V.6.5 to v9.0 Text File Problem

[Mary_Wagner_(Guest)]

We^ve found that if we try to open a report created in version 6.5 that calls a text file, when we open the report in version 9.0, it tells us that fields are no longer in the text file and will be removed from the report. The fields that are discarded are those fields with names of greater than 9 characters. These fields can then be added back into the report, because the fields do show up in the list of memo fields that may be inserted. Of course, we must first go back to v.6.5 to see where these fields should appear so that we can put them back in in v.9.0. Is there a chance that this bug will be fixed?____Thanks,__Mary__

[kfleming]

It may be something with the particular text file or report.__I just created a report using 6.5 with a text file containing:____.first__{first}____.second__{second}____.abcdefghij__{abcdefghij}____.elephant__{elephant}____.functional__{functional}____I placed these fields on the layout, previewed to make sure they were there, saved the report and then opened it in Version 9. They were still ok.____But I have in the past seen problems with particular text files. If you want to send me your text file/report, I can see if I can figure out what is wrong.____Kathleen__R&R Support__kfleming@livewarepub.com

[kfleming]

Thanks for sending the files. Here is what I have found.____The problem is not new to Version 9 but exists in all of the 32 bit versions of R&R.__What is going wrong is that several of your field names in your text file are greater than 10 characters.__In Version 6.5, R&R expects all field names to be 10 characters or less.__So when it reads the fields from the text file, it only reads the first 10 characters and then stops.__It is just these first 10 characters that are saved as the field name.__So when we open the report we find the required fields.____The 32 bit versions of R&R support newer database versions that allow field names to be greater than 10 characters.__So when your report is opened in Version 9, we are looking for a field called CONFCOMPLE. But now that we can read >10 characters, we find the field CONFCOMPLETE and that is why we report the error since there is now no field in the text file that is called CONFCOMPLE.____If you edit your text file and shorten all fields so that only the first 10 characters remain, your reports will work in both 6.5 and Version 9.____I hope that this helps.____Kathleen__R&R Support