VsiFax and filePro -- frustration!

[Richard Kreiss]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com
> [mailto:filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On
> Behalf Of Steve Parker
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 9:41 AM
> To: 'Jim Asman'
> Cc: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: RE: VsiFax and filePro -- frustration!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Asman [mailto:jlasman at telus.net]
> Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 4:35 AM
> To: sparker at abccompuserve.com
> Subject: Re: VsiFax and filePro -- frustration!
> 
> --------------- Original Message --------------- At 12:44A Sat Aug 28
2010, Steve
> Parker wrote:
> >
> > The selected records are processed one by one through the report,
> > hitting
> an
> > "end" statement at the end of each record. When the customer number
> changes,
> > a GOSUB statement sends the FAX. I've even gotten clever enough that
> > the file names are unique with the "customer number" { "-" { date
> > (without
> > slashes) so the failed FAXes can be easily tracked and processed
manually.
> >
> > At this point I'm looking for some ideas. I'm pretty lost on this
> > right
> now,
> > and pretty burned out as well!! LOL!
> >
> > Any ideas? In particular, can anyone shed light on "block" #1 with the
> extra
> > line feeds, or with "block" #2 some insight on the PRINTER FILE
> > command
> that
> > will help me understand what I am doing wrong?
> 
> 
> Steve,
> 
> Your extra CR/LF's are likely from filepro where the "# lines to print" is
less
> than "# lines per page". Filepro does the padding after the record is
> processed. You may need and appropriate PCL page formatting command to
> keep it all in synch between filepro and vsifax.
> 
> Before your PRINTER FILE command, issue a PRINTER RESET and see if you
> get the entire record.
> 
> 
> Jim
> --
> jlasman at telus.net                      Spectra Colour Services Ltd.
> Jim Asman                              10221 144a Street
> Phone: (604)584-0977                   Surrey, BC  V3R 3P7   CANADA
> 
>  Cell: (604)619-0977                   www.spectracolorservices.com
> ---------------
> 
> Jim,
> 
> Thank you for your input, but here's what I have in response.
> 
> Using my original programming with the "PRINT" command, the first page
> always comes out as 64 lines, which is what VsiFax seems to like. The next
> record prints with 12 lines at the top. I have even tried to remove those
lines
> in a number of ways: 1) using the system command to "rm" the file (the
> process prints no more!) 2) using the system command to "cat" the output
> file to "null", 3) using the system command to "cat" an empty file (or a
file
> with 1 ^M in it over top of the last output file.
> 
> None of this has worked. I think I even tried the "cat" command just prior
to
> "printing" a new record and right after "faxing" a record. Same story.
> 
> As for the PRINTER FILE command, I have tried PRINTER FLUSH and PRINTER
> RESET to try to get all of the information "pushed" out. Part of the
problem
> seems to be that the file is being created in pieces, as a given statement
is
> the assembly of multiple records. The PRINT command seems to "PRINT" just
> what is processed at the "END" command, so the first one encountered
> prints the "header" with the first record, then each succeeding one adds
just
> one line to the file, until the last record is hit with the @WBR1 is hit.
This
> forces the processing to go to this point where the "totals" are
calculated,
> printed, and the end of the record is added.
> 
> Then the processes goes into a routine that "faxes" the record.
> 
> Here is where my problem is. No matter what I do, I seem to get the 12
lines
> at the top of the next record.
> 
> But each PRINTER FILE command creates a whole 64 line page, be it the
> header, additional records, or the end.
> 
> 
> Steve

Since you seem to be having a lot of problems with your current processing,
might I suggest a change in processing.

Set the output up as a form using a lookup next to get all of the data
wanted. This should put all of your output  on one page.  

You could also use your report output but have everything Print at the break
(using dummy fields to hold your data).

The last option would be to replace Vis Fax with Printwiz which would allow
you to fax your output.  This option would also allow you to email the
reports rather than faxing them.  I have, as part of one of my applications
(Windows), set up this type of operation,.  Depending on a flag, a monthly
report is either emailed or faxed to a person.



Richard Kreiss
GCC Consulting
rkreiss at gccconsulting.net