exporting to Excel with blank fields

[atarrqis]

I'm using CR 9 and Oracle
I make alot of reports where the user wants the flexibility to dump the report to Excel. This is ok but I find I'm constantly creating formulas like

If IsNull({PURCHASE_PART_SUPPLIER.LIST_PRICE})
then "-"
else {PURCHASE_PART_SUPPLIER.LIST_PRICE}

so that Excel doesn't do funky things with blank fields - usually causes data to shift over a column. It's time consuming so I'm wondering if there is something I'm missing that would make this unnecessary.

Also, I find I have to line the fields up exactly next to each other to avoid Excel adding additional narrow blank columns. Can this be avoided?
Thanks.

 

[lbass]

You could try going to file->report options->check "convert nulls to default values". Also, I think the only way to eliminate the blank columns is attach neighboring fields to the same gridline. If you don't mind the extra columns as long as all cells are aligned properly, then try to attach column labels and detail fields to the same gridlines.

-LB

 

[hfroede]

I have best experience by scheduling format Excel 8.0(extended) with options: column width based on objects in section pageheader. Yes, you have to line the fields up exactly next to each other to avoid Excel adding additional narrow blank.