Hello Lee,
Seagate Crystal Reports uses a three-pass reporting method to generate reports. The sections below describe what happens during each step of this process.
This is an extract from the Seagate Crystal Reports Development guide :
What is a "pass"?
A pass is a process that Seagate Crystal Reports uses each time the data is read and manipulated. Depending on the complexity of the report Seagate Crystal Reports may make 1, 2, or 3 passes over the data. This feature allows for complex reporting and formula manipulation.
Pre-pass #1
When previewing a report, the first elements to be evaluated are "constant" formulas. Constant formulas are those that have a constant value for the entire report. They do not change from record to record. For example, 100* 30 would be a constant formula.Constant formulas are evaluated at the beginning of the print generation process and are never evaluated again. This process is known as "BeforeReadingRecords". If you were to place a constant formula field (i.e.,100*30) in the Details section, the result would be 3000 for each record displayed.
Pass #1
After the "BeforeReadingRecords" process has taken place, Seagate Crystal Reports begins reading the database records. During the record reading process, the following will occur:
Record retrieval. Where possible record selection and sorting are pushed down to the database in this step.
Evaluation of recurring formulas. These formulas are those that contain database fields but do not contain references to subtotals or summary information. This evaluation time is known as "WhileReadingRecords" .Formulas that contain references to subtotals or summary information are processed in the second pass.
Application of the record selection locally. If the record selection is too complex to be pushed down to the database, it is applied by Seagate Crystal Reports in this step.
Sorting, grouping, and totaling. In this step, Seagate Crystal Reports sorts the records, separates them into groups, and then calculates the subtotals and summaries needed for each group.
Cross-Tab generation.
Storage of saved data. After the totaling process is complete, all of the records and totals are stored in memory and to temporary files. Crystal Reports does not read the database again, but instead uses this saved data during all subsequent processing.
Pre-pass #2
During Pre-Pass #2, Seagate Crystal Reports orders the groups in the report for Top/Bottom N or Hierarchical Grouping. The records are not read in this process, instead Seagate Crystal Reports only looks at group instances from Pass 1, and takes the Top N as appropriate, or orders the groups based on the Hierarchical Grouping settings specified.
Pass #2
Seagate Crystal Reports enters the second pass through the data to format pages. The pages are formatted on demand. This means that Seagate Crystal Reports will not format a page until it is requested by the user, or it is required for the total page count in Pass #3.
During page formatting, Seagate Crystal Reports does the following:
Group selection formula
Running totals
Calculation of formulas marked "WhilePrinting Records"
These are formulas that contain references to subtotals or summary information, also known as "PrintTime" formulas. This evaluation time is known as "WhilePrinting Records".
Charts and maps
Subreports
Generate Pages on Demand
Note: Subtotals, grand totals, and summaries may be incorrect if the report has a group selection formula. This occurs because the grand totals and summaries are calculated during Pass #1, but the group selection formula filters the data again in Pass #2. Running total fields can be used instead of summaries to total data in reports with a group selection formula.
Pass #3
In the third, and final pass, the total page count is determined. This applies to reports that use the total page count, or Page N of M, special variable fields.
So,as you can see above,the Total Page Count is the last field to be determined.So, only when all the records are detremined and visible ,can the Page Count field (Page M of N )be visible.
Remedy : What I would possibly like you to try is that instead of directly using "Page M of N" field, try concatenating 3 fields :
1st field : Page M (it is a special field)
2nd field: Create a Text Field and type "of"
3rd field : Create a "Total Count Field"
Concatenate all the three fields .Please try it and see,if it helps.
Regards,
Pooja M.,
http://home.attbi.com/~pooja.mohan