SET PRINT MARKER

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

Parameter	Type		Description
markNum	Integer	→	Marker number
position	Integer	→	New position for the marker
*	Operator	→	If passed = move subsequent markers If omitted = do not move subsequent markers

This command is not thread-safe, it cannot be used in preemptive code.

Description

The SET PRINT MARKER command enables the definition of the marker position during printing. Combined with the Get print marker, OBJECT MOVE 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:

Constant	Type	Value
Form break0	Longint	300
Form break1	Longint	301
Form break2	Longint	302
Form break3	Longint	303
Form break4	Longint	304
Form break5	Longint	305
Form break6	Longint	306
Form break7	Longint	307
Form break8	Longint	308
Form break9	Longint	309
Form detail	Longint	0
Form footer	Longint	100
Form header	Longint	200
Form header1	Longint	201
Form header10	Longint	210
Form header2	Longint	202
Form header3	Longint	203
Form header4	Longint	204
Form header5	Longint	205
Form header6	Longint	206
Form header7	Longint	207
Form header8	Longint	208
Form header9	Longint	209

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).

Example

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:

 var vLprint_height;$vLheight;vLprinted_height : Integer
 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:

 var $l;$t;$r;$b;$fixed_wdth;$exact_hght;$l1;$t1;$r1;$b1 : Integer
 var $final_pos;$i : Integer
 var $detail_pos;$header_pos;$hght_to_print;$hght_remaining : Integer
 
 Case of
    :(vSprint_area="Detail") //Printing of detail underway
       OBJECT GET COORDINATES([Film]Actors;$l;$t;$r;$b)
       $fixed_wdth:=$r-$l  //Calculation of the Actors text field size
       $exact_hght:=$b-$t
       OBJECT GET BEST SIZE([Film]Actors;$wdth;$hght;$fixed_wdth)
  //Optimal size of the field according to its contents
       $movement:=$hght-$exact_hght
 
       OBJECT GET COORDINATES([Film]Summary;$l1;$t1;$r1;$b1)
       $fixed_wdth1:=$r1-$l1  //Calculation of the Summary text field size
       $exact_hght1:=$b1-$t1
       OBJECT GET BEST SIZE([Film]Summary;$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
          OBJECT MOVE([Film]Actors;$l;$t;$r;$hght+$t;*)
          OBJECT MOVE([Film]Summary;$l1;$t1;$r1;$hght1+$t1;*)
 
  //Resizing of dividing lines
          OBJECT GET COORDINATES(*;"H1Line";$l;$t;$r;$b)
          OBJECT MOVE(*;"H1Line";$l;$final_pos-1;$r;$final_pos;*)
          For($i;1;4;1)
             OBJECT GET COORDINATES(*;"VLine"+String($i);$l;$t;$r;$b)
             OBJECT MOVE(*;"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

See also

Get print marker
OBJECT GET BEST SIZE
OBJECT GET COORDINATES
OBJECT MOVE
PAGE BREAK
Print form
PRINT RECORD
PRINT SELECTION