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Component for including templates

edited November 2017 in General
Hi,

I have to develop a mechanism, where a end-user can place a component
on his report. This component will load/include a template. This
template is stored as a .ltm-file in database.

My solution looks like this:

1.) Create new component based on TppLabel
Caption can be used to display templates name but
1.1) How can I avoid that end-user will ca edit this caption?
1.2.) How can I prevent printing the component, but allow previewing in
designer?

2.) On printing/previewing the report the template(.ltm) should be
loaded and element have to be visible, but on designing the report they
are not visible.

Any ideas how to make my solution work.

Tia Carsten

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Comments

  • edited November 2017
    Hi Carsten,

    Is the goal to enable the end-user to add a background image/watermark to
    the report? Or what is the goal?

    Is there a list of .ltm's the user can choose from?

    To load a .ltm, the report needs a Design Layer. Does the end-user create
    the Design Layer? Or is it already created (i.e. an existing report they are
    editing vs a new report)

    A couple of ideas:

    1. Instead of a custom component, add a Designer menu item the end-user can
    select to add/remove the layer. Similar to selecting Report | Title to add a
    title band, etc. When the end-user selects the menu item, create the design
    layer, load the .ltm, and set LayerOptions Visible to false to hide it from
    the Design workspace.

    2. Similar to number 1, but have the menu item display a dialog, like RB
    does for Report | Groups. From the dialog the user can select from a list
    of options and then the dialog will add/remove the design layer.







    Best regards,

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

    Best regards,

    Nard Moseley
    Digital Metaphors
    www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited November 2017
    Hi Nard,

    the end-user shall be able to design a template (header or footer,...)
    once and re-use it in several reports. This template can contain any
    element being supported by RB.

    He will be able to choose one (or more) templates out of a list.

    Your ideas 1 and 2 sound very good, I will discuss them with my
    productowner.

    But your idea is much to static, the inclusion of the layers have to be
    done on runtime/printing the report.

    UseCase:
    Adam adds template A to report R
    Bob changes template A==>A'
    Adam runs Report R which includes changes from templae A'

    Idea:
    In TppReport.BeforePrint templates will be loaded as designlayers, so
    end-user can see them within designer and preview and on printing.

    Question: How/where do i store within the report, which templates have
    to be loaded. Is it TppReport.Parameters?

    Tia Carsten


    Nard Moseley (Digital Metaphors) stellte die Frage :

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    Hint: We altered the sources!Hint: We altered the sources!
  • edited November 2017
    I Have been testing some events.
    Beforepritn seems not to be the solution, as added designlayers are not
    shwon within designer and its preview.

    After playing around, I think he best solution to update my templates
    is after loading them. As our reports are stored within a database, i
    will just have to look for TppReport.template.loadfromDatabase in my
    code and add my methods for updating my templates.

    Or is there any other event?

    Tia Carsten
    Nach längere Bedenkzeit hat Nard Moseley (Digital Metaphors)
  • edited November 2017
    Hi Carsten,

    Try using the Report.Template.OnLoadEnd event to call
    DesignerLayer.Template.LoadFromDatabase. Use a Report Parameter to save the
    name of the template.




    Best regards,

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

    Best regards,

    Nard Moseley
    Digital Metaphors
    www.digital-metaphors.com
  • edited November 2017
    Great hints, works as expected

    BTW, Property template and its events are not published to IDE in 18.0.

    Tia Carsten

    Nard Moseley (Digital Metaphors) hatte dann diese Idee :

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    Hint: We altered the sources!Hint: We altered the sources!
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