Suppressing a field

Using a group band, I have several records resulting. I wish to show only a field in the first record, and suppress the same field in the following 3 or 4 records - because they are identical and surplus to requirements. How do I do this ?

Thanks, Paul

I think you're describing a "suppress repeated values" property of a report column, which is used to produce a presentation style called "hanging indent". Although many report designers provide this capability, the Paradox for Windows report designer does not.

If you place the field in the group band, its value will be presented only once per group. However it will appear on its own line instead of beside the first record in the group. This seems to be the solution favored by the developers of Paradox.

The simplest way to force the appearance you have in mind is to remove the repeated values from the report table before opening the report. I recommend this, even if it means making a copy of the report table. A simple tcursor scan will do, but be careful if the field is part of a compound key or secondary index that is controlling the sort order.

There is a method, developed by Mark Pauker, to suppress the repeated values by tweaking the report design but it is considered so advanced that the search term for it is "impossible ObjectPAL techniques". You have to add ObjectPAL code to the report that remembers the field value from the previous record.

-Al.

I think i'll use the record band meathod Al, many thanks.