'Report Template' refers to the binary image created when a report layout is saved to a file or to a database BLOB field. You can use report templates to free your report definitions from the confines of the executable in which they are being utilized. Therefore, if you need to make modifications to a report, you can do so without recompiling and redeploying your entire application. Simply send the new report layout file or database table containing the report layouts to your users.

If you save report layouts to files or database BLOB fields, you can use them to create a versioning system for reports. This way, the original reports supplied with your application are never modified, but end-users can create versions of these reports. In order to allow end-users to modify the reports via the Report Designer, ReportBuilder Professional is required.

ReportBuilder report templates leverage technology already present in Delphi. The same logic that is used to save the state of objects as configured on a Delphi form (and stored in a dfm file) is used to save the components of a report layout (in an rtm file). In order to view the content of an .rtm file, set the Report.Template.Format to ftASCII and save the report. Then open the resulting rtm file in the Delphi code editor. You will be able to see the structure of this file format.

File-based Templates
You can load and save report layouts to files using the Report Designer. You can also accomplish this programmatically:
 

1. Using the Report Designer: Set the Report.Template.SaveTo property to stFile (this is the default value).
	A. Saving a Report Layout Select the File | Save As… menu option from within the Report Designer. The standard Windows file save dialog will be displayed, enabling you to save the report template to a .rtm file.
	B. Loading a Report Template Select the File | Open… menu option from within the Report Designer. The standard Windows file open dialog will be displayed, enabling you to select and open a .rtm file.
2. Programmatically
	A. Saving a Report Layout The following code saves a report in the ‘test.rtm’ file:
ppReport1.Template.FileName := ‘c:\test.rtm’;      ppReport1.Template.SaveToFile;
	B. Loading a Report Template The following code opens a report layout and prints the report:
ppReport1.Template.FileName := ‘c:\test.rtm’;      ppReport1.Template.LoadFromFile; ppReport.Print;

Database Templates
You can save and load data-based report templates by using the Report Designer or programmatically.

Defining the Database Table
Report definitions can be stored to any database table with the following structure:

Connecting the Report object to the database
Once the database table has been defined, the next step is to connect the report to the database table. This task is accomplished by configuring the following properties of the Report.Template object. You can do this via the Delphi Object Inspector or programmatically.

Report.Template.DatabaseSettings.NameField := ‘Name’;
Report.Template.DatabaseSettings.TemplateField := ‘Template’;
Report.Template.DatabaseSettings.DataPipeline := plReports;

Loading and Saving Reports
 

1. Using the Report Designer: Set the Report.Template.SaveTo property to stDatabase.
	A. Saving a Report Layout Select the File | Save As… menu option from within the Report Designer. A special Save dialog will be displayed, showing all reports in the given database table. You can name the report and then save it to the table.
	B. Loading a Report Template Select the File | Save As… menu option from within the Report Designer. Once a report is saved, you can load it by accessing the File | Open dialog.
2. Programmatically
	A. Saving a Report Layout The following code saves a report in the ‘test.rtm’ file:
ppReport1.Template.FileName := ‘Order Summary’;      ppReport1.Template.SaveToDatabase;
	B. Loading a Report Template The following code opens a report layout and prints the report:
ppReport1.Template. DatabaseSettings.Name := ‘Order Summary’;      ppReport1.Template.LoadFromDatabase;      ppReport.Print;