---
title: "Layout & Visual Design"
slug: "layout-and-visual-design"
description: "Optimize your printed documents with customizable Layout & Visual Design settings, including fonts, logos, and colors for a professional appearance."
updated: 2026-05-01T11:03:09Z
published: 2026-05-01T11:04:13Z
canonical: "docs.abakion.com/layout-and-visual-design"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.abakion.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Layout & Visual Design

## Feature Overview

Layout & Visual Design controls the visual appearance of the entire printed document: fonts, font sizes, row colours, logo, background image, address block positioning, page number behaviour, barcode symbology, and header layout style. These settings are stored in a **Layout record** keyed by Company Name, Layout Code, Report ID, and Responsibility Center, which means you can have multiple visual variants for the same report — for example, one layout for the main company and a separate one for a subsidiary, or one layout per brand within a single company.

When a document is printed, the system selects the layout by looking first for a record matching the current company, the active Layout Code, the report ID, and the Responsibility Center. If no exact match is found it falls back through progressively less specific combinations. One layout per report can be flagged as **Default Report Layout**, which acts as the universal fallback when no more specific layout is found.

The Layout & Visual Design settings complement the other Document Customizer features: fonts and font sizes defined here are applied globally to the body text, table headers, footer/section text, and title; the address position fields position the bill-to and ship-to address blocks relative to the page edge; the logo setting controls whether the company logo (from Company Information or an overriding image uploaded directly to the layout) appears and where. These are the global visual properties — the content of each section is controlled by Header Setup, Column Setup, and Footer & Sections.

**Key Facts**

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| **Where to set up** | Document Customizer Layouts page; Layout card |
| **Where to assign** | Used automatically by report based on Layout Code, Report ID, Company Name, Responsibility Center |
| **Multiple layouts per report** | Yes — differentiated by Layout Code; one per report marked as Default Report Layout |
| **Font options** | Configurable font family (from Report Fonts list), with separate sizes for body, table header, footer, title, and address |
| **Row colours** | Row Color 1 and Row Color 2 for alternating line shading |
| **Logo** | Show Logo flag; custom logo per layout (overrides Company Information logo); position configurable |
| **Background image** | Full-page background (e.g. watermark); A4 JPEG format, 21×29.7 cm |
| **Barcode support** | 1D and 2D barcode symbology, font, and size for combined barcodes |
| **Responsibility Center** | Layouts can be scoped to a specific Responsibility Center |

---

## Getting Started

1. Open **Document Customizer Layouts** (from Document Customizer → Layout action, or by searching).
2. Create a new layout row. Set **Layout Code** (e.g. blank for the default, or a code like `BRAND-A` for a brand variant), **Report ID** to the relevant report, and **Company Name** to the current company (or blank for all companies).
3. If this should be the default layout for this report, enable **Default Report Layout**. The system will clear the flag on any other layout for the same report.
4. Set **Font** (from the Report Fonts list) and **Font Size** (in pt) for the document body text.
5. Set **Table Header Font Size** for column header labels, and **Footer Font Size** for footer/section text.
6. Set **Row Color 1** and **Row Color 2** for alternating line shading. Common values: `WhiteSmoke` for light grey, `Transparent` for no shading.
7. To use the company logo from Company Information, enable **Show Logo**. To override with a custom logo, upload an image directly to the **Logo** field.
8. Optionally upload a **Background Image** (A4 JPEG) for a watermark or letterhead background.
9. Save and run a test report to verify the visual output.

---

## Related Features

Layout & Visual Design is the visual foundation that the other features render into. **Header Setup** places the header block at a vertical offset that is controlled by the Header Template's own position settings, but the font rendering uses the layout's font family and size. **Column Setup** uses the row height defined in the Columns Setup, but row colours from the Layout are applied at render time. **Footer & Sections** renders footer font size from the Layout. **Address Setup** uses address position coordinates that can be set either in the Layout (as global defaults for a report) or overridden by Address Templates (which take precedence when assigned in Document Customizer Content). The **Special Document Types** feature for barcodes (combined barcodes on line items) uses the barcode type, font, and size configured in the Layout.

