Paradox 10 Questions

[RonB]

I'm a dBASE DOS user who has decided to see what Paradox Windows 10 can
do. I've been building phone switch records using dBASE and then
reading the .DBF files into M$ Excel for formatting and printing --
really simple stuff. I hate the printing limitations of Excel -- but
I've been using company computers and have used what's on them (with
the exception of my dBASE for DOS).

Two quick questions.

First, the Paradox 10 program came with my wife's copy of WordPerfect
Office 2002 -- she only uses WordPerfect. It's version 10.0.0.663. Is
there an update available for download and do I need to update? I've
seen some discussion about the Borland Database Engine, but I don't
even know if I'd be using it, since my requirements do not (yet)
require programming or development. Or is the BDE always used? I
downloaded the Runtime program from Corel, thinking it was an update
but, otherwise, can find no other files to download on Corel.

Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page. They would easily
fit and this would save a lot of paper and keep the programmer from
having to flip pages all the time. Is there a way to do this in
Paradox?

I hope some of this makes sense. Thanks for any information.

[Michael Juul Hansen (remove NOSPAM to reply)]

There is servicepack 4 from 2004 - it's an impressive 50 MB

ftp://ftp.corel.com/pub/WordPerfect/wpwin/10/english/WPO2002SP4EN.exe

It may require servicepack 3, an additional 83 MB

ftp://ftp.corel.com/pub/WordPerfect/wpwin/10/WPO2002SP3.EXE



You can use the Record object in a report to print e.g. 4 records on a
single page. Learning the record tool and the formatting options otherwise
found in the report generator may require some training. See the learning
effort as an advantage since that the gained knowledge might prove usable in
other circumstances.


HTH

Post by RonB
I'm a dBASE DOS user who has decided to see what Paradox Windows 10 can
do. I've been building phone switch records using dBASE and then
reading the .DBF files into M$ Excel for formatting and printing --
really simple stuff. I hate the printing limitations of Excel -- but
I've been using company computers and have used what's on them (with
the exception of my dBASE for DOS).
Two quick questions.
First, the Paradox 10 program came with my wife's copy of WordPerfect
Office 2002 -- she only uses WordPerfect. It's version 10.0.0.663. Is
there an update available for download and do I need to update? I've
seen some discussion about the Borland Database Engine, but I don't
even know if I'd be using it, since my requirements do not (yet)
require programming or development. Or is the BDE always used? I
downloaded the Runtime program from Corel, thinking it was an update
but, otherwise, can find no other files to download on Corel.
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page. They would easily
fit and this would save a lot of paper and keep the programmer from
having to flip pages all the time. Is there a way to do this in
Paradox?
I hope some of this makes sense. Thanks for any information.
--
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"

[RonB]

On Wed 29 Sep 2004 05:42:29a, Michael Juul Hansen (remove NOSPAM to

Post by Michael Juul Hansen (remove NOSPAM to reply)
There is servicepack 4 from 2004 - it's an impressive 50 MB
ftp://ftp.corel.com/pub/WordPerfect/wpwin/10/english/WPO2002SP4EN.exe
It may require servicepack 3, an additional 83 MB
ftp://ftp.corel.com/pub/WordPerfect/wpwin/10/WPO2002SP3.EXE
You can use the Record object in a report to print e.g. 4 records on
a single page. Learning the record tool and the formatting options
otherwise found in the report generator may require some training.
See the learning effort as an advantage since that the gained
knowledge might prove usable in other circumstances.

Thanks. It's been a long day. I might not be able to get to Paradox
until this weekend. But I *do* appreciate the good information.

[Bertil Isberg]

I have seen lots of "Access Violation in NTDLL.DLL" when designing forms in
P10 SP4. This was an error that first showed up in P11 original release, and
was fixed in P 11 SP1. When P10 SP4 was released, that error was there once
again.

[Bertil Isberg]

<<
I think somebody else posted don't get SP4. How buggy is it?
I have seen lots of Access Violations in NTDLL.DLL when designing forms. It
was an error that first showed up in P11 original release, and was fixed in
P 11 SP1. When P10 SP4 was released, that error was there.

[Anders Jonsson]

Post by RonB
First, the Paradox 10 program came with my wife's copy of WordPerfect
Office 2002 -- she only uses WordPerfect. It's version 10.0.0.663. Is
there an update available for download and do I need to update?

663 is SP2 - IMHO that is a stable version and no need to upgrade.

