Varchar2(512) fields in Oracle 2

[deborahb]

I have a table with a field varchar2(512). After I add this table to my report, this field is not on the list for me to select from. What's up? Work arounds?

 

[kenhamady]

Crystal can only process fields up to 255.
You can't use it in any formulas, including the selection formula.

However, you should be able to display it on the report. Is it listed in the field explorer (Insert Database Field) under "Database Fields" ? Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[deborahb]

The field is not listed in the Field Explorer. I sort of solved the problem by creating a view that uses a portion of the field. For this particular report it will do but it is ultimately not very satisfactory. Will Seagate ever fix this? Is there another way to bring in large amounts of data that needs to be formatted as one field?

 

[MalcolmW]

I doubt very much this will change, other than to do what you have done. This has been a limitation of the SCR since the product first developed the ability to display memo fields (v2.0 I think).
Fields that have more than 255 characters are treated as "memo" fields - they are shown in the basic field explorer as a database field, but not in the field explorer for record selection formulas or other formulas.
Although you have twice said that this field was completely unavailable in the field explorer, I have yet to experience that problem with "memo" fields, so I confess I'm unconvinced it wasn't there. However, glad you found a solution with the view. Malcolm
wynden@telus.net
November is "be kind to dogs and programmers" month. Or is that "dogs or programmers"?

 

[kenhamady]

The following is taken from a Seagate FAQ:
-----
Crystal Reports does not currently support Memo fields in formulas or selection
formulas. Because of this, you will not be able to browse data in Memo fields or
reference Memo fields in formulas.

Crystal Reports reads database fields that meet any of these criteria as Memo
fields:
•Fields exceeding 254 characters in length.
•Fields formatted as VarChar in the database (variable character length field).
•Fields formatted as Blob or Memo in the database.

NOTE One exception is the IsNull or NotIsNull functions. You can use Memo fields with these
functions in a conditional formatting formula or a formula field. For more details on this,
go to

http://www.seagatesoftware.com/kbase

search for article ID C2005455.
----


However, even if CR treats the field as a memo, you should always be able to see the field in the "Insert Field" menu window. If you can't see it here, I would try a Database - Verify Database. Maybe it was recently added to the table. Otherwise there should be no reason for this field not to show up as an insertable field. You still won't be able to use it in the select expert or formulas. Ken Hamady

http://www.kenhamady.com/

 

[deborahb]

It is true that I can see the field in the Field Explorer and not when I was trying to create a formula field. So, thank you all for your timely responses. Deborah

 

[MalcolmW]

"Crystal Reports reads database fields that meet any of these criteria as Memo
fields:
•Fields formatted as VarChar in the database (variable character length field)."

While this may be from Seagate, it is not strictly accurate. A field formatted as VARCHAR(100) for example would NOT be treated by SCR as a memo field, but a field formatted as VARCHAR(500) would be. As most databases specify a maximum field length for VARCHAR, I have no idea what Seagate was getting at here.

It is a confusing enough topic without Seagate adding inaccurate information Malcolm
wynden@telus.net
November is "be kind to dogs and programmers" month. Or is that "dogs or programmers"?