Version 9.0 – 10/11/2005 Delphi 2005 support Designer Enhancements New Object Inspector New Undo/Redo support New Workspace grid and snap-to-grid support New Toolbar/ToolWindow architecture New Undo support for drag and drop from data tree Report Component Library (RCL) Enhancements New Rotated Text support, added Angle property for text controls New Border property for all controls Full Article…
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Terminal Services and Citrix
ReportBuilder applications can be deployed to run on Windows Terminal Services and Citrix. We have customers that have deployed to both of these environments. However we do not have any direct experience with either of them. In general, ReportBuilder requires the windows user account to have full security access rights to the printer(s).
C++ Builder
ReportBuilder does not currently support C++Builder. One option is to use Delphi to create the reports and compile them into a package that can be used by C++ Builder.
Unicode
ReportBuilder for Delphi 2009 is Unicode based. (ReportBuilder for Delphi 2007 and prior is Ansi string based). Delphi 2009 introduces full Unicode support – the IDE, RTL and VCL are all Unicode based. A new UnicodeString datatype has been introduced and String now maps to UnicodeString (rather than AnsiString as it does in Delphi 2007 Full Article…
Delphi Translation Tools
Tech Tip: ReportBuilder and Delphi’s Translation Tools To use the Delphi Language Translation support with ReportBuilder you need to add the ReportBuilder .dfm files that are used by your application to the language resource DLL. When you run the Resource DLL Wizard there is a screen that gives you the opportunity to add .DFM files.
Custom Languages
Adding your own language translations to ReportBuilder. ReportBuilder 12 introduced the Extensible Language Architecture allowing developers to create and/or add as many custom language translations to ReportBuilder as needed. Below is a quick tutorial on how these features can be utilized. Language Basics Language files are stored and loaded as dynamic link libraries Full Article…
RB International Support
ReportBuilder includes built-in support for 11 international languages. There is a translation app available for performing additional translations or customizing the existing translations. When you install ReportBuilder there is an option to install a default language and to install any additional languages. When creating reports, you can use the Report.Language property to specify a language Full Article…
Troubleshooting: “Tee000” error
Question: When I install ReportBuilder or manually install TeeChart using the RBTeePackageBuilder utility, I receive the error “”Cannot open file ‘C:\…\Tee000\…’. The system cannot find the file specified.” Answer: This error indicates that the built in RB/TeeChart package builder cannot detect a version of TeeChart installed for the version of Delphi you are using. Full Article…
Troubleshooting: Trial Version Compatibility
Question: “I downloaded a trial version of ReportBuilder and receive a Delphi compile error when trying to use it in my projects” There are separete ReportBuilder Trial versions for each version of Delphi. For example, if you are using Delphi 2007 make sure that you have downloaded the ReportBuilder trial for Delphi 2007. Did you Full Article…
Tech Tip: Installing RB WinHelp
Tech Tip: Installing RB WinHelp The ReportBuilder installation process installs the ReportBuilder help files and merges them with Delphi’s Help system. WinHelp Delphi 7 and prior use WinHelp. In order to manually ‘uninstall’ the ReportBuilder help: Use the Windows Explorer to locate the following directory: C:\Program Files\Borland\Delphi7\Help Use NotePad to open the following file in Full Article…
Tech Tip: Installing RB TeeChart Support
Tech Tip: Installing RB TeeChart Support The ReportBuilder installation process builds and installs the RB TeeChart packages to work with the version of TeeChart you have installed on your machine. Most Delphi distributions include a free version of TeeChart, a popular charting component published and sold by Steema,www.steema.com. ReportBuilder includes TeeChart wrapper components that enable Full Article…
Tech Tip: Installing RB Help 2
Tech Tip: Installing RB Help 2 The ReportBuilder installation process installs the ReportBuilder help files and merges them with Delphi’s Help system. Help2 Delphi 2005 and later use MS Help 2. MS Help 2 is used by Visual Studio and the MSDN Library as well. MS Help 2 is very different from WinHelp in that Full Article…
