How to Make a Dynamic Rectangle Expand/Shrink to Fit the Data

ID: Q138426

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY

In a report, you can show information in a grouped format surrounded by a rectangle that expands (stretches) or shrinks dynamically according to the amount of data to be printed. This article covers the steps necessary to add such a floating rectangle.

MORE INFORMATION

Step-by-Step Procedure to Add Floating Rectangle

1. Enter each of the following commands in the Command window:

   SET DEFAULT TO SYS(2004)+"\SAMPLES\DATA"
   OPEN DATA testdata
   CREATE REPORT TestRepo

2. With the report selected, on the View menu, click Data Environment.

3. With the Data Environment selected, on the DataEnvironment menu, click

   Add. In the Add dialog box, choose the Employee table.

4. Drag the Notes field from the Employee table, and drop it on the report.

   Size the field so it takes up little horizontal space. With the field
   selected, right-click to bring up the properties sheet. Select "Fix
   relative to Top of Band" and "Stretch with overflow." Then click OK.

5. From the Report Controls toolbar, select the Rectangle tool and draw

   a rectangle around the employee.notes field. With the rectangle still
   selected, right-click to bring up the properties sheet. Select "Fix
   Relative to Top of Band" from the Object Position dialog box, and
   select "Stretch relative to tallest object in group" from the Stretch
   Downwards dialog box. Then click OK.

6. With the rectangle still selected, hold down the SHIFT key, and click

   the employee.notes field to select it and to add it to the list of
   selected objects.

7. On the Format menu, click Group to group the two objects together. Save

   and run the report. You should see the rectangle stretch to accommodate
   the data printed in the employee.notes field.

Additional reference words: 3.00 VFoxWin KBCategory: kbtool kbhowto KBSubcategory: FxtoolRwriter