Tom - Regarding the Regions, you may want to use them if your paragraphs could change size. You can set it to Stretch then Shift with Parent or Shift Relative to another region or memo type object. This will allow better control of objects placed below a region that need to move in relation to it as it resizes. It's really the best way if you are using lines or other non-data objects to get things to move down the page properly.
You simply make the objects inside the region the height of just one line of text. Then with the Stretch option it will expand as it needs to, pushing other regions down as needed. One more hint - create the reports from the top down - adding one object at a time; testing to see how the wrapping/stretching works, saving and making incremental backups often. Have fun! Sami -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Frederick Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 4:36 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - RE: Report Question Stephen, Sami, Dick 1. Thanks for the suggestions. They are all approaches I have not tried before. I think I need to be careful with regions because a box in one report may be 2 lines and 60 characters now and the next time it runs the same box could easily be 20 lines with 600 characters. The MailMerge angle is going to get a workout. 2. The preview data is on and simple text items show quite well. DBMEMO and similar boxes just show the name of the column. I will keep playing. Have a fun weekend. Tom Frederick Elm City Center 1314 W Walnut Jacksonville, IL 62650 Off - 217-245-9504 Fax - 217-245-2350 Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - www.elmcity.org -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen Markson Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 12:43 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - RE: Report Question Use R:Merge or... 1. set up your reports as Word mail merge documents 2. export data from R:Base 3. write a Word macro (in your report doc) to merge the exported data and save the result 4. from your R:Base app: LAUNCH WordMailMerge.doc|/mMacroName|W I use the latter technique all the time especially with complex (paper) forms with text boxes, watermarks and pictures/graphics. Regards, Stephen Markson ForenSys The Forensic Systems Group www.ForenSys.ca 416 512 6950 ________________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Frederick Sent: March 28, 2008 11:26 AM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - Report Question Two questions about reports: 1. I have about 35 reports we have to use for contractual reasons and we have to send to other groups by hard copy or electronically. Internally, I can set up screen forms as needed to collect the info required, but the final reports have to match the originals pretty closely. Right now each report format is done by essentially retyping the report or scanning to Word to cut/paste text into separate text boxes, build in the report data, and then play with the format to match the original. Each report takes 2-8 hours depending on how much is simply text and how much is database info that needs some type of formatting like stretch. It works well, but is a slow process. Is there some way to scan the entire report, drop it into the report maker as a whole or using regions, place the various data points as needed, then edit as needed? 2. I have used Crystal XI for quite a while. The capability of editing the screen format while previewing with data showing was very helpful to line stuff up and adjust boxes/fonts, etc. Unless I missed something, the R:Base preview seems to be a static view. I prefer the R:Base system because I can place the report into the application. Still the XI preview method helped fly through development. Is this available in R:Base in some way? It would be great if I simply missed a check box that turns this on. Tom Frederick Elm City Center 1314 W Walnut Jacksonville, IL 62650 Off - 217-245-9504 Fax - 217-245-2350 Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - www.elmcity.org No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.1/1347 - Release Date: 27/03/2008 7:15 PM
