Text wrapping is not working

[james899]

I have read several posts about text wrapping. I understand that I can control wrapping by setting the white space to normal and I have done that on both the Title part, the entire column, and even a block that I inserted to no avail.

I really do not like the fact that all the same settings are available in so many places plus in design view and structure view. I cannot figure out which one actually controls the display. I spent a whole days experimenting with aggregation until I realized I had to unlock the report and go to Page design mode before it would show a total in the summary line. Now I have a different problem and having same issue.

I cannot believe such a powerful tool in so many ways is so restrictive and not intuitive to boot  >:(. With Hyperion results the borders turned into arrows and we could adjust the width right there, but they had other issues.

[PRIT AMRIT]

Your report renders in which format?

I am sure you have already tried with 'Size & Overflow' option?

[james899]

Yes I have made the columns narrower with the 'Size & Overflow option but then it cuts off the Title text even though I have the 'white space' set to 'Normal'. I have done this for the Title item, the entire column, the data item, and I placed a 'block' item inside that title area and put the data item in that and limited it as well. If I count correctly there are 6 places I can set this and that makes the process not user friendly. Since either the Title or the values could be long and need to be wrapped, I can see an advantage to having 2 places to set it, one for the title and one for the column to limit the values. But having 6 makes it too hard to figure out which one controls the display.

While making a PowerPoint to show all of the places and setting options I found a partial solution. Using Spacing & Breaking (S&B) made the title text wrap because it allowed it to break in middle of a word. Still does not explain why it would not break on an underscore but it must treat underscores as part of one long word.

But I still have the problem because the block with the title text is smaller but the overall column width has not changed? I have reduced every item to no avail. I shortened the title name and the column finally narrowed! So even though I am controlling the width and wrapping at every editable level the program is still automatically adjusting the width based on the Name, not the label. Which is another thing that is weird. What is the label element for if not for controlling the displayed text? And I did unlock the report, yet ANOTHER thing to remember.

[Lynn]

Your comment about the underscore and the images in your attachment make me wonder....though I may be assuming incorrectly....

Have you actually tried to RUN the report to see the effect of changes you make? The design mode is sort of wysiwyg but I don't believe you see every thing exactly as it will appear when you run it.

I understand your frustration with the many methods available to meet requirements, but ultimately more choice means more flexibility and more power.  You may come to appreciate this more as you work further with Cognos. If you have an opportunity to take training, I strongly recommend it. I pay for training out of my own pocket and it is worthwhile. They cover not only the mechanics but best practice approaches as well.

[james899]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes I did actually run the report but that was good advice.
I am hoping to get trained soon but I may have to get it on my own. I am trying to find a more complete online manual. The one I found is pretty good but not complete. How much was your training and where did you get it? So far I have found this forum and my own experimenting the best training but it is slow and frustrating at times.

Good point on the power nad I realize the more options the more power but some of the places to change item settings seem useless or moot, they do not actually change anything so why have them? It only adds to the frustration.

[Lynn]

I have always gone to Cognos directly for training...it ain't cheap.  I tend to spend less money on shoes than most women so I can swing it :)

There may be other partner firms that offer training but I don't have firsthand experience with any.

http://www-304.ibm.com/jct03001c/services/learning/ites.wss/us/en?pageType=page&c=W113304M84371I29