Fill Two Columns Before Growing

[AlwaysFroosh!]

I have a subreport that I would like to display 2 columns. The columns must
read down and then across in order to be coherent. I do not know the maximum
number of records that will be produced, so the subreport needs to be able to
grow. If I allow the subreport to grow, then it doesn't bother filling the
second column, it just grows large enough that it displays all records in the
first column. I would like it to basically display the first half of the
records in the first column and the second half in the second column. Is
there an easy way to do this?

Thanks,
Graham

 

[Rick Brandt]

I have a subreport that I would like to display 2 columns. The
columns must read down and then across in order to be coherent. I do
not know the maximum number of records that will be produced, so the
subreport needs to be able to grow. If I allow the subreport to grow,
then it doesn't bother filling the second column, it just grows large
enough that it displays all records in the first column. I would like
it to basically display the first half of the records in the first
column and the second half in the second column. Is there an easy way
to do this?

Thanks,
Graham

Only by using across, then down for your columns.

 

[AlwaysFroosh!]

I see. I was hoping there might be another solution. Like I said, the items
won't make any sense if they are allowed to read across then down, due to the
fact that sometimes they are only one line, sometimes they are three lines in
a row.

Anyone have any other ideas??

Thanks,
Graham

 

[Rick Brandt]

I see. I was hoping there might be another solution. Like I said, the
items won't make any sense if they are allowed to read across then
down, due to the fact that sometimes they are only one line,
sometimes they are three lines in a row.

Anyone have any other ideas??

The basic problem is that a subreport has no idea when the main report hits the
bottom of the page. It does know where the subreport control boundaries are so
the right edge can tell it when to start a new *row* when doing across, then
down, and the bottom of the control (when CanGrow is False) can tell it when to
start a new column when using down, then across columns.

With the combination of down, then across along with a subreport control having
CanGrow set to True it never "sees" any boundary to trigger a new column.

Workarounds usually involve using multiple subreports or a custom sort order so
that across, then down produces the same layout results as down, then across
would. These workarounds often don't work, but it depends on the data.

 

[AlwaysFroosh!]

Alright, makes sense. I will figure something out. Thanks for your time.