Dynamically sizing a word wrap column 1

[RobReynolds]

I have an Accounts Revceivable report with a column for comments that is associated to the customer id. The comments column is a long datatype. I set the Layout of the comments field to multi-line with word wrap. The height size of the cell is set to dynamic.

the report looks like:
Cust Id invoice# amt comments
ABC Co 100 50.00 7/25 I called the customer
and left message
7/26 customer called
and said the check is
in the mail.
101 100.00
102 75.00

my problem is that I would like to eliminate the gap between the row for invoice 100 and 101. Some of the comments can be extensive and the gaps make the report look awkward. I've considered putting the comments in a customer id header, but I can't get a header size to be a dynamic height (some customers will have more comments than others). Does anyone know if there is way to dynamically size the height of a header or to use a text/form frames in a column that wraps the text associating it to the customer id without having these gaps between the detail rows?

 

[griffindm]

What I've generally done for this situation (assuming the report is destined for paper output) is to make the long text field a fixed width, but as wide as is practical for the page output. This does a better job of minimizing the row spacing caused by dynamic spacing.

Hope this helps,

Dave Griffin
The Decision Support Group
Reporting Consulting with Cognos BI Tools
"Magic with Data"

http://www.decisionsupportgroup.com

 

[nagrajm]

Set the following text properties in the header

1. Layout - Line Control - Multi-line with word wrap
2. Size - (Vertical Sizing) Scan data for best height.

This will scan all the comments and adjust the width of the text box, for all rows, to house the longest of comments within the available height of the text box.

 

[griffindm]

My experience with the Scan option is that is only checks the first 20 rows for the maximum data size.

Dave Griffin
The Decision Support Group
Reporting Consulting with Cognos BI Tools
"Magic with Data"

http://www.decisionsupportgroup.com

 

[nagrajm]

Either before or after the data is retrieved, the no. of rows to be scanned for best fit, can be entered in the input area. One may even enter all of the row count and get the longest fit.

 

[RobReynolds]

Nagrajm,

I've followed your suggestion. If I understood you correctly the height sizing will only apply to the comments field not to the header itself. The header row will only accept a specified height size not a dynamic size. So I would need to make sure my header row height as least as large as the largest comments height. Otherwise my comments will start to dissapear below header row bottom.
I may need to follow Dave's suggestion about making the comments field as wide as possible in the header area to minimize the height I need to make header row. Unless I'm missing something I think this is what I may need to do.

 

[nagrajm]

You are right. The property is to be set for the text frame that will contain customer comment. The height of the text frame should be within the height of the parent header. You will also need to follow Dave's advise in that the width of the parent header should be as wide as possible to accomodate the longest of comments. You may even consider reducing the size of the comment text if that will not interfere with the overall aesthetics of the report.