Peter,

This can be done but will require programming on your part.  You will need to write a Java Bean in order to do this.  In our Java Engine installation there is an example that shows how to manipulate text to red or black depending if the text is positive or negative.  It is called the RedBlack Bean Example.  Use this as a guide when writing your own bean.  We have written a bean for a client that does determine the number of characters and if it is too long it changes the font size.  This bean could be modified to do what you are asking which is if the text is too long then replace with a default value of text.  You could then use an IF tag directly following to test if the default text has been placed and then output your long text on the next page if that IF tag evalutates TRUE.

Red Black bean example is located here on the 'Ohana website:  ohana.windwardreports.com/Wiki/tabid/57/topic/Using%20beans%20in%20your%20template/Default.aspx

Our bean guide is located under the DOCS section of this site, it will assist you in writing your own bean:  ohana.windwardreports.com/LinkClick.aspx

Please e-mail support@windward.net if you want access to the font changing bean to assist you in writing your own.

    --Ryan

Hi, Peteryen

Here's the deal with the string-length xpath funciton.

string-length won't work in the query tag because the query tag requires a record set,
but you can select the record using the query tag and then use string-length in a different tag that uses that query's variable:

<wr:query select="/data/field" var="field"/>
<wr:out select="string-length(${field})" />

The set tag is not a datasource enabled tag, it only uses hard-coded values or variables thar are in scope (like ${field}), and so it doesn't use xpath functions, but you can carry a variable through it and use the string-length function on a datasource enabled tag like out tag.

- Tomas