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suppress blank lines from blob fields

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koolskins

IS-IT--Management
Nov 22, 2003
79
US
I have a report printing a long description blob field from an Informix database. The blob contains a lot of extra white space due to blank lines. I have tried the formula: replace ({table_name.column_name}," ",""), but this seems to only give me one line from the field, where there are many.

What is the correct formula to simply skip any blank line within a blob field when printing?

Thanks.
Randy
 
It may be that you have carriage returns, not lines full of blanks, or combinations.

Try something like:

replace({table_name.column_name},chr(13)," ")

or combinations:

replace(replace(replace({table_name.column_name},chr(13)," ")," "," ")," "," ")

etc.

-k
 
Thanks, but that doesn't seem to be working either. It still appears to be printing the first line only. Although I think you're probably correct in that these are carriage returns and not blank lines. In your syntax, what exactly is the chr(13)?
 
Chr(13) is a return.

Do you have "Can Grow" set for the field? Format->field->common->can grow. Not sure this is this issue though. I would also try:

replace({table.field}," ","")

With the multiple spaces you are requiring that number of spaces before the replacement can occur. Using one space should remove all spaces in the field.

-LB
 
Careful with:

replace({table.field}," ","")

this will eliminate every space between words.

you need to determine what is in this field, guessing that it's a series of spaces won't help, query the database and check it.

-k
 
SV--You're right, of course, but I think the replace formula should probably only include two or three spaces then to optimize the reduction of extra white space.

-LB
 
<nodding at LB>

Yeah, that might be required, but who knows, it might contain chr(9)'s or who knows...

Guessing is the long way there.

Download the data into Word or something will allow you to see the ASCII.

-k
 
Here is a sample of one of the records. The blank lines in WORD show as carriage returns...

aplcwp30 20046 W CMM 08/04/2002 CMM LASER FORMS NEED DUPLICATE CHK 4
drw writes: Don't forget on the A/P checks, we have to print two copies
of the check on plain paper as the a/p check was a three part impact form.
This should be an exact duplicate of the check itself except it should
state &quot;NOT NEGOTIABLE&quot; in big letters across the signature line and also
in the typed dollar value.

**************************************************************************
*BUG/REQUEST *
**************************************************************************

IF REQUEST:

IF BUG:
Error Msg (complete-time/date/lineno):
Key sequence used:
Data (contract, project, etc):




**************************************************************************
*TEST RESULTS *
**************************************************************************

COMPLETED BUSINESS: (Move completed business to this section. Leave
outstanding issues in the &quot;IF BUG&quot; section.)


aplcwp30 20378 P CMM 01/02/2003 CMM G/L ACCTS NEED MORE ROOM
 
What version of CR are you using?

Reebo
UK

&quot;Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.&quot;
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
 
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