Post by RonB
I've
seen some discussion about the Borland Database Engine, but I don't
even know if I'd be using it, since my requirements do not (yet)
require programming or development. Or is the BDE always used?

The BDE must be installed for Paradox to run and is always used so you
should be ok there.

Post by RonB
I
downloaded the Runtime program from Corel, thinking it was an update
but, otherwise, can find no other files to download on Corel.

You should be fine as it is.

Post by RonB
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page. They would easily
fit and this would save a lot of paper and keep the programmer from
having to flip pages all the time. Is there a way to do this in
Paradox?

Assuming that you by "database" mean a single table.

You could use a multirecord object in the report but that will only work if
the all the data is one table, not if you have them split into four separate
tables. You could probably work around this by adding the data from the four
tables into one for printing purpose. It will require some code or a serie
of queries.

The report tools in Paradox are quite powerful but it will take some time to
understand them all and some things are not entirely obvious.

Anders

[RonB]

Post by Anders Jonsson
663 is SP2 - IMHO that is a stable version and no need to upgrade.

Great. I've found that upgrades often damage more than they fix.

Post by Anders Jonsson
The BDE must be installed for Paradox to run and is always used so
you should be ok there.

And no reason to upgrade the BDE either, I'm guessing (hoping)?

Post by Anders Jonsson

Post by RonB
I
downloaded the Runtime program from Corel, thinking it was an update
but, otherwise, can find no other files to download on Corel.

You should be fine as it is.

I probably won't ever even use Runtime. But I guess it's nice to have
it in case I do.

Post by Anders Jonsson
Assuming that you by "database" mean a single table.

I do.

Post by Anders Jonsson
You could use a multirecord object in the report but that will only
work if the all the data is one table, not if you have them split
into four separate tables. You could probably work around this by
adding the data from the four tables into one for printing purpose.
It will require some code or a serie of queries.

In this case my single table has only two fields.

Post by Anders Jonsson
The report tools in Paradox are quite powerful but it will take some
time to understand them all and some things are not entirely obvious.

At least I won't be wasting my time trying to figure out how Excel
*can't* do it.

Thanks for the response. Good information.

[Anders Jonsson]

Post by RonB
And no reason to upgrade the BDE either, I'm guessing (hoping)?

Correct.

Anders

[Steve]

Post by RonB
there an update available for download and do I need to update?

There may be, but .663 will work just fine.

Paradox will not run without the BDE.

Post by RonB
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page.

I can only tell you how I would do it.
Using Paradox, export each Paradox Table Format (File | Export).
Restructure each new table and add Field named say "SortOrder" at the
topmost position, make it a S for SmallInteger type.
(Table | Restructure )

Now use Tools | Utilites | Add to sequentially add each table from #2
to #4 to
#1.

Now you have one table. Open it from Project Viewer and enter unique
numbers
in the SortOrder Field. This SortOrder can be used in the report to
achieve the
one page look you desire.

Once each record has a unique SortOrder value you will create a
Primary Index.
Open Project Viewer ( Tools | Project Viewer ). Find the table and
right click it. Left click Restructure. Drag a Key Symbol to the
field just to the left of
SortOrder Field. Click Save.

Finally, you will need to create a report. You are going to have to
play with this to get it right. Open the table from Project viewer.
Next click Tools | Quick Design | Report. Now press F8 to view the
report in design mode.
Click around the table frame in the record band and press delete.

Next drag the multi-record object from the toolbar to the record band.
It's the button with 5 white fields, 6th one top left is shaded. Now
right click it and click on properties. Click Record layout tab.
Enter your desired number of columns and rows.

Click save and give it a name.
Click the gears on the toolbar to run the report.

Go back and forth between Design and Run until you get it right.

Steve White Consulting

[RonB]

Post by Steve

Post by RonB
there an update available for download and do I need to update?

There may be, but .663 will work just fine.

Great.

Post by Steve
Paradox will not run without the BDE.

Sorry about the stupid question.

Post by Steve

Post by RonB
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page.

