Re: Sometimes I just wonder, "WHY?!"

> I've been developing a "simple" little thing using Informix ISQL only. > I came accross a problem today that has an easy work-around, but I just > wonder WHY I couldn't do it the way I wanted!! > I've had this feeling about a lot of little things in isql, but this one > just got me upset, so I figured I'd waste band-width and get it off my > chest. > > Take a gander at this: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > first page header > print file setsmall.prn > # > # The PRINT FILE command is not allowed within the FIRST PAGE > # HEADER, PAGE HEADER, or PAGE TRAILER clauses. > # See error number -8123. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > I wanted to keep my printer initialization in a separate file for ALL my > labels to use, with logical modular merit! > Now why do you suspect they bothered to slap on this restriction!?!? > > /\\/ / /\\/\\ /\\ / You can't print anything of indeterminate length in a HEADER section, because it tries to work out the number of lines in the report body, exclusive of any headers or trailers, at *compile* time. Try this instead: BEFORE GROUP OF something SKIP TO TOP OF PAGE PRINT FILE "myfile" Good luck. akent@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andy Kent) -------------------------------------