Trying to understand how Report Painter sets columns to NOPRINT based on variables. In Report Painter, I right clicked on a column and chose the Invisible -> variable option. In the code it generated something like this: “&RP_KWd06P_PR.(,).Invisible.”. I’ve been trying to figure out this syntax. I know that On, Off are the display options when it auto prompts for parameters and the “Invisible” word is the prompt. NOPRINT displays in the code as expected if On is selected and nothing does if Off is selected. I tried setting a default value for the variable, but my default value was ignored until I removed the <> brackets. What do these brackets do? Is there a way to control the crazy variable name and prompt in Report Painter? If I change the variable name in the code it no longer shows the column as grayed out in Report Painter. Just trying to figure out how far Report Painter can take me without having to jump into the code and what the code it generates does.

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

I've been playing around with this some more, and from what I can tell the

 <> 

Just shows the prompts as drop down list options with the first value being the display value and the second being the actual value. I noticed my earlier post didn't show the full code. Should have posted like this:

 &RP_KWd01B_PR.(<On,NOPRINT>,<Off,>).Invisible.  

(Hoping it comes through okay this time.) How do I get it to use the value of the Off option in the drop down list.

How can I select it as my default? I tried -DEFAULT &RP_KWd01B_PR = '', but that didn't work.

I still have the remaining questions on is there a way to control the crazy variable names Report Painter gives it and the prompt information without jumping into the code behind it? Or is there another way completely to do this task in Report Designer?

Hi shelzalee,

If you have not done so, I would strongly suggest that you open a case with Customer Support Services for more in-depth assistance. The phone number is 1-800-736-6130, or access online at InfoResponse.

Cheers,

Kerry

Shelzalee,

If you want the "OFF" to be the default when you are using the Auto Prompt method, you will have to go into the code and just move the "OFF" to the front of the line.

 &RP_KWd01B_PR.(<Off,>,<On,NOPRINT>).Invisible.  

Otherwise, if you create an HTML launch page, you can use the "Properties and Settings" window to move the "OFF" to the top and check the check box for it to be the default.

I was curious as how to do this without going into the code. This must be part of that 20% you can't do in the designer. I'll mark this solved with that assumption.

Auto Prompt is not a production facility meaning an application should not be written to use it. It is for testing only. We also document that Guided Parameter Groups should not be used with Auto Prompt.