FastTips for FoxPro for Windows: Report Writer Q&A

Last reviewed: December 12, 1996
Article ID: Q96173
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, version 2.5

       Microsoft(R) Technical Support Application Note (Text File)
              FW0932: REPORT WRITER QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
                                                  Revision Date: 10/93
                                                      No Disk Included

The following information applies to Microsoft FoxPro(R) version 2.5 for Windows(TM).

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  • Q. Should I convert all my FoxPro 2.0 reports to FoxPro for

           Windows?
    

        A. You may not need to. Your existing character reports will run,
           preview, and print unchanged in FoxPro for Windows. The engine
           for printing character reports is included with FoxPro for
           Windows. If you want to include graphical elements (fonts,
           pictures, and so on) in a report, then you can convert the
           reports, or create new graphical reports from scratch.
    

  • Q. I used the Quick Report command to create my initial report.

           Now I want to add another field. In FoxPro for MS-DOS, the
           Report menu contained Field command that allowed me to add a
           single field. How do I do this in FoxPro for Windows?
    

        A. New fields may be added using the field tool located in the
           toolbox on the left side of the Report Layout window. For
           additional information on the Report Writer toolbox, see the
           FoxPro for Windows "User's Guide."
    

  • Q. I have included a memo-type field in my report, but only the

           first line prints. How can I fix this?
    

        A. To display the entire contents of the memo field, you need to
           make the field stretch vertically to fit its contents. Double-
           click the report field and select the Top - Field Can Stretch
           option from the Position Relative To item. The field can grow
           in size depending on the length of the memo field. Select the
           Page Preview option to view the results.
    

  • Q. When I place a "stretched" memo field in the Detail band, I

           find that the fields that display below the memo field are
           being overwritten by some of the longer memo fields. How do I
           avoid this?
    

        A. Fields or objects positioned below the memo field are still
           being displayed in a fixed position, even though the memo field
           is now stretchable. To avoid being overwritten, all objects
           below the memo field should be positioned relative to the
           bottom of the Detail band. To accomplish this, double-click
           each of the fields and select the Bottom option from the
           Position Relative To item. Select the Page Preview option to
           view the result. If your report contains side-by-side memo
           fields, fields with the Bottom option specified will be
           displayed below the longer of the two memo fields.
    

            NOTE: The above procedure applies to nonstretching fields and
            other objects, such as lines and text. If you have stretching
            fields placed below other stretching fields, you do not want
            to position them relative to the bottom. Stretching fields
            automatically float below other stretching fields.
    
    

  • Q. I have placed boxes around several fields in my report. One of

           these fields is a memo field. How do I make the box stretch
           just like the memo field?
    

        A. Double-click the box and select the Stretch With Band option
           from the Position Relative To item. Rectangles (boxes) and
           vertical lines have the option to stretch according to the
           length of the Detail band.
    

            NOTE: You will not be able to place a stretching box around a
            field if the field will not be positioned relative to the top
            or the bottom of the band.
    
    

  • Q. When I attempt to move a text object to a specific location in

           the Report Layout window, the field keeps aligning itself with
           the nearest grid line. Why is this happening?
    

        A. By default, objects are automatically aligned to the nearest
           invisible grid lines in the Report Layout window. This feature
           is called Snap To Grid and can be disabled by choosing Snap To
           Grid from the Report menu.
    

  • Q. How do I design and print multicolumn reports in FoxPro 2.5 for

           Windows?
    

        A. Choose Page Layout from the Report menu and use the Columns
           spinner to select the number of columns desired. Clicking the
           up arrow increments the counter, whereas clicking the down
           arrow decrements the counter. The size of the Report Layout
           window will be modified to reflect the new column width.
           Existing field positioning may need to be modified.
    

            HINT: When you are creating a new report that you know you
            want set up in columns, set the layout before you add any
            fields.
    
    

  • Q. When I enlarge the font of an object in my report and print it,

           some of the information in the fields is cut off. How can I fix
           this?
    

        A. The information may be cut off because the Detail band or the
           object itself isn't large enough to display the larger font.
           You may need to stretch the Detail band and/or the object
           itself to accommodate the larger font.
    


  • Additional reference words: FoxWin 2.50 ivrfax fasttips
    KBCategory: kbprint kbprg kbfasttip kbappnote
    KBSubcategory: FxprintFont


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    Last reviewed: December 12, 1996
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