Field Needs to Overlap - Need Help 1

[lkerr]

Hi - I am using CR 9 and I need help. I am creating a report that is designed to copy someone's current Excel spreadsheet. However I am coming across a problem.

In Excel, it is possible to merge cells across rows, which in CR would be like overlapping a single "Can Grow" field across several detail rows - at least as far as I can tell.

Is this possible, or does anyone know of a better way to create this same illusion? Thanks!

LK

 

[synapsevampire]

Probably.

Try posting example data and expected output.

Merging cells in Excel isn't anything like overlapping in Crystal, so your question is confusing.

The can grow alone is similar to a merged cell in some respects.

-k

 

[lkerr]

Sorry I wasn't very clear - I was hoping the Excel analogy would be helpful. Let me try to "visualize" the data for you.

I have under a single group header 3 detail rows. In the first detail row, the first field is quite long (and would be exactly the same for the other detail rows). All the rest of the row is only one line deep.

What I am trying to do is allow the first field to grow down across the next two rows to prevent the first row taking up so much space.

I would like it to look something like this:

Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 Field 4 Field 5

Client has Daily email nnn@jjjj.com JI
no need for Sunday fax 999-999-9999 KO
add'l prod. Other phone 999-999-8888 LK

Hope this makes more sense now.

LK

 

[DataDog]

Why in the world would you want (or need) to "copy an Excel Spread Sheet?? That's kinda like using a 10 ton truck (Crystal) to kill a fly (Excel).

DataDog
'Failure Is Not An Option'

 

[lkerr]

Well, because my boss asked me to. 'Nuff said.

 

[synapsevampire]

Ahhhh, I see, unfortunately it doesn't work that way, and shouldn't. In Excel you cannot see the data for this type of example.

Keep in mind that if both row 1 and row 2 had more data than would fit in a single row, your request would mean that you could only see the first rows data because it has overlapped the 2nd.

If you have something in mind for when they both overlap please explain and prehaps we canb code something, but your request doesn't make sense as reports are generally printed, and when doing so, would need to expand the data.

-k

 

[lkerr]

So I'm asking the impossible?

How close could I get?

What I have done currently is put field 1 (see above example) in detail a and all the other fields in detail b. Field 1 is suppressed if duplicated and Detail a is suppressed if blank. So right now it looks more like:

Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 Field 4 Field 5

Client has
no need for
add'l prod.
Daily email nnn@jjjj.com JI
Sunday fax 999-999-9999 KO
Other phone 999-999-8888 LK

Is there a way to get closer to my goal?

Thanks!
LK

 

[lbass]

Try formatting detail_a in the section expert with "underlay following sections".

-LB

 

[lkerr]

lbass -

Well, that puts me back at where I was when I had everything in the same detail section. It looks something like this now:

Field 1 Field 2 Field 3 Field 4 Field 5

Client has Daily email nnn@jjjj.com JI
no need for
add'l prod.
Sunday fax 999-999-9999 KO
Other phone 999-999-8888 LK

Is there any way to move the other lines in detail b up as well?

Thanks!
LK

 

[lbass]

Actually, you must have a group that is associated with these records. Try inserting an additional group header section and place the field there. Then use "underlay following sections" on that GH_b section.

-LB

 

[lkerr]

LB -

That did it, thank you!

You deserve a million stars for this one! (the boss expected a perfect copy and now I can give him one.) Thanks again!!!

LK