Color Shading for Columns

I've done this using a Graphic Column that "overlaps" the Text vs. Depth Column.

For example, if I want to color code the RQD column, I can create a Graphic Column that plots at the same x-position as the Text Column and has the same width. To make it easier to work with the overlapping columns, I would give the Graphic Column an X-position that plots off the page, and an "Output Override X" value to offsets the column to the proper x-position during Output. For example, if the RQD text column is at x=4.65, I'd have my Graphic Column at x=10.65 with an Output Override X = @-6.

In the "Section Color Expression", you can set up a Case expression to define your color criteria. For example:

<<Case(_
  <<SAMPLE.RQD Length>>,_
  < 20,255,_
  > 70,65535,_
)>>

So, if RQD Length (not %) is less than 20, the color will be red (255), and if greater than 70, the color will be yellow (65535).

Set the Print Order to -1 so the color plots below the text. 

There are probably other ways to do this. This is one option.

Is there a way to do this in a graphic table report? Ideally, I want to shade the background of the results instead of changing the font colour based on various criteria as shown with the RQD above.

The answer to your question is yes.  The qualification is that it uses a hack that uses the graphic table text element for things it was not designed to do. Here is an example output using a very simple graphic table outputting sample type and number, recovery percentage, and RQD percentage. The recovery percentage and RQD percentage has been highlighted for values less than 80.

The set up uses 1" x 1" columns and lines for simplicity (you will see why later).  The report design to produce this output is shown below.

This is pretty straight forward with column headers and graphic table text entities to print the data.  It has graphic table horizontal and vertical lines to define the table cells. The secret is the large B (for block). These are additional Graphic table text entities in the same column as the recovery and RQD text entities.  The Main properties tab for this entity is shown below.

Note that the text to print is simply <<DMK!16>> this generates data marker 16 which is a solid square.  The size is set to 1" which  generates a 1" x 1" square, centers it vertically and horizontally, and colors it very light yellow. The configuration tab is shown below.

Note that as in the previous example the print order is set to -1 so that it plots below the text. The output condition is set to print the data marker only when the recovery or RQD is less than 80. Using a square data marker is limiting but you can get a rectangle by using multiple data markers. <<DMK!16>><<DMK!16>> set at a height of 0.5" generates a .5" high by 1" wide highlight rectangle and other combinations.

I would not recommend this method if outputting to text or CAD files because the data marker and print order may not export correctly.  If outputting to CAD you can always export the table as a raster file before importing to CAD.

There certainly may be other (better) ways to do this but this is one.

Ah that's a clever workaround! This has bugged me so long! I adapted it slightly to include a case statement to change the colour of the box but worked a treat! Many thanks for your help

Ah that's a clever workaround! This has bugged me so long! I adapted it slightly to include a case statement to change the colour of the box but worked a treat! Many thanks for your help