Tech Tip: Demo Location
Tech Tip: Location of the Demos and Tutorials after installing ReportBuilder ReportBuilder includes numerous completed tutorials and hundreds of useful demos that can help beginners and experts achieve their reporting application goals. To find and use these demos and tutorials, see the instructions below. ReportBuilder 11 or later During the installation of ReportBuilder 11 or Full Article…
Manually Uninstalling Learning RB
Tech Tip: Manually Uninstalling Learning RB Delete c:\Program Files\Learn ReportBuilder. Delete C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Start Menu\Programs\Learn REportBuilder. Delete Registry Entries: a. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Digital Metaphors\Learn ReportBuilder b. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Uninstall\Learn ReportBuilder
Installation File Names
ReportBuilder installation file names contain a suffix that corresponds to the Delphi version to which they apply. Examples: rbEnt7.exe = ReportBuilder Enterprise for Delphi 7 rbEnt11.exe = ReportBuilder Enterprise for Delphi 2007 rbEnt15.exe = ReportBuilder Enterprise for Delphi XE rbEnt22.exe = ReportBuilder Enterprise for Delphi XE8
Delphi.ohl Could Not Be Opened
Question: “I tried to install ReportBuilder, but I received an error: ‘The file c:\Program Files\Help\Delphi7.ohl could not be opened’.” Answer: Possible causes of this problem are: Delphi is not installed. Delphi was installed as a “compact” installation and thus the Delphi help files are not installed. Each ReportBuilder installation program is designed to work for a Full Article…
Cleaning Up a Corrupt Install
TECH TIP: Cleaning up a Corrupt Installation If you have been advised by Digital Metaphors technical support that you may have a corrupt installation, or if you are having difficulty installing, compiling or running applications after a ReportBuilder install, then it may be necessary to manually remove all ReportBuilder files from your system. Corrupt installations Full Article…
Training and Consultants
Ed Dressel Experienced Delphi developer and long time ReportBuilder user. Member of our TeamDM volunteer support group. He works as a consultant. Cary Jensen Well known in the Delphi community as an author, trainer, consultant
Resources for Learning RB
Learning ReportBuilder Learning ReportBuilder is a complete learning system designed to teach end users how to build a range of reports, but it is also an excellent resource for the developer who is just getting started with RB. Learning RB includes a 125-page PDF file, a stand-alone application complete with a database, and a help Full Article…
Links
Name Description Order Information https://www.digital-metaphors.com/order Tech Support Options https://www.digital-metaphors.com/support/newsgroups.html International Support https://www.digital-metaphors.com/download/language_support.html Data Add-ons https://www.digital-metaphors.com/download/dade_plugins.html Components https://www.digital-metaphors.com/download/report_component_library.html Output Devices https://www.digital-metaphors.com/download/output_devices.html
Licensing
ReportBuilder (RB) licensing is similar to Delphi licensing – you need one RB license for each Delphi Developer. You may compile ReportBuilder reports into an application and distribute royalty-free. You can also build royalty-free end-user reporting solutions. However you may /not/ build a stand alone reporting application, a query application, or an application that could possibly compete Full Article…
End-User Tutorials
Learning ReportBuilder Learning ReportBuilder is a complete learning system designed to teach end users how to build a range of reports. This system includes a 125-page PDF file, a stand-alone application complete with a database, and a help file. The PDF file is comprised of a series of tutorials that step end users through the Full Article…
Convert Crystal to RB
We do not have any automated conversion from Crystal Reports. However, most customers find that converting existing reports to ReportBuilder requires much less time than they imagined. Following the steps below should provide a good estimate of the amount of time and experience that is required. Spend some time going over RB Developer’s Guide. This Full Article…
Packages vs COM vs Dlls
