Deploying RTM files

rbuser

I want to deploy my reports using RTM files.
In my app I'll have only one DataModule with a ppReport component that will
load and print the RTM files.

Do I need to have one DBPipeline for each RTM file?
Do I need to have all data access components for each RTM file (like
DataSource, ClientDataSetsm, etc)?

Thanks!
Erick

digitalmetaphors

Which edition of RB are you using?

If you have Professional Edition, then you can store the data access
components in the report template by using the Data tab to create query
dataviews.

If you have pipelines that you used to get the data, then you can create
different data access components for each report, or use one query and set
its SQL when you load a certain template. When you use one data pipeline,
you have to set the pipeline to AutocreateFields = true so that new TppField
objects can be created for each field in the new dataset. I would recomment
using the Data tab (Data Access Development Environment - DADE). This will
be the most flexible way to use templates and to keep the data access
components on the datamodule to a minimum for what the application needs.
You'll just need to have the common connection object for all of the DADE
based reports.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

> If you have Professional Edition, then you can store the data access

This way I don't even need a Pipeline?

Can I use DADE without BDE?
I'm using DBExpress and it is not clear for me how to use DADE without BDE.

Thanks!
Erick

digitalmetaphors

Look in the ..\RBuilder\Demos\EndUserDatabases\Interbase\DBExpress for an
example.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Thanks, but it is still not clear because that demo is very complex. I don't
need Report Explorer, I don't need Designer and I don't need to save my
reports in database.

I just want to save my report in a RTM file with all data access using
dbExpress.
Would you have a simple example?

Thanks again!
Erick

digitalmetaphors

Just delete the other components to simplify the demo. All you need from
that demo is the TSQLConnection and the TppReport. There should be a
dbExpress DADE plugin installed into Delphi by default in our installation.

Launch the report designer on the form. Open the Data tab. Click File | Data
Settings... menu. You should see a dialog to configure where the report will
get its data. This lets you set the report's datasettings to use the
dbExpressSession for the SessionType at Delphi design time. Then set the
database type and the database name of the TSQLConnection object on your
form/datamodule. Then you should be able to create query dataviews on the
database you have connected to. Then you can save this template to file.

The first step is to test the dbExpress TSQLConnection by using regular
Delphi dbExpress data access components and hooking them up to a TDBGrid if
you're creating a new connection.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Jim,

Thanks for your help, but my Data Settings only shows BDESession, nothing
else.
What's wrong?

Regards,
Erick

rbuser

Could you help me?

Thanks again!

Erick

digitalmetaphors

There should be an entry for ReportBulder Data Access for dbExpress in yoru
Delphi Component | Installed Packages. The bpl is called rbDBExx.bpl where
the xx is your version of RB and Delphi. If you have RB 7 for Delphi 6 the
packages would be called rbDBE76.bpl. It should be located in the windows
system directory on your machine from our installation of RB. Add this
design time package if it is not listed in the Packages dialog.

At runtime, you need to include daDBExpress to your uses clause.

There is a section inthe help file and also in the tech-tips newsgroups on
controlling the end user environment. You'll want to read this and also look
in the read-me.doc in our end user demo for Interbase/dbExpress for more
info on connecting using dbExpress.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors