Blob/Memo Fields - Can they be used ?

[BobHunter]

Folks,

I have a report in which I want to insert a blob/memo field, which of course is not supported in Crystal. Is there any known workaround ?

Cheers.

 

[kenhamady]

They are supported with limitations. You can print them, but you can't use them in certain functions or formulas. See the FAQ on Memo fields. Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

Crystal Reports Training/Consulting and a
Quick Reference Guide to VB/Crystal (including ADO)

 

[jschodde]

I have been able to create queries in Access for example that convert memo fields to strings of 254 characters or less. If a maximum of 254 characters is acceptable in your reports, you can use functions like left(), mid(), right() depending on DBMS you are using and return a portion of the memo field. You can even return both the "cut" version of the field along with the full memo field like this:

select
left(my_memo_field,200) as shortmemo,
my_memo_field as normalmemo
from ....

This will allow you to use "shortmemo" in functions. The "normalmemo" can be used in the report to print the entire memo field contents.

-Jeff

 

[BobHunter]

I have thought of this but I cannot select the Memo field in Crystal to trim it ..... :-(
My formula is something along the lines of..
if {@text_table_string_id}={TEXT_TABLE.STRING_ID} then text_value}.

I cannot select text_value coz it's a Memo, even to trim it !

Thanks 4 the reply...

Bob

 

[jschodde]

Bob,

You have to do it from the data source. For example if you are using MS Access, you would create a query in the database and "set location" in your report to that query.

Once you do this, the "trimmed" memo fields (using left(), mid() functions, etc.) will become available in your formulas.

Again, you do this only if having "trimmed" memo fields is acceptable to you for your report as opposed to only wanting the whole enchilada.

-Jeff