I can only tell you how I would do it.
Using Paradox, export each Paradox Table Format (File | Export).
Restructure each new table and add Field named say "SortOrder" at the
topmost position, make it a S for SmallInteger type.
(Table | Restructure )
Now use Tools | Utilites | Add to sequentially add each table from
#2 to #4 to
#1.
Now you have one table. Open it from Project Viewer and enter unique
numbers
in the SortOrder Field. This SortOrder can be used in the report to
achieve the
one page look you desire.
Once each record has a unique SortOrder value you will create a
Primary Index.
Open Project Viewer ( Tools | Project Viewer ). Find the table and
right click it. Left click Restructure. Drag a Key Symbol to the
field just to the left of
SortOrder Field. Click Save.
Finally, you will need to create a report. You are going to have to
play with this to get it right. Open the table from Project viewer.
Next click Tools | Quick Design | Report. Now press F8 to view the
report in design mode.
Click around the table frame in the record band and press delete.
Next drag the multi-record object from the toolbar to the record
band. It's the button with 5 white fields, 6th one top left is
shaded. Now right click it and click on properties. Click Record
layout tab. Enter your desired number of columns and rows.
Click save and give it a name.
Click the gears on the toolbar to run the report.
Go back and forth between Design and Run until you get it right.

I didn't explain myself very well. Sorry.

In this case I've only got one table -- two fields wide. I've already
got it sorted in dBASE. All I was using Excel for was to format and
print the table. The table looks like this:

TN DN
----------------------
12-1-4-4 | 830-1234
12-1-5-4 | 830-1235
12-1-6-4 | 830-1236
---
etc.

These are just two of fields from twenty (or so) in the main table, but
all that is necessary for this particular task and all that I want to
print. The order is very important -- it must stay the same. All I
wanted to do was save paper by printing four of these two-wide
'columns' on the same sheet, retaining the sort order.

I've read in this thread that there is a report object that does this
specific task -- which sounds great. I've never liked spreadsheets, but
everyone seems to want to use them.

At any rate, sorry to ramble. Thanks for the info.

[David Portwood]

It sounds like you want to print "newspaper column" style. There's no
(direct) way to do this in Paradox reports. I don't think any other database
apps (e.g., Access) would provide this capability, either.

Post by RonB

Post by Steve

Post by RonB
there an update available for download and do I need to update?

There may be, but .663 will work just fine.

Great.

Post by Steve
Paradox will not run without the BDE.

Sorry about the stupid question.

Post by Steve

Post by RonB
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page.

I can only tell you how I would do it.
Using Paradox, export each Paradox Table Format (File | Export).
Restructure each new table and add Field named say "SortOrder" at the
topmost position, make it a S for SmallInteger type.
(Table | Restructure )
Now use Tools | Utilites | Add to sequentially add each table from
#2 to #4 to
#1.
Now you have one table. Open it from Project Viewer and enter unique
numbers
in the SortOrder Field. This SortOrder can be used in the report to
achieve the
one page look you desire.
Once each record has a unique SortOrder value you will create a
Primary Index.
Open Project Viewer ( Tools | Project Viewer ). Find the table and
right click it. Left click Restructure. Drag a Key Symbol to the
field just to the left of
SortOrder Field. Click Save.
Finally, you will need to create a report. You are going to have to
play with this to get it right. Open the table from Project viewer.
Next click Tools | Quick Design | Report. Now press F8 to view the
report in design mode.
Click around the table frame in the record band and press delete.
Next drag the multi-record object from the toolbar to the record
band. It's the button with 5 white fields, 6th one top left is
shaded. Now right click it and click on properties. Click Record
layout tab. Enter your desired number of columns and rows.
Click save and give it a name.
Click the gears on the toolbar to run the report.
Go back and forth between Design and Run until you get it right.

I didn't explain myself very well. Sorry.
In this case I've only got one table -- two fields wide. I've already
got it sorted in dBASE. All I was using Excel for was to format and
TN DN
----------------------
12-1-4-4 | 830-1234
12-1-5-4 | 830-1235
12-1-6-4 | 830-1236
---
etc.
These are just two of fields from twenty (or so) in the main table, but
all that is necessary for this particular task and all that I want to
print. The order is very important -- it must stay the same. All I
wanted to do was save paper by printing four of these two-wide
'columns' on the same sheet, retaining the sort order.
I've read in this thread that there is a report object that does this
specific task -- which sounds great. I've never liked spreadsheets, but
everyone seems to want to use them.
At any rate, sorry to ramble. Thanks for the info.
--
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
_______________________________________________________________________
Troll Infestation? -- http://www.schmuckwithanunderwood.com/trolls.html

[RonB]

Post by David Portwood
It sounds like you want to print "newspaper column" style. There's no
(direct) way to do this in Paradox reports. I don't think any other
database apps (e.g., Access) would provide this capability, either.

