Columns are squeezed in the report

Hi,

I have two kinds of reports where I am facing similar problem. The types of reports are:
1) Report with a table whose column headings (text) is dynamic and is passed to BIRT at run time using report parameters
2) Report with a cross tab and again the data is dynamic and is passed to BIRT at run time

The problem in both the above cases is:
If the column headings (text) is long, the columns are squeezed together to display the report on same page and some part of the column headings is chopped off. I would like the report to adjust itself automatically according to the column headings. Also, i do not want the column headings to wrap.

The BIRT environment details are as follows:
Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools

Version: 2.3.0.v200804251-7N7Y-AYdeIEKS6mGZPHGhs-0vEl6
Build id: v20080618-0630

BIRT Report Designer

Version: 2.3.0.v20080431-7X7n-ECLmlsLx_z-4z0LEaYz-mA8
Build id: v20080618-0630

BIRT Report Runtime

Version: 2.3.0.v20080516-7g890ELRXmproz-xIDPOJ1
Build id: v20080618-0630

Any help on this issue would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Kapil

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mwilliams

Hi Kapil,

Can you attach screenshots of your report?

KapsHere

Hi Michael,

Please find attached the screenshots.

Regards,
Kapil

mwilliams

Kapil,

If you're using a crosstab, in BIRT 2.3, a horizontal page break was introduced to help the issue of the crosstab trying to cram onto one page. For a table, unless you specify the width of each column, BIRT will attempt to make each one even and all fit on the page. Obviously for PDF or Word outputs, everything would have to fit onto a page size. If you're just doing html output, you'll have a little more leniancy with space.

KapsHere

Hi Michael,

Does this mean, for a table, i cannot have the column shrink or expand depending upon its contents (for pdf output)? If it is not possible now, wouldn't it be a nice feature to have? or is it something not feasible for pdf outputs.?

Also, in case of cross tab, where can i find the 'Horrizontal page break' feature? I am assuming that it is not something activated by default, cause its not working in my case.

Regards,
Kapil

mwilliams

Kapil, 
 
Correct. I believe the default is for all columns to be the same size unless otherwise specified. You can always request enhancements at <a class='bbc_url' href='http://www.eclipse.org/birt/phoenix/reportabug.php'>BIRT: Reporting Bugs and Requesting Enhancements</a>. 
 
As for the horizontal page break on a crosstab. You should see this down in the property editor in the page break section of the column area "tab".

KapsHere

Hi Michael,

The cross tab solution you provided doesn't work in my case!

Apart from setting the Properties > Column Area > Page Break, is there anything else i need to set?

Regards,
Kapil

mwilliams

Kapil,

No, I believe that is all you have to do is set the page break options there. This feature was improved from 2.3.0 to 2.3.1 I believe in the area of the header repeat.

KapsHere

My BIRT environment is as follows:

Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools

Version: 2.3.0.v200804251-7N7Y-AYdeIEKS6mGZPHGhs-0vEl6
Build id: v20080618-0630

BIRT Report Designer

Version: 2.3.0.v20080431-7X7n-ECLmlsLx_z-4z0LEaYz-mA8
Build id: v20080618-0630

BIRT Report Runtime

Version: 2.3.0.v20080516-7g890ELRXmproz-xIDPOJ1
Build id: v20080618-0630

Does this mean i need to upgrade to 2.3.1 to make this work?

Regards,
Kapil

mwilliams

Kapil,

I believe the only improvement from 2.3.0 to 2.3.1 was on the column headers repeating on page breaks. What is happening when you put in a horizontal page break on your crosstab?

KapsHere

I have tried with the following options set for the cross tab:

Properties > Page Break >
Before , After and Inside - set to Auto
Repeat Column Header - checked

Column Area > Page break > Group Level - Group/ColumnHeadings, Before and After - set to Auto

Row Area > Page break > Group Level - Group/RowHeadings, Before and After - set to Auto

I've tried with and without the Row Area option, but it doesn't work in either case. In both the cases, 'both' the columns and the rows are squeezed as shown in one of the screenshots i had attached earlier.

Regards,
Kapil

mwilliams

Kapil,

I think you'll have to use "Always" as the setting for the horizontal pagebreak to work. It will break after each column at whatever dimension level you pick though, so this may not be an option for you. You may want to search the bugs and enhancements page I provided the link for in a previous post and see if there is any bug or mention of improvement on this issue, if not, you could file for one.

KapsHere

by horizontal, u mean Row Area > Page Break ? If yes, setting that to 'Always' puts a page break after every row. Similarly, Column Area > Page Break, setting that to 'Always' puts a page break after every column, and this is not what i want!

I want a page break to occur when it is required, i.e. when the no of rows/columns are enough to fit on that page, the way it works with Tables.

It's difficult to believe that it is not possible in BIRT.

Regards,
Kapil

mwilliams

Kapil,

That is why I said it probably wouldn't work for you because it breaks after each column. This is a new feature for crosstabs in 2.3.0. I would expect it to improve in coming versions. All I can suggest now is to file a bug/enhancement request. If you do, please post the bug info in here for future reference. Thanks.

KapsHere

Heres the bug that i have reported for the same: 
 
<a class='bbc_url' href='https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=263721'>https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=263721</a> 
 
Regards, 
Kapil

birtrac

Hi Kapil,

Did you get some workaround for this. We also have crosstab reports where the data is getting chopped off in PDF output. We are having Years or Months across the columns that can vary and are not getting shown in the PDF output.

Thanks
Rachna