Inherited reports and persistensein database

danni

Hi,

I have been looking at the inherited part of the designer - creating / loading reports using the inherited function.

My setup:
I have implemented the 4 open and save events in the environmentSettings control, so data is saved and loaded through the SaveToString /LoadFromStringmethods and posted to a database.

1. I create a report with a Test: "header" in the pageheader and a text: "Footer" in the pagefooter. Not using the datasource at all.
2. Save the base report to the database.
3. I create a new report using the "new inherited report" function.

NOW... when I see the report I should see the items from the base report, correct? Or am I mistaken? I have a feeling that the base reprot is not loaded at all when creating an inherited report.

How can I fix this you recon?


Thank you

AlexTZ

Hello,

You need to implement the report.LoadBaseReport event.

FReport.LoadBaseReport += new CustomLoadEventHandler(FReport_LoadBaseReport);

private void FReport_LoadBaseReport(object sender, CustomLoadEventArgs e)
{
  // e.FileName contains the name of base report. It may be the file name, or an ID in the database,
  // it depends on how you load the main report
  e.Report.Load(@"d:\fr.net\demos\reports\" + e.FileName);
}

danni

Hello

I have implemented the environmentSettings_CustomOpenDialog and environmentSettings_CustomOpenReport evnet.

This is where I add the event, but the event is never called when I press newInheritedReport.

private void FrmReportdesigner_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
       SplashController.StartSplashLoadingData("Henter data til rapportdesigner...");            

       ResigerData(_currentReport);
       designerControl.Report = _currentReport;
       _currentReport.LoadBaseReport += new CustomLoadEventHandler(CurrentReport_LoadBaseReport);
       designerControl.RefreshLayout();
            
       SplashController.StopSplash();
}

AlexTZ wrote: »

Hello,

You need to implement the report.LoadBaseReport event.

FReport.LoadBaseReport += new CustomLoadEventHandler(FReport_LoadBaseReport);

private void FReport_LoadBaseReport(object sender, CustomLoadEventArgs e)
{
  // e.FileName contains the name of base report. It may be the file name, or an ID in the database,
  // it depends on how you load the main report
  e.Report.Load(@"d:\fr.net\demos\reports\" + e.FileName);
}

AlexTZ

Try to use the LoadBaseReport event in your CustomLoadReport event handler:

// wire up event
e.Report.LoadBaseReport += new CustomLoadEventHandler(CurrentReport_LoadBaseReport);

// load the main report
e.Report.Load(...);

// unwire event
e.Report.LoadBaseReport -= new CustomLoadEventHandler(CurrentReport_LoadBaseReport);

danni

It is not when im loading an existing inherited report. But I can see a challenge there aswell.

It is when i want to create a new inherited report.

when i create a new inherited report the only event thats beeing called is the event environmentSettings_CustomOpenDialog.


the eventhandler environmentSettings_CustomOpenDialog, should know if its a basereport or just a normal report thats beeing opened. SO i can call loadReport or loadBaseReport. But I cannot see how its can done.

AlexTZ

wrote:

This is where I add the event, but the event is never called when I press newInheritedReport.

I've tried to do the same, and the event is called. Could you make a simple demo for me?

danni

I can attatch the CustomreportDesigner.cs file if that can help you?

AlexTZ

I need a simple demo that I can compile and debug.
For example, if I modify the Demo.exe source in the following way:

    private void DesignReport()
    {
      FReport.LoadBaseReport += new CustomLoadEventHandler(FReport_LoadBaseReport);
      FReport.Design();
    }

    void FReport_LoadBaseReport(object sender, CustomLoadEventArgs e)
    {
      throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
    }

I see that the event handler is called when I do "New inherited report".

danni

Hi again.

I have made a fast example where I have done the following:

1. added the designer control to a form.
2. added environments to the designer and oimplemented the open/save methods with a simple messagebox only.
3. added a loadbaseReport event to the designer.report in the Form.Load evnethandler


The message "loadignbaseReport..." is never shown.

