Razzak Thanks for the clear and handy guide. I've got it filed away with all my other great tips for future reference!
David David Blocker [EMAIL PROTECTED] 781-784-1919 Fax: 781-784-1860 Cell: 339-206-0261 ----- Original Message ----- From: "A. Razzak Memon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "RBG7-L Mailing List" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 9:16 AM Subject: [RBG7-L] - From the Edge: Printing Report as Text File > > Friday, May 6, 2005 > > From the Edge: Printing Report as Text Document > Section: Reports > Chapter: Running R:BASE Your Way! > Platform: R:BASE 7.x and V-8 "Turbo" for Windows > Builds: 7.1.81.30505 or higher > > R:BASE 7.x and V-8 "Turbo" support the following Report Output > OPTIONs: > > . SCREEN > . PRINTER > . Adobe Acrobat Document (.PDF) > . Bitmap File (.BMP) > . Enhanced Metafile (.EMF) > . Excel Document (.XLS) > . GIF Image File (.GIF) > . HTML Document (.HTM) > . JPEG Image File (.JPG) > . Report Emulation Text File (.TXT) > . RTF Document (.RTF) > . Text File (.TXT) > . TIFF Image File (.TIF) > . Windows Metafile (.WMF) > > As you can see by the file type and their extensions, the > "Report Emulation Text File" and "Text File" both have the > same .TXT extensions. So, what is the difference between > Report Emulation Text File and Text File? > > The "Report Emulation Text File" allows you to print the > exact report as plain readable text including all bands, > such as Report Header, Page Header, Break Headers, Break > Footers, Page Footers and Report Footers, if any. On the > other hand, the "Text File" allows you to define a particular > band to print the data as Comma Delimited, Tab Delimited or > Fixed Length file. This is the perfect option to export > selective and/or summarized data used in a report band. > > Syntax to PRINT the report as Report Emulation Text File: > > PRINT reportname OPTION ETXT|FILENAME filename.txt|OPEN ON > > Example: > > CONNECT ConComp > > PRINT ColumnarReport OPTION ETXT|FILENAME ColumnarReport.TXT|OPEN ON > > Syntax to PRINT the report as Text File: > > PRINT reportname OPTION TXT|FILENAME filename.txt|OPEN ON > > Example: > > CONNECT ConComp > > PRINT ColumnarReport OPTION TXT|FILENAME ColumnarReport.TXT|OPEN ON > > In order to PRINT the report as "Text File", first you need to > identify the "Band" to be included for the text file. If a user > attempts to PRINT the report as Text File (OPTION TXT) without > first having defined the Text File Setup in Report Designer, the > program will return an -ERROR- message. The same rule applies when > printing the report as Text File using the Print to a File option > from the Database Explorer. > > Here's how to use the "Print to Text File Setup ..." : > > 01. Report Designer | File | Print to Text File Setup... > > Notice the following options: > > File Name: > File Type: > Bands: > Available Controls, Select Controls, Save Length > > 02. Select the File Name: (Click on [File] Button > > Example: TestFile.TXT > > 03. Select File Type: Fixed Length > > Available Options: Comma Delimited, Tab Delimited, Fixed Length > > 04. Select Band: Detail > > 05. Select Column(s) from the list of Available Controls > > 06. Customize each selected column and make sure to define Length, > if Fixed Length file type is selected. Click [Save Length] > button to save the length for selected column. > > This step is not required if the Comma Delimited or Tab Delimited > option is selected. > > 07. Click [OK] button to save these settings when using Print to > Text File. > > Along with other report settings, these settings will be saved > with the report. > > Repeat step 06 to define the length for each column, if necessary. > > All of these property settings prepare the report to be printed > to a text file. > > 08. While still in Report Designer, Select Report Preview. > > Click on "Printer" icon > > Check "Print to File" Option > > You'll notice the type "Text File" and the Text File Name as > defined in Step 02 above. > > The print dialog will then display a Print to File CheckBox and > File... button (so the user can change the file name specified > in the Text File Name property). > > Click [OK] button to print the file as TEXT. > > 09. Close the Report Designer or simply Click on R> Prompt icon from > the Tool Bar. > > 10. At the R> Prompt, type: > > DIR TestFile.TXT > > Notice the size of TestFile.TXT file. > > To view the entire text file, type: > > LAUNCH TestFile.TXT > > Take a look at the File using MS NotePad. > > 11. To automate the entire printing process, use: > > PRINT ReportName WHERE ... ORDER BY ... OPTION TXT > > This will allow the report to print to a text file without user > intervention. > > The report will print to the filename specified in the Text File > Name property, but the Print Dialog will not display the Print > to File CheckBox or File... button. > > For a PDF version of this document, please visit: > > From The Edge: http://www.razzak.com/fte > (Powered by R:WEB Suite) > > Enjoy and make sure to have fun! > > Very Best R:egards, > > Razzak. > >
