sliding not working

[broberts7usa]

Hi all,

I've got a very basic list report layout, 2 lines per record, 5 different fields per line with the 2nd line directly beneath it, each record separated on the report by a (graphic) line. So it looks like:

-----------------------------

field-field-field-field-field

field-field-field-field-field

-----------------------------

You get the picture. I just CANNOT get the fields on the bottom line to slide up if the field directly above it is empty. I think I may have stumbled across the answer in one of these posts: is it because the fields in question have value lists associated with them, and the problem is the carriage return in the value list which keeps the field from being "truly empty"? and that's why they won't slide?

Please let me know about this and/or if there is some other trick that is easier than creating a whole bunch of new fields which use calculations or merges or some other tedious solution, just for this basic of all basic list reports! maybe I should just "live with it" ... anyway I'd appreciate any hints anyone can give me ...

Thanks, Bonnie

p.s. yes it's in the body, I knew to use preview mode to check, and I printed it.

[BobWeaver]

If there is a carriage return in the field then it won't shrink, and then the field below it won't slide. Items in valuelists are always separated with carriage returns, but they don't normally get entered into the field. So, I would check something else. For example, the graphic separators should also be set to slide.

[ernst]

hey Bonny,

Two suggestions:

-have sliding set to 'Only directly above'

-if there is a horizontal line between the two rows, divide it in 5 separate lines, one for each column.

This worked for me.

Regards,

Ernst.

[broberts7usa]

OK, I checked everything (although there's no way to check whether or not the carriage returns are getting into the field, since it jumps right to the next field when you choose something from the value list pop-up, or it's a checkbox). Both graphic lines are set to slide (there is no line between the 2 rows of fields, only one above and one below to separate records), as are all of the fields on the second row, and everything is set to "only directly above" and "reduce size of part". Still not working. All I can think of is that carriage return. How can I find out if it's getting into the field, and if so what can I do about it?

Or should I check to see that none of the fields are overlapping by a tiny bit (but not sure if that matters, I'd think they would slide anyway) or is there a trick about "move to front", or something?

(Such a piddly little thing to fix, that takes all day, isn't that how it always is?)

Thanks, Bonnie

[ernst]

Just duplicate your layout, select all and adjust the field format to 'Standard Field'.

Ernst

[broberts7usa]

Done (duplicated, select all, and they already WERE standard field) ... no change.

Sorry this is getting so tedious ... Bonnie

[Wendy T]

hi bonnie

ernst said:

-have sliding set to 'Only directly above'

does it work as desired if this option is checked for all 5 fields on BOTH rows?

cheers,

Wendy

[broberts7usa]

Wendy! Long time no see.

You are a (partial) lifesaver. That worked for all except one field, out of 10. All fields on the layout are now set to slide exactly the same way. And all the sliding problems corrected themselves except for that one field.

Is this just a FileMaker glitch? Should I be duplicating layouts, and opening and closing the file, just to see what happens? I have already run across this kind of "glitch" with regard to centering/justifying text. Sometimes it works, sometimes you have to duplicate the layout, delete and re-enter etc. for the formatting to stick.

In other words, am I running into a FileMaker code glitch?

Bonnie

[Wendy T]

hey bonnie

haven't come across this sort of problem, so I can't shed any light on any FM "glitches".

if you have a field that works as you want it to, the best way to fix another field is to make a copy of the working field (Ctrl-drag&drop on my PC), then "specify" the new field.

good luck... it must be v late at nite in your neck of the woods. maybe a sleep & a morning coffee will help?

cheers,

Wendy

[broberts7usa]

Now I've duplicated the layout 3 times. Also closed and opened the file again.

Wendy's fix (make all the fields sliding) worked for all but one field. I can't see that there's anything different about that one field than any other. I think I've given it enough room, etc. (Should that matter?)

Somehow I think sleep will not cure this. Although, one can always hope.

Any other ideas about what may be going on? I'm off to bed.

Bonnie

p.s. cheers to all you australians who always bail me out!

[ernst]

>>Just duplicate your layout, select all and adjust the field format to 'Standard Field'.

This was to check if there were CR characters in the fields, not to fix your problem...

When I was trying to recreate your problem I initially had that if the fields were exactly alligned (horizontally) sliding would NOT work; but if I moved both fields in a column one pixel up or down sliding started to work. Later on I realligned everything and it kept working.... Does that help in your case?

Ernst.

[broberts7usa]

Hi Ernst,

I've tried everything, even getting a good night's sleep. Have duplicated and re-aligned and deleted fields and re-entered them - I did get one set of fields to slide (Wendy's suggestion from last night that ALL the fields be set with the same sliding options) but this one set of them just won't budge. At this point I'm giving up for now. Too much time spent on one very simple report. If anyone has any other ideas or tricks, I'm all ears. Otherwise I'll just live with this one little issue on this one little report.

Bonnie

[ernst]

Hey Bonnie,

You could attach your file, so it can drive other people crazy as well...

Or maybe somebody comes with a fresh idea.

Ernst

[-Queue-]

Is the field that won't slide directly underneath another field? If it isn't and there is whitespace between it and the field directly above it, no sliding will occur.

[ernst]

-Queue- said:

Is the field that won't slide directly underneath another field? If it isn't and there is whitespace between it and the field directly above it, no sliding will occur.

I tested this (curiosity...) because in my test file there was one pixel white space between the fields and sliding

[broberts7usa]

My fields are lined up to exactly touch each other, and all the sliding works except that one field which will not cooperate, even though it is exactly the same as all the others...

I appreciate all the ideas and head-scratching ... Have not had time to attach the file, too busy loading data into it and trying not to worry about that pesky field. Maybe over the weekend.

THANKS - Bonnie

[-Queue-]

I should have been more specific. One pixel space seems to be considered the same as if the fields were touching (sometimes overlapping). Anything more than that keeps a constant amount of space between fields. I've done some major experimentation with this feature, and it can be a severe hassle or a godsend, depending on how long it takes to determine the necessary alignments for the desired format. Interestingly enough, if you overlap sliding fields a certain amount of pixels, you can save even more space and compress your form even more. It seems to be all about trial and error. The same format won't always have the same effect on different layouts. So in general I would say if you spend more than a couple of hours on it, don't bother any more unless it's crucial. I spent an entire weekend on one invoicing layout with sliding calculated fields up the wazoo, with subsummary and total parts combined into the body and set precisely to slide when necessary. It took hours to find just the right combination of overlapping, whitespace, and 'kissing' fields to slide just right. One pixel too little (or too much) and you lose two rows on your printout. As Renton said to Spud, it's a %*$&in' tight rope.

[-Queue-]

Is the alignment the same as well? Make sure that pesky field is set to "Left" and "Top".

[ernst]

Did some more fiddling and it seems that it's indeed more a sort of art then exact science...

I'm reasonably sure that I had fields that refused to slide,and after having been moved a bit and then back to their original position all of a sudden started to slide like never before.

But I'm pretty sure that this will all be fixed in v7

Ernst.