Reply to WRAP Command

[johng@RMF41.USACE.ARMY.MIL]

>  I am trying to print two multiline text fields side by side on a report. I am
>  using the statements:
>
>   print &id (+1,40)
>   print &desc (0,50) wrap 30 5 ON=<13> STRIP=<10>
>   print &res (0,85) wrap 30 5  ON=<13> STRIP=<10>
>
>  The first multiline field prints fine, but the next multiline field prints on
>  the row where the first field ends.  I want them to appear in columns, both
>  sarting on the same row.  I experimented a bit with fixed positioning, but
>  was unable to get this to work.
>  Here is my goal:
>
>
>  ID       Description         Resolution
>  --       -----------         ----------
>  54321    This is a test      This is a test to
>           to demonstrate      demonstrate how I
>           how I would like    would like the
>           the description     resolution text to
>           text to be          be displayed.
>           displayed.
>
>  This is what I am getting with the above mentioned statements:
>
>  ID       Description         Resolution
>  --       -----------         ----------
>  54321    This is a test
>           to demonstrate
>           how I would like
>           the description
>           text to be
>           displayed.          This is a test to
>                               demonstrate how I
>                               would like the
>                               resolution text to
>                               be displayed.
>
>  Is it possible for this to work using the wrap command?  I have resolved a
>  problem like this before by using 'unstring' and printing each line
>  individually, but I think there must be a better way.
>
>  Thank you,
>
>  Marcie Hague
>  MicroSim Corporation
>  Irvine, CA

Everyone was right about the keep-top option of the wrap command, but
you also need to have a mechanism to allow the next id value to print below
the longest wrapped set of text.  The NEXT-LISTING command allows this,
keeping track of the lowest line already printed on the page, and postioning
the current line number and absolute line number also below that.  Since
absolute line number is reset, you can actully print the &desc and &res
columns using absolute line numbers without using keep-top. The need=
option of next-listing will allow you to reserve some room to process the
next item on a page, without unnecessary splitting across pages.

Something like this

   print &id   (1,40)       ! absolute line allowed by using next-listing
   print &desc (1,50) wrap 30 5 ON=<13> STRIP=<10>
   print &res  (1,85) wrap 30 5 ON=<13> STRIP=<10>

   next-listing skiplines=1 need=5   ! skip a line between id's
                                     ! ensure min of 5 lines for next id

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