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Has somebody used TClientDataset(MIDAS) with RBuilder?

edited July 2001 in General
Then, what's the adverse effect?

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  • edited July 2001
    -----------------------------------------
    Article: Midas and End-User solution
    -----------------------------------------

    Can Midas be used to build end-user reporting solutions?

    The short answer is not currently. We plan on developing
    a solution for a future release.


    When using Midas the client side uses a TClientDataSet.
    And you can certainly use TClientDataSet with ReportBuilder:

    TClientDataset --> TppDBPipeline --> TppReport

    Therefore any end-user solution would have to utilize TClientDataSet.

    However, the are some other factors here...


    1. The Report Explorer has to work with TClientDataSet. This has
    not been tested and will likely have issues because the TClientDataSet
    will need to be refreshed when a folder or item is added.

    2. The Query Tools, available from the Data tab of the report designer,
    build SQL statements for query based TDataSet descendants such as
    TQuery, TADOQuery, TIBQuery and other products. TClientDataSet is
    not SQL based - although they can be connected to a data provider
    that is SQL based. So the issue here is that for every TClientDataSet
    created by via DADE, there would need to be a SQL based Provider on
    the server side.

    In addition the Query Tools rely on communication with a Session
    (or Connection) object to a get list of available tables, fields, etc.
    from the database.

    Query Wizard <--> DADE Plug-in


    DADE Plug-ins are sets of classes that implement the above functionality
    for various database connectivity products such as BDE, ADO, IB Express,
    Direct Oracle Access, etc.


    Our current thinking is that implementing 3 tier End-User reporting
    would require creating a DADE plug-in for the client side
    functionality plus a Server side API to handle requests for creating
    data providers and returning the available tables and fields.

    Remote DataModule Client
    ----------------- -----------------

    AppServer Query Wizard <--> daRemoteSession



    Cheers,

    Jim Bennett
    Digital Metaphors


  • edited July 2001
    Thanks for your response, Jim.



    Currently, Iam using the model above. Borland is going towards
    TClientDataset instead of the two tier model. So, it would be nice for
    Report Builder to come out with that 3 tier End-User Reporting model. With
    Linux version of RB, it would be more exciting to see it soon too. Again,
    Thank you....
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