CSV export: Variable number of columns

rbuser

Hi,

To automate an existing workflow with reportbuilder I need to produce a csv
file where each line consists of some fixed columns and some variable number
of columns. Is this possible with RB?
I was thinking of a report with a subreport where the subreport is
generating the variable number of columns.

fixed1, fixed2, fixed3, var1-1, var1-2, var1-3, var2-1, var2-2, var2-3
fixed1, fixed2, fixed3, var1-1, var1-2, var1-3
fixed1, fixed2, fixed3, var1-1, var1-2, var1-3, var2-1, var2-2, var2-3,
var3-1, var3-2, var3-3
fixed1, fixed2, fixed3, var1-1, var1-2, var1-3
fixed1, fixed2, fixed3, var1-1, var1-2, var1-3, var2-1, var2-2, var2-3

Using D2007, RB11.08 and RB14.03

Kind regards,
Jeroen R?ttink

nicocizik

Hi Jeroen,

Your idea should work correctly. In my quick testing I was able to
alter the number of columns used per iteration of a single subreport
during generation. I needed to alter the Subreport.Report.Columns
property inside a TppVariable.OnCalc event to ensure the change only
occurred once per record. This however may not apply in your case.

rbuser

Hi Nico,

I don't understand how this influences the generation of the csv file.

Regards,
Jeroen.

nicocizik

Sorry, I apparently ignored the CSV implications. No report columns
needed however your subreport idea is still valid.

rbuser

Hi Nico,

Sorry, but I don't understand.

My situation:
Orders and order lines. Each order has 1..n order lines.
An external program needs a csv file where each line contains the data of 1
order. Besides order specific fields, the line also must contain 1..5 order
lines.
So each line in the csv file doesn't necessarily contain the same number of
fields.

In my testing each report band is always exported as a record. E.g. ending
with CRLF.

Kind regards,
Jeroen.

nicocizik

Hi Jeroen,

I apologize, I did not understand your initial requirements.

Yes, the text file device treats each band as a separate line in the
text file generated. The device is simply not designed to produce a
horizontal output like you need. One option would be to create a
TppTextFileDevice descendent that alters the way each band is handled.