Report with word wrap bug?

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

I'm having a problem with a report.

There is one grouping level and a detail section.

One of the fields in the detail section is a calculated field. This field can hold up to six full names. The TRIM function has been used to keep the data in the field as short as possible.

Due to space limitations, the field on the report has been shortened and word wrapping has been selected. The only way I can get the word wrapping to work is to make the field on the report two rows high.

I have selected "SHRINK WHEN PRINTING" at the end of the region and in the properties of the field.

My problem is that as long as the field is blank, the shrink when printing works "OK". However; if there is only one name in the calculated field, then the report prints with both lines present even though the second line is blank.

This results in an ugly looking report and wastes a lot of paper.

I've used this technique many times in Alpha 4. What's wrong with Alpha 5? Is this a bug?

Ron

[Bill Warner]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

You're right, this isn't working the same as in A4, because DOS and Windows don't work the same.

Try this: Put a Rich Text Field on the report where your calc field was, and then put the calc field in it. Make the RTF as tall as one line (assuming you have other fields for this line). This will expand and contract as necessary.

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

I tried your suggestion. Unless I'm doing something wrong, I still can't get this to work right.

You said: "You're right, this isn't working the same as in A4, because DOS and Windows don't work the same."

What do you mean by this statement?

What works in DOS won't work in windows? All I did was select the settings that Alpha Software furnished. They worked in Alpha 4, I would think that they would work in Alpha 5. Why else would Alpha software provide these choices?

Ron

[whanigsberg]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Ron,

"I still can't get this to work right."

What happens? Does the field fail to expand as desired? I believe RTF fields have an "allow expand on print" checkbox.

Be alert to the fact that sometimes report options may conflict with one another. On occasion I have had to remove options and add them back one at a time to isolate the conflict.

In adapting your A4 instincts to Alpha 5 you are experiencing something most of us have been through and it can be frustrating because the sense of mastery one had in A4 vanishes in the initial stages of migrating to A5. I can only encourage you to persevere and ask questions. The reward is that when you get into it the windows environment is more powerful and empowering.

Bill

[Bill Warner]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

You asked what I mean about DOS and Windows working differently. In the case of Allow Shrink, this is meant to shrink a field to zero height IF the field evaluates to blank. The example I suggested using an RTF should give you what you want. Make sure you have check the Allow Shrink box, and ALSO make sure the field as placed on the form is VERY short. In other words, put the calc field in the RTF, and then click on the middle of the bottom of the field where you see the little black square, and drag the bottom of the field upward as far as you can.

As Bill H. pointed out, moving from A4 to A5 can be frustrating, because you expect things to be the same. In many cases, they simply aren't (I sometimes think that having learned A4 is a disadvantage when trying to learn A5). I think we all went through a period of discomfort (loathing? tearing hear out?) during the learning curve. But it is DEFINITELY worth it. So, stick with it. We're all here to help.

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Hi Bill,

I guess if didn't explain the problem correctly.

I have a calculated that contains anywhere from none up to six full names. Having all six names on one line would make the field too long for the report.

I selected word wrap so that if the field contained three names or less, they would be on the first line. Any names in excess of three would wrap down to the second line.

My problem is that even if there is only one name, the report prints the second line as a blank line. I don't want that to happen. The only time I want the second line to print is when there is a name in the second line.

The only reason I mention Alpha 4 is that Alpha 4 could do this. I'm sure you can do this with Alpha 5. Right? I just haven't been able to figure out how to do this.

Ron

[whanigsberg]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Ron,

A couple of thoughts:

1. "I have a calculated that contains anywhere from none up to six full names...My problem is that even if there is only one name, the report prints the second line as a blank line."

Perhaps it is taking a second line because of spaces at the end. Use the trim function to your calculation to remove trailing blanks.

2. Do the six names come from six separate fields? If so, forget the calculated and place the fields directly in the rich text object separated by ctrl-enter. The field will size itself automatically.

Bill

[JohnZaleski]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Another possibility is to split you name calc field into two calc fields, fist three names in the first field - second three names in the seciond field. Then there could be up tp three names but the second field could be completely blank, and behave the way you want.

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Thanks John,

I figured it out myself, but my solution was what you suggested. The first field has four names and the second has two names.

Mickey mouse, but it works.

This trimmed a 33 page report down to 28.

Thanks again,

Ron

[JohnZaleski]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Ron,
Glad you got it working. I'm not sure I'd look at breaking up a calculated field into two elements, one for each report line as Mickey Mousing it. I'd consider it a design improvement.
John

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Well, I wasn't satisfied with spliting up the calculated field. After testing, I came up with some instances where the results weren't right.

I tried the other suggestion of placing the calculated field into a rich text field. I don't know why I couldn't get it to work the first time, but I did manage to get it to work now, with one exception.

The exception is that in one example, instead of a full name, I have a +1 to signify a person. This +1 just happens to be at the end of the line and is wrapped to the next line. For some reason, It is overwritten by the next line.

I'm sorry, but I do believe that this is a bug.

Thank you to all who responded.

Ron

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Ron,

Is it possible Alpha Five is somehow interpreting +1 as an addition operation in your report? Do you get the same results if you use 11?

-- tom

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

RE: Report with word wrap bug?

Hi Tom,

I changed the +1 to 11 and the word wrapping worked properly. So then I changed 11 to +11 and it worked properly. Next I changed +11 back to +1 and now it seems to be working properly. I deleted the +1 and ran the report and then entered the +1 and the report worked properly.

I must tell you that I'm a little concerned at Alpha 5's reliability and constancy. I happened to find this error strictly by accident. I was proof reading the report and noticed the omission. The only reason I found it was
the name Doug had a dot above the letter o.

Now I'm questioning Alpha 5's ability to generate accurate reports.

Ron