Asterisks Showing on a Report

Why are asterisks printing on a report?

Each field on a report has a maximum size specified that will fit on the report. It has both a maximum size for the space available on the report and for the number characters that can be used in it. In most cases, you will never run into these max limits on a report. However, some reports require us to use smaller fields so that we can fit all of the information onto the report. The size allotted is sufficient for most clients, but sometimes someone needs the field stretched. In these cases we can stretch the field for just that client. This can be done manually within the software for some reports, and in other cases we can update the field with a patch.

You can manually adjust most situations with the steps below. In the example below, we will be editing the units field on the Owner Distribution Statement.

1) The first step is to determine if you can edit the format of the report. If it is a check format, then yes, you can edit it. If it is a report, then you can look under the utilities menu to see if you can find an option to modify the report in question. You can edit all of the owner statements.

2) Create a backup. You really only need to backup the 2 files that represent this report. However, some people aren't able to pinpoint exactly which files these are. So an easier option is to just create a backup of the whole Rpts or Checks folder within the install directory. The Rpts folder contains the formats for all reports and the Checks folder contains the formats for all checks. The backup is needed so that if you don't like the end result, you can restore the backup and try again.

3) View the report again and take note of the code in the top right corner. It will be named "dmrostmt1a" or something similar.

4) Go to the utilities menu and choose to modify reports, Modify Owner Statements, then choose the owner distribution statement. Several options will be available depending on what options are marked when you preview the report. If you aren't sure which one to pick, then start with the top one and work your way down.

5) The report designer will appear. Look at the code at the top of the report and make sure it is the same as noted in step #3. If it is the same, then you are in the right report. If not, then go back to step #4 and pick a different report.

6) You will need to edit the "nunits" field (or whichever field needs edited) which will be located just above the gray Detail bar. A bunch of fields will be jumbled, so you just have to guess at where it is. Double click where you think it is. This will bring up a Field Properties window.

7) The expression field should say nunits (or whatever you are looking for). If it does not then you have selected the wrong field. It is likely that you will select the wrong field a time or two. If you selected the wrong field, then press cancel. Then go to the format menu and choose to send to back. That will move the field behind all of the others. You can then repeat Step #6 to try and get the correct field again.

8) Once you have selected the correct nunits field, go to the Format tab and look at the Format Expression field. Each "9" represents one digit. Are enough nines listed here to support the units that need to be on the report? For example, "999,999.99" will allow a number up to the hundred thousands. If a number over a million needs to be reported, then it will not work.

9) If the format expression doesn't account for enough digits, then add some nines to increase the amount of digits that it will report.
If the format expression does allow for enough digits, then that is not the problem. The problem is that not enough space is allocated for the number on the report. You can press the Cancel button.

10) Once you cancel out of the field properties window, the nunits field will still be selected. Hold the Shift key on your keyboard while pressing the right arrow on your keyboard. That will stretch the field to make it bigger. If the field isn't big enough then that can also cause the asterisks to be created.
I would hold the shift key while pressing the right arrow about 10 times. That should be sufficient for about any adjustment that is needed. This will be stretching the field to the right, which will cause the information to overlap. One you are done with that adjustment I would then click on the left arrow on your keyboard 5-10 more times without the shift button held. That will move the whole field left so that nothing is overlapping.

11) Close and save the report. Print it again to see if the asterisks remain. You may have to repeat the process a few times until it is perfectly adjusted.