Thanks. And... rats!

Maybe I'll have to learn the "indirect" way.

:~]

[David Portwood]

In order to print four "pages" on a single page, in newspaper column style,
you need four tables in your data model, as I mentioned previously. You
could do this by adding an autoincrement field to your main table, then
running four queries to create the four tables. Maybe the first query pulls
out records 1 thru 32, then the second query pulls out records 33 thru 65,
etc. Each query creates a new table, and then you run the report from these
tables.

Create dummy tables initially from which to design the report. When the
queries execute, the dummy tables are overwritten by tables of the same name
containing real data. Of course, all of this could be coded and the code
launched from a button on a form or from a script.

That's one indirect way of going about it, but I really doubt that it is
worth the effort.

Post by RonB

Post by David Portwood
It sounds like you want to print "newspaper column" style. There's no
(direct) way to do this in Paradox reports. I don't think any other
database apps (e.g., Access) would provide this capability, either.

Thanks. And... rats!
Maybe I'll have to learn the "indirect" way.
:~]
--
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"

[David Portwood]

Oops. Using an autoincrement field to number the records is not good,
because as you insert/delete new records the order will get scrambled and
the queries would not pull out the correct records.

This was was the "indirect" way that I had in the back of my mind when I
made the prior post, but I see now that it wouldn't work.

Post by David Portwood
In order to print four "pages" on a single page, in newspaper column style,
you need four tables in your data model, as I mentioned previously. You
could do this by adding an autoincrement field to your main table, then
running four queries to create the four tables. Maybe the first query pulls
out records 1 thru 32, then the second query pulls out records 33 thru 65,
etc. Each query creates a new table, and then you run the report from these
tables.
Create dummy tables initially from which to design the report. When the
queries execute, the dummy tables are overwritten by tables of the same name
containing real data. Of course, all of this could be coded and the code
launched from a button on a form or from a script.
That's one indirect way of going about it, but I really doubt that it is
worth the effort.

Post by RonB

Post by David Portwood
It sounds like you want to print "newspaper column" style. There's no
(direct) way to do this in Paradox reports. I don't think any other
database apps (e.g., Access) would provide this capability, either.

Thanks. And... rats!
Maybe I'll have to learn the "indirect" way.
:~]
--
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"

[David Portwood]

Instead of adding an autoincrement field and then querying to create four
temp tables (an embarrassingly stupid idea that doesn't work) you could
instead use a tcursor to step thru the original table and copy record by
record to the temp tables. You keep count of the records as you step thru
the main table in order to determine to which temp table you copy each
record. Now that you have your records from the main table properly divided
among the four temp tables, and you can run your report. This would
definitely work, but there would be a little more coding involved. Ok, I'm
done with this, I promise. :)

Post by David Portwood
In order to print four "pages" on a single page, in newspaper column style,
you need four tables in your data model, as I mentioned previously. You
could do this by adding an autoincrement field to your main table, then
running four queries to create the four tables. Maybe the first query pulls
out records 1 thru 32, then the second query pulls out records 33 thru 65,
etc. Each query creates a new table, and then you run the report from these
tables.
Create dummy tables initially from which to design the report. When the
queries execute, the dummy tables are overwritten by tables of the same name
containing real data. Of course, all of this could be coded and the code
launched from a button on a form or from a script.
That's one indirect way of going about it, but I really doubt that it is
worth the effort.

Post by RonB

Post by David Portwood
It sounds like you want to print "newspaper column" style. There's no
(direct) way to do this in Paradox reports. I don't think any other
database apps (e.g., Access) would provide this capability, either.

Thanks. And... rats!
Maybe I'll have to learn the "indirect" way.
:~]
--
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"

[RonB]

Post by David Portwood
Instead of adding an autoincrement field and then querying to create
four temp tables (an embarrassingly stupid idea that doesn't work)
you could instead use a tcursor to step thru the original table and
copy record by record to the temp tables. You keep count of the
records as you step thru the main table in order to determine to
which temp table you copy each record. Now that you have your records
from the main table properly divided among the four temp tables, and
you can run your report. This would definitely work, but there would
be a little more coding involved. Ok, I'm done with this, I promise.
:)

No, it's fine. So far I don't understand a word of it, but I appreciate
you taking the time to try to educate a yokel like me. I've been trying
to get 'multicol' to work -- it allows me to put the "newspaper
columns" in, but so far I can only get it to place the records in "form
format." In other words, instead of having four columns of a
spreadsheet-like report...

