Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

[Mike Wilson]

I’ve searched and read about filtering reports and saving pdf files but I have not come up with a solution to my problem.

I have a report (SetListMaster) based upon a 1:M:1 set (Songs:Notes:Instrument). The Songs table has a field =Group that holds a text value for the Setlist to which the song has been chosen for (set1, set2, etc).

I use an embedded browse on a form based upon a second 1:M set (Band:Instruments) to select the instrument (inst_id) into a global variable- (vSinst) to filter the report. The filter works well for preview.

query.filter = "(( \"Set\" $ Group ) )  .and. (Notes->Inst_refno = Var->vSinst  )"
query.order = "pick"
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V")

:Report.Preview("SetListMaster",query.filter,query.order)

I want to email this report to the Members, so I want to save the report as a PDF file and sent it via email. So I try and save the report with the same filter:

query.filter = "(( \"Set\" $ Group ) )  .and. (Notes->Inst_refno = Var->vSinst  )"
query.order = "pick"
query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V")

dim shared veatt as C
dim shared vSLRpdf as C
vSLRpdf = a5.get_path() + "\SetListReport.pdf"
veatt = report.saveas("SetListMaster", "PDF",query.filter, "", vSLRpdf, .F.)

The report saves but is empty… no records.

Now if I combine the two actions preview and then save the report as pdf file, it saves the report correctly filter with records as PDF file. But I don’t want to have to preview each report prior to saving, as I want my script to eventually cycle through all members and send each their respective setlists without having to preview.

How can I get the report to save a filtered report as PDF for email without having to preview it? I have tried shifting the filter to the report… didn’t work.

In the example, it opens to the main menu. Press red button ‘print/email Setlist which takes you to the Distribution form. Select any member/instrument and choose the preview or email button. The preview button runs UDF ‘distribute_preview’ and the other ‘distribute_email_one’. The preview button does the following:
1. Acuires the instrument id as vSinst and takes you to the report preview with the report filtered.
2. Saves the report as pdf after exiting preview
3. Displays a dialog that prompts the user to view or not view the pdf file.
4. Displays the saved pdf if YES is chosen.

The email button skips the preview event in step 1. Chose YES view PDF and you will see for the email script the saved report is empty.

I am at a loss and could use some help, please.

[G Gabriel]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Mike:
Without delving too much in all the details (I must have Attention Deficit Syndrome! seriously.) Cal started a simillar thread a while back and my response was to archieve the file. It works. I don't know why or how or any of these details. Quite possibly it might be a bug. But archieve works and serves the same purpose with an added caveat, it date and time stamps the file. You could certainly change the name if you want.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Mike, The form based on the second set you mention is missing. The set is missing. Not sure how to populate sample filter criteria. Need you to furnish detailed instructions on how to trigger the fault. Please use actual form, table, set, and field names...

Later:

Press red button �print/email Setlist which takes you to the Distribution form.

There is no red button. The green button does not open a form. I'm lost.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Tom sorry for any confusion I created. I appreciate your looking at it.

Set 1: Songs:Notes:Instrument in 1:M:1 set. This feeds the Report - "SetListMaster".

Set 2: Band:Instrument:Member (1:M:1) table. Red button on the Main Menu opens form Fs_Band based upon this set. The two buttons on this form address the preview of SetListMaster report or the save the report to PDF for emailing report.

The relationship of these runs through the Instrument (inst_refno) present in the Notes table and the Instrument table.

So,
In the example, it opens to the main menu. Press red button (it's really there) now it's ‘Distribution which opens the Distribution form. Select any member/instrument in the Browse and choose the preview or email button. The preview button runs UDF ‘distribute_preview’ and the other ‘distribute_email_one’. The preview button does the following:

1. Acquires the instrument refno as vSinst and takes you to the report preview with the report filtered.
2. Saves the report as pdf after exiting preview.
3. Displays a dialog that prompts the user to view or not view the pdf file.
4. Displays the saved pdf if YES is chosen.

