Using Variable Decimal Places in Report Writer

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5 and 2.5a
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.5, and 2.5a

SUMMARY

By using report variables as described below, you can eliminate trailing zeros after the decimal instead of printing a fixed number of characters after the decimal.

MORE INFORMATION

The following steps create a report that always prints the first decimal place but does not print trailing zeros beyond the first decimal place:

1. Create a database with one numeric field called Number; length=10, decimals=4.

2. Add sample data to the database; some of the numbers should have zeros at the end; some should not. For example, 1.1000, 1.1200, 1.1230, 1.1234.

3. Create a quick report based on this database.

4. Create the following report variables (all variables have an initial value of 0 [zero] and no calculation). The variables should appear in the variable list in the same order they are given below.

         Variable name  Value to store
         --------------------------------------------------------
   

         place4         IIF(VAL(RIGHT(STR(number,10,4),1))>0,1,0)
         place3         IIF(place4=1 OR
                           VAL(RIGHT(STR(number,10,3),1))>0,1,0)
         place2         IIF(place3=1 OR
                           VAL(RIGHT(STR(number,10,2),1))>0,1,0)
         numplaces      1+place2+place3+place4
   
   

5. Close the Report Variable dialog box and modify the report expression containing the numeric field so that is left-aligned and contains the following expression:

         STR(number,5+numplaces,numplaces).
   

   To left-align the field in FoxPro for MS-DOS:

       - Select the Style check box while in the Report Expression dialog box,
         then choose Left Alignment.
   

   To left-align the field in FoxPro for Windows:

       - Select the field on the report, then choose Alignment and Left from
         the Object menu.
   

   NOTE: "5+numplaces" along with left-aligning the field will ensure that the decimals are aligned. If this is not important, "5+numplaces" can be changed to "10" (without the quotation marks)--the full length of the field.

6. From the Report menu, choose Page Preview to see the output without trailing zeros beyond the first decimal place.