Formatting text fields like numbers

rbuser

I've got a database that has a text field that stores data. Sometimes it's
text and sometimes it's a number. If I use a numeric display format like
$#,0.00;($#,0.00) , the field looks like the "$ ,0.00;($ ,0.00)" -- it
appears to take it as text from the field type and keep it that way. Is
there anyway to convert it to a numeric type and format it?

Since I'm doing this with the end-user reporting tool that is going to
accompany our app, I don't really want to use code.

Thanks!

Brad

nicocizik

Hi Brad,

ReportBuilder uses the FormatMaskText method to format any text you have in
your report. There may be a way you can tweek your display format to allow
numerical formatting (I believe using 9's instead of 0's) in your text
fields. Otherwise you may need to take a look at the ReportBuilder source
in the ppDisplayFormat.pas file. Inside the Format function is where all
text and numerical formatting is done. You could possibly change this code
to work for your specific needs.

Note: If you do decide to change the ReportBuilder code, be sure not to
change any of the Interface section or RAP will no longer work correctly.

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rbuser

Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors) wrote:


Can you give me an example? Are these formats documented somewhere? I
can't find a list of allowed formats and what they mean. For example, the
help file says:

"The DisplayFormat property is used to control how the data is formatted for
the report. For example, '#,0' would display 10000 as 10,000..."

Why? That isn't at all obvious to me.


I would like to think that I wouldn't have to change source code to format
text like a number.

nicocizik

FormatMaskText is a Delphi String Formatting routine. Full documentation on
how to use it is in the Delphi help file. You should not have to change any
ReportBuilder source to get the output you need, but if you do run into a
limitation of how the Delphi formatting functions work... it is a
possibility.

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rbuser

Nico Cizik (Digital Metaphors) wrote:


I think the limit is that FormatMaskText is used for formatting Strings --
what does ReportBuilder use to format numbers FormatFloat? It would appear
then that you cannot then format a string field as a number without
resorting to code or changing the field type -- True? [I'd check the
source, but I don't have it yet -- we've not made a determination on a
reporting tool.]

Brad

nicocizik

Hi Brad,

This is correct. The FormatMaskText method is generally used to format
Strings... like 1234567890 to (123) 456-7890. I think your best option in
this case would be to convert your string value to a number before
formatting (granted you know the record value is numerical). You will want
to perhaps use the StrToFloat method to make the conversion. Once this
conversion is done, you should be able to define the Display Format as you
need $#,0.00;($#,0.00) and the number will print correctly.

Example...

if (IsNumerical(Value)) then
begin
StrToFloat(Value);
ppVariable1.DataType := dtDouble;
ppVariable1.DisplayFormat := '$#,0.00;($#,0.00)';
end
else
ppVariable1.DataType := dtString;

ppVariable1.Value := Value;

- IsNumerical is a method you create to check to see if the given string
only contains the '+-', '0-9', and '.' characters.

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