Hi all

What are the best practices in free form reporting.
Though I am using spot markers to customize each text. When data in a cell increases, text/data in the adjacent cell is moving towards right. How can this be avoided? And also, even if everything looks good in HTML, its not even comparable in PDF. Can you let me know some tips.
Though I am good with playing with data, I am pretty new to free form reports.

Sample code:

  
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=1, STYLE=BOLD, WIDTH=120, JUSTIFY=RIGHT ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=1, WIDTH=60   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=4, STYLE=BOLD ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=2, WIDTH=70   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=7, STYLE=BOLD ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=3, WIDTH=32   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=10, STYLE=BOLD ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=1 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=4, WIDTH=5   ,$

TYPE=HEADING, LINE=2 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=1, STYLE=BOLD, WIDTH=120, JUSTIFY=RIGHT ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=2 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=1, WIDTH=247  ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=2 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=4, STYLE=BOLD ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=2 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=2, WIDTH=8   ,$

TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=1, STYLE=BOLD, WIDTH=120, JUSTIFY=RIGHT ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=1, WIDTH=5  ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=4, WIDTH=3 ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=6, STYLE=BOLD ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=2, WIDTH=80   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=9, STYLE=BOLD, WIDTH=145, JUSTIFY=RIGHT ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=3 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=3, WIDTH=80   ,$

TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=1, STYLE=BOLD ,WIDTH=120, JUSTIFY=RIGHT, $
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=1, WIDTH=5   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=4, WIDTH=20   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=6, STYLE=BOLD ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=2, WIDTH=65   ,$
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=TEXT  ,ITEM=9, STYLE=BOLD ,WIDTH=47, JUSTIFY=RIGHT, $
TYPE=HEADING, LINE=4 ,OBJECT=FIELD ,ITEM=3, WIDTH=60   ,$

Thank you..!!

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

Just a thought, but instead of HTML what about DHTML, I think it may be closer to the PDF output.

I am hand coding these reports on a trial and error basis.
DHTML did not help much..!

hi all

this is part of my code.

 
SET STYLEMODE=FIXED
SET STYLE=OFF

TABLE FILE ALL_DATA
HEADING
"Project:<PR"
""
"Project Number: <WBS_NUMBER"
"Value From:<LIMITS_FROM"
"<14>To:<+0> <LIMTS_TO"
""
"<33>Start Date: <S_DATE            End Date:<+0> <E_DATE"
"<18>Pay Start Date: <PS_DATE          Pay End Date:<+0> <PE_DATE"
"<81>Project EndDate:<+0> <PRJ_COMPLETE"

In the dates section everything is aligned if data for dates is present.
If S_DATE is null, then label 'End Date' moves to the left and same with 'Pay End Date' moves to left if PS_DATE is null.
How can that be avoided? I want them to stay there even if data in adjacent (previous) field exists or not.

Thank you

Then put spot markers on those also:

  
SET STYLEMODE=FIXED
SET STYLE=OFF

TABLE FILE ALL_DATA
HEADING
"Project:<PR"
""
"Project Number: <WBS_NUMBER"
"Value From:<LIMITS_FROM"
"<14>To:<+0> <LIMTS_TO"
""
"<33>Start Date: <S_DATE            <45 End Date:<+0> <E_DATE"
"<18>Pay Start Date: <PS_DATE       <45 Pay End Date:<+0> <PE_DATE"
"<81>Project EndDate:<+0> <PRJ_COMPLETE"

Hi Tom

I tried that before posting in here. If I put spot markers in there, the text is getting disappeared completely.
I tried various numbers but the same happens

Spot markers should work. Are you sure your marker numbers were not too large and pushing your text elements right off the page?