Designer Version 5.4 and 5.6

Question

Hi there,
We just bought Adobe Output Designer 5.6 hoping it solves some of our page fidelity problems.
On the contrary we find that, without making any changes using the same .DAT file and testing the presentment in the designer, the output is drastically different from what it used to be 5.4.
Few observations:
Fields that are printed in the foundation page MUST use ^global instead of ^field in 5.6
5.6 simply scans from the top, does not match the name in the ^field or ^global command, instead simply fills the values in the positions. For example, if the .DAT file has first_name, initial and second_name but in the MDF, it only has initial and second_name, when testing the presentment, firt_name value is filled in initial in MDF, initial value is filled in second_name in initial.
I have an impression that 5.6 is more rigid compared to 5.4.
I haven't completed the observations fully. But is that likely to happen? Where can I get to know the differences between 5.4 and 5.6?
I thought it'll be a breeze to upgrade, looks like it is not!
Please help
Bharathan

Answer 1

1. If you build your domains in Designer and generate your modules from there, and set dynamic list to NO, the poplist order will be the order of items in the domain. If you set dynamic list to Yes, so your values and meanings are in CG_REF_CODES, there is no ordering.
So you can get the ordering you want, but not using the REF_CODES table. See issue 2.
2. It's hard to use the built-in domain logic (and table API) and not put in allowable values. But you can just put in a single value, set dynamic list = YES, and put your values into CG_REF_CODES. Of course, that means you won't get the ordering that you would if you kept your allowable values in the domain.
As an alternative, take a look at the domain key constraints. That's one way to manage your own table(s) of allowable values.
-- jim