐवजी "Overview" किंवा "Delivery" सारखी अर्थपूर्ण नावं द्या. समजलं का?
Ravindra Bagale's Tip – हिंदी
मुझे अक्सर दिखता है: default canvas पर report pages बनाए जाते हैं और फिर laptop screen पर ठूँस दिए जाते हैं. Visuals रखने से पहले canvas size तय करो (16:9 standard है), और pages को "Page 1" की जगह "Overview" या "Delivery" जैसे मतलब वाले नाम दो. समझ आया?
Fix common mistakes
| Wrong result | Reason | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| Charts overlap on smaller screens | Canvas changed after visuals were placed | Decide canvas size first |
| Page names Page 1, Page 2 | Not renamed | Use meaningful names |
| Mobile app shows a tiny desktop page | No mobile layout | Design Mobile layout |
Practise independently
Practice task
Fit three equal charts in one row with 20 px outer margins and 20 px gaps. What width and X positions do you use?
Hints
- Space left = 1280 − 2 × 20 − 2 × 20.
Solution
(1280 − 40 − 40) ÷ 3 = 400 px each; X = 20, 440, 860 (last ends at 1260).
Think like a professional
Agree on a page grid (margins, gaps, title height) once and reuse it on every page.
Revision card