The email button skips the preview part of step 1. Chose YES view PDF and you will see for the email script the saved report is empty.

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Hi Mike,

I have not looked at your sample, but are you dropping your query after previewing the report? Or are you clearing any/all queries before attempting to just use the saveas? It is possible that this is causing the report not to save properly with your filter.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Hi Cheryl,
No I am not dropping any queries. But it doesn't work even if there are no querys in the system. ie, open database, go directly to executing the udf that saves the report -- no go. I'm afraid it is all about your and my nemesis...It is all about the filter. It works for the preview but not for the report.saveas()

Later:

I tried this in the IW for the s_songs set that the report is based upon:

dim global vSinst as C = "In-04"

filter = "(( \"Set\" $ Group ) )  .and. (Notes->Inst_refno = Var->vSinst  )"

? a5_get_records_in_query("S_songs",filter)

I got an error: "Cannot open table". Wonder what that's about?

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Hi Mike,

I added two lines of code to your distribute_setlist_one(). See the red below:

'Filters for the report
[COLOR=Red]        'added following 2 lines of code to set proper filter
        dim global vSinst as C
        vSinst = parentform:Browse1:IRN.value
        'below original filter ok and unchanged
[/COLOR]        query.filter = "(( \"Set\" $ Group ) )  .and. (Notes->Inst_refno = Var->vSinst  )"
        query.order = "pick"
        query.filter = convert_expression(query.filter,"V")

When creating your function to not include the preview, you neglected to include the proper value for your variable vSinst.

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Cheryl, Mike,

I just was about to post the same thing.

The distribute_setlist_one() function does have those two lines right at the top(lines 12 and 13) but the wrong browse object is being used as the value. (At least a different one to the preview function)

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

WOW, I actually beat one of the masters :)

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Masters??????? Sorry, you must have me confused with someone else. I think you have been giving that kitchen wall a beating again.;)

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

HAHAHAHA!!!! Giving the kitchen wall a beating is how I keep my sanity. When i cannot solve my own problems, I look real hard in the forums to find something easy that I can figure out :)

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Mike, I avoid using the filter and order properties of the global query pointer variable for these kinds of things. Conventional variables suffice and you don't have a problem later on when a value assigned here persists when the query object is used with a completely different table elsewhere in the application. Not sure what others think of this, but your use of query.filter and query.order makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. :)

-- tom

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Cheryl, Tim
I can't thank you enough. Especially you girl (that would be Cheryl) having resolved countless hours for me in the past week. I have recently reviewed my posts for help and resolves and it has fallen into to two categories. The things I did not know, and the things I couldn't see that I clearly did know. This was within the later. Thank you so much for your eagle eyes. Truly!

Tom,
I am a marginally evolved Action Scripter. I learned through reading and evaluating action script code. The query.filter and query.order system is a product of that and some from Dr. Wayne's book. I do hear what you are saying in reference to global variables, as I am honestly just now beginning to understand the true scope of context the global variable SHOULD be held to. I appreciate the nudge to study this circumstance in that light with more scrutiny. Thank you, very much.

[Cheryl Lemire]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

The one constant that I can say I have learned in the past 10 years of programming is that if you have banged your head against the wall for any length of time trying to resolve a problem ... it is ALWAYS best to ask another set of 'eyes' to look at the issue. I can't count the number of times I have missed a colon or forgot to close something that was opened earlier, or any other number of things that 'I clearly knew' just could not see.

It is also nice having this forum as a sounding board. Watching some of these threads and the discussions really help to clear ones head so that as a team, a resolution can be found.

I have found the stereotype of programmers being loners true, however, I have also found that programmers are the most helpful and willing to be a team player. Maybe because we all have the same 'strange' way of looking at things :)

Maybe we all just love to solve a good mystery.

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Empty report using report.saveas() for pdf

Cheryl, Tim
I can't thank you enough. Especially you girl (that would be Cheryl)

Funny guy, Mike. Were you starting to think that programming was to hard and maybe you should try comedy.:)

PS your welcome.