Home Devices
New Blog Posts: Merging Reports - Part 1 and Part 2

Text Output

edited July 2007 in Devices
We are using devicetype dtReportText to provide a facility for users to save
a report as text.

However they are complaining that the output file has the fields cut short.

Is there any way around this without modifying all of our reports.

regards

Comments

  • edited July 2007
    Hi Steve,

    Exporting to a text file is very similar to printing to a Dot Matrix
    printer. The device tries to place text objects in the proper position
    based on a text grid rather than using Report Units such as inches or
    pixels. You need to be sure you are giving your fields enough space using
    the standard text font in order to be sure not to loose some of the
    lettering. Take a look at the following article for more information.

    -----------------------------------------------
    Article: Printing to Dot Matrix Printers
    -----------------------------------------------

    Dot matrix printers are natively line and character based. Most dot matrix
    printers can emulate graphical (i.e. pixel based) printing, but there is
    additional overhead which degrades printing speed.

    Some options for maximizing performance:

    1. Use native printer fonts.

    Each dot matrix printer normally has some built-in fonts. You can choose
    these fonts when using the ReportBuilder Report Designer. Choose File |
    PageSetup and select the dot matrix printer (or optionally use the object
    inspector to set Report.Printersetup.PrinterName). The fonts displayed in
    Report Designer's font drop down list located on the format toolbar will
    display the printer native fonts (indicated by a special printer icon next
    to the font name).

    2. Vertically position and size objects in 1/6 inch increments.

    A standard dot matrix printer can print 66 lines per 11 inch portrait page.
    This translates to a line height of 1/6 inch. Therefore the height of each
    band should be a multiple of 1/6 as should the size of the margins, the
    vertical position of each object etc.

    Tip: When designing the report, use the PrinterSetup property to specify a
    printer that contains 600 dpi. Then set Report.Units to PrinterPixels. Now
    100 pixes = 1/6 of inch when specifying the positions of objects in the
    layout.


    3. Keep the layout simple, avoid using graphics of any kind.

    Alternatives to using the dot matrix printer driver:

    1. Use the generic text printer driver.

    When using the generic text printer you will need to use the courier or
    courier new font and apply the layout techniques described above.

    2. Use ReportBuilder's ReportTextFile device output format.

    This ReportTextFile device can exports the report to a .txt file which you
    can then send to the printer. Demo dm0107.pas in the main reports demo app
    shows an example of printing a report to a .txt file and previewing the
    results.

    --
    Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com

    Best Regards,

    Nico Cizik
    Digital Metaphors
    http://www.digital-metaphors.com
This discussion has been closed.