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Buggy Report Writer

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    Buggy Report Writer

    When using the report writer for creating and editing some fairly complex reports, I am having issues. This has been a steady problem.

    Every time I make an edit or resize a field my ability to continue editing the report becomes hindered. After doing a few actions, the report writer will just stop working. It won't let me move anything around, or resize anything, or copy and paste. Sometimes when I save it will fix it for a few minutes, but then it will just happen again. My report design goes as follows:

    Add a field
    Change the font and border
    Change the color
    Copy it and paste it wait a few seconds
    click on it and try to move it
    crap it won't move...ahh fresh save, it moves
    move the field, copy and paste
    it won't paste...save the report
    copy and paste, it won't paste
    exit the report and go back in

    Every 5 minutes or so I am having to exit and go back in. This usually only happens on reports that have at least one or two subreports, and I don't necessarily have to be editing the subreport for it to happen.

    Anyone else having an issue?

    Brandi

    #2
    RE: Buggy Report Writer

    Brandi,

    Do you see the same thing on other computers in your 'shop'?

    Do you think to check the available Windows resources when these problems occur?

    I'm wondering if maybe there's a resources issue, or possibly a video display driver issue, that's unique to your setup.

    -- tom

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Buggy Report Writer

      If you haven't compacted lately, that would be a good place to start. Typically, problems like you are having are resource related as Tom suggests.

      Jerry

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Buggy Report Writer

        Yeah, I have similar problems. I think it is a little buggy. Although my experience is not quite as extreme as yours seems to be. Nonetheless when I can no longer control an object I close the report and go back in to it again. Sometimes you have to close Alpha if it gets really wierd. I hope this is addressed in v6.
        Peter
        AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

        [email protected]
        https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


        Comment


          #5
          RE: Buggy Report Writer

          Peter, I have those problems, too. The form editor will eventually get messed up, too, if you stay in it long enough. I have got used to it, and just close the report, and then reopen it. I "think" it may have to do with the editors having been rewritten in xdialog, xbasic, etc.

          I have the same behavior on all of several computers.

          I haven't bothered to link the editor getting messed up to any specific series of event - I just close and reopen. Occassionally, I may even have to close the app and reopen it.
          Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
          972 524 8714
          [email protected]

          ____________________
          "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Buggy Report Writer

            I have found similar problems most usually in regard to calculated fields. If I have the calculated field window open and create several calculations, then close it, I can't reopen it right away. If I save the report, I can them repoen the calculated fields window. Occasionally I have objects that can't be moved.

            Jim

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Buggy Report Writer

              Martin & Jim, Thanks for the confirmation. I'm glad it's not just me. Another irritant is when editing embedded browses in forms, generally I can't control the column properties (font size, etc.) w/o right-clicking on the column directly and selecting properties. In otherwords, if you select the column and then click the toolbar text icon to do someting, nothing happens.

              Peter
              Peter
              AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

              [email protected]
              https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


              Comment


                #8
                RE: Buggy Report Writer

                Sorry it took me so long to respond...I forgot to check the box to have the thread email me.

                Anyway, yes the same issue occurs on four different computers. An NT workstation, two xp workstations, and a windows 98 workstation.

                I do not believe that the occurence is unique.

                Thanks,

                Brandi

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Buggy Report Writer

                  I usually make it a habit to compact the databases that I am working on once or twice a week. So, I don't see that as an issue but I will try. I also keep my indexes, and deleted records very clean as I am sure to maintanence them any time I make a change or a deletion.

                  Thanks,

                  Brandi

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Buggy Report Writer

                    I hope it gets addressed in V5 since we will be changing platforms as our next step. :-)

                    Thanks,

                    Brandi

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Buggy Report Writer

                      I sometimes have to do that too. But I haven't noticed the issue on the form editor, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. Most if not all of the forms in our applications are static. Usually we just customize reports for clients.

                      But very interesting none the less.

                      Thanks,

                      B

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Buggy Report Writer

                        Brandi,

                        I follow a different sequence without incident.

                        Copy field object.
                        Paste it
                        Paste it
                        Paste it
                        Paste it
                        Move each to new position
                        Save layout
                        Modify properties of each new field object to suit.

                        -- tom

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: Buggy Report Writer

                          Tom,

                          In advance, let me appologize for my frustration, it isn't directed towards you:

                          To be completely honest, for the past 4 months or so, I have been having this issue. I am pretty sure that it isn't a sequence of events problem, since over the course of time, I am sure I have done just about every sequence imaginable. It doesn't seem that any amount of resequencing or saving works. And it isn't just on one report that it happens. It used to only occur with reports that have lots of calculated fields or at least one subreport, but now it seems to happen all the time, no matter what the complexity of the report. I can be just printing like 5 fields from a table with no filter, no order, no calculations, and it will do it.

                          The sequence I gave was just an example and not intended to be my exact sequence every time I am designing a report. I have since made it a habit to save after every single action that I do, but to no avail, I still inevitably have to close the report every few actions, and then open it back up. This was not an issue in version 4.5. What would really be cool is if that report writer was to be reintegrated. I don't really see much of a difference in the two other than one worked ok, and the other ticks me off consistently. :-)

                          It isn't necessarily always when I am just copying and pasting a field. It can be opening and closing a subreport, or changing the calculations in the calculated field rules when the box won't open, or changing the properties of a field...I can't really pinpoint it to just one thing that I am doing, or just one sequence. Believe me I have tried. If there was anything I could do to avoid it, I certainly would jump on it. Great ideas though...I guess we just have to keep searching.

                          Thanks,

                          Brandi

                          PS...Does anyone know if Selwyn and Richard and the crew have investigated this at all?

                          Comment


                            #14
                            RE: Buggy Report Writer

                            Brandi,

                            Vers 5 requires a lot more horsepower (Windows Resources) than did Vers 4. I don't know if that's a factor in your situation or not, but it might be that your machine is now underpowered vis-a-vis Vers 5.

                            -- tom

                            Comment


                              #15
                              RE: Buggy Report Writer

                              My old machine was, that is why I had to get a new one. Alpha5 wouldn't even open on the old one. But maybe I can use that on my boss, and have him buy me another new one. Do you think that will work??? HEHE

                              Comment

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