Data Dictionary problems using Asta

rbuser

Hello,

I'm working on integrating ReportBuilder into our thin client front end
product. I'm using Delphi 6, Asta 3, and ReportBuilder 7.01. We're not
trying to use the Explorer right now, but we would like to use the Data
Dictionary as shown in the end-user example. I do have it working now
without the Data Dictionary. I have created the data dictionary tables in
Advantage .dbf tables (rbTable, rbField, and rbJoin) in our default
directory.

When I turn the Data Dictionary on (set ppDesigner.UseDataDictionary =
True), the data no longer shows up in the preview tab. I can see the data in
the preview data window fron the dataview on the Data tab, so I know there's
data in the table.

Another problem I've noticed is that I'm seeing garbage in the Type column
of the data view window on the Data tab, when the Data Dictionary is on. The
size column is showing correctly. When I turn off the Data Dictionary, the
type column is showing the correct datatypes.

Do anyone have any experience with these issues or do you have any ideas how
I can troubleshoot these problems? I would appreciate any help or advice.
Thanks.

-Andy

digitalmetaphors

Try testing the data dictionary without ASTA involved and connect to
Advantage directly to RB, as shown in our installed Advantage end user demo.
This will test to see if the data dictionary is setup correctly.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Hi Jim,

I'm seeing similar results when I try using the data dictionary without Asta
as you suggested below. I'm connecting to Advantage directly using a
TAdsConnection. I can see the tables and fields in the Data Dictionary
builder. I had populated them using the Generate popup menu option in the
builder. One thing I do notice is that all the DataTypes are set to "d".

Is there anything else I can do to make sure the data dictionary is setup
correctly? Thanks for your help.

-Andy

digitalmetaphors

We have not experienced this behavior. If you disconnect our data dictionary
it begins working. Did you use our data dictionary builder to populate the
data dictionary entries? Can you rebuild a small version of the data
dictionary to test just a couple of table and fields in the data dictionary?
Can you disconnect any Advantage data dictionaries and retest using only our
data dictionary? We have the DBDemos demo database ported to Advantage
tables. Is there any way we can reproduce the problem using DBDemos data?
Can you send us an example, perhaps using a sample of your data or DBDemos
converted to Advantage tables? Send it to support@digital-metaphors.com and
we'll take a look at it.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Hi Jim,

I was able to figure it out, but thanks for pointing me in the right
direction. It was a user error based on a documentation error.

I had created my data dictionary tables while taking the tutorials in your
ReportBuilder Developer's Guide (2nd edtition). On page 322, in the Adding
Data Dictionary Support to the End-User Application tutorial, it lists the
size of the dbField.DataType column as 1. This was causing the truncation
of the datatype values to "d" that I noted previosly. And this was
subsequently causing the other problems that I had reported. I expanded the
DataType column to 10, and now my Asta end-user application is working fine
with the Data Dictionary.

Thanks again for your help,
Andy

digitalmetaphors

The tutorials we have in the Developer's Guide are meant for Paradox and
Interbase. There should be Advantage end user tables located in our RBuilder
Advantage end user demo directory. Glad you have it working.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors