Richtext

rbuser

We are using Delphi 2009 and RB 11.06.

If we add a richtext to a report and mark it as mailmerge and link a field
to the richtext component when running the report or previewing it we get
the field name associated with it (minus the first letter) instead of the
data from the field.

nicocizik

Hi Simon,

I'm a bit unclear what you mean by "link a field to the RichText component".
Are you using a TppDBRichText component or TppRichText? If you wish to use
the mailmerge feature, you will need to use the TppRichText component and
take advantage of the mailmerge side bar in the RTF editor. This makes it
very easy to add fields to the richtext control. Simply add a TppRichText
component to your report, right click and select edit.

In my quick testing this functions correctly.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

We are using the TppRichText clicking edit and using the mail merge side bar
to add a field but in preview it shows the field name munus the first letter
instead of the data eg
the following displays otes instead of the data
Notes

nicocizik

Hi Simon,

If possible, please send a simple example demonstrating this issue (perhaps
using the DBDEMOS database) that I can run on my machine to
support@digital-metaphors.com in .zip format and I'll take a look at it for
you.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

I dont have the DBDEMOS data.

I created a new project (Delphi 2009) with just a adoconnection, datasource
and adoquery (SQL 2005 server) using ADO

Added a pipeline and report. Table in SQL does not matter. Add a richtext
and edit and add mail mege field. Preview the report and you get the field
name minus the first letter. I ensured connection and dataset were active.

nicocizik

Hi Simon,

If you have Delphi, you have the DBDEMOS database . It is the data used
in all our demos.

I did a quick test using D2009, SQL Server and the example Northwind
database and everything worked as expected. If you would like, I can send
you my test example.

You can send me an example using SQL server. I have SQL Server here that I
can test with however I will need some data to run your report(s).

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

I have done some more testing using a basic app and Excel as the data source
and it appears to work whne running the report.

I noticed that the field attached to the richtext control weas prefixed with
the pipeline.

We use sql views to drive the reports and I noticed that the field has no
prefix for the source of the data, is this the issue ?

rbuser

Hi Nick

Done a bit more testing and it appears fine if just do a basic report
linking to SQL Server.

The Only Difference I can is that the pipeline as prefixing the field when
I create a report using Delphi at design time.

However when I run the designer at run time is does not prefix the field see
below.

From Delphi at design time we get
NAME

When we run the designer form our app we get

NAME

nicocizik

Hi Simon,

The pipeline attribute in the merge text instruction is to access pipelines
not connected to the report. If this is left empty, ReportBuilder will
automatically use the pipeline connected to the report
(Report.Datapipeline). Take a look at the TppRichText.MergeText topic in
the ReportBuilder help for more information on how this feature works. The
easiest way is to use the Merge Text side bar of the RTF editor to define
which pipeline you would like to use for the field selected.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

Thanks for your help, I have got to the bottom of the problem not sure if it
is a bug or not

If use the add field button to add the field to the richtext then it formats
it like this Code and this does not work, if I change it to
then it works. This is in run time design mode form our app. Not sure why it is formating it with the dbtext at the beginning and end of the field name?

nicocizik

Hi Simon,

Thanks for the info. The "" syntax is for backward compatibility. "Code" is the new syntax and should perform the same task. So far, using the new syntax, I am unable to recreate the behavior you are getting. If this is a bug, the only way I'm going to track it down is by seeing it in action. If you can recreate this with a simple application, please send it to support@digital-metaphors.com and I'll take a look at it. -- Regards, Nico Cizik Digital Metaphors http://www.digital-metaphors.com

rbuser

I am using ver 11.06 does this make any difference ?

rbuser

I have been looking at this in more detail and do not understand wht the old
worked but the new FieldName does not work.

When we create a report at runtime we use dummy views for the user to select
from eg ZZ_MYVIEW (this has no data in it) but when we run the actual report
we change the view name to the correct view eg AA_MYVIEW. Will changing the
view name at report runtime cause this issue?

nicocizik

Hi Simon,

This could have an effect depending on when you are changing the name of the
View. Basically ReportBuilder retrieves data from a connected dataset
as-is. If the timing at which that data becomes available does not coincide
with when it needs to be retrieved, problems can occur.

If you would like, you can trace into the RB source where all of this is
being processed. Perhaps it will give you some clues on why one method is
working and the other is not.

Try setting a break point inside the TppCustomRichText.MergeDBFields routine
in the ppRichTx.pas file (This file will need to be in your Delphi library
path). The MergeDBFields routine is kept for backward compatibility. The
MergeTaggedDBFields routine attempts to merge with the new syntax.

My guess is the problem is near the top where the MergeDBFields routine
checks if the pipeline is nil.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

We have debugged this issue it is failing on the following code from
pprichtx.pass

lDataPipeline := Band.Report.DataPipeline;

if (lDataPipeline = nil) then

begin

MergeTaggedDBFields;

Exit;

end;



Our Datapipeline is not nil so the code is not firing



Any Ideas

nicocizik

Hi Simon,


This is true however you will see at the bottom of the routine that
MergeTaggedDBFields is eventually called whether the pipeline in nil or not.

Are you by chance using InfoPower? We recently had a similar issue with a
customer using InfoPower that we were able to recreate and solve.

--
Regards,

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

rbuser

Hi Nico,

I'm replying on Simon's behalf. Yes we are using infopower.
Interestingly, the old method for marking a merge field still works.

Thanks,

Steve Branley

nicocizik

Hi Stephen,


Thanks for the information. For future reference, it is very helpful if you
let us know which components you are using prior to asking a question
(especially the components that directly relate to ReportBuilder and the
issue you are having).

There is a patch to the InfoPower plugin available that fixes this issue. I
sent the patch to your email address however if anyone else would like the
patch, please contact support@digital-metaphors.com.

--
Regards,

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