ppPrvDlg?

rbuser

I was going to customize the print preview dialog but I think the source
code i have is incorrect. I saw in the developers guide that you have to
open ppPrvDlg.pas. This is a blank form with no components on it? Do I
need to download the source from somewhere or am I looking at the wrong
file?

Thanks All,
Branden Johnson

nicocizik

Hi Branden,

The current preview dialog is mostly created in code. This is the reason
you do not see any components on the PrvDlg form. The preferred way to
replace the preview dialog is to create a preview plugin. Take a look at
the following article on how this is done. Also, if you would like to see
all the components that are currently used in the preview, take a look a the
ppPreview.pas file.

-----------------------------------------
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