Evaluation questions

rbuser

Hello,

I am currently evaluating RB and want to provide my customers with the
ability to change reports themselves. So i have build the end-user reporting
app from the examples and run it on a interbase database. So far so good. I
have three questions:

1-There is a data tab but i see no tables appearing. Is this because it is a
demo version or should i provide more things in the app.
2-how do i call a report from my Delphi 7 app ? I see no example of it.
3-I am thinking of taking RB or FastReport as new report engine. Would
anybody care to comment to this?

TIA,

Jerri

nardmoseley

Thanks for your interest in ReportBuilder.

1. There are examples that use Interbase located in RBuilder\Demos\EndUser
Databases\Interbase. There is a SQL script that you should use to create the
supporting table for Interbase. There is a ReadMe.doc included with each
example.

When you run the application, the report explorer should appear. You can
access the report designer by creating a new report. From the Data tab of
the report designer you can select File | New and then select either the
QueryDesigner or QueryWizard. A list of the available tables in the database
should appear.

Make sure that the Designer.DataSettings properties are configured properly.
Set the DataSettings.DatabaseName to reference the database connection
object on the form. Set Use DataDictionary to False.

2. To call a report that is stored via the report explorer - see the article
the following article which is reposted here from the Templates thread of
the Tech Tips newsgroup:


---------------------------------------------------------------
Tech Tip: How to Programmatically Load Reports that were Saved
using the Report Explorer
---------------------------------------------------------------

1. The ReportExplorer has a run-time interface you can use to load reports
using the ReportExplorer.LoadReport method. You can use this method without
actually 'showing' the report explorer form. (See the online help topic for
TppReportExplorer.)

2. If you want use Report.Template.LoadFromDatabase, RB will locate the
report stored in the database table based upon the NameField value only.
However, for the rb_item table you need Folder_Id, Name to locate a record
uniquely.

To override this default behavior, assign an event-handler to the
Report.Template.OnLocateRecord event.

example:

TmyForm = class(TForm)
private
function ReportLocateRecordEvent(Sender: TObject; const aReportName:
String): Boolean;

end;

procedure TmyForm.FormCreate(Sender, TObject);
begin
{assign the event handler}
FReport.Template.OnLocateRecord := ReportLocateRecordEvent;

end;


function TmyForm.ReportLocateRecordEvent(Sender: TObject; const aReportName:
String): Boolean;
begin
{add logic here to locate the record and return True if it is found}

Result := myLocateReportFunction(FFolderid, aReportname);

end;


3. ReportBuilder is the only Delphi product to have been voted Delphi
Informant Readers Choice - Product of the Year - for 4 years in a row. The
ReportBuilder newsgroups are good barometer for the activity level of the
product and the support that is provided.



--
Nard Moseley
Digital Metaphors Corporation
http://www.digital-metaphors.com