Customizing Preview Dialog

rbuser

I'm still using the old way of doing this from version 7. Now I've upgraded
to version 9 I believe there is a new way but the tech-tips, help, etc.
still refer to the old way of doing this. Can someone point me to an article
on this.

Ken

nicocizik

Hi Ken,

The process in which you create a custom preview did not change between
version 7 and 9. The most common way to easily create a custom preview
dialog that is available still to create a preview plugin.

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Article: Creating a Preview Plugin
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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

rbuser

Nico,

Thanks for the reply but I also need to be able to add components - can I
not do this graphically?

Ken

nicocizik

Hi Ken,

I'm a bit confused about what you need. Are you trying to customize the
preview window or the designer window? If you want the ability to add
components to a report at runtime you will need to use the TppDesigner
component available in RB Pro or higher. This window however is very
limited in the ways you can customize it. Perhaps a little more information
on what exactly you would like your appliction to do would help me
understand better.

--
Regards,

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