New User Question

rbuser

I am very new to using Report Builder Pro and wanted some advice on the best
approach to the following.

I want to create a Delphi form where the user selects a set of parameters
and then pass these into my report.

What are the pros and cons of these 2 approaches:

1) Create a parameterised TQuery and then set the query parameters before
opening the query and printing the report. (this doesn't seem to make use of
the extra functionality avialable in the Pro version)

or

2) Create a dataview using DADE and set the parameters using the
'BeforeAutoSearchDialogCreate' event.

Thanks for any advice.

--
Kind Regards,

Matthew Pascoe
Logistics Information Systems
Ph: (02) 9236 7325
Fax: (02) 9590 9293
Mob: 0418 465 353

digitalmetaphors

The second approach is usually preferable, because it allows you to save the
report in a file or the BLOB field of a database table. You can then reload
the report from anywhere in the app, since it is not 'form bound'. This
means that you can change report definition, send the new report to the
user, and your app can automatically use the modified report.

With the first approach the report is bound to the TQuery and saves it in
the Delphi form. In order to change the report, you have to recompile the
app.

--
Cheers,

Tom Ollar
Digital Metaphors Corporation

rbuser

Hi Tom,

Thanks for your reply.

A couple of further questions:

1) If I do use the first approach, I can still save the actual report layout
to file and let the users modify it, can't I?

2) I would like to use the second approach, but have a Delphi report
selection form that contains controls the user selects the report parameters
from (eg dates, drop down combos, etc) and use these to 'override' the
autosearch options and set the parameters in code. If I create a copy of
this report and 'detach' it from the Delphi form, will the autosearch option
just re-activate itself?

Thanks & Regards,
Matthew.