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Using the Column Function

Use the Column group function to create wrapping or and straight columns.

Creating wrapping columns

Use the Wrap parameter to create newspaper style columns where the column contents flow from the top of a column to the bottom and then to the top of the next column. All columns have the same width and the same amount of space between them. There are a fixed number of columns on the page.

Column flow

Creating straight columns

Use the Straight parameter to create columns whose contents do not flow from one column to the next. Instead, these columns are not connected and run parallel to one another. Straight columns are paginated independently. If the contents of one column exceed the page, the remaining contents appear in that same column on a second page. All the usual overflow, header, and footer considerations still apply.

Column function parameters

Here is a list of the parameters you can use with the Column function.

Parameter	Description
Wrap	Indicates the text in the columns will wrap. No other parameters are required. Wrapping is done by default, unless you use the Multiple or Straight parameter.
Straight	Indicates the text will not be wrapped from one column to the next. No other parameters are required. The section definition controls the width and separation of the columns. When you use straight columns, you define the starting columns with a GroupBegin and the ending column with an GroupEnd.
Balanced( )	The balanced sub-parameters determine how sections are processed if there is less than a full page of sections. The default is Left. Left Use this sub-parameter to equally divide the sections between the columns on the page. If there is a remainder, the left most column will be the longest column. Unbalanced Use this sub-parameter to add sections to a column until there is no more room in that column on that page. The system then places remaining sections in the second column of that same page. The system repeats this process until all columns on the page are filled. The system then places any remaining sections in the first column of the next page and continues filling the columns in this manner.
ColCount( )	Defines how many columns will be on a page. You must enter a positive number.
ColSeparation( )	Defines, in FAP units, how much space is between columns. You must enter a positive number. The default is zero. There are 2400 FAP units per inch.
ColWidth( )	Defines, in FAP units, the width of each column. If you omit the width, the system uses the width of the widest section in the group. You cannot enter a negative number. There are 2400 FAP units per inch.
Single	Indicated there will be a single straight column on the page. Single is the default unless you specify Multiple.
Multiple	Indicates there will be multiple straight columns on the page. You must embed the straight groups within a group. You do this using the Multiple group parameter.
Debug	Use this parameter to write column-processing information into the log file for debugging purposes.

Keep in mind that...

Wrap and Straight are mutually exclusive.
Multiple and Single are mutually exclusive.
Straight is mutually exclusive with Balanced, ColCount, ColWidth, and ColSeparation.
Multiple is mutually exclusive with Wrap, Straight, Balanced, ColCount, ColWidth, and ColSeparation.
You cannot nest a Wrap within a Wrap, Straight, or Multiple.
You cannot nest a Straight within a Wrap or Straight.
You cannot nest a Straight within a Multiple.
You cannot nest a Multiple within a Multiple.

Keep in mind these requirements and restrictions when defining groups:

Each GroupBegin section must have a corresponding GroupEnd section. Either of these sections can be a blank section.
If you are using conditional sections, make sure the triggers in the SETRCPTB.DAT file for the GroupBegin and GroupEnd sections are the same.
Group footers do not have to be defined as the first section as form footers in the form definition file (FORM.DAT).
Do not use an absolute Y coordinate for a group header or group footer.
When a section contains both a GroupBegin rule and a SetGroupOptions rule, the GroupBegin rule must come first.
When a section contains both a GroupEnd rule and a SetGroupOptions rule, the SetGroupOptions rule must come first.
Variable field data inside overflow group header sections will propagate to the new page during group pagination if the field scope is set to Form.

You must set all group pagination section options (footer, header, and copyonoverflow) using the SetGroupOptions rule.

Using the Column Function

Creating wrapping columns

Creating straight columns

Column function parameters

See also