[sims] Distributing rows dynamically from SIMS Individual report (Word 2010)

[HughR]

I am setting up a SIMS Individual Report table using Word 2010 for the template. The Table displays a Teacher Report Comment in a large box on the left of the table. To the right of this table are a further two columns split into 4 rows (Target, Grade, Behaviour, Mock Grade). When the large box expands with some of the rather lengthy teacher reports, only the bottom-most of the 4 rows expands; making the whole thing unsightly and unprofessional-looking.

 

Now, on a single document, fixing this is a simple matter of highlighting the four rows and selecting 'Distribute Rows Evenly' and it will fit them nicely to the height of the Comment box.

 

Unfortunately, I have to produce a few hundred of these to a short deadline - is there any way to dynamically resize these rows as the reports are generated by SIMS? Example below...

 

 

I would be most grateful for any assistance!

[simpsonj]

I would set the rows on the right to a fixed height so that the comment box on the left is as big as the biggest comment available (1000 characters?). I don't believe you can set the rows to resize dynamically (unless there's a macro out there that will do it), so I would just ensure each comment box is the maximum size allowed, that way they'll all look uniform and will make any issues with page layout a lot easier too.

[vikpaw]

Another scary method, which may break something else is to nest tables. So you effectively separate the comment from the rest of the cells which should maintain their relative sizes. We used to have nested tables before, but it can be problematic.

 

The problem with a programmatic solution (Macro) is that it won't save into the DMS with the change, and causes errors on re-open. There are other threads about these issues. But, if it's just for the sake or printing it out now, you could try this, then fix the permanent copies later, but i always find other jobs take over then you get left with a broken job that you never get back round to.

 

I'm wondering if you can just have two stand alone tables, i think that is possible..

[HughR]

Thanks for your suggestions peeps.

 

Ok, I have actually taken a much simpler approach nad used a single cell table and used Tab Stops to tabulate the data in a suitable position - the problem with nested Tables (which was a solution I'd already thought of) is that it printed the table regardless of whether there was 'no data' (i.e. the 'Suppress Rows without and results' option). This approach is not attractive, but it works which at this point is preferable to frantic attempts to fix a broken thing when the deadline is TOOOOO close.

 

I'll have a play around - perhaps with two tables when there's not such a looming deadline.

[bobsmith]

I realise this is a massive necropost - but I found a solution that works when nesting tables.

 

Typically it's all or nothing when you want a subject area printed out in a report - so instead of using "hide rows without data" you can use report section breaks and "hide sections without data".