Printing areas of variable size

You can use subforms, picture fields, and text fields in a report. These objects can be set to print with either a fixed or variable frame. Fixed frame objects print within the confines of the object as it was created on the form. Variable frame objects expand during printing to include the entire contents of the object. 

You cannot place more than one variable frame object side-by-side on a form. You can place non-variable frame objects on either side of a variable frame Picture or Text field provided that the variable frame object is at least one line longer than the object beside it and that all objects are aligned on the top. Otherwise, during printing, the contents of the other fields will be repeated for every horizontal slice of the variable frame object. 

You cannot place objects on either side of a variable frame subform.
You can place variable objects in the Detail area only.

You usually use an output form to print records in a subform.

To set the print option for a subform, display the subform properties in the Property List and expand the “Print” theme.

Because there may be more records than can fit in the subform area, 4D provides the following three check boxes for controlling how records in a subform are printed: 

• Variable:4D expands or contracts the subform area to print all the records.
• Fixed (truncation): 4D prints only the records that fit into the area of the subform. The form is printed only once and those records that are not printed are ignored.
• Fixed (multiple records): The frame remains the same size, but 4D prints the form several times to include all the records.

Note: You cannot place any objects on either side of a variable frame subform. Objects placed on either side of the subform will be repeated for every line of the subform.

For more information about subform options, refer to List subforms.

Pictures can be printed with either fixed or variable frames if their display format allows it. Only the following display formats allow printing with variable frames:

• Truncated (Centered)
• On Background
• Truncated (Non-centered)

For more information about these picture formats, refer to Display formats. 

To set a picture print option, display the properties of the Picture field or variable in the Property List and expand the “Print” theme. Then check (or uncheck) the Print Variable Frame option according to your specific needs:

• If you check this option, the picture will be printed at a height that takes its size into account. The picture frame will be extended during printing if necessary in order to display the entire picture.
• If you do not check this option, the picture will be printed at a fixed height (set in the form).

Text fields can be printed with either fixed or variable heights. Print options for Text fields are selected exactly as they are for Picture field.

In the Form editor, display the properties of the Text field in the Property List. In the “Print” theme, check (or uncheck) the Print Variable Frame option according to your specific needs:

• If you check this option, the text will be printed at a height that takes its size into account. The text field will be extended automatically during printing so that all the text it contains will be printed.
• If you do not check this option, the text will be printed at a fixed height (set in the form).