Tricky report problems

[Anonymouse]

We have got a FileMaker 5.5 database that we would like to directly print a Directory from. The data is organized into Main Categories, some of which have Sub-categories. For example, a Main Category might be Software which has Sub-categories of Games, Business, Music, and so on. Some Main Categories do not have Sub-categories.

Everything in the database is set-up and working fine except for two niggling problems with the Directory report itself. At the moment I have created a report layout as

-Title Header

-- Header

--- Sub-summary by Main Category (Leading) - Page Break before

---- Sub-summary by Sub-category (Leading)

----- Body Sub-summary by Sub-category (Trailing)

-- Footer

This gives the Directory in the desired format of each Main Category starting on a new page and its Sub-categories just following on after each other, with a header and footer for page number, Sub-category XXX continued, and so on.

The first problem is that sometimes the heading for the Sub-categories is printed at the bottom of one page with the first record for that Sub-category appearing at the top of the next page. This looks silly and it would be better if the Sub-category heading could be pushed to the new page as well, but only when necessary.

The second problem is similar, but more annoying. Each Sub-category needs to have a gap of a couple of blank lines and horizontal rule across the page after it to separate it from the next Sub-category, but not if the current Sub-category finishes at the bottom of a page causing the next Sub-category to start on a new page.

At the moment the Trailing Sub-summary is used only to create this gap and rule, but it still appears when the Sub-category is forced to start on a new page and is also causing problems when working out page numbers for an Index and Table of Contents.

To work out the page numbers for a Table of Contents of the Main Categories and Sub-categories, and also for an Index of all the records I have a Script that loops backwards through the entries going to the last page in Preview and then omitting the record as the page number is worked out. This works for most entries, but because of the gap and rule from the Trailing Sub-summary when a record is at the very bottom of a page the gap and rule are pushed onto another page making that the last page that gets added to the Index instead of the page with the record on it.

It would be appreciated if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can correct these problems?