End user reports - Configuration Management How?

rbuser

I've hooked end user reporting into many of our client/server applications.
Now other people in the company are learning to create their own reports. I
don't know how to handle CM now that others have access. Separating into
folders doesn't really help. Any third party tools that plug-in? I use VSS
for source code CM. How is everybody else handling this? Thanks.

nardmoseley

There are different approaches to this, here are some options:

1. Use a local database to store the reports. Each user can have their own
local database to store and retrieve reports.

2. Implement the TppDesigner.OnCustomOpenDoc and OnCustomSaveDoc events. You
can additional datafields to the folders and items database tables and store
and retrieve the security info using these events. (see article below for
more info on these events).

3. You might be able to use Queries for the Folders and Items tables to
select on only the folders and items that you want the user to have access
to.




----------------------------------------------------
Tech Tip: Using the Designer OnCustomOpenDoc and
OnCustomSaveDoc events
----------------------------------------------------

The Designer OnCustomOpenDoc and OnCustomSaveDoc events can be used to
control the loading and saving of reports. For example, you may want to add
a security feature which does not allow the user to load certain reports.

When the OnCustomOpenDoc, OnCustomSaveDoc events are assigned, the
report designer will not save or load any reports - it will instead fire
the events and your event-handler code will be responsible for taking
the proper action.

For example, in ppDsgner.pas there is a method called
TppDesignerWindow.LoadTemplate that contains the following statement:


if Assigned(FOnCustomOpenDoc) then
FOnCustomOpenDoc(Self)
else
aReport.Template.Load;


Note that in the above statement, the Report.Template settings will
contain the name of the report that is to be loaded etc.

Likewise the TppDesignerWindow.SaveTemplate method contains the
following:


if Assigned(FOnCustomSaveDoc) then
FOnCustomSaveDoc(Self)
else
aReport.Template.Save;




--

Nard Moseley
Digital Metaphors Corporation
www.digital-metaphors.com