Thanks, Rob, for the information. Tabs might be a good way to proceed. A table? Hummmm.... thinking.
Yes, it takes a thinking shift to go to a "structure" concept of a report. I'm working on that.... On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 11:00 AM, Rob Weir <[email protected]> wrote: > On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 at 12:06 PM, Chuck Davis <[email protected]> wrote: > > I've been looking at ODF for Java reporting (using the Toolbox) and have > > hit a snag. Heretofore I have been using pdf (iText) > > > > When developing reports I create a char[] that fits the width of the page > > depending on page size and orientation. When the data for that report > line > > is placed correctly in the buffer, I then add lines to the report by > > placing my array into the report. This has been working wonderfully for > > PDF. I try this on ODF and all the spaces get stripped out. Is there a > > way to make ODF handle a buffer full of data the way I insert it -- > > including spaces? I don't think inserting <text:s><text:c/></text:s> for > > every 2 or three space break is going to be a nice (or usable) approach. > > That's OK for word processing but it's not ok for developing Java > reports. > > > > That's how ODF (and XML) handle whitepace. You'd see the same > behavior in an HTML document. > > One approach might be to keep your logic the same with your buffer, > fill it with spaces as you do now, but then call a conversion function > to expand the spaces into what ODF expects. That would at least > isolate this to one place. > > Another idea might be to use <text:tab> rather than multiple spaces, > or even layout via a table, for even more control. > > > > At this point I'm thinking ODF is not too usable for doing Java > reporting. > > If I am incorrect I'd like to know how to make ODF keep my formatting for > > each line of the report without screwing up all the spacing. > > > > I've seen many people use ODF for report generating. The key, I've > found at least, is to take a structural approach, specifying the > structure of the page, and not the exact positioning/spacing. That's > the difference between a fixed-layout format like PDF and a markup > language like ODF that defers layout until loaded into an editor. > > Regards, > > -Rob > > > > Thanks if anyone knows. >
