Programmatically modify report fields in Visual FoxPro

This article introduces how to programmatically modify a report file to change the font color of a field.

Original product version:   Visual FoxPro
Original KB number:   188403

Summary

It may be desirable to change report fields programmatically to differentiate values or to otherwise modify the format depending on a condition. This article demonstrates how to change the font color of a report field based upon the sales totals of an individual salesperson. While this technique works in Microsoft Visual FoxPro 9.0 Professional Edition, you can obtain the same results by using Report Listener and event-driven printing.

More information

The following creates a table, populates the table and runs a sales report, changing the font color to reflect sales totals. To change the color of a report field, the PenRed, PenGreen, and PenBlue fields of the report field's record are modified. This method could be used to also change the font style, font size or even to reposition the field. In addition, an entire class of objects could be changed, using REPLACE ALL <property field> WITH <property value> FOR objtype = 8, for instance.

1. Save the following code in a program file named Maketabs.prg and run the program to create and populate a table.

   Sample Code

    *-- Code begins here.
    CREATE TABLE sales (ID c(10), invamt N(8,2))
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("JOE", 1000)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("MARY", 2000)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("HARRY", 500)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("JOE", 1001)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("MARY", 2001)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("HARRY", 501)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("JOE", 1002)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("MARY", 2002)
    INSERT INTO sales (ID, invamt) VALUES ("HARRY", 502)
    *-- Code ends here
   

2. Create a report. In the Page Header band, add a report field and make the expression salestot.id. In the Detail band, add a report field and make the expression salestot.invamt. In the Page Footer band, add a report field and make the expression salestot.invamt. Click the Calculations button in the Report Expression dialog box. Select Sum, click OK, and then click OK again. Save the report as Sales.frx.

3. Save the following code in a program file named Sales.prg and run the program:

    *-- Code begins here.
    SET TALK OFF
    *-- Get a list of salespersons.
    SELECT DISTINCT id FROM sales INTO CURSOR list
   
    *-- Step through the list and print sales results for each
    *-- salesperson.
    SCAN
    SELECT * FROM sales WHERE id = list.id INTO CURSOR salestot
   
   *-- Get the total sales for this person.
    SUM invamt TO lnTotal
    SELECT 0
   
   *-- Open the report file as a table.
    USE sales.frx
   
    *-- We're looking for a field (objtype) that is
    *-- calculated (totaltype) and whose expression
    *-- (expr) is equal to table field we're calculating.
    LOCATE FOR objtype = 8 AND totaltype = 2 AND ;
    ATC("salestot.invamt", expr) > 0
   
   *-- Save the values for the pen and fill fields.
    lnPenRed = penred
    lnPenGreen = pengreen
    lnPenBlue = penblue
   
   *-- Modify the font color for the sales total.
    DO CASE
    CASE lnTotal > 3000 AND lnTotal < 6000 && Print green
    REPLACE penred WITH 0, pengreen WITH 255, penblue WITH 0
    CASE lnTotal > 6000 && Print blue
    REPLACE penred WITH 0, pengreen WITH 0, penblue WITH 255
    OTHERWISE && Print dark red on white
    REPLACE penred WITH 128, pengreen WITH 0, penblue WITH 0
    ENDCASE
    USE
    SELECT salestot
   
   *-- Change PREVIEW to TO PRINTER to print the report.
    REPORT FORM sales PREVIEW
    ENDSCAN()
   
   *-- Restore the original values.
    USE sales.frx
    LOCATE FOR objtype = 8 AND totaltype = 2 AND ;
    ATC("sales.invamt", expr) > 0
    REPLACE penred WITH lnPenRed, pengreen WITH lnPenGreen,;
    penblue WITH lnPenBlue
    USE
    CLOSE DATA
    *-- Code ends here.
   

4. As each report is previewed, scroll to the bottom to see the summary and observe how the color changes for each salesperson.