Re: How to print graphics with SQL*ReportWriter.

Dennis Moore (dbmoore_at_us.oracle.com) wrote:
:*In article <9401050947.AA18267_at_jc-adga.crad.dnd.ca> adga_at_hq.crad.dnd.ca (JC Lachapelle) writes:
:*>Hi!
:*>
:*>Could someone give me any hints or examples on creating user-defined printer
:*>codes in the printer definition file for SQL*ReportWriter 1.1.
:*>
:*>I want to print graphics in my reports!
:*>
:*>Right now, what I do is :
:*>-generate the report in a file (postscript format using pslan132 from the
:*>printer definition);
:*>-then, I concatenate the file with a little postscript program I wrote which
:*>draws lines on the page;
:*>-then, I send the file to the printer, et voila;
:*>
:*>But I could do all this at once if the manual would explain a little better.
:*>
:*>Pre-Thanx
 

:*Even better is to upgrade to Reports 2.0 if available on your platform ...
 

:*BTW, Support should be able to provide you with workarounds for some graphics
:*problems, particularly the box problem, with 1.1. Give 'em a call ...
 

:*-- Dennis Moore, my own opinions, etcetcetc

There is a way to draw lines and boxes, I have three different ways and all three range from difficult to extremely difficult. I am putting together a report that uses extensive lines and boxes, trying to replicate a federal form, and the way I found the easiest was to create a view using the ASCII codes that represent the various lines and graphics that would be used in a box. Before you begin with this is working on an HP Laaserjet II printer and the symbol set is PC-8, I have not tried it on any other printers. A small portion of the view is:

	create view lines
	(top_left_corner,
	 top_right_corner,
	 bottom_left_corner,
	 bottom_right_corner,
	 h_line_1,	# horizontal line 1 character long
	 h_line_5,	# horizontal line 5 characters long
	 v_line)	# vertical line
	as select 
	 chr(218),	# ASCII for top left corner
	 chr(191), 	# ASCII for top right corner
	 chr(192),	# ASCII for bottom right corner
	 chr(217),	# ASCII for bottom right corner
	 chr(196),	# horizontal line
	 chr(196), chr(196), chr(196), chr(196), chr(196), # 5 hor lines
	 chr(179)	# vertical line
	from dual;

You get the idea?
After the view has been created, then in a Query Settings create a query and call the fields in the view: LINES

	select top_left_corner,   tlc	# aliasing the name makes it 
					# easier in the text settings
               top_right_corner   trc,
	       h_line_1 	  hl,
	       h_line_5		  hl5,
	       v_line		  vl,
	       etc....
	from lines
 

then in the Text Settings for the query, put the field names as you would any other field:

        &TLC&HL5&TRC This will print a line with corners on the top left and right.  

The last two things I had to do was:

1. Change one line in the printdef.dat

		:is\E&16.1  # This is the # of 1/48" Increments for the 
			    # Vertical Motion Index.  (Whatever Vertical
			    # Motion Index is?????)

	2.  On the HP Laserjet II select the PC-8 fonts set.

I am putting together a more detailed report, email me if you want a copy. Should be done in a week or two.

Robert J. McCallister Received on Mon Jan 10 1994 - 23:25:02 CET