---

## User Stories

****US-01: Set the global font and body text size for a document****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** configure the document to use Arial at 8 pt throughout, so that the overall look is consistent and professional **So that** all printed documents have a uniform typographic style that matches our brand guidelines

**Setup:**

1. Open **Document Customizer Layouts** and find or create the layout for the relevant report.
2. Set **Font** to `Arial` (the font must exist in the Report Fonts list; add it if needed).
3. Set **Font Size** to `8` and leave **Font Size Unit** as `pt`.
4. Save and run a test report.

****US-02: Configure alternating row shading on line items****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** apply alternating light grey and white shading to the document lines so that long documents are easier to read **So that** the recipient can track rows across the full page width without errors

**Setup:**

1. Open the Layout record for the relevant report.
2. Set **Row Color 1** to `WhiteSmoke` (light grey).
3. Set **Row Color 2** to `Transparent` (white/transparent background).
4. Save and run a test. Odd-numbered lines will use Row Color 1, even-numbered lines Row Color 2.

> **Note:** Colour values are CSS colour names or hex codes. `Transparent` renders as white on white paper. `WhiteSmoke` is a very light grey (#F5F5F5). Both values must be entered exactly as they appear in the Report Colors list.

****US-03: Upload a custom logo that overrides the Company Information logo for a specific brand layout****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** use a different logo on documents for one of our brands without changing the Company Information logo used by other brands **So that** documents for each brand carry the correct visual identity

**Setup:**

1. Create a Layout with a distinct **Layout Code** (e.g. `BRAND-B`) for the relevant report.
2. Enable **Show Logo**.
3. Click into the **Logo** field and upload the brand-specific logo image.
4. To route documents for this brand through this layout, set up **Default Report Setup** for the relevant customers or Responsibility Center, pointing to this Layout Code.
5. Documents not matched to this layout will continue to use the Company Information logo.

> **Note:** If the Logo field on the layout is populated, it takes precedence over the logo in Company Information. If the Logo field is blank but Show Logo is enabled, the Company Information logo is used.

****US-04: Add a watermark background to a Pro Forma invoice****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** print a watermark (e.g. the word "DRAFT" in large light grey text as a background image) on all pro forma invoices **So that** recipients cannot mistake a pro forma for a finalised invoice

**Setup:**

1. Prepare a JPEG image file at A4 dimensions (21×29.7 cm) with the watermark content.
2. Open the Layout record for the Pro Forma Sales Invoice.
3. Upload the image to the **Background Image** field.
4. Save and run a test report to verify the watermark appears behind the document content.

> **Note:** The background image is rendered at full A4 size on each page. For best results the image should be light (low opacity) so document content remains readable on top. The format must be JPEG.

****US-05: Create separate layout variants for two companies sharing the same BC environment****

**As a** IT Manager **I want to** have distinct logo, font, and colour settings for Company A and Company B within the same Business Central environment **So that** documents printed from each company carry that company's correct visual identity automatically

**Setup:**

1. For Company A: create a Layout record with **Company Name** = `Company A`, **Report ID** = the relevant report, **Layout Code** blank, and enable **Default Report Layout**. Upload Company A's logo and set the colour scheme.
2. For Company B: create a separate Layout record with **Company Name** = `Company B`, same **Report ID**, **Layout Code** blank, **Default Report Layout** enabled. Upload Company B's logo and colour settings.
3. When a user in Company A prints the report, the system finds the layout scoped to Company A. The same is true for Company B.

****US-06: Create a Responsibility-Center-specific layout for a regional office****

**As a** IT Manager **I want to** print documents from the Stockholm Responsibility Center with a Swedish address header and a different logo than the default layout **So that** documents issued by the Swedish office comply with local branding without affecting other offices

**Setup:**

1. Create a Layout record with **Layout Code** blank (or a specific code), **Report ID** = the relevant report, **Company Name** = current company, and **Responsibility Center** = `STOCKHOLM`.
2. Set the logo, font, and other visual properties specific to the Swedish office.
3. Documents issued with Responsibility Center STOCKHOLM will automatically use this layout.

****US-07: Configure the position of the bill-to address block****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** move the bill-to address block 40 mm from the top of the page and 20 mm from the left edge so that it aligns with our windowed envelope format **So that** invoices can be mailed in standard windowed envelopes without any reprinting or repositioning

**Setup:**

1. Open the Layout card for the relevant report (navigate to Document Customizer Layouts and open the card).
2. Set **Address Vertical Pos.** to `40` and **Address Vertical Pos. Unit** to `cm`.
3. Set **Address Horisontal Pos.** to `20` and **Address Horisontal Pos. Unit** to `cm`.
4. Set **Address Position TextAlign** to `Left`.
5. Adjust **Address Font Size** if the address text needs to be smaller to fit the window.
6. Save and test with a printed envelope template to verify alignment.

