How do I keep the Multi-Column Label in Group Footers

[cinbh]

When using the Label Report Expert (Crys 8.5 with VisFoxPro 7.0) I get the perfect set up for 2 across labels in the detail section, but since we only need labels once for each customer that has multiple shipments in selected weeks I need to get this data printing in Group Footer section. When I try to move this to the group footer it loses the 2 across.
For instance I have one customer that has 5 different shipments for this week alone, rather than printing 5 labels we would rather put his 5 invoices in one envelope(which the forms address label doesn't fit in) thus the need for only 1 label. Complicating this further I link thru 6 tables for this data and the DBA doesn't pack deleted data so I have to put primary keys of each table on a suppressed detail line to have crystal ignore the deleted records.
I am grouping on the company number which is the unique id for a customer.
Appreciate any tips on how to deal with this.
Thanks, Cindy

 

[akabatman2]

This should help you:

http://support.crystaldecisions.com/library/kbase/articles/c2004543.asp

Tom

 

[cinbh]

Hmmm, I followed the library article to the letter, but only get labels down the left side--no second column for the next customer. What could be going wrong here? How does Crystal know to print the next customer on the second column within that grouping?
Thanks, Cin

 

[akabatman2]

This may be due to the Detail Size and Gaps between detail.
Make sure that your Width gives enough space on the page for two columns. If you page width is 8", you have to make the Width no larger than 4"(Without any Gaps between Details). If you need gaps between the columns, you have to make sure that the Width setting takes into account any Gaps between details. If the page size is 8", that total of the width cannot exceed 8", otherwise the second column doesn't print. Make sure that 'Format Groups with Multiple Columns' is checked since all of your fields should be in a group section.

Hope that helps.

Tom

 

[cinbh]

Ah, thank you Tom. You jibed my memory about the label having Page Margin set ups also. After finessing those a bit the second label came in. PLUS I did forget to resize the height in the detail section. Now all I have left is getting that nasty null address line 2 suppressed--a girls work is never done!
Thanks again!

 

[akabatman2]

That should be easy right Cin?
Put Address 2 in it's own group section Group 1b.
Go to the section expert and select Group 1b.
Put a check in the Suppress box and click on X-2
to get to the formula expert.
Us the following formula:

//I don't have an address 2 so get rid of this line, who uses an address two anyway?

ISNULL(TableName.Address2)

That should work. However, keep in mind it will move the rest of your info up, so you have to take that into account when sizing your other info.

You'll have to of course have a Group 1c that has the City state and zip.

Tom

 

[cinbh]

Man your like 2 steps ahead of me. I was just checking on the suppress box when a email shot in. This would have taken me another hour to deal with and loss of blonde locks to boot. I deal with the nulls generally but with the multi-column I was somewhat stymied. Thanks for all your help it's a great way to end my week!
Cin

 

[akabatman2]

No problem Cin, glad to help.

Tom

 

[cinbh]

Okay a followup. Set up everything as you suggested, but after innumerable resizings I have found that I can't count on the output to consistently print within the labels. Even when I allow the blank/null address2 line to print it creeps up a bit, although it keeps the customer address within the label consistently (which I gave to the enduser). The only other way I could think of resolving this would be to set up IF statement formulas on the Grouping (without subsections). So for instance if a customer had a null address2 I would need to print the city,state,zip, then country and then a blank line for the missing addr2 so I would continually be printing 5 lines per customer.

Company Company
Addr1 Addr1
City,state,zip Addr2
Country City,state,zip
Country

Unless you think there is someother workaround?
Thanks, Cin

 

[akabatman2]

Ah Cin,

How funny is that. Last week I thought that it could be an issue and what you have suggested is exactly what I was thinking. Have a Group Section 1a with the address field that suppresses when the address2 field is null, and a Group Section 1b that is blank but is suppressed when address2 field is not null.

At any rate, I believe you have answered your own question.
Go to it.
Tom