Print When Expression - when (field data) != (field data)

[jimh_1]

Hi There,

I hope you can help with this issue....

I am tying to use the Print When Expression option to print a line when the data within a field changes. I have never used Booleans before and it is confusing me, I have tried the following and none of them have worked!!

• $F{CONSIGNMENT}!=$F{CONSIGNMENT}
• Boolean($F{CONSIGNMENT}.equals($F{CONSIGNMENT}))
• Boolean($F{CONSIGNMENT}.notequal($F{CONSIGNMENT}))

and various variations of the above.

Does anyone have any ideas of what I am doing wrong and what needs to be done to make this work properly? I have had it suggested that the easiest solution is to create a sub-report which means that the Print When Expression is no longer required. If its possible I would rather use formatting of the report rather than create a sub-report as that seems tedious for what the report actually shows, particularly when if this works the way I believe it should do....

 

Thanks in Advance of any adivce...

 

 Jim

Post Edited by jimh_1 at 07/28/2011 12:41

Post Edited by jimh_1 at 07/28/2011 12:45

[jasperoily]

 Are you trying to compare the previous row value with the current row and show it only if they are not the same

[jimh_1]

thats right yes, whenever the consignment changes, I want iReports to print a line so that it is easily identifiable.

 

is this possible?

[jasperoily]

 Ideally that should be done in the query itself. Which is the database that is being used ?

[jimh_1]

A WMS called Red Prairie which is an Oracle SQL database...

 

 

... how would you specify a line being drawn within the query?

 

Sorry if I am being obtuse!!

Post Edited by jimh_1 at 07/28/2011 13:51

[jasperoily]

 WOW if it is Oracle Database then you can use the Lag function to compare the previous value with the current value.

For example with lag you will end up getting  rows as below

 

Previous Row             Current Row

NULL                                  B

B                                         C

C                                         C

C                                         D

so in jasper in the print expression compare Previous Row != Current Row with an additional condition for handling the first row which will have no previous value

[jimh_1]

I will try that and will update the thread with what happens...

 

 

....Just need to find out about the Lag function now!!

 

Thank you very much for your help with this

[jimh_1]

I have got the Lag function within the query working perfectly, but I am still struggling with the script for the Print When Expression.

 

I have tried:

 

$F{CONSIGNMENT}!=$F{CONSIGNMENT2}

Boolean(${CONSIGNMENT}.notequal(${CONSIGNMENT2}))

Boolean(${CONSIGNMENT}.equals(${CONSIGNMENT2}))

 

I must be writing this script incorrectly but I have been unable to find out how it should be phrased...

 

 

.... Any ideas?

 

[jasperoily]

 Good to hear that the Lag function is working.

Since you want only new item to be displayed, that is if the current row is not equal to previous row.

So all you need to do is put the condition for the details band.

It should work.

 

 

[jimh_1]

Thanks for all your help with this, I have now managed to get it all to work correctly...

 

....Now on with the other issues!!

[jasperoily]

You are welcome, All the best for the rest.