> **Note:** If an Address Template is assigned in Document Customizer Content, its position settings override these Layout-level defaults.

****US-08: Show the page number only when a document has more than one page****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** suppress the page number on single-page documents to keep the layout clean, while still showing page numbers on multi-page documents **So that** short invoices are not cluttered with "Page 1 of 1" footers

**Setup:**

1. Open the Layout record for the relevant report.
2. Ensure **Show Page Number if only 1** is disabled (this is the default behaviour).
3. The page number will only appear when the document spans more than one page.
4. To always show the page number (including on single-page documents), enable **Show Page Number if only 1**.

****US-09: Configure the scanner separation character for picking documents****

**As a** IT Manager **I want to** set the field separator character used in the barcode string on picking documents so that our handheld scanners can parse the fields correctly **So that** scanners can split a combined barcode value into individual data fields (e.g. item number, lot number, quantity)

**Setup:**

1. Open the Layout card for the picking report.
2. Set **Scanner Separation Char** to the character your scanner firmware expects as a field delimiter (default is `+`).
3. Save. The report will embed this character between concatenated values when building the combined barcode string.

****US-10: Configure 2D barcodes (QR codes) for a combined barcode column****

**As a** IT Manager **I want to** render QR codes instead of 1D linear barcodes in the combined barcode column on the sales shipment document **So that** mobile apps and smartphone cameras can scan the codes directly from the printed document

**Setup:**

1. Open the Layout card for the Sales Shipment.
2. Set **Combined Barcode Type** to `Two Dimension`.
3. Set **Combined Barcode 2D Font** to `QR-Code` (or another 2D symbology such as PDF417 or Data Matrix).
4. Set **Combined Barcode Font Size** to an appropriate point size (larger sizes produce larger, more scannable codes).
5. Save and run a test report to verify the QR code renders and scans correctly.

> **Note:** The primary barcode (Barcode Type, Barcode Font) is used for the standalone barcode column configured in Column Setup. The combined barcode (Combined Barcode Type, Combined Barcode Font) is used for a barcode column in the main Columns template. Configure both independently if needed.

****US-11: Copy a Layout to a new Layout Code for a seasonal variant****

**As a** Business Manager **I want to** create a temporary layout variant for the holiday period with a different background image, then switch back to the standard layout after the holidays **So that** seasonal layouts can be prepared in advance and activated without disrupting the standard setup

**Setup:**

1. Open **Document Customizer Layouts** and select the standard layout for the relevant report.
2. Use the action **Copy to new** and enter a new Layout Code (e.g. `HOLIDAY`).
3. On the new layout, upload the holiday background image and adjust any other settings.
4. To activate the holiday layout, set **Default Report Layout** to enabled on the holiday record (the system will clear it from the standard record).
5. After the holidays, re-enable **Default Report Layout** on the standard layout.

****US-12: Enable combined barcodes on production order and pick lines****

**As a** IT Manager **I want to** activate the combined barcode column on the Production Order or Pick Instruction so that each line renders a scannable barcode built from multiple field values (item number, lot number, quantity) **So that** shop floor and warehouse staff can scan lines directly from the printed document to confirm operations or picks without manual data entry

**Setup:**

1. In **Document Customizer Content** for the relevant document row (Production Order, Pick Instruction, Shop Floor Mobile, or Transfer Order).
2. Enable **Show Combined Barcode**.
3. In **Document Customizer Layouts**, configure the barcode symbology and size:
  - Set **Combined Barcode Type** to `One Dimension` (1D) or `Two Dimension` (2D).
  - Set the corresponding font (e.g. `Code128` for 1D, `QR-Code` for 2D).
  - Set **Combined Barcode Font Size** to the desired point size.
4. Set **Scanner Separation Char** to the delimiter your scanning system expects between concatenated field values (default is `+`).
5. Save and run a test report to verify the barcodes render and scan correctly.

> **Note:** Show Combined Barcode is only available for Production Order (6082711), Pick Instruction (6082713), Shop Floor Mobile (6082782), and Transfer Order (6082720). The combined barcode encodes a fixed set of values determined by the report — it is not the same as the configurable Barcode Column in Column Setup, which you define field by field.

