Description-style text fields where users have used the Tab key for visual formatting (varying numbers of consecutive tab characters) render as effectively unreadable in reports built with IFS Report Designer or Crystal Reports, since the report doesn't reproduce the same tab-stop spacing the original entry screen used. How can this be made readable in a Crystal Reports layout?

All FAQ questions / Reporting and analytics

Answer

Build a Crystal formula that collapses runs of MULTIPLE consecutive tab characters down to a single tab character each, chaining several nested replace() calls, each one collapsing progressively fewer repeated tabs down to one, covering up to however many consecutive tabs might realistically occur in the data. Place that formula's result into a text object on the report, and, via that text object's own Text Formatting properties (RMB > Text Formatting), define an explicit tab-stop position. This reproduces a consistent, readable tab-based visual layout in the printed report, rather than the original screen's variable, unpredictable tab spacing appearing unreadable.

Documentation-based answer. Confirm the product and release before applying it. This answer has not been verified in an IFS environment.

← Browse Reporting and analytics questions