How to handle/close FreeReport's Preview? (D7)

[PizzaProgram 9]

I'm trying to create a FastReport Preview that's easier to handle for the user. (Bigger Close button, special page-zoom, etc.)

But I'm a bit confused. Never saw a component that's inherited from TForm but hiding all it's basic functions like: .close();

 

If I try to create it runtime, and place it on my existing form, (inside a panel),

• how do I CLOSE it from my code ?

Also would like to:

•  disable the right-click popup
•   remove the "FastReport - ..." word from the printing title inside the print jobs

 

I've looked at the source code hours long, tried many things, but it ends usually by Access Violation error.

The only thing I was able to find out/fix is:

• to set MyReport.Preview := nil; after usage, so it does not create error.

 

So how do I close + free a preview (after showed or printed) without destroying the original component, that is paced on the form?

 

Thanks for any help / tip in forward 😉

[Zoran Bonuš 12]

For similar reasons, I use an ordinary form with a TfrxPreview component on it.

https://www.fast-report.com/documentation/ProgMan/index.html?creating_a_custom_preview_window.htm

[programmerdelphi2k 237]

maybe help you:

https://www.fast-report.com/public_download/docs/FRVCL/online/en/ProgrammerManual/en-US/Working_with_TfrxReport_component/Creating_a_custom_preview_window.html

https://www.fast-report.com/public_download/docs/FRVCL/online/en/ProgrammerManual/en-US/Working_with_TfrxReport_component/Creating_a_report_form_from_code.html

[PizzaProgram 9]

@Zoran @programmer

You both misunderstood my question.

I know about the basics.

I know about all those links. Those do not help.

 

I can create reports. (Using them since 20 years.)

 

- But how do I close it safely via code? (For example with a timer.)

ONLY the report-preview, not the whole form it's placed on !

Edited December 4, 2022 by PizzaProgram

[programmerdelphi2k 237]

please show your code to create it and say: How would you like to procede?

[programmerdelphi2k 237]

It would be some like this:

{$R *.dfm}

uses
  frxClass,
  frxPreview;

var
  MyFastReport : TfrxReport;
  MyFastPreview: TfrxPreview;

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  MyFastReport  := TfrxReport.Create(nil);   // creating on create-form for quick access...
  MyFastPreview := TfrxPreview.Create(nil);
end;

procedure TForm1.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject);
begin
  MyFastPreview.Free;  // destroying on form-destroy!
  MyFastReport.Free;
end;

procedure TForm1.BtnPreparePreviewClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  if (MyFastReport <> nil) and (MyFastPreview <> nil) then
    begin
      MyFastPreview.Parent := Panel1; // show the "Preview" into "Panel1"
      MyFastPreview.Align  := TAlign.alClient;
      //
      // loading a saved FR file... for quick tests!
      MyFastReport.LoadFromFile('D:\RADRX112Tests\__TEMP\Untitled.fr3');
      //
      // assigning and preparing to show report on Preview...
      MyFastReport.Preview := MyFastPreview; //
      MyFastReport.PrepareReport(true);
    end;
end;

procedure TForm1.BtnClosePreviewClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
  MyFastReport.Preview := nil;  // unAssigning Preview
  MyFastPreview.Parent := nil;
end;

end.

 

Edited December 4, 2022 by programmerdelphi2k

[PizzaProgram 9]

Thank you VERY VERY MUCH ! 🙂

With the help of your example-code, I was able to finish it this way.

[PizzaProgram 9]

21 hours ago, programmerdelphi2k said:

MyFastPreview.Parent := nil;

That was the problem. I've forgot to set that to nil too.

[programmerdelphi2k 237]

ok

[PizzaProgram 9]

I'm still struggling:

How to scroll UP and DOWN a little? (Not a whole page.)

I do not want to add any Focus on that Preview and wanna hide the default scrollbars too.

 

The problem is, that the component is hiding the .FWindow property as it is private. So I can not send any FormKeyDown() event, nor can I reach it's VScrollbar object.

VScrollBar.Position := VScrollBar.Position - VScrollBar.SmallChange // not reachable
MyFastPreview.ScrollBy( 0, -100 ); // does nothing, just flickers the screen for a moment

Any tips how to solve this?

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by PizzaProgram

[programmerdelphi2k 237]

by FastReport DEMO:

  TForm1 = class(TForm)
    frxPreview: TfrxPreview;
    frxReport: TfrxReport;
    HScroll: TScrollBar;
    VScroll: TScrollBar;
    Button1: TButton;
    Button2: TButton;
    procedure HScrollScroll(Sender: TObject; ScrollCode: TScrollCode; var ScrollPos: Integer);
    procedure VScrollScroll(Sender: TObject; ScrollCode: TScrollCode; var ScrollPos: Integer);
    procedure frxPreviewOnScrollPosChange(Sender: TObject; Orientation: TfrxScrollerOrientation; var Value: Integer);
    procedure frxPreviewOnScrollMaxChange(Sender: TObject; Orientation: TfrxScrollerOrientation; Value: Integer);
...

procedure TForm1.HScrollScroll(Sender: TObject; ScrollCode: TScrollCode; var ScrollPos: Integer);
begin
  frxPreview.Workspace.HorzPosition := ScrollPos;
end;

procedure TForm1.VScrollScroll(Sender: TObject; ScrollCode: TScrollCode; var ScrollPos: Integer);
begin
  frxPreview.Workspace.VertPosition := ScrollPos;
end;

procedure TForm1.frxPreviewOnScrollMaxChange(Sender: TObject; Orientation: TfrxScrollerOrientation; Value: Integer);
begin
  if (Orientation = frsVertical) then
    begin
      if (VScroll <> nil) then // not needed under Lazarus
        VScroll.Max := Value;
    end else if (HScroll <> nil) then // not needed under Lazarus
    HScroll.Max := Value;
end;

procedure TForm1.frxPreviewOnScrollPosChange(Sender: TObject; Orientation: TfrxScrollerOrientation; var Value: Integer);
begin
  if (Orientation = frsVertical) then
    begin
      if (VScroll <> nil) then // not needed under Lazarus
        VScroll.Position := Value;
    end else if (HScroll <> nil) then // not needed under Lazarus
    HScroll.Position := Value;
end;


     // assigning and preparing to show report on Preview...
      MyFastPreview.ActiveFrameColor := clBlue;
      MyFastPreview.FrameColor       := clGreen;
      MyFastPreview.BackColor        := clFuchsia;
      MyFastPreview.OutlineColor     := clRed;
      MyFastPreview.OutlineVisible   := true;
      MyFastPreview.HideScrolls      := false;

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by programmerdelphi2k

[PizzaProgram 9]

1 minute ago, programmerdelphi2k said:

frxPreview.Workspace

Thanks, but FreeReport does not have that property. 😞

 

I guess I have to change the source code of FreeReport to be able to handle that.

[programmerdelphi2k 237]

to access fields/property protected you can try:

 

type

  TMyHack = class(  TClass_to_Hack ) ;;// ex.: TfrxPreview

...

to usage

    TMyHack( instance of object ).xxxxProperty/Field   Ex.: TMyHack( MyPreview )

Edited December 5, 2022 by programmerdelphi2k