Sorting for a Report

[Terry Wilson]

I am new to Alpha 5 and have what is probably a stupid question. I've read lots of docs and searched the forums, but no luck. So, here's my question.

I want to display a set of steps in a report in a specific order. There are 9 steps and I will display them as text words. That's not the problem. The problem is that the order depends on the values in each of 9 fields. The fields contain a value of 1.0 - 9.0 depending on the order they need to be accomplished. I need to access the field values when the report runs (my script runs onPrintInit) and then display the steps in the appropriate order.

For Example (using 3 of the fields):

if for this record the fields are Weld, paint, ship witht he values 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 respectively.

How can I display
"Weld"
"Pain"
"Ship"

I've tried the following to no avail. Any suggestions are welcome.

DIM Global First_Step as C
DIM Global Second_Step as C
DIM Global Third_Step as C
DIM Global Fourth_Step as C
DIM Global Fifth_Step as C
DIM Global Sixth_Step as C
DIM Global Seventh_Step as C
DIM Global Eigth_Step as C
DIM Global Ninth_Step as C


DIM Global My_array[1..9] as C

First_Step = " "
Second_Step = " "
Third_Step = " "
Fourth_Step = " "
Fifth_Step = " "
Sixth_Step = " "
Seventh_Step = " "
Eigth_Step = " "
Ninth_Step = " "

for i = 1 to 9

if int(:work_order:welding2.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Welding"
end if

if int(:work_order:laser.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Laser"
end if

if int(:work_order:saw.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Saw"
end if

if int(:work_order:shear.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Shear"
end if

if int(:work_order:pressbrake.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Pressbrake"
end if

if int(:work_order:rolls.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Rolls"
end if

if int(:work_order:paint.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Paint"
end if

if int(:work_order:other.value) = i
My_array[i] = "Other"
end if

if int(:work_order:shipping_and_handling.value) = i
My_array[i] = "S&H"
end if

next i

First_Step = My_array[1]
Second_Step = My_array[2]
Third_Step = My_array[3]
Fourth_Step = My_array[4]
Fifth_Step = My_array[5]
Sixth_Step = My_array[6]
Seventh_Step = My_array[7]
Eigth_Step = My_array[8]
Ninth_Step = My_array[8]

[Jim Chapman]

RE: Sorting for a Report

Hello Terry,

Sounds like you are wanting to print the name of the field in a certain sequence based on the value of the field. Is this right? Normally one would want to print the contents of the field, not the field name.

Are you wanting to print just one record at a time, or do you want to print a series of records at a time?

If I am understanding you correctly, this can certainly be done a couple of different ways, but it appears 'backwards' to me. A different structure would make the reporting easy. But I may not be understanding what you are trying to accomplish.

Help me understand and I'll try to help.

Jim

[Terry Wilson]

RE: Sorting for a Report

Jim,

Basically I am stuck with the structure :-). I will do a complete database redesign for the person I am helping, but in the mean rime, I am trying to make an existing report more useful. Currently the 9 steps are printed in a fixed order and the sequence number that they should be done in is printed in a box next to the step. I want to print them in the order they need to occur. Matter of fact, some steps are not even needed at times. These reports are work orders and there could be more than one.

[Jim Chapman]

RE: Sorting for a Report

Hello Terry,

Is my understanding of what you are trying to do correct? You are wanting to print the name of the field in a certain sequence, not the value in a field?

Jim

[Terry Wilson]

RE: Sorting for a Report

It does not have to be the name of the field. It can be any string. However, if the name is easier for you to help me, then that is fine too.

[Stan Mathews]

RE: Sorting for a Report

My read is that you want to print certain words such as weld, paint, etc vertically in the detail section for each record ordered on a numerical value in each field of that record.

One solution would be to define nine calculated fields such as

step 1 defined as case(welding = 1, "Welding",paint = 1, "Paint",....,.T.," ")
step 2 defined as case(welding = 2, "Welding",paint = 2, "Paint",....",....,.T.," ")
for all nine steps, using field names, not the form object names of the fields. (ten spaces between the quotes after the .T.,)

Then place an rtf object in the detail section and drop the calculated fields onto it in order with an enter key press after each. This should display the words in the order you want and shrink if there are unused steps.

[Jim Chapman]

RE: Sorting for a Report

Hello Terry,

This is a crude example and not very elegant xbasic but the functionality should be plain. This depends on the correct values being in the fields. I used 1-5.

One form, one report.

Good luck,
Jim

[Terry Wilson]

RE: Sorting for a Report

Thanks, that worked perfectly.