When I do the tutorial the part to Create a Customized Print Preview Form seems to be missing something When I follow the instructuions and open ppPrvDlg from RBuilder\Source directory the form that loads does not have anything on it.
So I am at a loss when step 5 instructions say: "Select the panel at the top of the form (named pnlPreviewBar)."
Sorry, this section of the Developer's Guide needs to be updated. Below is an article and example that will get you on the right track.
----------------------------------------- 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;
Comments
Create a Customized Print Preview Form
seems to be missing something
When I follow the instructuions and open ppPrvDlg from RBuilder\Source
directory
the form that loads does not have anything on it.
So I am at a loss when step 5 instructions say:
"Select the panel at the top of the form (named pnlPreviewBar)."
Where is it?!?!?
Bill
Sorry, this section of the Developer's Guide needs to be updated. Below is
an article and example that will get you on the right track.
-----------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.digital-metaphors.com/tips/AddControlsToPreview.zip
--
Nico Cizik
Digital Metaphors
http://www.digital-metaphors.com