Sliding fields won't slide

[Angus Murray]

My apologies if this has already been answered - I did a brief search and couldn't find anything on this.

I have an address label layout which contains several address fields (i.e. House / Town / State) which are populated with the corresponding data in my Contacts table via a script (using the 'set variable' and 'set field'). I have done this so that I can target where each label will print on the 8 - label per sheet layout (by defining each field with 8 different repetitions).

Although the fields have all been formatted to close gaps on printing (using the "set sliding / printing" option), this only works if I type data directly into the fields - the 'setvariable/ field' routine seems to 'lock' the data so it won't move. Is there a way of 'unlocking' the data so that it prints out without any gaps.

I would rather not use the merge field option in this instance.

Any suggestions gratefully received. Thanks in advance

[maverik_uk]

Hate to be too obvious - sliding objects will only slide if they are 'top aligned'. Have you checked this?

[bcooney]

Not sure, but it sounds like you don't have the typical label setup. That is, one set of fields with a small body part. Do you have one field with 8 repetitions(like a Word table)? This won't slide its contents. Create a label layout, just to see what it should look like.

Edited August 24, 2007 by Guest

[LaRetta]

I suspect that the Set Field [] is not allowing for blank fields. If all the rows are placed into ONE field (which it sounds like what's happening) and if you hardcode a carriage return in that one field, then no amount of sliding will remove it because sliding applies to many fields, not text within one. Are you sure there are no carriage returns at the end of any of those fields you are setting (if they are in different fields)?

Just some possibilities ...

LaRetta :wink2:

Edited August 24, 2007 by Guest

[Angus Murray]

Thanks guys for your responses.

Just to clarify - I have 8 fields each with 8 repetitions (i.e Firstname [1] Surname [1]....Firstname [8] Surname [8}. The fields are aligned correctly and the data does move up correctly when typed into the fields manually. The script I have created allows the user to target whichever of the 8 labels (i.e. 8 sets of fields) he/she wants to direct the contact name and address details to. This was done to avoid wasting sheets of labels where a print run didn't use up all 8 labels - there's no way to tell the label layout to start printing from the third label on the right side down for instance.

It is using my script method of input which seems to be causing the field data to remain fixed to it's position regardless of whether the 'set printing / sliding options are set or not.

Thanks again for your replies.

[bcooney]

you could get a Dyno LabelPrinter.

[LaRetta]

Sliding/printing works fine on labels and it works fine on repeaters as well. I didn't explain myself very well because I threw in three possibilities at one time.

It is using my script method of input which seems to be causing the field data to remain fixed to it's position regardless of whether the 'set printing / sliding options are set or not.

If it works manually but does not work via script, then your script is the problem which is why I suggested carriage returns in the fields. There is nothing else (that I know of) that a script can do to a field to FREEZE the data in place. But carriage return might display text down one line.

Did you remember to go to Preview mode in your script also? Sliding will not work unless in Preview mode. Otherwise, I suggest you post a sample here because it most certainly should work fine. :wink2:

[aholtzapfel]

you could get a Dyno LabelPrinter.

Don't we have a dymo label printer, I have a script that prints a single label from filemaker, It works in version 8.0 but does not in 8.5 or 9. (The page size is always A4 or 8 1/2 X 11, reguardless of what you specify in the page set-up) This is a bug and I have reported it but I do not have High Hopes, Dymo also DOES NOT support printing labels from third party applications (like filemaker). There is a way to create a label for the Dymo using a vbs script (using Dymo SDK?) but I have not yet taken the time to look thru this info to see how long It would take me to set-up and intergrate into my solution.

[Angus Murray]

Thanks LaRetta - I have checked that the script has a 'Enter Preview' step in it / checked for carriage returns but the problem remains. I attach a copy of the file (clone - so you will need to add records to the Musicians table). The script I have written is entitled " Add new label (from Musicians)" The label layout is accessed from the splash page.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Edited August 25, 2007 by Guest

[Angus Murray]

I have found a work around by removing the repeating fields and creating 8 different sets of fields i.e. Title_ label_1....Title_label_8. I'm not sure whether my scripting was at fault but this has fixed it (and worth the extra field names and typing)!

Thanks all once again.

[bcooney]

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