TN DN TN DN
--------------------- ---------------------- \
12-1-12-12 830-1234 12-0-12-3 830-1237 /
12-1-12-13 830-1235 36-0-9-15 830-1232 \

...I'm getting the "record" format...

TN 12-1-12-12 TN 12-0-12-15 \
DN 830-1234 DN 830-1221 /
\
TN 12-1-12-14 TN 36-0-9-12 /
DN 830-1222 DN 830-1226 \
...
etc.

I've got a lot to learn.

[Anders Jonsson]

Post by RonB

Post by Steve
Paradox will not run without the BDE.

Sorry about the stupid question.

Not a stupid question, I think we all have asked the same at least once in
our Paradox life.

Anders

[David Portwood]

Post by RonB
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page. They would easily
fit and this would save a lot of paper and keep the programmer from
having to flip pages all the time. Is there a way to do this in
Paradox?

Yes. Put each table in the data model of your report. Now you can put a tf
or mro for each table in the report (record band) and it will display each
table as a separate entity, all on one page (assuming your tables actually
do fit the page).

[RonB]

Post by David Portwood

Post by RonB
Second question... I can't do this in Excel but I'm hoping I can in
Paradox. I've got several "template" databases that are only two
columns wide and 32 rows high. I would like to print four of these
"pages" (2 col x 32 rows) on a single landscape page. They would
easily fit and this would save a lot of paper and keep the
programmer from having to flip pages all the time. Is there a way to
do this in Paradox?

Yes. Put each table in the data model of your report. Now you can put
a tf or mro for each table in the report (record band) and it will
display each table as a separate entity, all on one page (assuming
your tables actually do fit the page).

Thanks -- but it is all one table. I just want to print for "pages" on
a single page.

It looks like Paradox might have more than one way to do that. Excel
doesn't have any.

Again, thanks -- I'll look into your information.

[RonB]

Post by RonB
I just want to print for "pages" on
a single page.

"four pages" -- sorry

[Anders Jonsson]

Post by RonB
Thanks -- but it is all one table. I just want to print for "pages" on
a single page.
It looks like Paradox might have more than one way to do that. Excel
doesn't have any.

I'm not exactly sure what you and David are talking about when you say
"Newspaper column", but I think it IS possible to do that in Paradox.

Use a mulitrecord object in your report. Properties-Record Layout, change
the Fill order from the default Left-right to Top-down. It should give you
what you want if I understand correctly.

Anders

[RonB]

Post by Anders Jonsson
I'm not exactly sure what you and David are talking about when you
say "Newspaper column", but I think it IS possible to do that in
Paradox.
Use a mulitrecord object in your report. Properties-Record Layout,
change the Fill order from the default Left-right to Top-down. It
should give you what you want if I understand correctly.

I've tried it, but I'm not 'quite' getting what I want, but feel that
I'm making progress. As I've mentioned in another post (above) I'm not
getting the column/row format. I'm getting the individual record
format. I can't, as yet, see how to change it.

Thanks, BTW, to all who have responded -- lots of good information
here.

[Anders Jonsson]

Post by RonB
I've tried it, but I'm not 'quite' getting what I want, but feel that
I'm making progress. As I've mentioned in another post (above) I'm not
getting the column/row format. I'm getting the individual record
format. I can't, as yet, see how to change it.

Get rid of the labels and rearrange the fields as you want them. Add the
"column" headings with the text tool and put them outside the MRO. Should
work I think. If you wish you could mail me a sample table and the report
you have now and a some kind of document that shows how you want it and I
can have a look at it. Send mail to gt3 AT bredband DOT net.

Anders

[RonB]

Post by Anders Jonsson

Post by RonB
I've tried it, but I'm not 'quite' getting what I want, but feel
that I'm making progress. As I've mentioned in another post (above)
I'm not getting the column/row format. I'm getting the individual
record format. I can't, as yet, see how to change it.

Get rid of the labels and rearrange the fields as you want them. Add
the "column" headings with the text tool and put them outside the
MRO. Should work I think. If you wish you could mail me a sample
table and the report you have now and a some kind of document that
shows how you want it and I can have a look at it. Send mail to gt3
AT bredband DOT net.

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it -- when I get a little
time to think (or try to think -- I should say).

Sorry I've taken so long to get back to you. I don't mean to be rude.