SET PRINT MARKER

version 2003 (Modified)

SET PRINT MARKER (markNum; position{; *})

The SET PRINT MARKER command enables the definition of the marker position during printing. Combined with the Get print marker, MOVE OBJECT or Print form commands, this command allows you to adjust the size of the print areas.

SET PRINT MARKER can be used in two contexts:

• during the On header form event, in the context of PRINT SELECTION and PRINT RECORD commands.

• during the On Printing Detail form event, in the context of the Print form command. This operation facilitates the printing of customized reports (see example).

The effect of the command is limited to printing; no modification appears on the screen. The modifications made to the forms are not saved.

Pass one of the constants of the Form area theme in the markNum parameter:

In position, pass the new position desired, expressed in pixels.

If you pass the optional * parameter, all the markers located below the marker specified in markNum will be moved the same number of pixels and in the same direction as this marker when the command is executed. Warning: in this case, any objects present in the areas located below the marker are also moved.

When the * parameter is used, it is possible to position the markNum marker beyond the initial position of the markers that follow it — these latter markers will be moved simultaneously.

Notes:

• This command modifies only the existing marker position. It does not allow the addition of markers. If you designate a marker that does not exist in the form, the command will not do anything.

• The print marker mechanism in the Design mode is retained: a marker cannot go any higher than the one that precedes it, nor any lower than the one that follows it (when the * parameter is not used).

This complete example enables you to generate the printing of a three-column report, the height of each row being calculated on the fly according to the contents of the fields.

The output form used for printing is as follows:

The On Printing Detail form event was selected for the form (keep in mind that no matter what area is printed, the Print form command only generates this type of form event).

For each record, the row height must be adapted according to the contents of the "Actors" or "Summary" column (column having the most content). Here is the desired result:

The print project method is as follows:

   C_LONGINT(vLprint_height;$vLheight;vLprinted_height)
   C_STRING(31;vSprint_area)
   PAGE SETUP([Film];"Print_List3")
   GET PRINTABLE AREA(vLprint_height)
   vLprinted_height:=0
   ALL RECORDS([Film])

   vSprint_area:="Header"  `Printing of header area
   $vLheight:=Print form([Film];"Print_List3";Form Header)
   $vLheight:=21  `Fixed height
   vLprinted_height:=vLprinted_height+$vLheight

   While(Not(End selection([Film])))
      vSprint_area:="Detail"  `Printing of detail area
      $vLheight:=Print form([Film];"Print_List3";Form Detail)
         `Detail calculation is carried out in the form method
      vLprinted_height:=vLprinted_height+$vLheight
      If(OK=0)  `CANCEL has been carried out in the form method 
         PAGE BREAK
         vLprinted_height:=0
         vSprint_area:="Header"  `Reprinting of the header area
         $vLheight:=Print form([Film];"Print_List3";Form Header)
         $vLheight:=21
         vLprinted_height:=vLprinted_height+$vLheight
         vSprint_area:="Detail"
         $vLheight:=Print form([Film];"Print_List3";Form Detail)
         vLprinted_height:=vLprinted_height+$vLheight
      End if
      NEXT RECORD([Film])
   End while
   PAGE BREAK   `Make sure that the last page is printed

The Print_List3 form method is as follows:

   C_LONGINT($l;$t;$r;$b;$fixed_wdth;$exact_hght;$l1;$t1;$r1;$b1)
   C_LONGINT($final_pos;$i)
   C_LONGINT($detail_pos;$header_pos;$hght_to_print;$hght_remaining)

   Case of
      : (vSprint_area="Detail")   `Printing of detail underway
         GET OBJECT RECT([Film]Actors;$l;$t;$r;$b) 
         $fixed_wdth:=$r-$l   `Calculation of the Actors text field size
         $exact_hght:=$b-$t
         BEST OBJECT SIZE([Film]Actors;$wdth;$hght;$fixed_wdth)
            `Optimal size of the field according to its contents
         $movement:=$hght-$exact_hght
   
         GET OBJECT RECT([Film]Summary;$l1;$t1;$r1;$b1)
         $fixed_wdth1:=$r1-$l1   `Calculation of the Summary text field size
         $exact_hght1:=$b1-$t1
         BEST OBJECT SIZE([Film]Summary;$wdth1;$hght1;$fixed_wdth1)
            `Optimal size of the field according to its contents
         $movement1:=$hght1-$exact_hght1
         If($movement1>$movement) 
               `We determine the highest field
            $movement:=$movement1
         End if
   
         If($movement>0)
            $position:=Get print marker(Form Detail) 
            $final_pos:=$position+$movement
               `We move the Detail marker and those that follow it
            SET PRINT MARKER(Form Detail ;$final_pos;*)
               `Resizing of text areas
            MOVE OBJECT([Film]Actors;$l;$t;$r;$hght+$t;*)
            MOVE OBJECT([Film]Summary;$l1;$t1;$r1;$hght1+$t1;*)
   
               `Resizing of dividing lines
            GET OBJECT RECT(*;"H1Line";$l;$t;$r;$b)
            MOVE OBJECT(*;"H1Line";$l;$final_pos-1;$r;$final_pos;*)
            For ($i;1;4;1)
               GET OBJECT RECT(*;"VLine"+String($i);$l;$t;$r;$b)
               MOVE OBJECT(*;"VLine"+String($i);$l;$t;$r;$final_pos;*)
            End for 
         End if 
   
            `Calculation of available space
         $detail_pos:=Get print marker(Form Detail)
         $header_pos:=Get print marker(Form Header)
         $hght_to_print:=$detail_pos-$header_pos
         $hght_remaining:=printing_height-vLprinted_height
         If($hght_remaining<$hght_to_print)   `Insufficient height
            CANCEL   `Move form to the next page
         End if 
   End case

BEST OBJECT SIZE, GET OBJECT RECT, Get print marker, MOVE OBJECT, PAGE BREAK, Print form, PRINT RECORD, PRINT SELECTION.