Group footer with multiple columns. 2

[gyfu]

Hey guys, I look through the forum and can't seem to find a possible solution to my problem or at least I am not sure of how to work it.
CR : Version 9
DB : Proprietory
Objective: To display report data in multiple columns.

Sample data:
account Acct Amt
10410321 100.00
10410321 150.00
10410999 150.00
10410999 200.00

Output suppose to be with the capabilites of multiple colums when the list is bigger:

account count amount
10410321 2 250.00
10410999 2 350.00


If I display this in the group footer, it works well using running totals filed to count and accumulate amount. However, I do not know how to format with multiple columns.

If I then display this in Details, I can format with multiple columns, but do not know how to suppress those accounts and its counts.

Any advise on which direction to go is greatly appreciated. Thanks.





-- gyfu --

 

[lbass]

You can format the detail section to "Format with Multiple Columns". Then go to the layout tab and choose a width like 3" and a gap like .5", choose "down then across", and then check "Format groups with multiple columns". Then suppress the detail section.

-LB

 

[gyfu]

lbass,
I did what you say and when I suppress, I totally didn't get anything.

At one point I tried, it didn't really work as well.. as it is still display all the records and worse still, it seems to write it on the Group header section.

I am not sure if your solution here actually works.
Thanks.

-- gyfu --

 

[lbass]

Yes, it does work, as I have tested it. Place your account and amound fields in the detail section, and insert a distinctcount on the account field and a sum on the amount field. These will now appear in the group footer. Copy the account field and add it to the group footer as well. Next go to the section expert and highlight the detail section and check "Format with multiple columns". Go to the layout tab and follow my previous suggestion exactly and check format groups with multiple columns.

Make sure that your three fields fit in the left side of the page. If they don't, you might have to move them around a bit or adjust the width and gap settings. Do this while the details section is not suppressed so that you can see when you successfully get the multiple columns. After the columns appear, then suppress the details section so that only the group footer appears in the multiple columns.

Please note that one problem you could run into is that if you don't have enough groups to fill the first column, they will not move into a second column. If you think this might be the problem, there is a solution using a subreport that also works.

-LB

 

[gyfu]

LB,
Many thanks to you. The solution works great. Earlier I made a few erorrs but your detail explanation helps a lot.

-- gyfu --

 

[ianoctdec]

LBass,
Are you saying that a subreport solution will make posible the next thing: I have a report formated with 3 columns, and I would like when let's say I have 27 records, instead of printing one column with 27 lines to fill each of the three columns with 9 lines?

Thank you,
Dana

 

[lbass]

Yes, if you need to have the down then across display, but basically it forces the columns by not allowing the subreport to grow, so the method only works when your groups (if you have groups) have similar numbers of records, since you have to manually stretch the subreport boundaries to accommodate the largest group of records.

-LB

 

[ianoctdec]

Yes, I have groups and the number of records can be quite different: one group can have 4 records, another one can have 60 records. But it is a good point.
Can this be accomplished: First group has 4 records, the second has 20 records, I want the second group to start on the first line of the second column on the same page, the third group on the third column and so on ( each group to start on its own column).
Thank you very much, LBass.

Dana

 

[lbass]

You could try my second suggestion in thread149-1005167.

-LB

 

[ianoctdec]

LBass,
I don't have words to thank you enough for pointing me in the right direction and for sharing your ideas. And that solution from Ken Hamady is brilliant.

Thank you guys,

Dana