String Length Problems

[TEM3]

Using Crystal Reports 8.5:

Thanks to previous help from this group, I put together the following formula to concatinate item numbers to print them as a group horizontally:

//Details Formula
shared stringvar MyValues;
whileprintingrecords;

//if len(MyValues) < 240 then
if len(trim({CONTAINER.Container Description})) > 0 or isnull({CONTAINER.Container Description}) then
MyValues := MyValues & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & "(" & trim({CONTAINER.Container Description}) & ")" & ", ")
else
MyValues := MyValues & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & ", ");

If I comment out the len line (as I have done above), the report crashes with a "string cannot be longer than 254 characters" error. But I need to be able to print longer strings.

Suggestions?

 

[synapsevampire]

Crystal 8.5 has a maximum output for formulas of 254 (CR 9 and above does not).

Your alternatives are to create numerous variables and output formulas for > 254 characters.

Also Crystal will ignore an isnull if it is not the first thing checked within a conditional.

Here's an example that should help:

//Details Formula
whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValues;
shared stringvar MyValuesContinued;

if len(MyValues) < 240 then
(
if isnull({CONTAINER.Container Description})
or
len(trim({CONTAINER.Container Description})) > 0 then
MyValues := MyValues & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & "(" & trim({CONTAINER.Container Description}) & ")" & ", ")
else
MyValues := MyValues & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & ", ")
)
else
if len(MyValuesContinued) < 240 then
(
if isnull({CONTAINER.Container Description})
or
len(trim({CONTAINER.Container Description})) > 0 then
MyValuesContinued := MyValuesContinued & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & "(" & trim({CONTAINER.Container Description}) & ")" & ", ")
else
MyValuesContinued := MyValuesContinued & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & ", ")
);

...etc...add more variables as required...

Now in the group footer you'd reference them using different formulas:

whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValues

whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValuesContinued;

This is just an example and may have syntax errors, at any rate you probably get the idae as you'vre already done the heavy lifting, I just added a variable for the next 254 characters...

-k

 

[TEM3]

OK, with excellent help from "-k", the follow series of (4) formulas work:

//Group Header Formula

whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValues := "Item(s) # ";
shared stringvar MyValuesContinued := "";

/Details Formula
whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValues;
shared stringvar MyValuesContinued;

if len(MyValues) < 240 then
(
if isnull({CONTAINER.Container Description})
or
len(trim({CONTAINER.Container Description})) > 0 then
MyValues := MyValues & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & "(" & trim({CONTAINER.Container Description}) & ")" & ", ")
else
MyValues := MyValues & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & ", ")
)
else
if len(MyValuesContinued) < 240 then
(
if isnull({CONTAINER.Container Description})
or
len(trim({CONTAINER.Container Description})) > 0 then
MyValuesContinued := MyValuesContinued & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & "(" & trim({CONTAINER.Container Description}) & ")" & ", ")
else
MyValuesContinued := MyValuesContinued & (trim({LABITEM.Lab Item Number}) & ", ")
);


/Group Footer Formula

whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValues;

if len(MyValues) < 240 then
Left(MyValues,len(MyValues)-2)
else
MyValues;


//Group Footer Formula Continued

whileprintingrecords;
shared stringvar MyValuesContinued;

if len(MyValuesContinued) > 3 then
Left(MyValuesContinued,len(MyValuesContinued)-2);


Now, the problem is formatting this mess. The orginal MyValues prints in a "can grow" box. How can I format so that, where appropriate, MyValuesContinued will print seamlessly???

 

[lbass]

Drop both formulas into a text box. Make sure they snap into place, one after the other.

-LB

 

[TEM3]

I will try the above.

I did drop MyValuesContinued into another Group Footer and suppress the section if the string is empty.......

 

[synapsevampire]

Insert a text box and then drag the formulas into it.

Upgrading will save you this grief.

-k

 

[TEM3]

Wish I could (upgrade). Our LIMS system has 8.5 embedded.

 

[TEM3]

The text box technique worked perfectly! Thanks so much!!