TppDBMemo.Stretch and static detail band height (Printing address labels)

rbuser

Hi,

TppDBMemo.Stretch won't work when the TppDBMemo component band height is
static. I have 2 DBMemos which i want to print on a address label, the 2nd
below the 1st one. Because i'm a printing on an address label i need to
squeeze as much info as i can on the limited space i have. The first memo
contains the customers name and address, the 2nd customer remarks. The 2nd
memo memo 'ShiftRelativeTo' the 1st memo. Initial height is set to 15 for
both so atleast 1 line will print and Stretch is set to True. Now this works
fine for reports with their detail band height = dynamic but now when trying
on a address label report with its detail band on static height address
label. it won't work anymore (Just when it was needed most because of the
fixed ltd band space)

Greetings,
Filip Moons

nicocizik

Hi Filip,

Unfortunately ReportBuilder was not designed to handle stretchable
components in a static height band. In order to get the effect you describe
below you will need to fill a TppMemo object manually using the technique in
demo 33 located in the \Rbuilder\Demos\1. Reports\... directory
(dm0033.pas).

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

You just made me win a bet, I knew you were going to give me 'Unfortunately
ReportBuilder was not designed...' answer. Every time something doesn't work
it is considered as 'not designed for..'. I really wonder when something IS
considered as a bug...

nardmoseley

I can confirm this feature is working as designed.

That is not to say that it is the only way that the feature could be
designed and implemented. It is not to say that you do not have a better way
to design and implement it. Or that if we were starting over from scratch,
we would design the feature exactly the same as it is now.

Our goal on the newsgroups is not to declare that bugs are features. What
purpose would that serve? We confirm bug reports all the time and we issue
patches to the current release if at all possible. Often we do this the same
day the bug is reported or within a few days.

We also try to inform you about the limitation of a feature. Such as with
your example. There is limitation that when Memo.Stretch is True,
Band.PrintHeight must be set to phDynamic.

There are some features, such as DisplayFormats and handling of Nulls that
will never work exactly the way every customer wants them to, because not
every customer wants the same behavior. For these features, we try to build
flexibility into the product to allow for customization.

Feedback on enhancements you would like to see is encouraged. Keep in mind
that if we change the behavior of a feature, we have to consider whether it
can break customers existing reports. We also have to consider every
possible permutation of how that feature can be combined with the other
features. The number of different report layouts you can create with
ReportBuilder is infinite.

Here is an over view of the current design and implementation of stetchable
components and bands.


OverView of Stretchable components and Bands
---------------------------------------------------

A stretchable component such as a memo can shrink or stretch its height to
accomodate the content that it contains. However, this only works, if the
band PrintHeight is set to Dynamic.

When Memo.Stretch is set to True, the Band.PrintHeight is automatically set
to phDynamic.

The Stretch property is really StretchAndShrink. Setting the initial value
of a Memo Height has no real meaning. It can shrink to zero or stretch to
overflow to a new page.




--
Nard Moseley
Digital Metaphors Corporation
http://www.digital-metaphors.com