I have a column that holds the Webfocus Format String (I2, A11, etc) for each data row I need to pull into a report. Instead of creating computes for every individual row item to configure it's Format, is there a way to use the column that has the Webfocus Format string to dynamically configure on the fly to make it easier?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Kathryn Henning>,

Hi PurposedOne,

Where are these column values currently coming from? Are the data rows currently described in a Master File Description? Please post some sample code so we can see what you're trying to do.

Thanks and regards,

Kathryn

A developer looked up the Webfocus format codes (A11, I2, etc) that we would need to use within webfocus for the rows of data we will be pulling from a sql server table. We added a column to that table that held that webfocus format code value. We were wondering if that column can then be used to dynamically define the format for every row that is brought in.

For example, if there was table that had 3 columns(Name, Value, WebfocusFormat) and the data looked like this:
Weekday,MON,A3
Sales,7,I2
SalesConversion,76.06,D12.2%

So that first column(Name), can have different values in it depending on what is needed on the report, they are all dynamic values. Is there a way to pull that in and use that last column(WebfocusFormat) to automatically configure the rows results using the defined WebfocusFormat being stored in that column...

My challenge is I have several rows returning for a matrix report that have several different types of formats being used, and there is no pattern..each are different and dynamic. All are not Integers or Alpha characters or decimal.. .each are different depending on the row this returned.....

Hi PurposedOne,

Let me get this straight.
You have an SQL table which has columns of data, each with its original format.

Did you add another column to this table?
Does this mean that on each record you can change the format of ONE data field for this specific record?

Or does your table hold in fact triplets: a field name, a field value and a field format and you want to outptut something like NAME VALUE with the value dynamically formatted?

Figured it out!
Needed to make a define for that report using an A8 format and the expression was the column we had the webfocus format in. Then was able to click on the field needing the formatting, clicked format on the menu, clicked Dynamic in that menu, and then a list of the fields were in the drop down, Including the newly created Define field for formatting I had just created. Now when I run the report, my results are using the Formatting from sql table. Oila!

Thank you.

Could you post the generated code, please?

Here is a snippet.....As you can see, the define.. and then in the next table.. the 'Count' field is using the WFFORMATN field to dynamically determine the format for each row.

DEFINE FILE DLYHOLD
WFFORMATN/A8=DLYHOLD.SEG01.WFFORMAT;
END
TABLE FILE DLYHOLD
SUM
DLYHOLD.SEG01.COUNT/DLYHOLD.SEG01.WFFORMATN
BY LOWEST DLYHOLD.SEG01.SORTORDER NOPRINT
BY LOWEST DLYHOLD.SEG01.METRICNAME
ACROSS LOWEST DLYHOLD.SEG01.YEAR NOPRINT
ACROSS LOWEST DLYHOLD.SEG01.GroupNum NOPRINT
ACROSS LOWEST DLYHOLD.SEG01.Description AS ''

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and help in finding a solution.