Need column formatting help

[amoeba102]

I want my data to look like this:

Group A
1 4 7 10
2 5 8 11
3 6 9 12

Group B
1 4 7 10
2 5 8 11
3 6 9 12

I have only been able to make it look like this, which isn't acceptable for my application:

Group A
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12

Group B
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12

I'm using CR9, and I've wracked my brain. Even Microsoft Word can do automatic column balancing so I'm sure Crystal can, but this user doesn't know how.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[synapsevampire]

I guess what you're asking for is a columnar report which prints down then across.

RIght click the details and select format section->multiple columns and use the new tab to set the display to down then across.

I don't have Crystal here so I can't tell you the exact screen display.

-k

 

[amoeba102]

yes, that's what I would like, but when I select down and then across it only wraps up to the second column when the first column fills the full length of the paper. It doesn't do 'column balancing', (which is my phrase) - if there are 9 items and 3 column, it should be only 3 lines long with 3 items on each line.

 

[synapsevampire]

I see what you're saying, and you're correct, Crystal doesn't do that.

If you select across then down it will.

Of course then you'd have to use a sophisticated sortation to get the numbering to be down then across.

-k

 

[lbass]

One approach is to add the fields you want in multiple columns to a subreport. Place the subreport in the group header or footer in the main report, and link it to the main report on the group field. In the subreport, format the details section to multiple columns->down and then across. Then in the main report, right click on the subreport->format subreport and uncheck "Can Grow". Then resize the subreport until you get the appropriate column height so that the same number of records appear per column.

You need to be cautious though--this will only work appropriately if you have the same number of records for each group. Since you are not allowing the subreport to grow, if there were additional records in later groups, they would not appear in the display.

-LB