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controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

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    controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

    I am trying to create a report to mimic a form a client is already using. The issue is trying to force vertical lines to extend the entire length of the detail section. <rant bengin>If Alpha would allow lines to extend to bottom of detail section regardless of how many records are in the detail section, this would make the report writer so much more helpful. </rant end>

    Right now, all we have is a work-around. The work around is to force the detail section to fill the space necessary to force the lines to the bottom of the detail section.

    So my question is, if I know that my RTF field, which is all narrative, needs 45 lines to fill the detail section, can I count the lines in the rtf field, and if it is less than 45, add blank lines to fill 45 lines? If the Narrative is over 45 lines, I could then use this method to add sufficient lines to make the total narrative multiples of 45 (90 for two full pages, 135 for three full pages, etc.)

    I am not intereted in merging a pdf file, or using a background image. I want the lines to extend vertically enough to go to the bottom of the detail section.
    Thanks.
    Jay
    Jay Talbott
    Lexington, KY


    #2
    Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

    Jay,

    It's actually very simple (unless I don't get what you are ranting about). Just put a frame around your entire detail section, turn off the top and bottom (if not wanted), and set it to both expand and shrink. Voila, vertical lines up both sides no mater how much the content (rtf or not) expands or shrinks. The more you learn about the report writer the more powerful it becomes!

    Ray Lyons

    Comment


      #3
      Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

      Thanks for the quick response.
      The frame will not expand to the full height of the detail section unless there is enough data in the detail section to fill that section. If there are only three records (or three lines worth of narrative) the vertical lines of the frame will not reach from top to bottom.
      I want the lines to go from the header all the way down to the footer, regardless of the amount of data. I am afraid your suggestion will not force that to occur.
      Thanks.
      Jay
      Jay Talbott
      Lexington, KY

      Comment


        #4
        Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

        Jay,

        Okay, I thought you were talking about a report with an RTF box and maybe some fields outside that box. No? Anyway, take a look at the attached sample app and see if one of the 3 sample reports does not fit your needs. If not, I probably can't help you.

        Ray Lyons


        Comment


          #5
          Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

          Ray,
          Thanks for your response and sample files. What I am trying to achieve is getting the vertical lines to extend the entire length of the page between the header and footer section, even if there are not enough records in the detail section to fill the entire page.

          Using your thrid report, what Iw ould need to do is with an xbasic script, count the lines ahead of time, (say there are ten lines) and knowing how many lines it would take to fill the entire detail space (say45) I would have to copy the existing text out to an extract files, automatically add 35 hard returns to the text, and then print the report from that extract file.

          So if I am going to have to strong-arm this, do you know if there is a way to count the lines in a memo field or an RTF field?

          Thanks.
          Jay
          Jay Talbott
          Lexington, KY

          Comment


            #6
            Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

            Okay, when you say "footer" you mean page footer (as may have noted there are other kinds of footers). Given that, I know of no way to do what you want. Although I doubt many people are clamoring for such a thing, perhaps you should put it on the Wish List elsewhere on this forum.

            Ray

            Comment


              #7
              Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

              Just throwing out an idea here. May be far fetched.

              Could you create an a RTF file in, say Word, with a single line in it that extends the length of the space between the header and footer on the printed page and then insert it as an Ole object in the detail section of the A5report?

              Comment


                #8
                Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

                Jay,

                See the report in the new attachment. I am sure it is still not exactly what you want but until you talk Alpha into something perfect (see the forum's Wish List), it might do. The key is sizing the frame and the RTF just right and note the properties for both. Also note that if there is enough stuff in your RTF to slop over onto a second page, you lose the frame entirely on that second page.

                If this doesn't help, I give up.

                Ray Lyons

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

                  Jeez I didn't even get a laugh out of my suggestion.:)

                  Just trying to think outside of the box.

                  How's this. Create a table in Excel with the lines where you want them and then export your data to Excel and print.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

                    Robert,

                    I'm not sure Jay is with us anymore. Nothing of his on the Wish List either, so maybe it is not very important.

                    Raymond Lyons

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

                      Actually, I have been working on resolving this, and believe that I have an answer.
                      And the answer is...
                      To duplicate a form, use a......wait for it....

                      form.

                      In my 15 years of using Alpha, I have never printed using a form. So I tried it, and it is the best way to handle it.
                      I have attached a pdf of the third page, where the narrative does not fill the page.
                      It looks pretty good.
                      Thanks for your help.
                      Jay
                      Jay Talbott
                      Lexington, KY

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: controlling RTF field / extending vertical lines on report

                        Interesting! I have been using Alpha longer than you and I too have never, ever printed a form! What one never, ever does, one hardly ever thinks about!

                        Raymond Lyons

                        Comment

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