Print code PROBLEM!!!

[Robert Rough]

Help

Can anyone please explain why the code below in After Validate event of a Print Dialogue drop down box would give the error statement when tried in live preview. I'm totally and utterly stumped. Tried all variations of filter expressions (Code copied from WAS demo and field names and variable names altered where appropriate) See attached document for more clarity.

Robert

CODE INPUT

IF eval_valid("StatementNumber") = .f. Then
goto skipreport
end if
dim filter as c
dim order as c

'since StatementNumber is a multi-select DropDownBox, it is actually an array that contains the selected values.
dim statnum as c
statnum = StatementNumber.dump()
statnum = remove_blank_lines(statnum)
statnum = *for_each(x,"Month_Nof = " + quote(x),statnum)
filter = stritran(alltrim(statnum), crlf()," .or. ")
Order = ""

Dim filename as c
filename = session.session_folder + chr(92) + "tempreport.pdf"
filename = report.saveas("statement landscape","pdf",filter,order,filename,.f.)
if file.exists(filename)
currentform.RedirectTarget = session.session_url + "tempreport.pdf?" + rand_string(5)
end if
skipreport:

ERROR OUTPUT

Errors in: event.AfterValidate code:Invalid report filter expression: 'Month_Nof = "13" .or. Month_Nof = "14" .or. Month_Nof = "15"'.
StatementNumber

[CALocklin]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Are you sure the month number should be a character value?

The function Month(date()) returns a numeric value.

Cal Locklin
www.aimsdc.net

[Robert Rough]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Cal,

I copied the code from the WAS demo Printdialogue component where the invoice_ number field in the base table was a character field as also specified when creating the dropdown box control.
So I ensured that Month_Nof field in my base table was also character and also when creating the dropdown box.

I do not see the function Month(date())used in the coding that I copied.

I've tried using the print genie in the After Validate code creator and also the technique created by yourself published in the documentation to enter the appropriate filter code but all to no avail.

Robert

[Peter.Wayne]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

The message you are getting is saying that the filter expression is incorrect for the *report*. You should try running the report from the Interactive window with
filter=" Month_Nof = '13' .or. Month_Nof = '14' "
order=""

preview_report("statement landscape",filter,order)

See if that works. If it doesn't then you have to find out what kind of filter works properly with your report.

[Robert Rough]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Peter, Thank you for your response.

I tried exactly what you said first ensuring that report was set for no filter and no additional filtering at runtime.

Alpha returned a warning box

Script:UI_DLG_BOX:line:1626
Variable "a_dlg_button" not found.

After a while Error message

Invalid report filter expression:'Month_nof='13'.or.Monthf_nof='14"

I checked the syntax that I typed in the interactive window and it was exactly as you suggested

Filter="Month_nof='13'.or.Month_nof='14'"

There is a difference in the syntax regarding the quote signs. Any significance?

To further check the filters developed when I apply the filters using the filter builder.

I changed the report set up to allow filter criteria at run time.

In filter builder chose table from list - site_invoice_data
In filter builder chose Field from list - Month_nof
selected criteria is equal to 13 or 14

The expression shown in filter window was
site_invoice_data-"Month_nof="13".or.site_invoice_data-"Month_nof="14"

The report printed as expected.

on this basis I then tried substituting the single quotes in the expression you suggested with the double quote as above surrounding the numbers but returned invalid expression.

How do I duplicate the expression created in the filter builder(which works) to the interactive window.

Thank you for your suggestion and interest. I'm confused as to why such a simple task should cause so much problem after all it was just a copy and paste action from a script that worked. Really confused and frustrated.

Regards Robert

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Robert

The expression created by the expression builder leads me to believe you are filtering a report on child records in a set. In that case, you must include the table name.

To convert the generated expression to a filter expression for the report, you can try 2 ways.

