Report Definition File (RDF)

Report Definition Files (RDFs) have two functions: They display and reprocess your results on the screen (Report) and prepare the printout (see Printer Layout).

All settings regarding user-specific representation of chromatographic data in different windows are stored in the Report Definition File. Use the report template plus the Workspace to arrange the screen according to your requirements.

If no workspace is loaded, each new window is opened based on the most recently used report definition file. If you have not yet stored a report definition file, the default Chromeleon RDF is used. The default report definition file (default.rdf) is located in the Reports directory.

Each RDF contains specific information about the window sections and views, window representations and captions, color and size of individual elements, and the presentation of the sample results on-screen and in the printout. The information refers to the following questions:

• Is the window content, e.g., a chromatogram, displayed in zoomed view or in full-scale view?

• Which type of scaling is used for the axes?

• Which additional objects are displayed, e.g., grid, reference chromatogram, units, etc.?

• Which colors are used for the reference chromatograms, captions, etc.?

• Are other window sections displayed, e.g., a spectra plot, calibration curve, report table, etc.?

• Which worksheets are included in the report? How is the report formatted?

• Which columns does the worksheet include?

For more information, see Data Representation and Reprocessing  Report Tables (Overview).