****US-13: Hide combined barcodes on component lines of a production order****

**As a** IT Manager **I want to** show combined barcodes on the parent production order lines but suppress them on the component sub-lines **So that** the printed production order is less cluttered and barcodes only appear where scanning is actually performed

**Setup:**

1. In **Document Customizer Content** for the Production Order row, ensure **Show Combined Barcode** is enabled (see US-12).
2. Enable **Hide BarCode for Components Lines**.
3. Save. Barcodes will render on parent operation lines only; component lines will be printed without a barcode.

> **Note:** This option is only visible on the Production Order (6082711) and only when Show Combined Barcode is also enabled.

---

## Field Reference

| Field | Where to find it | What it does | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Layout Code | Document Customizer Layouts | Identifier for this visual variant; blank = default | Blank |
| Company Name | Document Customizer Layouts | Scopes the layout to a specific company; blank = all companies | Current company |
| Report ID | Document Customizer Layouts | The report this layout applies to | — |
| Responsibility Center | Document Customizer Layouts | Scopes the layout to a specific Responsibility Center | Blank |
| Default Report Layout | Document Customizer Layouts | Marks this as the fallback layout when no more specific match is found | Auto-set on insert |
| Font | Document Customizer Layouts | Font family for document body text | — |
| Font Size | Document Customizer Layouts | Body text font size in pt | — |
| Table Header Font Size | Document Customizer Layouts | Font size for column header labels | — |
| Footer Font Size | Document Customizer Layouts | Font size for footer and section text | — |
| Row Color 1 | Document Customizer Layouts | Background colour for odd-numbered document lines | — |
| Row Color 2 | Document Customizer Layouts | Background colour for even-numbered document lines | — |
| Show Logo | Document Customizer Layouts | Whether to print the logo on documents using this layout | Enabled |
| Logo | Document Customizer Layouts | Custom logo image (overrides Company Information logo when set) | Blank |
| Background Image | Document Customizer Layouts | Full-page A4 JPEG background (watermark) | Blank |
| Title Position | Document Customizer Layouts | Positions the document title: Left or Right (logo appears opposite) | — |
| Title Font Size | Document Customizer Layouts | Font size for the document title | — |
| Show Page Number if only 1 | Document Customizer Layouts | Shows page number even on single-page documents | Disabled |
| Address Position TextAlign | Document Customizer Layouts | Alignment of the bill-to address block: Left or Right | Left |
| Address Vertical Pos. | Document Customizer Layouts | Vertical offset of the bill-to address from the top of the page | — |
| Address Horisontal Pos. | Document Customizer Layouts | Horizontal offset of the bill-to address from the page edge | — |
| Address Font Size | Document Customizer Layouts | Font size for address block text | — |
| ShipAddr. Vertical Pos. | Document Customizer Layouts | Vertical offset of the ship-to address block | — |
| ShipAddr. Horisontal Pos. | Document Customizer Layouts | Horizontal offset of the ship-to address block | — |
| Barcode Type | Document Customizer Layouts | Type of barcode for the barcode column: 1D or 2D | — |
| Barcode Font | Document Customizer Layouts | 1D barcode symbology (e.g. Code128, EAN-13) | — |
| Barcode 2D Font | Document Customizer Layouts | 2D barcode symbology (e.g. QR-Code, PDF417) | — |
| Barcode Font Size | Document Customizer Layouts | Font size for barcode rendering | — |
| Combined Barcode Type | Document Customizer Layouts | Barcode type for combined barcodes on line columns: 1D or 2D | — |
| Combined Barcode Font New | Document Customizer Layouts | 1D symbology for combined barcodes | — |
| Combined Barcode 2D Font | Document Customizer Layouts | 2D symbology for combined barcodes | — |
| Combined Barcode Font Size New | Document Customizer Layouts | Font size for combined barcodes | — |
| Scanner Separation Char | Document Customizer Layouts | Field separator character embedded in scanner barcode strings | `+` |
| Show Combined Barcode | Document Customizer Content | Activates the combined barcode column on supported documents (Production Order, Pick Instruction, Shop Floor Mobile, Transfer Order) | Disabled |
| Hide BarCode for Components Lines | Document Customizer Content | Suppresses combined barcodes on component sub-lines of a production order (visible when Show Combined Barcode is enabled on Production Order) | Disabled |