Groups and Subreports

rbuser

I'm trying to implement what I think should be a fairly straightforward
billing report, but I'm having some trouble with it.

The data for the report comes from a single query. Each row contains (among
others) an AccountNumber and BillingType column. The data returned from the
query is ordered by AccountNumber + BillingType.

For each account I need the following:

- A list of non-call transactions (e.g. BillingType <> 'CALL'). This is to
be in a specific format. For example:

Header: Non-Call Transactions

Date Time Description Amount
----- ----- ----------- --------

- Followed by a list of call-only transactions (e.g. BillingType = 'CALL')
with a *different* format. For example:

Header: Call Transactions for XYZ

Date Time Description Rate Minutes Amount
----- ----- ----------- ----- -------- ---------

I have 2 groups, one for AccountNumber and one for BillingType. The problem
is that, while I can have a different header for the two groups of
BillingTypes, I can't create a different *detail line* for each one.

I've tried using subreports to achieve this functionality, but even if I put
the group break for the BillingType on the subreport, it still won't allow
me to achieve a different detail line for the next break.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Doug

digitalmetaphors

Double the height of the detail band temporarily. Now, create two regions
the size as the original detail band. One region is going to contain the
first group's controls. The second region should hold the second group's
controls. The region needs to parent the controls, so drag the controls into
each region. Move the region to test to see if the controls drag along with
it to test the parenting, much like a TPanel on a form behaves. Now you can
move the regions on top of each other and shrink the detail band height to
its original size. Then toggle the visibility of the regions so you can show
the first region in the forst group and the second region in the second
group. Use the DetailBand.BeforePrint event to set the regions visibility.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Jim,

Thanks a bunch, that did the trick.

One more question: I've set the regions to be transparent, but they are
still printing behind each of the detail lines. Is there something else I
need to set?

I'm using D5 + RB Enterprise Version 6.03.

Thanks,
Doug

digitalmetaphors

Right click over the component and try calling SendToBack from teh popup
menu so that a control is behind the others in the band in the Z-order.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

That didn't work. I even set Transparent to True for all of the regions in
the DetailBand.BeforePrint. I also closed and restarted the application
(this is using the end user report designer BTW).

Thanks,
Doug

digitalmetaphors

Unfortunately, most printers don't handle transparency very well. Try
updating your printer driver and also test on another printer. If it works
on another printer, then it is a problem with the implementation of how the
Win API calls we make are handled by the printer driver. If you can't get it
to work, feel free to send a simple exampel to support@digital-metaphors.com
and we'll print the report on our printers here to see how it prints.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors