Changing the starting line when printing on new page.

Question

I am using Reports 6i. I have a report with a master/detail ralationship. The columns from the master query prints once only at the beginning of the report followed by numerous detail lines. However, should the detail lines continue printing onto a new page .... I would like to specify a particular position to start the print.eg 5 or perhaps 7 line from the top. Can this be done in reports 6i. Thanx in advance!

Answer 1

Reports allows you to position the objects anywhere you want on the page. The only reason that objects move up the page is because they are anchored to objects above them. When those objects don't print, the objects that come after move up.
You can create an object that prints on all pages but has no line and no fill color. This can then be used to reduce the amount the master frame can shrink by. (Make sure it prints on all pages. You might need to create seperate frames to surround the fields you want to see and the transparent field - then another to surround them both).
If you know the position that you want the details to print then you can position the detail objects in the appropriate location and change the properties against the frame that surrounds he detail section as follows:
"Base Printing On" to "Enclosing Object"
"Print Object On" to "All Pages"
Alternatively, create an explicit anchor between the frame and the top of the report.
Finally, if you want to parameterise the position of the detail records, you need to create field that dynamically re-sizes to push everything below it down by the required amount.
- create a field object that is at the same level as the master objects
- set the "print object on" propert to "All but First Page"
- set the source of the field to something like "desformat".
- then use the srw.set_field_char(0, "<some text with a number of returns>"); in the format trigger
This allows you to push everything below the field down by any desired amount.