ODS RTF, REPORT procedure, columns that wrap and paging

[KevinViel]

I have a table with "too many" columns for the margin size and font size (11 in total, five "fit" on one page).  I also have a requirement to create a new page after two sections.  The problem seems to be that the paging:

  break after _page / page ;

is not honored since the fifth column wraps, but onto the same page.  I cannot present the data so please forgive the schematic:

I would like:

row      c1 c2 c3 c4

page1, section1

page1, section2

row      c5 c6 c7 c7

page1, section1

page1, section2

I am getting this:

row      c1 c2 c3 c4

page1, section1

page1, section2

row      c5 c6 c7 c7

page1, section1

That is the next rows start on the same page, breaking the section up.  I might be that I can adjust the CELLWIDTHs to push it, but I do not want to need to experiment or face later inconsistencies.

I would appreciate any advice, corrections, or references.

Thank you,

Kevin

[ballardw]

Do you need to print this report on paper? If not perhaps by using a different system option for PAPERSIZE you could set a longer/wider virtual page.

Or provide code that works with one of the SAS supplied datasets in SASHELP library that demonstrates the same issue.

[Cynthia_sas · Accepted solution]

Hi: Scott Huntley and I wrote about how to control too wide output in this paper https://support.sas.com/resources/papers/proceedings14/SAS038-2014.pdf

The paper focused on PDF and HTML. Many of the same controls for PDF can also apply to RTF.

We used SASHELP.CARS in our paper, perhaps you can replicate your report issues with that data to illustrate your issue. The PAGE option on the break will not work as you describe until you get all your columns fitting on one page wide so that your created page variable works correctly.

Cynthia

[KevinViel]

Thank you to both Cindy and ballardw for replying.

The solution is to use the PAGE option to the DEFINE statement.  Every mod( _c , 4 ) = 1 column, where _c is column number (after the first, in my case, which was my ID column), I used the PAGE option:

define _c1 / "1st@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c2 / "2nd@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c3 / "3rd@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c4 / "4th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c5 / "5th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] page ;
define _c6 / "6th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c7 / "7th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c8 / "8th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c9 / "9th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] page ;
define _c10 / "10th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;
define _c11 / "11th@N = 42" style( column ) = [ cellwidth = 20% ] ;

About 90% of my "tricks" in ODS and REPORT are from the generous and prolific Cindy.  I thank you again!  🙂