Complex properties use BIRT handle objects to access data structures. For example, a DimensionHandle object provides access to size and position properties, such as the absolute value and the units of the width of a report item. Some String properties on a handle object, such as font style and text alignment on a style handle, have restricted values defined by constants in the org.eclipse.birt.report.model.api.elements.DesignChoiceConstants interface. For example, the font style property can have one of only the values, FONT_STYLE_ITALIC, FONT_STYLE_NORMAL, or FONT_STYLE_OBLIQUE.

To access complex properties, use getter methods on the report item. For example, to access the width of a report item, call the method ReportItemHandle.getWidth( ). This method returns a DimensionHandle object. To work with complex properties, use getter and setter methods on the property handle object. For example, to get and set the size of a dimension, use the DimensionHandle methods getMeasure( ) and setAbsolute( ), respectively. Calling a method on a property handle object to set a value on a complex property affects the report item straight away. You do not call another setter method on the report item itself.

The StyleHandle class provides access to many fundamental properties of a report item, such as margin size, text alignment, background color, borders, font, and so on. StyleHandle provides a full set of getter methods for each style property. For simple properties, StyleHandle provides setter methods. To modify complex properties, use setter methods on the property handle object, not on the style handle itself.

A report item can use two styles; a private style and a shared style. The handle classes for these styles are PrivateStyleHandle and SharedStyleHandle, respectively. Both classes derive from StyleHandle.

A private style contains the settings that the report developer chose in the property editor when designing the report using BIRT Report Designer. Shared styles appear in the Outline view in BIRT Report Designer. Use shared styles to apply the same appearance to multiple items in a report design. Changes to a shared style affect all report items that use the style. Style settings in a private style override the settings in a shared style.