Skipping to a specified label

rbuser

I have a need to make the application skip to a specific label position. I
found a prior post that provided a sample SkipLabels.zip. I went through
that example and was successful at making it work.

However, in my application I am storing the reports in the database and
opening them, running in designer to preview, etc. The events such as
OnStartFirstPass, OnStartSecondPass and ppDetailBand1BeforePrint do not seem
to fire if I load the report from database. I am sure I am overlooking
something simple.

Is the example in SkipLabels.zip the correct way to handle printing at a
certain label position even if you are loading reports from the database?
If so, how do I make the events fire? If not, what is the best solution?

Thanks,
Bob

nicocizik

Hi Bob,

The easiest solution would be to code something similar to the SkipLabels
example in RAP for each template that needs this functionality. See the
article below for more information why this is happening.

--------------------------------------------
Article: Troubleshooting Lost Event Handlers
--------------------------------------------

Let's assume you have created a report in Delphi and assign an event
handlers to the OnPreviewFormCreate event of the report. The event is
generated by Delphi as:

procedure TForm1.ppReport1PreviewFormCreate(Sender: TObject);

You then save the report to an RTM file 'Report1.RTM.' The events are
stored as references only, and so the RTM contains:

object ppReport1: TppReport
.
.
OnPreviewFormCreate = ppReport1PreviewFormCreate
end

You then go on to work on a different report. Saving it with under then
name 'Report2.RTM'. Only this time, before you save the report you
change the report component name to: rptOrders. Delphi automatically
updates the event declaration for OnPreviewFormCreate event to:

procedure TForm1.rptOrdersPreviewFormCreate(Sender: TObject);


You then create two buttons on the form, one to load Report1 and
preview, the other to load Report2 and preview. When you run the app
and click Report1, you an error. This is because the Report1.RTM file
contains a reference to ppReport1PreviewFormCreate, a method which no
longer exists (at least with this name) in the form.

One answer is to load all your rtm files into the report component you
will be using for loading. Fix any errors, reassign any events that get
cleared. This will update your rtms to contain the proper event handler
names.


--

rbuser

I have RAP, can you point me in the right direction with RAP? How would I
go about accomplishing the specification of a specific label to print to in
RAP?

Thanks,
Bob

rbuser

I have been working with RAP but have not found a way to accomplish the
"skip to label position" issue. I am sure there is a way. Can you provide
me some direction? Also, how will I pass the value to the RAP variable from
the application?

Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

nicocizik

Hi Bob,

Sorry for the delay. I went ahead and created close to the exact example
using RAP and Report Parameters for you. Hope this helps.

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

--

rbuser

That was very helpful and I now have it working very well. There is one
concern I have. As my users make report changes, they must go to the two
functions and enter their DBText and Label components Visible properties.
Is there a way to adjust those functions to make them set the visible
property to true / false of all objects in the detail band? In other words,
as it stands now, if the end user decides to add an additional field to the
label, they must edit the code in two places. It would be nice if I could
loop or otherwise enable / disable all objects in detail band to keep down
support from end users. Is there a way to do that?

Thanks,
Bob

nicocizik

Hi Bob,

You might try placing a TppRegion inside the detail band with its
ParentHeight and ParentWidth properties set to True. Then your users will
be forced to place their components in the region and you can just toggle
the visibility of the region to hide every component in the band.

--

rbuser

That will work.

Thanks,
Bob

rbuser

It looks like a region prints a box around it. Is there a way to turn that
off? Surely I am missing something. The region idea works great except
with labels, we don't want the square around it.

Thanks,
Bob

nicocizik

Hi Bob,

You're going to want to set the TppRegion.Pen.Style property to psClear.
This is a published property so it can be set in the Delphi Object Inspector
at design time.

--

rbuser

Hello,

I'm very new to RB. I use version 9.03 enterprise.

I've looked at the project:
http://www.digital-metaphors.com/tips/SkipLabelsRap.zip

When I execute this project and enter 5 labels to skip, then it will do just
fine.
But when I close the preview and press the preview button again the 5 labels
will not be skipped anymore. (same goes for any other number of labels to
skip.)
Could you please tell me what should be changed to the project?

Regards,
Stef

nicocizik

Hi Stef,

Try calling ppReport1.Reset at the beginning of the ButtonClick event. This
should solve the problem.

--
Regards,

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