ExtraDev, WPTools, & RTF
I have print-to-RTF-file working with RBuilder reports and the ExtraDev
add-on.
I have print-to-printer working with RBuilder reports and the WPTools add-on
for RBuilder.
But when I try to print a report that uses the WPTools add-on to an RTF
file, I get a blank page for each letter. (The report is just a detail band
with a TppWPTRichText component in it.)
I guess somebody's not getting asked for data, or is failing to deliver it
when asked. But I get no runtime errors. So I'm at a loss. (I just sent
mail to ExtraDev support but thought I'd try here too.)
Thanks.
Mike Carroll
add-on.
I have print-to-printer working with RBuilder reports and the WPTools add-on
for RBuilder.
But when I try to print a report that uses the WPTools add-on to an RTF
file, I get a blank page for each letter. (The report is just a detail band
with a TppWPTRichText component in it.)
I guess somebody's not getting asked for data, or is failing to deliver it
when asked. But I get no runtime errors. So I'm at a loss. (I just sent
mail to ExtraDev support but thought I'd try here too.)
Thanks.
Mike Carroll
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
--
Cheers,
Tom Ollar
Digital Metaphors Corporation
http://www.digital-metaphors.com
info@digital-metaphors.com
Yes, Jim got back to me, he said this has been fixed in the latest version
of ExtraDev.
Did you actually receive the latest version from him yet though? My company
contacted Jim regarding this problem also on/around August 20th and the
TExtraDevices version 2.1 did not have the problem fixed either. He has
been unusually quiet in responding to my last few e-mails in the past two
weeks (vacation perhaps?)
From what I've been able to determine about your original problem which
mimics my own problem through my own testing (and forwarded on Jim about 2
weeks ago) is that the problem with the RTF export is specifically regarding
the TppRichText component (and derivatives) and how they are rendered in
RTF. If you open the RTF file in notepad you should notice that the missing
data is indeed there, but is being stored in a special text box field that
only seems to be viewable in Microsoft Word (and more specifically in
Microsoft Word viewing the document in "Print Layout" view mode (View |
Print Layout in Word). Attempting to view the document in WordPad (which I
thought was the "official" RTF viewer for Windows) never displays the data
stored in these text boxes. If anyone knows a way, please let me know.
The need to view the document in Print Layout mode is actually the *minor*
problem that I've noticed with the RichText export to RTF. Have you
attempted to export a document that includes a TppRichText component that
spans multiple pages? It displays beautifully in the RB Preview screen (and
when printed), the TExtraDevices export, however, prints blank pages for all
pages after the first. I have notified Jim of this problem as well, and am
still awaiting a response on this matter.
During my testing I have also downloaded and installed the trial version of
the PsRBExportDevices by Pragnaan and came up with the following results.
The RTF documents created by Pragnaan automatically open up in Word in Print
Layout (Waler's documents seem to default to "Normal" view). The issue with
RichText boxes that span onto multiple pages seems to have been handled
correctly by Pragnaan as well. As the Pragnaan solution also uses the text
boxes to implement the RichText export, their documents are not viewable in
WordPad either.
Unfortunately I've noticed that different versions of Microsoft Word display
the documents differently. I contacted Pragnaan's support and have received
so far two different versions of rebuilds of their *trial package* to
attempt to fix all of my problems. In the latest version I have received
from them so far, all of the problems/errors I have noticed to date have
been solved when the RTF document is viewed in Microsoft Word 97. Using
Office 2000's version of Word, certain RTF documents actually cause Word to
crash. Office XP's version of Word crashes as well until Office XP Service
Pack 2 is installed. Both Office 2000 and XP's versions of Word display the
RichText box in Word with the bottom lines of the text box begin completely
or partially hidden. The data is viewable once the size of the text box is
manually scrolled down.
I have forwarded all of the findings pertinent to TExtraDevices to both Jim
@ Waler on 8/21 and have yet to receive any sort of response other than an
"I'll look into this" on 8/22. Nothing since, including no response from my
follow-up message on 8/28 asking for any sort of status.
I have been working back and forth with the Pragnaan support to solve the
problems. My latest message sent to them on 8/30 has yet to get any response
from them. Based on what I've seen so far though, I'm expecting something
useful from them any day now.
Now I realize that they are the only games in town to handle the RB to RTF
export, and that sort of puts us in a bind when neither of them work
completely and we can't seem to get reasonably fast support for our
problems. Both of their websites advertise (guarantee?) all support issues
will handled within at least 24 hours. I've been extra lenient in my
expectations since I realize that we're dealing with time zone/geographic
factors that make extremely fast support difficult. But it shouldn't take
more than a week for e-mail to get to India (and to wherever Waler is
located) and back.
--
Michael Simons
Software Programmer
Steven J. Baum P.C.
msimons@mbaum.com
I sent yesterday a question to Jim and got the answer today.
regards,
Chris Ueberall;
Maybe its just me then? Not the kind of answer I was hoping to hear about
his support.
--
Michael Simons
Software Programmer
Steven J. Baum P.C.
msimons@mbaum.com
Anyway, the autoview option has been fixed and I am now working
on the span pages issue. I hope to have a workable version by the
weekend.
Jim Waler
I will check with him and see what he received. I am curious though as to
why the e-mail sent from me went unanswered.
Sounds good, I will be waiting for the updated version. Please take a look
at the comments/problems I mentioned in regards to the Pragnaan package so
that whatever you come up with handles the different versions of Word
correctly. Unfortunately a solution that only works for Word 97 isn't
feasible for us.
--
Michael Simons
Software Programmer
Steven J. Baum P.C.
msimons@mbaum.com