Report footer - variable length field

[AndrewMozley]

An application produces and prints sales invoices, using REPORT FORM. These documents are based on a report format SALINV.FRX/FRT.

At present the structure of the report layout is fairly simple. There is a single group consisting of the detail lines of the invoice. The group header (so – at the top of the first or only page of the invoice) contains the caption (SALES INVOICE) the name of the company and its customer, invoice and order reference, date &c.

There are then a variable number of detail lines.

The group footer (at the foot of the page) contains totals of goods & tax and a few phrases. At present both the header and footer are fixed length.

There is now a requirement to include a declaration at the foot of some export invoices. I would like to include this in the footer. So this declaration might be blank, it might be a single line, or it might have to be split over several lines.

Can I include an extra field in the group footer of the report format which could extend over several lines, so that the VFP reporter would expand the space occupied by this field according to the need.

Thank you.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Andrew,

You should be able to do this with a "stretch with overflow" field. Just add the field to the group footer in the usual way. In its properties, tick "Stretch with overflow". Under "object position", choose whether you want to fix it relative to the top of the band (in which case it will grow downward) or the bottom of the band (grow upward). I think that will do the trick.

Apologies if I have misunderstood the requirement.

Mike

__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

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[AndrewMozley]

Thanks Mike. I haven’t got this quite right. This is a preview of an invoice where I have tried to place this variable-sized notice (in blue).

In the snipped image, the upper horizontal line is in fact the bottom border of the detail lines – the vertical lines going up from it define the boxes for the body of the invoice. But it is in the group footer.

The lower box which includes ‘Company Registration’ is also in the group footer.
I had rather hoped that the expansion of this blue notice would expand the height of the footer, and so force the two ruled boxes further apart, making space for the blue notice.

- Andrew

 

[Chris Miller]

As Mike said, and when you also tick "remove line, if blank" it doesn't cause a blank line. Those are really the basic options of the report field.
To let further fields (below) also move, take a look at their options, too. They have to be set to float regarding their position.

Chriss