"site_invoice_data-"Month_nof='13'.or.site_invoice_data-"Month_nof='14' "

or

"site_invoice_data-"Month_nof=\"13\".or.site_invoice_data-"Month_nof=\"14\""

I prefer the second method, but sometimes it does take a little experimentation to get it right. One way to test an expression is to use the interactive window and do something like this to see how the charactrer string will be evaluated

report_filter = "site_invoice_data-"Month_nof=\"13\".or.site_invoice_data-"Month_nof=\"14\""
?report_filter
= site_invoice_data-"Month_nof="13".or.site_invoice_data-"Month_nof="14"

Jerry

[Robert Rough]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Jerry,

Yes you are correct regarding the set. The report is based on a set where the filter field (Month_nof) is in child table of the set. I will try the all the filter expressions that you suggest.

One question - Is the -" a legitimate symbol to be used in the the synatax of the expression such as

"site_invoice_data-"Month_nof='13'. etc

NB in the WAS demo where I copied the code from the report was also based on a set, but was the difference there that the filter was from the parent table and therefore did not need to be so specified,

Apologies - that was a second question not a note.

Jerry thanks for your insight and information.

Regards Robert

[Robert Rough]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Jerry,

Carried out all the procedures as you suggested and the syntax input in the interactive window produced the same filter statement as when using the filter genie to print the report in basic A5


site_invoice_data-"Month_nof="13".or.site_invoice_data-"Month_nof="14"

Using this information I input the following in my original AfterValidate code when trying to develop my PrintDialogue dropdown box

CODE INPUT

IF eval_valid("StatementNumber") = .f. Then
goto skipreport
end if
dim filter as c
dim order as c

'since StatementNumber is a multi-select DropDownBox, it is actually an array that contains the selected values.
dim statnum as c
statnum = StatementNumber.dump()
statnum = remove_blank_lines(statnum)
statnum = *for_each(x,"site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = " + quote(x),statnum)
filter = stritran(alltrim(statnum), crlf()," .or. ")
Order = ""

Dim filename as c
filename = session.session_folder + chr(92) + "tempreport.pdf"
filename = report.saveas("statement landscape","pdf",filter,order,filename,.f.)
if file.exists(filename)
currentform.RedirectTarget = session.session_url + "tempreport.pdf?" + rand_string(5)
end if
skipreport:

ERROR OUTPUT

Errors in: event.AfterValidate code:Invalid report filter expression: 'site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = "13" .or. 'site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = "14"'

This is the exact same coding expression that works when trying to produce the report using the print genie in the basic Alpha5 desktop.

If i was to start again from square one how do you suggest I try to resolve this issue.
I know this must seem a bit of a pain but if I can just solve this one small issue eveything else in what I am trying to achieve will just fall into place.

Thanks again for your advice - its all a learning experience.

Robert

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Robert

'site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = "13" .or. 'site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = "14"'

is not the same as

"site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = \"13\" .or. site_invoice_data-"Month_Nof = \"14\"

Note the single quote before the second site_invoice_data in your expression. Getting the quotes correct is definitely the most difficult part of building an expression. I will take a look at the code you use to build the expression to see if I can find a solution, since the issue is there.

Jerry

[Robert Rough]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Jerry,

The second quote that you spotted was a typo on my part.

Robert

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

Robert

I built a little test table and tried you report code outside of a web component, and the filter worked correctly. I don't know why it doesn't work in your context. Without the actual tables, it is not possible to fully test your situation.

Jerry

[Robert Rough]

RE: Print code PROBLEM!!!

For the interest of any Alpha users who were experiencing similar problems, Jerry kindly scrutinised my tables etc and noticed inconsistencies in my naming conventions, where in some cases an underscore in the name was followed by a space. This was unintentional in my part but nonethelss caused problems. Although Alpha tries to correct the error by adding a further underscore when processing reports etc. it is very unstable and as the database is developed further and new reports, filter expressions etc are added the errors etc are magnified and there seems no obvious apparent reason. Therefore as I now will be reconstructing my database from scratch I would advise all users if they dont already know - be very careful when setting up table structures and names to ensure similar problems to the one I've experienced do not occur. I would like to thank Jerry, who gave me a full and detailed explanation of the errors and consequences, and all contributors for the time help and advice given in this thread.

Regards Robert