AlexTZ

The reason is simple: your opendialog event handler is empty. You don't provide a report name in this event. Since the name is not provided (empty), the LoadBaseReport event is never gets called - because there is nothing to load.

Modify the code in the following way, and the LoadBaseReport event will fired:

        private void environmentSettings1_CustomOpenDialog(object sender, FastReport.Design.OpenSaveDialogEventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("OpenDialog...");
            e.FileName = @"d:\1.frx";
        }

danni

Ahh, simple soultion :-)

I use the e.Data Property in the openDialog handler to provide the reportID from the database into the custon openReport. But I will try using the filename insted ans see what happens.

Thank you :-)

danni

Okay... this means the designer does not support loading basereports other than from a file.

1. If i specify a "dummy" filename. The designer throws a FileNotFoundException.
2. if I specify the report ID from the database as filename I get an invalid fileformat

AlexTZ

No, it does [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> - In the CustomOpenDialog event you return a "filename" in the e.FileName parameter. It may be either a file name, or something else (for example, database row ID). - In the CustomOpenReport or LoadBaseReport events, you handle loading a report from a location specified in the e.FileName parameter. It depends on what your CustomOpenDialog returns. If you work with database, treat e.FileName as a row ID.[/img]

danni

if I add a rowID as filename i get the error in the attached file.

I add the following: e.Filename = 14 + "";

Then I get the error below.

Is there a property I need to set to ignore true filenames in the "e.Filename"?

AlexTZ

14 + "" would generate a compiler error [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Here is what I do and it works well for me:[/img]

    void DesignerSettings_CustomOpenDialog(object sender, OpenSaveDialogEventArgs e)
    {
      e.FileName = @"myfile:d:\1.frx";
    }

    void DesignerSettings_CustomOpenReport(object sender, OpenSaveReportEventArgs e)
    {
      if (e.FileName.StartsWith("myfile:"))
      {
        string fileName = e.FileName.Remove(0, "myfile:".Length);
        e.Report.Load(fileName);
      }
    }

Looks like I need another test project from you

danni

Yes, when using a real filename it works fine.

BUT when i use id's to a database and save/load reports to a string it fails.

Try use an id insted of a filename.

AlexTZ

As you can see what I use is not a file name - it's a kind of ID. Yes, finally it becomes a file name, but this is just to demonstrate that the technique is working well.

danni

I worked out some magic.

I had this beautifull line except it looked like this (uncommented) he he
//designerControl.Report.LoadBaseReport += new CustomLoadEventHandler(Report_LoadBaseReport);

Now I can create a new inherited report.


Next: [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> I cannot save the report. How do I do that? my report.BaseReport is "14" - the id of the baseReport, which is great. thank you for your patience with me[/img]

AlexTZ

I will prepare a new demo under Demos\C# folder. I think it will be useful to others who want to store their reports in a database.

danni

I think so too.

please include the load/save with inheritance aswell. Thats the only problem I have left in the designer apart from a few restrictions in the designer :-)

I have no problem saving the report but when i open it again i have no small locks on the fields from the inherited report. As if I loose the conenction with the basereport when I save it to the database.

AlexTZ

I've added CustomOpenSaveDialogs demo (under Demos\C# folder). And fixed some errors in the fastreport.dll [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> The fixed version will be available in 6 hours.[/img]

danni

Hi Alex

Back from summer holidays.

Can I pass an ID from a report in my database as e.Filename in report_LoadBaseReport now?

I'm not too sure how to load the base and inherited report when storing reports in a database.

Thanks

AlexTZ

Hello,

Please look at the C#\Demos\CustomOpenSaveDialogs demo. It does exactly what you need (in fact, this demo was written for you

danni

Hi Alex

I have used your example against the xml file. Iit works very well against databases now.

Thanks! :-)