Re: ReportWriter 2.5/character mode

This is a common problem we have when designing reports on a PC and porting them to a UNIX platform. The error message you received is most likely correct, but is not obvious when simply looking at the layout objects in Reports Designer.

On the PC, previewing the reports in Screen or Preview mode will not show the problem (unless you predefine the Reports Designer properties to always run in character mode or show the MODE parameter on the parameter form and change it to character mode at runtime). The easiest way to correct the problem is to multiple-select any fields of questionable size along with one of the largest in height (width never really seems to be a problem, it is typically the height) and use the sizing tool to match them all to the largest height. This should solve the problem.

The reason this problem occurs is because when the reports are run in character mode the field sizes are rounded DOWN. Hence if your field is even the slightest bit shorter than a single character then it will be rounded down to a height of zero.

If you want to be positive that the error message is correct and can be solved by the above solution, set the SIZING attributes of the field to be VARIABLE both horizontally and vertically. If this setting change allows your report to run without errors, then the size of the field is in fact the problem.

Hope this helps...

cb wrote:
>
> Hello,
> I need help with reports in character mode. I get a message
> "REP-1219: 'F_Lname' has no size -- length or width is zero."
> I am sure that this field is longer than zero characters. But what else
> could be the problem?
> I run the report on a VAX/VMS machine and design it on the PC (windows). On
> the PC the report runs without problems.
> Thanks in advance
> Corinna Becker
 

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        Robert Fernandes - LLNL AIS Dept

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