Hiding ACROSS Group Columns with Null Values in Active Reports

Report requests that use the ACROSS sort phrase generate a group of columns (one for each display field in the request) under each value of the ACROSS field. In many cases, some of these columns have only missing or null values.

When working with active reports in AHTML format, you can use the HIDENULLACRS parameter to hide the display of ACROSS groups containing only null columns. To hide null across columns, use SET HIDENULLACRS=ON. The default value is OFF.

This feature allows you to display only the columns of the report that contain data. This allows you to display only the information that is needed, saving report space while presenting a more visually appealing report.

The following image shows an example procedure in the WebFOCUS Editor, with the HIDENULLACRS command turned ON.

Note: This feature is not supported with the PAGE-BREAK option.

Once you have enabled the HIDENULLACRS SET command, save the procedure and return to the report. The adjusted values display at run-time. Any ACROSS column that contains only missing or null values will be excluded from the report output.

When HIDENULLACRS is set to OFF, columns that contain only missing or null values are not hidden, as shown in the following image.

When HIDENULLACRS is set to ON, the columns with only missing or null values are hidden, as shown in the following image.

This saves real estate in your report, giving you control over the values that display.

Note: In cache mode, the display of null columns may vary depending on the CACHELINES setting. If there is at least one data value for an ACROSS column in the cached data, the column will not be hidden even when only missing or null values display in some of the pages.

Procedure: How to Hide ACROSS Group Columns Containing Only Null Values in an Active Report

1. Create your report using a Reporting Object or App Studio.
2. Set the output format to AHTML.
3. Add the fields to your report, including the ACROSS field for which you wish to hide null columns.
4. Run the report.

   By default, the report displays columns that have only missing or null data, as shown by the Espresso column in the following image.

   

5. Save your report.
6. Set the HIDENULLACRS command:
   • In the Preprocessing Other component of your Reporting Object, include the SET HIDENULLACRS=ON command.
   • If you are using App Studio, use the Set tool to set the HIDENULLACRS=ON command.
7. Save your changes and re-run the report.

   The report displays without the columns that contain only null values, as shown in the following image.

   

   Notice that the column for Espresso is now hidden.

   Note: In cache mode, the display of null columns may vary depending on the CACHELINES setting. If there is at least one data value for an ACROSS column in the cached data, the column will not be hidden even when only missing or null values display in some of the pages.

   You can use the HIDENULLACRS SET command to control the display of ACROSS columns with only missing or null data when working with small or large reports.