Printline or Records Mode
Printline Mode
Loading a Sample Input File- Repagination
- Defining Fields
- Mapping the Variables
- Establishing Comparison
Rules
Records Mode
Pre-defined Variables
Establishing Comaprison Rules
Data files may contain different detail lines and sub-forms. The method used to distinguish between different lines (to select and print the correct format) is to use comparison rules to allow FormTrap to identify what it is looking at.
Each rule is a simple test. The following rules are available:
| Rule | Description |
| No Rule | Default setting |
| Blank | Field must be blank |
| Not Blank | Field must contain data |
| Equal to | Field must equal the supplied characters |
| Not equal to | Field must not equal the supplied characters |
| Greater than | Field must be greater than the supplied characters |
| Greater than or equal to | Field must be greater than or equal to the supplied characters. |
| Less than | Field must be less than the supplied characters. |
| Less than or equal to | Field must be less than or equal to the supplied characters. |
Setting Detail Line Rules
When a form has more than one detail line a comparison rule is used to establish which detail line is printed. Each rule is a simple test that must be satisfied for the detail line to print. Where a detail line has multiple rules, all of the rules must be satisfied to qualify. "Detail line" may be multiple lines from the file in some instances, where the set is represented in the same format.
To create a test variable on a detail line:
- Ensure that the appropriate detail line is selected on the Go menu.
- Select Properties of... on the Define menu.
- On the Records tab, click the New... button to add a new variable.
- Enter an appropriate name into the Name text box.
- Click the OK button to create the variable and then OK again to accept the changes.
- In the Structure Map Pane select the appropriate detail line.
- Find something that is unique to the detail line. In this example we will use the word "Tax".
- Click the Create extract button
on the
toolbar. The cursor will change to an I-bar 
. - Press and hold the left mouse button to highlight the characters representing the test data in your sample data file, displayed in the Printmap window. Allow for the full size of the field, not just what is visible on this page.
- Release the mouse button to open the Create Extraction Field dialog box.
- Select the corresponding test variable name from the Available Fields list.
- Select a comparison rule from the Comparison rule drop down menu. In this example we use the Equal to comparison rule and enter the comparison string "Tax" in the Compare with text box. The rule is case sensitive.
- The mapped Characters will be highlighted yellow to indicate a test variable.
Defining Rule Evaluation Order
Evaluation order is the sequence in which FormTrap tests the comparison rules on the detail lines. Set the evaluation order of detail lines so there is no ambiguity in the evaluation, with the most specific rules evaluated first.
To change the order of evaluation for the detail lines:
- Right click on the detail line in the Structure Map Pane.
- From the drop down menu select Evaluation order.
- Move the detail line up or down using the options on the menu.
- Highest - top of the evaluation order.
- Higher - up one in the evaluation order.
- Lower - down one in the evaluation order.
- Lowest - bottom of the evaluation order.