Friday, January 25, 2008

Page settings for reports.

There have been a number of inquiries lately concerning reports not breaking correctly over multiple pages. This is a particular problem with overdue reports, and while many staff have worked around this by cutting and pasting text so it doesn't break up or spill over, there is a preferred setup in Workflows and MS Wordpad which should take care of formatting in a much less labor-intensive way:
Open Workflows: Reports: report sessions, and the 'set session settings' page will appear. About halfway down this page is the 'Format Page' section. Page length should be set to somewhere between 64 and 69 (you'll have to experiment), width to 80, and the top and bottom margins to zero. If an ADMIN user sets these and hits OK on every workflows station, they should become the default settings.
But we're only halfway there- Now you need to change the page settings in Wordpad on the same machines:
In Windows click Start: All Programs: Accessories: Wordpad
When Wordpad is opened, click File: Page setup. Set all of the margins to 0.5, and hit OK.
I've tested this on a number of lengthy 1st and 2nd Overdue reports, and it works. To test to see if you have the right setting without wasting paper, use the print preview in Wordpad and scroll through the report to see if it 'creeps' up or down the page. If the setting is correct, the patron address should stay anchored at the top left. If it starts to move as you scroll through, adjust the page length setting in Workflows until it stops.
As always, call or email if you need any help or have questions.

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