Templates table and dbExpress

rbuser

Hi, i'm migratin an application from the BDE to dbExpress. I have some
end-user reports and want to know if the Templates datasource required
for the dessigner can be connected to a dbExpress table or if it must be
connected to a ClientDataSet, and if so... if i must call ApplyUpdates
or if RB handles it.
Thanks a lot
--
Guillermo Castaño Acevedo
Gerente de Sistemas - Grupo Millennium Ltda
GuillermoC@GrupoMillennium.com
http://www.GrupoMillennium.com

digitalmetaphors

You'll have to recreate the dataviews to connect to dbExpress instead of the
BDE, because a different DADE plugin class is used. The other alternative
is to write a converter that loads a template in ASCII text and converts the
DADE plugin classes from the BDE to dbExpress. I know that this has been
done by other customers for different databases in order to make their
templates portable without worrying about the particular DADE plugin they
were saved/loaded with. You might want to post a new thread asking for
pointers from those who have done it. Of course, we're here too to answer
questions:)

Here is an example to load a binary template to ascii so it an be modified
as ascii text and saved again as binary.

http://www.digital-metaphors.com/tips/ConvertBinaryTemplateToASCII.zip


There is an end user example for dbExpress in the RBuilder installation.
Start there to familiarize yourself with the components and settings. The
latest version of RB 7 contains a couple of fixes to the dbExpress DADE
plugin that you will want have. Make sure you are using this version.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Sorry, i'm a little confused here... which are the DataViews? The Pipelines?
I can re-create the reports, it's not a problem right now. I'm just wondering if
RB will handle saving the folders/items info in the tables when using CDS and
dbExpress and if RB components must be attached to the CDS or the dbExpress
components.
Thanks again
--
Guillermo Castaño Acevedo
Gerente de Sistemas - Grupo Millennium Ltda
GuillermoC@GrupoMillennium.com
http://www.GrupoMillennium.com

digitalmetaphors

Sorry, I totally missed the question. RB can be used with any TDataset
descendent. The main thing that is necessary is that the autoincremented
field ID comes back from the database after a post for a new template
record, either a folder or item, and the datasets need to be
multidirectional. You need to use the TSQLClientDataset as shown in the end
user demo as it is multidirectional. It is unlike the other unidirectional
dbExpress components which can't be used by ReportBuilder. ReportBuilder's
datapipeline architecture requires multidirectional datasets.

Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors

rbuser

Now all is clear again
I was very affraid for a while because a simple question required a lot of work.
Nice to hear is as easy as you say now
Best of luck.
Justa a note: TSQLClientDataSet is deprecated on D7, so is a better approach to
use the old and reliable CDS.
Thanks again
--
Guillermo Castaño Acevedo
Gerente de Sistemas - Grupo Millennium Ltda
GuillermoC@GrupoMillennium.com
http://www.GrupoMillennium.com

rbuser

Hi Guillermo Casta?o A,

TSimpleDataSet replaces TSQLClientDataSet.
(from D7_whats_new.pdf)


regards,
Chris Ueberall;

digitalmetaphors

We found that out when we tried to run DBExpress in Delphi 7. We're using
the TSimpleDataset in the DADE plugin for DBExpress for Delphi 7 already.


Cheers,

Jim Bennett
Digital Metaphors