How to stuff() a string

[jackp_MDB]

I'm having trouble building a new string. My existing function is:

FUNCTION prtline1 AS C (prname AS C, prspouse AS C, prdeceased AS C )
'stuff Name --- Spouse --- Deceased
prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,1,40,alltrim(prname))
prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,45,10,alltrim(prspouse))
prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,89,8,alltrim(prdeceased))
END FUNCTION

My goal is have the prname start in string position #1; prspouse starting in string position #45, prdeceased starting in string position #89...etc.

This function puts the proper data into the string, but it misses the "spaces" between entries. For example if the prname is George and the prspouse is Rita, the function shows "GeorgeRita" not "George...space to character 45...Rita"

Any idea how to modify this function so the characters start as the specified string positions rather then next to each other?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to stuff() a string

FUNCTION prtline1 AS C (prname AS C, prspouse AS C, prdeceased AS C )
	'stuff Name --- Spouse --- Deceased
 prtline1 = space(98)	'start with something to stuff
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,1,40,alltrim(prname))
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,45,10,alltrim(prspouse))
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,89,8,alltrim(prdeceased)) 
END FUNCTION

[jackp_MDB]

Re: How to stuff() a string

Stan,

Your code:
---------
FUNCTION prtline1 AS C (prname AS C, prspouse AS C, prdeceased AS C )
'stuff Name --- Spouse --- Deceased
prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,1,40,alltrim(prname))+space(4)
prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,45,10,alltrim(prspouse))+space(33)'not sure if 33 is right
prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,89,8,alltrim(prdeceased))
END FUNCTION
---------

Gets me closer...I'm playing with it to see if I can find a combination that works...in your example, the spouse does start 4 spaces to the right of the name, but not far enough to "match" what I'm trying to duplicate...I may be able to just add spaces to move it exactly where I want...I'll let you know.

Thanks for your help.

Jack

[Al Buchholz]

Re: How to stuff() a string

FUNCTION prtline1 AS C (prname AS C, prspouse AS C, prdeceased AS C )
	'stuff Name --- Spouse --- Deceased
 prtline1 = space(98)	'start with something to stuff
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,1,40,alltrim(prname))
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,45,10,alltrim(prspouse))
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,89,8,alltrim(prdeceased)) 
END FUNCTION

I'm getting better positioning results with zero as the 3rd argument/parameter.....

FUNCTION prtline1 AS C (prname AS C, prspouse AS C, prdeceased AS C )
	'stuff Name --- Spouse --- Deceased
 prtline1 = space(98)	'start with something to stuff
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,1,0,alltrim(prname))
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,45,0,alltrim(prspouse))
 prtline1 = stuff(prtline1,89,0,alltrim(prdeceased)) 
END FUNCTION

(Never used that function before.. or remember seeing it..)

[jackp_MDB]

Re: How to stuff() a string

Al,

That code works fine...better than the previous. I did find that I had to increase the "space" numbers significantly to get the starts where I wanted. I'm guessing it's to do with spaces not being uniform in size when working with fonts that are not "fixed length."

At any rate, the code works fine...thanks for the help everyone!

[Al Buchholz]

Re: How to stuff() a string

Al,

That code works fine...better than the previous. I did find that I had to increase the "space" numbers significantly to get the starts where I wanted. I'm guessing it's to do with spaces not being uniform in size when working with fonts that are not "fixed length."

At any rate, the code works fine...thanks for the help everyone!

To do what you are doing without using fixed length(width) fonts is a head/heartache.

Tell us where you are implementing this.

[jackp_MDB]

Re: How to stuff() a string

I'm developing this to track a detailed listing of personnel...as usual, some data is missing from the existing entries. Problem I'm trying to solve is to stop "printing" empty lines.

For example, I may have only your First and Last names...My "full" report contains potentially 4 lines that include spouse, deceased, military service, address lines, city, state, etc...etc...

I have individual fields printing as I want, but my idea is to copy those fields into a report line that contains all info assigned to that line...then that line is empty, I can skip including it in the record.

Hope this hasn't confused the issue.

Jack

[Al Buchholz]

Re: How to stuff() a string

I'm developing this to track a detailed listing of personnel...as usual, some data is missing from the existing entries. Problem I'm trying to solve is to stop "printing" empty lines.

For example, I may have only your First and Last names...My "full" report contains potentially 4 lines that include spouse, deceased, military service, address lines, city, state, etc...etc...

I have individual fields printing as I want, but my idea is to copy those fields into a report line that contains all info assigned to that line...then that line is empty, I can skip including it in the record.

Hope this hasn't confused the issue.

Jack

hmmmm.. It confuses me that you need to the data positioned to test if the line is blank.

There are options on a report for a region to 'shrink' - ie blank lines are eliminated.

or conditional objects or filter (select) records only in certain conditions.

Are projects fun???

[jackp_MDB]

Re: How to stuff() a string

Sorry about the confusion...and yes...projects are always fun until you figure them out...then it's "old hat!"

Thanks for the help.

Jack

[GGandhi]

Re: How to stuff() a string

one other thing to try is soft return.
if you have a field on a line by itself and that line was fed with a soft return and when the data is not present the line feed does not happen
and you won't see an empty line.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: How to stuff() a string

one other thing to try is soft return.
if you have a field on a line by itself and that line was fed with a soft return and when the data is not present the line feed does not happen
and you won't see an empty line.

Gandhi

You are talking about using a Rich Text Field.

Good thought.

[GGandhi]

Re: How to stuff() a string

My goal is have the prname start in string position #1; prspouse starting in string position #45, prdeceased starting in string position #89...etc.

this also you can try to achieve the above
dim printLine as c
printLine = padr(prname,44," ")+padr(prspouse,44," ")+padr(predeceased ,44," ")

[jackp_MDB]

Re: How to stuff() a string

My final solution was to replace all report fields with "rich text" fields.

Using rich text and soft returns, alpha5 handles the empty field issues automatically and I do not have to worry about checking and substituting fields when needed.

Gandhi remarks about soft returns, and a bit of time with Al, things finally cleared up.

Thanks for the help and getting me turned around to the easy way to do things...

[Al Buchholz]

Re: How to stuff() a string

My final solution was to replace all report fields with "rich text" fields.

Using rich text and soft returns, alpha5 handles the empty field issues automatically and I do not have to worry about checking and substituting fields when needed.

Gandhi remarks about soft returns, and a bit of time with Al, things finally cleared up.

Thanks for the help and getting me turned around to the easy way to do things...

Jack

Thanks for sharing the solution and thanks for your service to the country.