Text Field Limitations

[Crystalfire]

Does Crystal 8.5 have any limitations in the amount of characters displayed in a text field?
I have a comments field which only shows the first 255 characters. Of course there are two to three paragraphs in the comment. Any Ideas or comments? We are on Visual 6.28, Oracle 8i and Crystal 8.5. Thanks!

 

[lbass]

Try using a SQL expression, one for each block of 254 characters, as in:

(substr({table.comments},1,254)

For the second block, use:

(substr({table.comments},255,254)

The first number is the starting point, and the second is the length.

Do not try to use the original field on the report in conjunction with these, as you might get an error that closes the report.

-LB

 

[Crystalfire]

Do I put this in a formula as such?


(substr({V_TASK.COMMENTS},1,254)+
(substr({V_TASK.COMMENTS},255,254)

 

[Crystalfire]

I am getting invalid charactors error

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Once you have created the Sql Expressions use them in the formula, for instance:


SqlExp1 + SqlExp2





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[Crystalfire]

I am getting the ) is missing error for the formula
(substr({table.comments},255,254)??

 

[Crystalfire]

(substr({V_TASK.COMMENTS},1,254) having a syntex error here

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Parens are incorrect..
Use

substr({V_TASK.COMMENTS},1,254)

OR

(substr({V_TASK.COMMENTS},1,254))



To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[Crystalfire]

Sorry but still getting the missing expression error with a syntex error. I'll keep trying variations Thanks!

 

[lbass]

You must create these in the SQL expressions expert (field explorer->SQL expression). Sorry about the parens. They should be:

(substr({table.comments},1,254))

For the second one:

(substr({table.comments},255,254))

Then drop them into a text box, so that they nest together.

-LB

 

[Crystalfire]

Still getting the missing expression error with a syntex error. Is there anything else I should check?

 

[lbass]

The syntax can be specific to the datasource. Try:

{fn substring({V_TASK.COMMENTS},1,254)}

-LB

 

[synapsevampire]

Use the following for Oracle:

substr(table.comments,1,254)

Omit the braces.

-k

 

[Crystalfire]

Same. Thanks for the info. Don't want to bother anyone.

just to be sure I am using TURKBEARS sug to

Once you have created the Sql Expressions use them in the formula, for instance:


SqlExp1 + SqlExp2


SqlExp1 will be {fn substring({V_TASK.COMMENTS},1,254)}
and SqlExp2 will be
(fn substring ( V_TASK.COMMENTS},255,254))

then I will create a formula SqlExp1 + SqlExp2

If this is right I can't get past the Sql formula because of the missing expression error with a syntex errors.

 

[Crystalfire]

Still getting the same errors synap

 

[lbass]

SV noticed the issue--my mistake for doing this from memory. This is what the SQL expression should look like removing the curly brackets from the field and adding quotes(although I think the parens are necessary). I use Oracle 8 also, and the following works:

(substr(V_TASK."COMMENTS",1,254))

Or,

{fn substring(V_TASK."COMMENTS",1,254)}

-LB

 

[lbass]

Also, you can just drop these into a text box, instead of using a formula. If you nest them together, they will read as one unit.

-LB

 

[synapsevampire]

It works here.

Perhaps you're using the wrong Oracle connectivity, a common mistake.

You should be using the Crystal supplied Oracle ODBC driver, not Oracles ODBC driver.

Better yet, switch to using the Oracle Native connectivity supplied by Crystal, listed as Oracle Server, you'll get much better performance.

-k