Question: “What are the advantages of using packages compared to Dll’s?” A good overview of Packages (BPL) vs DLL’s is available on delphi.about.com http://delphi.about.com/od/objectpascalide/a/bpl_vs_dll.htm Packages (BPL) The Delphi package architecture is often overlooked, however, it is in fact so powerful that the MS .Net platform copied it. In .Net the term is Assembly, but conceptually it Full Article…
Minimize Size of Executable
Question: “How can I minimize the size of my application executable (.exe) when using ReportBuilder?” Answer: Part of the overhead is linking in supporting vcl and data access class libraries. Part of the overhead is linking the RB library. Probably about 600K or so for the core reporting library. If you include the Designer, Query Tools, etc. Full Article…
Distributing With Packages
Question: “Which ReportBuilder packages do I need to distribute with my applications? I am using the Delphi ‘build run-time packages’ option.” Here is a list of the common ReportBuilder run-time packages. The xy suffix in the package names below will vary by ReportBuilder version and Delphi version. Name Description rbRCLxy Report Components rbIDExy Report Designer and supporting dialogs rbDBxy Full Article…
How To…DataSnap
Question “How can I use DataSnap to implement an end-user reporting solution?” Solution On the client side, use the DADE plug-infor DataSnap (daDataSnap.pas) and ClientDataSets. On the server side implement a simple dsServerModule with the supporting data access components. Download: rbDataSnap.zip DataSnap Client 1. Connect the ReportExplorer to ClientDataSets. ClientDataset –> DBPipeline –> ReportExplorer 2. Include daDataSnap.pas. Full Article…
How To…Add a PDF button
Question “How can I add a PDF button to the Report Explorer toolbar?” Solution The following example shows create and register a custom ReportExplorer form descendant. Download: ReportExplorerAddPDFButton.zip Sample Delphi code: uses ppForms, ppExpFrm, ppTBX, ppToolResources, ppTypes; type TmyReportExplorerForm = class(TppReportExplorerForm) private FPDFButton: TppTBXItem; protected procedure ehPDFButton_Click(Sender: TObject); virtual; public procedure Initialize; override; property PDFButton: Full Article…
Report Parameter Fundamentals
Report Parameters are very useful in allowing users to modify information and aspects of a report from outside the report itself. Report Parameters can also be used to manually create search criteria and search lists in conjunction with the AutoSearch feature of ReportBuilder. Creating Parameters Parameters are added to the report using the Report Tree. Full Article…
Registration of Components
TECH TIP: Controlling the End-User Environment If you are having difficulty getting the Data tab, the Calc tab, the crosstab component or the TeeChart component to appear in your end-user application, or you are trying to eliminate one of these capabilities from the app, then this help topic is for you. The following paragraphs explain Full Article…
RBuilder Ini Storage
The TppDesigner IniStorageType and InitStorageName properties can be used to control how ReportBuilder stores user preferences. 1. IniStorageType 1.1. IniFile 1.2. Registry 2. IniStorageName IniStorageType Controls the location where user preferences are stored. There are two predefined storage types: Registry and IniFile. The default value is IniFile. The registry key or file name is Full Article…
Naming Objects and End-User
TECH TIP: Naming objects in the End-User Environment In ReportBuilder, each of the objects in a Report (Labels, DBText, etc.) has a UserName property. The Report Designer and its dialogs display the object’s UserName rather than the Name. The UserName is also used to reference objects when writing RAP code. Assigning a UserName: Select the Design Full Article…
How To…Edit Templates as Text
Question “How do I manually edit report templates stored in my database as text files?” Solution Stream the templates from thier BLOB field using the GetFieldAsStream routine of the DataPipeline. Use the built-in Delphi routines ObjectBinaryToText and ObjectTextToBinary to load and save each template to and from text. Once the template has been edited, use Full Article…
End-User Databases
DADE Plug-ins The Visual Query Tools in ReportBuilder support a wide spectrum of database engines and data access component sets via a plug-in architecture. By default ReportBuilder installs plug-ins for ADO, IBExpress, dbExpress and BDE. There are some additional plug-ins installed to the RBuilder\Demos\EndUser Databases examples: (DBISAM, Advantage, and Direct Oracle Access (DOA), NexusDB. A complete Full Article…