Print To File ?

rbuser

I have a report which uses a DBPipeLine (with a simple SQL Select Statement)

I am trying to use the report to do an export (Create a file of data)

My report Detail band looks like the following below

100 ID Name Address
200 AccntNo TransDate Comment
300 StatudID Status War

where the 100, 200, & 300 are text labels
the rest are DBText (fields)

For every record in my dataset (Select statement return), i want to print
three lines.

How canI do this?

Here is what I tried

I go into Print To File Setup

I set my File Type = Fixed Length

I choose from the detail banner all my controls i want to print to file -
and i set each of their lengths

However, now, when I print, I get the following

100200300....ect

I need three lines - not 1

Can someone explain to me how I can accomplish this?

Thanks

Shane
ValuTech, Inc.

rbuser

One other comment....

I tried using the Report Emulation Text File.....however, the justification
on everything is way out of wack.

What am i doin wrong?

Thanks

Shane

nicocizik

Hi Shane,

The TextFile Device will separate each line based on each detail band
printed (i.e. each traversal of a new record in your dataset will start a
new line). You can also customize the text file device using its various
events. For instance, the Report.OnSaveText gives you complete control over
the text being saved. At the proper time, you could add a CRLF forcing a
line break. If you would like the text file to appear more like the report
design, try using the Report Emulation Textfile device. This device however
tries to map your text objects to a standard text grid (similar to Notepad).
You will need to be sure you use standard font sizes and spacing for the
file to export correctly.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

I have tried both ways. Neither seem to work.

You can't use #10#13, cause then it wont compile.

so i tried

Text := Chr(10) + Chr(13);

and that doesn't work either.

I have tried 100 different formatting ways with the Report Emulation
TextFile device and ican't ever seem to get it to work either.

Can you direct me on how to use the Report.OnSaveText properly?

Create a simple report, add three labels 100, 200, 300 in the Detail band
and then have them print as

100
200
300

for each record

THanks

Shane

nicocizik

Hi Shane,


The Text parameter contains the text being exported. If you trace into this
event you can see what the value is. Something like the following is what I
had in mind...

if (Pos(, Text) > 0 then
Text := Text + #13#10;


Please take a look at demos 106 and 107 located in the \RBuilder\Demos\1.
Reports\... directory. These demos extensively show how to use each text
file device and how you can format your report(s) so they export correctly
in this each format.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

Thanks - and i understand everything you have suggested, howeever, no matter
what i do, my file shows the CRLFs as little squares in my file.

100[][]200[][]300[]
100[][]200[][]300[]
100[][]200[][]300[]

I have used brackets here to represent the squares

I never actually get this

100
200
300

100
200
300

100
200
300

I only use the OnSaveText event of the form - and nothing else

Shane

rbuser

ahhhhhh, disregard my last

I was sending #10#13 instead of #13#10

Shane

rbuser

I need to do this within the design, using RAP. Is it possible? If so, which
event is the most appropriate place?

I tried and keep getting all the same issues i had early on.

SHane

nicocizik

In Rap you need to use the Chr() routine.

Text := Text + Chr(13) + Chr(10);

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

Have you tried this?

I have tried your code and a large number of variations of it.

Nothing seems to work. Nothing is consistent.

using the OnGetText event

somtimes tacking to the front of one and or maybe the end of another

Anyway, if you would try this for me

place three Text labels in a detail band

100
200
300

and then add some DBText fields to the right of each of those.

100
200
300

then have the records print to file

so it maintains

100
200
300

and not

100 200 300


for each record


again, i have to do this at design using RAP.


Thanks

Shane

nicocizik

As I mentioned before, you need to use the OnSaveText event of the report to
alter the output to a text file. If you are unable to determine which
DBText is the last on in the line, you may need to add another "marker"
label to mark the spot when you should perform a CRLF. You can set these
labels' Visible property to False when not printing to file. Below is my
code and detail design.

Detail band...

100 [field] [field] [field]
200 [field] [field] [field]
300 [field] [field] [field]

ReportOnSaveText(var Text: String);
begin

if (Pos('', Text) > 0) then
Text := ' ' + Chr(13) + Chr(10);

end;


Yes I have tried it and it works perfectly .

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

Sorry it took me so long to get back to this, other things became priority
on our agenda.

Anyway, yes, you mentioned it before, however, i also mentioned - I have to
be able to do this from RAP (in the designer).

We provide in our application, the ability for our customers to create/
design their own reports.

Thanks

shane

nicocizik

Hi Shane,

Everything done in my previous post was done in RAP. This is probably the
closest the built-in text file device can get to your specifications.

Another option would be to create and register your own text file device
that is similar to the current one however includes your line break
requirements. If you take a look at the TppTextFileDevice class located in
the ppFilDev.pas file, you will see that it is a fairly simple device.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

I added a label (text = 'TTT') after each of my items in the details section

100 TTT
200 TTT
300 TTT
and then in the reports OnSaveText event (in rap), i added the following

if (Pos('TTT', Text) > 0 then
Text := Text + Chr(13) + chr(10);

here is what i get

100TTT
200TTT
300TTT

100TTT
200TTT
300TTT

100TTT
200TTT
300TTT
etc.,
etc

Of course, I can't have the extra line.How do i get rid of the extra line?

and I can't have the TTT displayed. If i set the visibility of the label to
false, then the line

if (Pos('TTT', Text) > 0 then

is never true

thanks

shane

rbuser

Disregard the question:


100TTT
200TTT
300
100TTT
200TTT
300
100TTT
200TTT
300
etc
etc

However, I still need to get rid of 'TTT' label. I will be having DBText
labels across each line. I will not know there text values.
How can i still accomplish this.

Thanks

shane

rbuser

Solved this question as well

shane