empty report into the Database

rbuser

Hello.

Maybe the question had been asked, but I want to know if there is a way
to insert manually into the database a empty report.

If I just make a record with NULL in the Template field, RB says invalid
template. Is there any means to do that ?

Thanks.

JFPicard

rbuser

Also, if I may ask, I'm using the report designer without the report
explorer and the Size, ItemType and Modified field of my report item
table is always NULL. Do I have to put a report explorer into my form
even without using it ?

Thanks.

JFPicard

nardmoseley

You can use the report designer to create an empty report and then save the
empty report to the database. (An "empty report" will be a report with at
least a detail band. It will contain all of the published properties of a
TppReport object)



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

nardmoseley

Are you using the report explorer elsewhere in the application? Below are
two tech tips. The first discusses using the report explorer database tables
(rbFolder, rbItems). The second discusses defining a simple database that
contains the name and template fields only.


---------------------------------------------------------------
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;



------------------------------------------------------
Tech Tip: Loading Report Templates from a Database.
---------------------------------------------------

Reports can be saved to a database at design-time or run-time.


1. First, you need to setup a database table with a BLOB field for storing
the templates and a string field for storing the name of the templates:

For this example let's create a paradox table called reports.db


Reports.db
--------------------------------
Reports Name char(40)
Template blob


Of course you can add other fields also, but this is what ReportBuilder
needs.


2. Connect the ppReport1.Template property to the database by setting the
required properties. (you can do this with code or at design-time via the
ObjectInspector.)

{specify that the templates will be loaded and saved from a database}
{the other valid value is stFile}

ppReport1.Template.SaveTo := stDatabase;


{note: stDatabase is defined in ppTypes, therefore you will need to add
ppTypes to the 'uses' clause of your unit.}

{note: you'll need a DataSource and a DataPipeline to connect the reports.db
to the template, so let's say we've done that and have a DataPipeline called
dpReports}

{specify the datapipeline and datafield names to connect everything}

ppReport1.Template.DatabaseSettings.DataPipeline := dpReports;

ppReport1.Template.DatabaseSettings.NameField := 'Name';
ppReport1.Template.DatabaseSettings.TemplateField := 'Template';


3. Specify the name of the particular template you want to load or save.
(again you can do this at run-time or via the object inspector.)

ppReport1.Template.DatabaseSettings.Name := 'myTestReport'


4. Save or Load the report template.

(You can also do this at design-time using the menu options File | Open &
File | Save. The reportdesigner will attempt to load from a file when you
specify ppReport1.Template.SaveTo := stFile and will attempt to load from
adatabase when you specify stDatabase. If you specify stDatabase and do not
specify the other DatabaseSettings props mentioned above, the options may be
disabled.)

ppReport1.Template.SaveToDatabase;
ppReport1.Template.LoadFromDatabase;

That should about cover it. I would try setting all the properties at
design-time and getting that working first.

Then you can try the run-time stuff.


--
Tech Support mailto:support@digital-metaphors.com
Digital Metaphors http://www.digital-metaphors.com



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