Can we compare and show track (data)changes in reports like MS Word?

Question

Hello,
I have a situation where I have to compare in each field text for the original data that already there in that field, with the changed text in the same field and should show the changed data in a different color or hightlighting etc.... Is it possible in Oracle reports to do something like that....
I know its possible in MS Word when we turn on track changes, if we add new text will show in blue color and delete the text and add new text will show the deleted text as strikethrough and red color.... we are looking similar feature in Oracle reports if we can do something like this.
Can anybody please let me know if we can do that, if so how and can provide a report example would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks a lot.........

Answer 1

Let's say in your data model olds data are in the column called OLD_DATA, the new data are in the NEW_DATA. We place two fields side by side in the data model like this:
F_1 F_2
and source the first field with OLD_DATA, the second field with NEW_DATA.
Then in the format trigger of the F_2 field we put
begin
if :NEW_DATA = :OLD_DATA then
return false; -- suppressing new data if it it the same
else return true; -- displaying new data if different
end if;
end;The format trigger for F_1 will depend on how you want to highlight the field in case the new data is different. If like in Word you want to strike out the text, it will look like
begin
if :NEW_DATA <> :OLD_DATA then
srw.set_font_style(srw.overstrike_style);
end if;
return true;
end;