half of formula shows in Crystal 10 designer by not viewer

[fancyface]

I have a report with a formula that concatenates text. It displays great in Crystal 10 designer. However, when I go to publish it on Enterprise, and view, I only see have the formula. I am baffled because it displays just fine in designer, exports great from there and everything. It doesn't matter if I toggle the can grow box at all. If it makes a difference, the formula is on subreport.

This is driving me crazy - any intuitive help would be appreciated. I have searched extensively on business objects and while I can find some notes that relate to viewer problems and fixes, I can't seem to find anything that relates specifically to this. If it is my viewer, any updates done to the dll on the viewer, does it have to be on my local machine? Or on the server where the viewer is installed. Thanks.

 

[synapsevampire]

Depends on what viewer you are using, and viewing is often printer dependent, so the server may not have the same printer, hence different formatting.

I'd guess that the formula is near the edge in the subreport, and is getting truncated.

Of course you didn't state if it's the first half or the second half, or upper or lower halves that are truncated, so it may be something else, please be specific in your posts.

Try switching viewers in Infoview to Active-X or Java, and try moving the formula to the center of the subreport so that you can eliminate margin issues.

Also try expanding the field.

These should provide some insight as to the nature of the problem.

-k

 

[fancyface]

Thank you, I've tried all those. If it's showing fine in the designer why wouldn't it show fine in the Enterprise viewer? When I just take the field (which is a memo field by the way) out of the formula and put it on the layout, it's only showing the first 2 characters. Are there known issues STILL in Crystal 10 with those memo fields? I've been reading a bit on the memo fields.... It doesn't make sense that they would show without issue in the Crystal 10 designer but not in viewer.

 

[synapsevampire]

Create a formula of:

len({table.mymemofield})

and place that on the report.

Now if it's greater than 2 characters you know that it's not truncating the memo field.

If not, then you should be able to move the field to the center of the subreport, turn on can grow and everything should show.

-k

 

[synapsevampire]

I should have also asked what database and connectivity you are using, it may be that the server is using a different ODBC driver, etc.

-k

 

[fancyface]

Thanks synapse for your continued help. My memo fields are always populuated with at least 10 characters. Whether my memo is in a formula it's not showing in viewer or whether it's straight field on layout on main or on subreport it's not showing in viewer - regardless of which can grow options are on there. I have a very sneaking suspicion it's something to do with dll's or drivers or something. I would be forever indebted to you if you can provide some further assistance on that area.

I believe we're using the Oracle 8 driver for Crystal 10. I just emailed our dba as for info on which drivers the server is using. I'm not sure how to answer your connectivity question.

Again synapse, thank you. This is a major report in our business processes and we simply have to be able to use this memo field. Thank you for your continued insights!

 

[synapsevampire]

I asked you to check the length in the viewer using the LEN function, did you try this?

This will identify a potential problem, not sure why you prefer to ignore this abd just start repeating yourself, I understand the problem just fine, but you need to put some effort forth and respond to questions and suggestions.

-k

 

[fancyface]

Believe me I am putting lots of effort into it. I already indicated that the field is always populated and will be at least 10 characters. Perhaps you could explain to me why I would check the length when I already know it will always be at least 10 characters.

 

[fancyface]

Hi there Synapse. I did your suggested formula:
len({table.mymemofield})

and it's always showing 2.

When I refer back to which part is being trucated it's showing the first 2 characters starting at the left of the field and then cutting off the rest.

 

[synapsevampire]

I'd guess that the connectivity differs on the server.

Try creating a SQL Expression to return the value, as in:

substr(table.field,1,100)

Or do a CAST on it.

SQL Expressions are very useful for this sort of thing.

If you find that this is an ongoing issue, create a View on the database that CASTs it into a usable data type by Crystal.

-k

 

[fancyface]

thank you so much. I will give that a try. In the meantime, I am limited somewhat as we dba's who are the only ones to tweak anything on the server side. As report writers, we can't get at it physically and directly. Is there a connectivity thing we need to change do you think or will installing anything on the report viewer server make a difference do you think?

 

[synapsevampire]

A SQL Expression is done in Crystal, not the server side, hit help and read up on them.

I think that the server is using differnt connectivity than your local machine, pursue that as the ultimate solution, however a SQL Expression may work temporarily.

-k

 

[fancyface]

Thanks, I'm okay with the SQL Expressions, I've certainly used them before. I was just wondering what I should be directing the dba's to explore as far as connectivity.

 

[synapsevampire]

Well you never answered when I asked what connectivity you used, you said that you used a driver, there are differnt drivers that can be used, ODBC, Native, etc.

I suggest that you change the connectivity to Native and the problem may go away.

-k

 

[fancyface]

I did answer that. I said:
****************
I believe we're using the Oracle 8 driver for Crystal 10. I just emailed our dba as for info on which drivers the server is using. I'm not sure how to answer your connectivity question.