Easytrieve Report SKIP and Spacing

REPORT Spacing Parameters

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REPORT PAY-RPT LINESIZE 132 PAGESIZE 60 +
  SKIP 1 +
  TITLESKIP 2 +
  CONTROLSKIP 2 +
  SPACE 2
 
  TITLE 01 'PAYROLL REGISTER'
  TITLE 02 'RUN DATE' RUN-DATE
  LINE 01 EMPNO EMPNAME DEPT GROSS
  CONTROL DEPT
  SUM GROSS

All spacing keywords appear on the REPORT header line before TITLE and LINE declarations. Values are numeric line or space counts. Broadcom processes them during report writer layout—not during JOB record logic—so changing SKIP never alters which records PRINT selects.

SKIP — Between Line Groups

Imagine LINE 01 prints employee id and name, LINE 02 prints address fields—one logical employee block. After both lines print, SKIP 1 inserts one blank line before the next employee's group begins. SKIP 0 packs rows tightly for tape-style extracts where paper cost does not matter. SKIP 2 or more suits management summaries where reviewers annotate between entries.

TITLESKIP — After Headings

TITLE lines form the heading block at top of page or section. TITLESKIP inserts blank lines after the entire TITLE group before detail LINE output begins. TITLESKIP 2 leaves two blank lines between the last TITLE row and first detail LINE—classic layout for boxed reports. Too little TITLESKIP makes column headers collide visually with title text; too much wastes PAGESIZE lines and triggers premature page breaks on short reports.

CONTROLSKIP — After Control Totals

On control reports, when DEPT or REGION changes, the report writer prints subtotal lines then resumes detail. CONTROLSKIP sets blank lines after those total lines before the next detail group. When you omit CONTROLSKIP, Broadcom defaults to one blank line plus whatever SKIP specifies—so SKIP 1 with default CONTROLSKIP yields two lines of separation after totals in many configurations. Explicit CONTROLSKIP 0 tightens subtotal-to-detail transition for summary-only layouts; CONTROLSKIP 3 emphasizes break boundaries for auditors scanning department subtotals.

SPACE — Horizontal Item Gaps

SPACE on REPORT sets default horizontal spaces between consecutive items on a LINE statement—between EMPNO and EMPNAME, for example. LINE may also use +n or -n offsets per item for fine tuning. REPORT SPACE provides baseline gap so you do not repeat +2 on every field. Compare SPACE 1 versus SPACE 3 on 132-column LINESIZE: wider gaps reduce columns available for long name fields—balance readability with truncation risk on MASKed fields.

SKIP Versus LINE Numbers

LINE 02 without printing LINE 01 still defines a group structure. SKIP does not replace intentional blank LINE rows inside a group—use empty literals or reserved spacing LINE items when you need blanks within one employee block. SKIP always operates between complete groups. Mixing both is valid: internal blank LINE 02 for signature line, SKIP 1 between employees.

PAGESIZE and Vertical Budget

PAGESIZE sets lines per page. TITLE lines, TITLESKIP, detail LINE heights, SKIP gaps, control totals, CONTROLSKIP, and footing lines all consume the budget. Increasing SKIP on a 60-line page may push departments to spill an extra page—acceptable for readability, costly for warehouse-scale print runs. Test with production PAGESIZE and realistic record volume; development LINESIZE 80 on PAGESIZE 60 misleads pagination tests.

Control Report Spacing Example

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REPORT DEPT-SUMMARY LINESIZE 132 PAGESIZE 58 +
  SKIP 0 CONTROLSKIP 2 SUMMARY
 
  TITLE 01 'DEPARTMENT SUMMARY'
  LINE 01 DEPT EMPNO GROSS
  CONTROL DEPT
  SUM GROSS

SUMMARY on REPORT suppresses detail—only control totals print. SKIP matters less for detail gaps; CONTROLSKIP still separates consecutive subtotal line groups when multiple CONTROL levels print in sequence. SUMMARY plus generous CONTROLSKIP produces clean management rollup pages.

Common SKIP Mistakes

• Expecting SKIP to skip records in JOB logic—that is IF/GOTO or SELECT.
• Large SKIP on small PAGESIZE—unexpected page breaks every few records.
• Ignoring default CONTROLSKIP+SKIP interaction on control reports.
• Coding spacing parameters after TITLE—must be on REPORT header.
• Applying SKIP tuning to XML reports where parameters are ignored.

Testing Spacing

1. Print sample with SKIP 0 vs SKIP 2—count lines per employee group.
2. Control report—vary CONTROLSKIP; verify gap after subtotal before next DEPT detail.
3. Measure TITLESKIP effect on distance from TITLE 02 to first detail column.
4. Confirm PAGESIZE eject points with production TITLE+SKIP totals.

Explain It Like I'm Five

SKIP is putting an empty line between each stack of homework pages so you can tell one student's work from the next. TITLESKIP is leaving space under the big title at the top before the first answer row. CONTROLSKIP is leaving space after the little test score summary before the next student's answers start again. SPACE is how far apart words sit on the same line—like wide versus narrow notebook ruling.

Exercises

1. Add SKIP 1 and TITLESKIP 1 to a sample REPORT; describe visual change.
2. Explain default CONTROLSKIP when SKIP is 1.
3. When is SKIP 0 appropriate versus SKIP 2?
4. Contrast SKIP with an empty LINE 02 row inside one group.
5. List three REPORT parameters that affect vertical spacing.