Setting report filename in server

rbuser

Hello,

One of the scenarios we're using RB Server in is to print employee payslips
via the browser. Depending on who the employee is depends on which report
file is printed, as they may belong to a different company that has a
different report layout.

Can you please tell me if what I'm doing is right and what I need to get it
to work, or if there is a better way?

The web page generates this request directly:

http://localhost/selfservice/RBServer/ssreports.dll?content=viewer&volume=Payslip&name=archive_pay&persno=3745&year=2008&period=1

i.e. a standard call to retrieve the report 'archive_pay.rtm' from the
Volume 'Payslip'. There are custom parameters for the employee number, and
which payslip period to show.

The WebTier adds the content parameters to the report server's custom
session parameters. These gets passed across correctly.

I have a TrsReportTemplateVolume component on a DataModule in my Server
application. StorageType is stFile.
Its OnValidateReportParameters event takes the employee number, period &
year and uses them to add to the query of the report before it is fired.

However, given the employee number, I then run a query to find out which
report file layout I should be using. This returns a full path to the report
file, which I then set the rsReportTemplateVolume.FileDirectory with.

Running this gives me an error that report 'archive_pay' could not be found
in volume 'Payslip'. So it seems that the name from the original web request
is being used. It tried it without passing a "name" parameter but it told me
that no report name had been specified, so I added it back in.

Please can you give me some advice as to how I can change the filename of
the report within the Report Server before it opens? Am I even using the
most appropriate components?

Thank you,
Jason.

--
Jason Sweby
Software Development Manager,
Carval Computing Limited, Plymouth, UK

Payroll - HR - T&A - Access Control

nardmoseley

1. The ReportTemplateVolume.FileDirectory properties needs to be set prior
to the server running and should not be modified. The FileDirectory property
specifies the root directory where all of your reports are stored. The
ReportTemplateVolume uses that to generate a list of the available reports.

The Volume represents a collection of reports. The client can optionally
browse the collection of reports and the cleint can specifiy which report to
run.

2. Keep in mind that the Server is request/response.

3. A client or webtier can call ValidateReportParameters to send parameters
to the server for validation. ValidateReportParameters is a boolean
function.

When the client/webtier calls ValidateReportParameters the params are sent
to the server and the ReportVolume.OnValidateReportParameters event is
triggered. You can use the event to perform validation and set the aIsValid
parameter to true/false.

4. When a request is made to run a report, the server validates the report
name against the catalog. Is the report does not exist, then an error will
be returned.

5. There is not an event designed to handle what you are trying to do. You
could try to implement something like this (have not tried it, so I am not
sure whether it will work).

a. Use the ReportVolume.BeforePublish event to query the database to
determine what report to run. Store the result in a private field of the
datamodule

FReportFileName := 'c:\somereport';

b. Use the ReportVolume.OnLoadStart event to replace the aStream with the
report.

aStream.LoadFromFile(FReportFileName);




--
Nard Moseley
Digital Metaphors
www.digital-metaphors.com