Envelope blank lines

[margita]

I have a problem with envelope layouts. The individual fields in the address block do not slide up or left if a field is empty. The fields are merge fields - and strangely enough, this does not make any difference. I do view them in Preview mode.

I have searched this forum and all I can find is a suggestion that calculation fields should be created in case some of the fields are empty.

However, I think this is an unnecessary bit of extra work. Is this really the only remedy? Or is this a bug in FMPRO?

Edited August 21, 2006 by Guest

[IdealData]

Try setting the text positioning to top and left justified.

Watch out for "hidden" objects on your layout that may be interfering with the sliding feature - caught me out many times.

[margita]

Thank you very much. The merge text was already set to left positioning and on top. As far as I can tell there are no hidden objects.

This is most strange. Would you have any other ideas?

Margita

[margita]

Just to let you know that I will not be using merge fields for both envelope and mailing labels layouts. They do not seem to work - so I am using standard edit box fields with sliding turned on.

There seems to be a bug with merge fields.

Margita

[comment]

Can you post a file that shows the problem?

[margita]

I enclose an example of the envelope layout problem.

I have tried different combinations - changing layout etc. Thank you for looking at it.

ContactTest.zip

[comment]

Well, it's not a bug - just a limitation. If you have two merge fields with a space between them, that space is still there when one or both fields are empty. So that line is preserved. Similarly, if only the first field is empty, the second field will show an indent.

[margita]

Thank you. What about merge fields which don't

slide up? Some of the lines line up alright,

but some don't. Or does this also depend on fields being empty or non-empty?

[Søren Dyhr]

I think I have a solution for you, with an unbroken string of merge fields....

--sd

slipslideaway.zip

[comment]

I am not sure I understand your question. If you have a text object containing:

space

and both FieldB and FieldC are empty, the result will be shown as:

FieldA

space

FieldD

FieldD cannot slide up any higher, because the line with a space is valid content.

[comment]

I am not sure messing with the real data is a good idea. What if one user is viewing the records, while another is printing envelopes?

I would prefer one calculation field with the entire address over multiple auto-enters anyway.

[Søren Dyhr]

Good point indeed! However is it hardly posible to notice the plicrow, unless you're about to copy a fields content...

--sd

[margita]

Thanks - sorry, I did not realise that

merge fields exhibit this kind of behaviour.

Yes, indeed, it is a limitation.

[margita]

Thanks for your help. I'll try it out.

At the moment I use standard edit fields

with sliding turned on.

Margita