How to use a Conditional Print Condition in Report Design

If you wish to limit portions of a report and you do not want to condition the entire report to that condition, then Conditional Print options may be what you need. There are several steps to take and follow in order to perform this task.

1.  Create a Design formula that states what you want to appear. The formula must return a true value. It can not be an "if" statement or a lookup formula, but a statement of truth.

Example: You have a timesheet which is printing lines with project numbers and zero time for the day columns. Because the timesheet row is using the Timesheet Detail records, you can create the formula using the Total Hours field on the time entry line. The formula would look as follows:

Tool, Formulas, Design Formulas. Click on New and create the following formula:

Name the formula “Hours Condition."

This formula states that the Total Hours for that line are not equal to zero. You want only the Time lines with total hours to appear on the time sheet.

Format, Conditional Print areas, The window states “Print when TRUE: Select the Hours condition from the list of formulas. The formula should appear in the bottom of the window. Also click the box “Suppress blank lines if false”. This will remove any white space between valid records.

Click okay.

The report will now only show time entry lines which have hours.

Practice makes perfect. This is one example and you may find other reports to practice with. Over time, much of the functionality of Report Designer will become easier and easier. The key to doing anything well is to practice the skill. Practice creating reports and using the various tools with in Report Designer. You will find that you can become a master at Report Designer.