[comp.sys.mac.programmer] Changing Page Orientation w/in Program

boomer@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Rich Akerboom) (06/06/90)

I'm working on an existing endowment investment strategy monte carlo simulation
program written in true basic (a flavor of basic that ports easily between
pc and mac). This package produces lengthy reports showing the results of
the simulation including CEO summary, bar charts, data tables and statistical
information. Some of these pages are landscape orientation, some portait.

We are considering moving this package over to the mac because true basic
(mac version) gives us good font control, allowing us to produce sharp looking
output with out having to format information in pagemaker. We need, however,
to print some pages in portrait orientation, others in landscape-thus we need
a way to change orientation from within our program (oh, program will put
output on screen (and printer if desired)). This needs to be automatic so
users don't need to tend long printouts. 

I asked some mac-programming experts and they said "the user interface guide-
lines say only the user can change orientation, by using the page setup 
dialog."
This makes sense if a whole document is to be one orientation, but why should
this be so? Many books use some rotated (landscape) tables.

Any suggestions on how to program this would be gratefully accepted. As I 
understand it, if I can get hold of the correct print record, I can alter 
the paper and page rectangles which should accomplish what I need.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Rich Akerboom    Internet:  boomer@eleazar.dartmouth.edu