Modifying a break line field

Reordering break line fields

1.

Highlight the field you want to move in the Print Fields list.

2.

Select Field functions > Reorder fields.

The break line field is enclosed in square brackets ([ ]). (To see the close bracket, press the Scroll right shortcut.)

3.

Use the up arrow and down arrow keys to move the field to the desired location.

4.

When the field is where you want it, select Reorder fields again.

Modifying subscripting of an arrayed break line field

1.

Highlight the field in the Print Fields list.

2.

Select Field functions > Change subscripting to display the Field Subscript window.

3.

See Selecting an arrayed field for details on entering subscript information for an arrayed field.

Modifying ranging

Sometimes you will want to use only part of a field in your break line. You can do this by specifying the range of characters to be included in the break line field.

1.

Highlight the field in the Print Fields list.

2.

Select Field functions > Change ranging to display the Field Range window. (If your field is larger than 99 characters, this window displayed automatically when you selected the field.)

3.

See Ranging a selected field for details on entering ranging information for a field.

Stripping trailing blanks

1.

Highlight the field in the Print Fields list.

2.

Select Field functions > Strip trailing blanks. An input window is displayed.

3.

At the Strip character prompt, enter the character that you want to follow the blank-stripped field. The default strip character is one blank space.

4.

Exit the window.

The strip character that you enter appears in the layout window after the stripped field, and a letter S appears in the FLAGS column for that field in the Print Fields list. If your strip character is nonblank, all trailing blanks in your break line are replaced with one occurrence of the specified strip character and an additional space.

The Strip trailing blanks entry is a toggle: select it again to turn blank stripping off.

Modifying the field position on a break line

When you select a field to print on a break line, ReportWriter places it two spaces after the previous field by default. You can modify this default positioning and even overlap fields, if you wish.

1.

Highlight the field in the Print Fields list.

2.

Select Field functions > Arrange field position.

A ruler is displayed at the top of the layout window.

If any of your fields to print are being subtotaled at this break level, a row of asterisks (*) is displayed to represent the location of that field. This feature should assist you in designing your break line.

3.

Press the left arrow key to move the field to the left (delete spaces in front of the field). Press the right arrow key to move the field to the right (insert a space in front of the field).

A space that precedes a field is attached to the field, so when you move the field, the space moves as well. Note that when a field is moved, all fields that follow it also move.

As you move the field, the layout window automatically scrolls to the left or right, if necessary, so that the highlighted field is always visible.

4.

To exit break line field positioning mode, press the Exit shortcut.

Assigning a conditional to a break line field

You can define and assign a conditional to a break line field. You can connect up to five conditionals together (with AND and OR).

1.

Highlight that field in the Print Fields list.

2.

Select Field functions > Specify conditions to display the Condition Criteria list. As you define conditions, they are added to this list.

• If you haven’t defined any conditions for the break line field, this list is empty and the Criterion Definition window is also displayed.
• If a condition has already been defined for the break line field, select Condition functions > Add condition to display the Criterion Definition window.

3.

See Assigning a conditional to a field for detailed instructions on specifying a conditional.

To copy, edit, move, or delete a conditional, refer to the following:

Defining a conditional by copying an existing one

Editing a conditional

Reordering conditionals

Deleting a conditional

4.

To return to the Print Fields list, press the Exit shortcut from the Condition Criteria window.

Deleting a field from the break line

1.

Highlight the field you want to delete.

2.

Select Field functions > Delete field.

Exiting the break line function

When you’ve finished selecting and arranging the fields that you want printed on your break line, press the Exit shortcut. If one or more fields are being printed on the break line, the letter P (for pre-break) or T (for post-break) precedes the letter B (or b), which indicates a break, in the Sort Fields list.