columns in trasversal (left to right)

rbuser

Hi, I'm Nicoletta and I have a problem with RB.
I'm using RB 7.0.
I have a master and a detail.
Each detail can be have n records.
I using X columns in trasversal (left to right)
I must do so:

REC1 a b c
REC2 b c
REC3 a c d

but I don't able.
Is necessary a RAP or is possible to do it with only groups?

Thank you very much.
Bye Bye

Nicoletta

digitalmetaphors

I assume that REC1 is a master record and that the subreport is set to
traverse left to right. The a, b, c, d are records of the detail, which you
want to print in predefined columns on the page. This may be possible. You
can try setting Report.Engine.CurrentColumn in the Detailband's
BeforeGenerate event, or if that doesn't work then try setting the
Report.Engine.PrintPosRect.Left (in microns) in the same event.

If those approaches don't work, then it may be necessary to move the draw
commands for each 'row' of detail records.

For example, let's say you have a,b, c, and d as record field values in your
detail dataset. This allows you to compare the record value and place it in
the proper column. The dataset is ordered by this field, so we can assume
they are in the proper order, a,b,c,d even if any of them are not included
in the dataset, such as b,c,d or a,b,d...

Thus the native output is

REC1 a b c
REC2 b c
REC3 a c d

By moving the draw commands for REC2 b and c to the right, you can get
REC1 a b c
REC2 b c

Then move the records for REC3 c and d to get

REC1 a b c
REC2 b c
REC3 a c d

This should be done in Delphi code before trying to code it in Rap. What I
would do is create a class. In this class, call it TmyDetailDrawCommands.
In this class, add an array property for the draw commands. Then add a
method to add and remove a draw command. The draw commands should be placed
in a TList created inside this class. The reason is that everytime the
detail band prints, you can create one of these objects and place all of the
draw commands for that detail in this object's list. Since you have N rows
and a,b,c,d = 4 columns, you can expect to have N * 4 of these objects.
Place these objects in a TList on a page by page basis. Use each object's
OnDrawCommandCreate event to stick the draw command object in the proper
DetailDrawCommands object. You know that there are 4 rows and you can check
the current master record number that you are on, then you know which 'cell'
on the page to place this object, since it maps 1:1 to the detail bands that
print on the page, if they printed al the way across the page. Also, when
each DetailDrawCommands object is created, then you can check the
aPipeline['aFieldName'] for the a,b,c,d column value. This should be a
property on the DetailDrawCommands object as well, because this way, you can
easily know which column the draw commands it contains should be shifted to.
Use the Report.OnEndPage event iterate through the TList of these objects
and tell each of these objects to shift. There should be a Shift method on
this class to do this so that it can then iterate through its draw commands
that are placed in it, so, in reality, you don't need an array property on
this class, unless you want to:) T he only other thing is to build 4
variables or define constants that are the left positions in microns that
each column starts at. This way you can shift the Left properties of the
draw commands. You could pass this value in the call to Shift.

Once this works, then you can port it to RAP code, possibly using a pass
through function or two. The conversion routines may need to made into pass
through functions (see ppToMMThousandths ppFromMMThousandths in
ppUtils.pas).

Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

thank you very much!
now I try to use your solution.
Bye
Nicoletta