I have a merged file with 3 different date fields. I need to condition which one actually prints on a report based on the value of another field. Is this possible?

example: If tran_type = 'R' Print dateAA
else If tran_type = 'E' Print dateBB
else If tran_type = 'A' Print dateCC


Report looks something like this:
Name tran_type Date count
John R 07/11 40
John E 08/01/2011 29 John A 31 Amy R 09/10 17 Amy R 12/11 7 Amy E 07/14/2011 21
Bill R 02/11 44 Bill R 12/11 19 Bill E 08/01/2011 21

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kerry,

Well that report sample didn't come out right, try it again..


Name tran_type Date count
John R 07/11 40
John E 08/01/2011 29
John A 31
Amy R 09/10 17
Amy R 12/11 7
Amy E 07/14/2011 21
Bill R 02/11 44
Bill R 12/11 19
Bill E 08/01/2011 21

I think you have answered your own question

DEFINE or COMPUTE
PRINT_DATE/{format} = IF TRAN_TYPE EQ 'R' THEN dateAA ELSE
IF TRAN_TYPE EQ 'E' THEN dateBB ELSE
IF TRAN_TYPE EQ 'A' THEN dateCC ELSE {other date} ;

getting If then else syntax error. I'm new at this for WF so I must be missing something. Here is actual:
COMPUTE PRINT_DATE/A20V = IF MERGE.MERGE.TYPE EQ 'R' THEN MERGE.MERGE.MMYY ELSE
IF MERGE.MERGE.TYPE EQ 'E' THEN MERGE.MERGE.OLDEST ELSE
IF MERGE.MERGE.TYPE EQ 'A' THEN MERGE.MERGE.ALL ;

Please post a copy of your error message. It may have something to do with the fieldname: "TYPE" (MERGE.MERGE.TYPE). But, a closer look at the error message and number may prove otherwise...

Here is the error:

(FOC266) IF .. THEN .. ELSE .. SYNTAX ERROR
(FOC009) INCOMPLETE REQUEST STATEMENT
BYPASSING TO END OF COMMAND

I would suggest adding an ELSE something at the end of the IF THEn ELSE for the compute.

Brenda,

is het possible that one ( or more ) of the dates is 'empty' or 'missing'?

That might cause the IF...THEN...ELSE error.

Have you tried using a define instead?

G'luck

The dates are different formats, 1 is yymd and the other 2 are A20V so I will have to convert the date formatted one in the if statement? When I commented that date out, it ran.

Yes Brenda. Your PRINT_DATE compute field is defined as A20V and therefore it expects that every result sent to it is an alphanumeric value. If your expression contains numbers or dates then they have to be converted to alphas.

You can use DATECVT to convert dates to alpha, and EDIT/FTOA/PTOA to convert numbers to alpha.

Brenda convert the dates to the same format first in a Define and then do the IF then Else using the converted dates.

thx, got it to work with the define.....

Code below, if there is a shorter way around this, please let me know. Otherwise thanks so much for all your help

DEFINE FILE MERGE
cvtdate/YYMD=DATECVT(OLDEST, 'YYMD', 'YYMD');
cvtdate1/A8YYMD=cvtdate;
cvtdate2/A20V=cvtdate1;
cvtdatedsp/A20V=EDIT(cvtdate2,'9999/99/99');
END

quote:

DATECVT(OLDEST, 'YYMD', 'YYMD');

Is OLDEST already a date? No conversion is taking place in the code you posted.

Try this:

DEFINE FILE MERGE
cvtdatedsp/A20V=EDIT(DATECVT(OLDEST,'YYYY','A8YYMD'),'9999/99/99')
END

oldest is a YYMD date,

I figured so. Using the DEFINE line I posted above takes care of converting your date into an alpha field [ DATECVT(date, 'YYMD',' A8YYMD) ] and then formatting it by adding "/" in between the components.

Not functionally different from your original logic but you'll be saving yourself 3 temporary fields from the internal matrix for each processed row. Yeah, even on this day and time I still worry about saving one byte here and there

Yes, thank you that worked as well and cleaner. I knew there had to be an easier way but being fairly new at this, couln't put it together from looking at the help.

I took classed over 3 years ago and by the time we installed WF I had been pulled off on other projects. I am just now getting my feet wet again and it has been a struggle. The old saying "what you don't use you loose" is so true. But, I am getting there.

Thanks again

Well, better late than never to get back to dive into WebFOCUS waters! Just don't give up Brenda and keep both the WF documentation and the URL to this forum nearby as it has been (and continues to be) of great help to many of us.

As other folks in this forum have said before, happy WebFOCUS sailing!