IBM Support

Multiline string fields in Crystal Reports not formatted correctly after export to Excel

Troubleshooting


Problem

When exporting Crystal Reports to Microsoft Excel, the IBM Rational ClearQuest multiline string fields are either truncated or broken into multiple rows.

Symptom

When exporting Crystal Reports to Microsoft Excel without the "Can Grow" option, the IBM Rational ClearQuest multiline string fields are truncated but displayed in a single row. When the "Can Grow" option is used, multiline fileds are not truncated but the data is not displayed in a single row. It generates a new row for each line of data.

The "Can Grow" options is available in Crystal Reports when editing a report format. When you select a multiline string field, go to the Format menu and select Format Field. The option is in the Common tab.

Cause

This is a limitation of the report integration between ClearQuest and Crystal Reports.

Environment


Resolving The Problem

Here is a workaround:

  1. Edit your report format and uncheck "Can Grow" option

  2. Remove the multiline field, for example Description, from the report format

  3. Add a New Formula Field, such as Description

  4. Drag Description to the bottom pane. Save and close

  5. Drag the formula field Description onto the report format

  6. Do the export to Excel and multiline field data should not truncate and it will display in single row.

To summarize, Crystal Reports will truncate a long text object. However, it will not truncate a formula and export it to Excel with the correct formatting.

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Document Information

Modified date:
16 June 2018

UID

swg21444341