Print multiple pages of the same item?

[Rich Hartnett]

I have a mobile traffic citation program, which requires that the officer print four copies (pages) of the citation for each violation. The details of the citation remain the same on each copy, but there is additional static text that is different on each of the four pages. (see screenshot)

The citation is about 8" in length, so I can only get two within the allowable space of the report creator.

How could I go about doing this?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

How about designing the static text portion and printing it to a pdf file. Then print/saveas the citation portion as a pdf file. Then merge the two.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Thanks for the quick reply Stan.

I'm not quite sure I follow you on this, so you might have to elaborate. My current citation is turned into a PDF by the web server before being printed by the officer in the car, if that makes any difference.

[Tim Sutherland]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Can you have a print house pre-print the sets of 4 with the static text printed on them and then have your report or letter print 4 copies onto the pre-printed forms?

That's how we accomplish this if it helps.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Hi Rich,

How about using 4 reports and print them in sequence (automatcially)?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Well, you posted in the Desktop area so that was unclear.

In any case, Alpha has a PDF_MERGE() function that combines two pdf files. One can create a pdf file, say a letterhead, and merge it with a pdf file generated by a report. Takes a bit of trial and effort to have the report portion occupy the proper blank places on a page so that it fits "inside" the letterhead pdf, but only needs doing once.

In your case you would design a pdf with your static text on the right ~ 3.5 inches of four pages. Then design a report with the citation on the left side. Then merge the two and print the result.

Doable on the desktop, possibly out there in web server land.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

I could, but I'd rather not. The would require that the officers carry around pre-printed paper, and load it into the printer every time this particular citation is printed.

This would be a pain, because we have several other citations that only require one copy to be printed, and the users can leave plain paper in the printer at all times, and simply pick the correct citation to print.

As a side note, I've played around with placing the detail section and the associated static text into a sub-form, then placing four sub-forms on the page and it works (sort of), but there are problems with blank pages being printed, as well as the alignment being off on subsequent pages.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Interesting Stan, I may have to do some additional research on that. (Thanks) BTW, I posted this in the desktop forum, as "reports" are really a part of the desktop side of A5 (at least that's the way I always looked at it), but I can see where this particular question could probably have gone in either the web or desktop forums.

_________________

Pete:
Hi Rich,

How about using 4 reports and print them in sequence (automatcially)?

That sounds like it might work, how would I go about having them all fire together?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Do you fire one now by using a button with an action script? Put four action scripts on that button.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

In addition to what Stan said, you could append the 4 pdfs. i.e. don't print the reports to a pdf view, rather create 4 pdf files, append (I forgetthe xbasic command) and print the appended version. That way you get one pdf view on the web side.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

Do you fire one now by using a button with an action script? Put four action scripts on that button.

I have a "PRINT REPORT" link on the web page that actually points to a dedicated a5w page that contains the script to run the report.

It's getting to sound more and more like I should have originally posted this in the Application Server forum, huh?

[G Gabriel]

Re: Print multiple pages of the same item?

1-Dim a global variable
dim x as n=1
2-Create a calc field:
static_text=case(var->x=1,"This text belongs to page one",var->x=2,"this is for page 2",....etc)
3-Place the calc field where the static text is supposed to be
4-In the OnPrintInit, put this script:
if x>4
x=1
else
x=x+1
end if
4-Pint the same page 4 times