Default viewer settings

rbuser

RB 10.04, Delphi 7, dbExpress, ASA 9.02

Previously I have used a descentant of TppCustomPreviewer to force a
maximized view of the report rather than the normal version displayed by
default. Now adding text search and email features in the same way as the
demo's suggest, this descendant version of the viewer overwrites the icons
and therefore the features. I only used it to maximize the screen size.

Is there a better way to default the screen size to maximized, and can you
set default values such as text search option for ALL reports rather than
having to select the for each report?

Thanks,
Bill Skelton

nicocizik

Hi Bill,

If you are loading templates, you can always assign the preview form
settings after the template has been loaded in order to keep the setting
consistant for every report. You would need to use a template event such as
OnLoadEnd in order to do this successfully. Also, a very easy way to create
a custom preview is to use the preview plugin archeticture which keeps all
the normal functionality and allows you to simply change what you like.
Below are a couple articles that may help.

----------------------------------------------
Tech Tip: Using Template Events
----------------------------------------------

The Report.Template object has several events that can be used for
customizing what happens when a report is loaded or saved:

- OnLoadStart
- OnLoadEnd
- OnNew
- OnSaveStart
- OnSaveEnd


The OnLoadEnd and OnNew events are often used to perform actions related to
report and data initialization.

The OnSaveEnd event is often used to save additional descriptive ("meta")
data to the database each time the report is saved.

Example:

The Report.Template events are public and therefore must be assigned at
run-time.


1. In the private section of your form declaration you can declare an
event-handler method:

TForm = class(TForm)
private
procedure myTemplateOnLoadEndEvent(Sender: TObject);

public

end;


2. In the Form.OnCreate event, you can assign the event-handler to the
event:

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin

ppReport1.Template.OnLoadEnd := myTemplateOnLoadEndEvent;

end;


3. Implement the event-handler method:

procedure TForm1.myTemplateOnLoadEndEvent(Sender: TObject);
begin

{add code here to initialize the report or data, etc. }
ppReport1.PrinterSetup.MarginTop := 0.5;

end;

-----------------------------------------
Article: Creating a Preview Plugin
-----------------------------------------

Q: I've followed the tutorials and registered a Preview Form replacement but
that did not affect the TppDesigner's Preview workspace.


A: Do not use the form replacement, but rather, there is a different
architecture built into the preview form that is registered by default.



You will need to register a TppPreview descendent. The class you register
is used to create the preview controls inside the standard print preview
form and the designer preview workspace.


Here is an example of creating a simple custom preview that access the
viewer its been assigned in order to change the page color. You can also do
more advanced operations such as adding and removing buttons and change the
behavior of the preview form. Access the inherited controls via. protected
properties and override the virtual methods in order to customize behavior.

Open ppPreview.pas and view the TppPreview class as a guide to create a
custom preview descendent.


unit MyPreviewPlugin;

interface

uses
ppPreview;

type
TMyPreviewPlugin = class(TppPreview)
public
procedure BeforePreview; override;

end;


implementation

uses
Graphics;


procedure TMyPreviewPlugin.BeforePreview;
begin
inherited BeforePreview;

Viewer.PageColor := clRed;

end;

initialization
TppPreviewPlugIn.Register(TMyPreviewPlugin);

finalization
TppPreviewPlugIn.UnRegister(TMyPreviewPlugin);

end.

--
Regards,

Nico Cizik
Digital Metaphors
http://www.digital-metaphors.com