LazReport Tutorial
Overview
This page started as a translation of the Portuguese language Tutorial de LazReport (which itself appears to be a translation from a French document). It was updated for LazReport (instead of FastReport) on Lazuars (instead of Delphi), using T*Connection instead of a DBase table.
Starting with LazReport
We're going to use a demo database which is provided by Delphi (DBDEMOS). You'll need to create a new application with a main form Form1. To do: rewrite the tutorial with the database as used in the other DB tutorials, i.e. SQLdb_Tutorial0
We're assuming you already have your database set up as specified in SQLdb Tutorial0. If not, please do so.
Place the following components on the form:
- A T*Connection, e.g. TIBConnection:
- DatabaseName := your database, e.g. C:\Program Files\Firebird\Firebird_2_5\examples\empbuild\EMPLOYEE.FDB
- UserName, Password, HostName: as appropriatie (e.g. SYSDBA,password,<none> for Firebird embedded)
- Transaction: TSQLTransaction1
- TSQLTransaction
- TSQLQuery:
- Active: true
- SQL: select * from employee
- TDataSource
- DataSource1.DataSet := SQLQuery1
- TfrDBDataSet
- frDbDataSet.DataSource := DataSource1
- TfrReport
- TfrDesigner
- 2 TButton
- Button1.Caption := 'Editing'
- Button2.Caption := 'Preview'
This results in:
Double-click on the TfrReport icon (or right-click, Design Report) to bring up the report designer:
LazReport lets you link variable names to database fields or system values, in order to spare your end users from having to decipher cryptic field names. In our example, we're going to create a variable for our database fields FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME etc.
In the File menu, click Variables list. Now you get an overview of the defined variables:
Click on the button Variables in order to define some variables. Write the contents according ot the following image. "Demo Variables" represents a category and the other entries (xxx field) represent variables. To differentiate the two, the variables start with a space.
Finally click on OK to confirm your entries, and you'll see this:
As you can see, the category we defined is shown in the ComboBox above the variables. Each variable must be linked with a field. To do this, select the variable and then the field. Do this for all variables; the screenshot shows the link for Hire date:
After closing the variables editor, we're back in our report designer. You may have noticed a small number of objects in the object bar. These are:
- the mouse icon pointer
- rectangle object
- band
- picture object
- subreport
- draw lines
- insert barcode object
Click the band icon, go to the report surface, and click on it to drop a band object.
You must click on the type of band you want to create. Select a report title and click OK.
Band type | Use |
---|---|
Report title | Shown only on the first page |
Report summary | Shown only on the last page |
Page header | Shown at the top of each page |
Page footer | Shown at the bottomof each page |
Master header | Shown at the beginning of the first detail band/level |
Master data | First detail level data |
Master footer | Shown at the end of the first detail band/level |
Detail header | Shown at the beginning of the second detail band/level |
Detail data | Second detail level data |
Detail footer | Shown at the end of the second detail band/level |
Subdetail header | Shown at the beginning of the third detail band/level |
Subdetail data | Third detail level data |
Subdetail footer | Shown at the end of the third detail band/level |
Overlay | |
Column header | Shown at the top of every column |
Column footer | Shown at the bottom of every column |
Group header | Shown at the top of every group |
Group footer | Shown at the bottom of every group |
Cross header | Shown at the top of cross tables/pivot tables |
Cross data | Shows cross tables/pivot table data |
Cross footer | Shown at the bottom of cross tables/pivot tables |
In the Report title band, add a rectangle. The text editor will show up. In the first line the title of the report should be indicated. On the the second, system date and time need to be added. They are obtained by clicking Variable and then Category Other, then double-click on the desired variable. Now we have:
Click OK to exit the editor, then adjust the title rectangle to the desired size. Choose a color for the background with the Bucket Fill button on the toolbar.
Let's insert a master data band, then double click this band to select frDBDataSet1, the main data source for our example.
In the left half of the band we insert a rectangle and double click:
Here we can place several fields, but a rectangle for a single field can be retained in order to apply formatting, for example.
The first line Name [Field Name] is obtained by writing Name and then, with the Variable button, entering the variable [Field Name] (alternatively, you could have written this directly - how?)
The second line - Size [[Table1, "SIZE"] * 2.54]: we write Size and with the DB Field button choose the Size field of Table1. Then to convert this from inches to centimeters, we multiply by 2.54.
Now on the right side of the band, select an image. If you want to always show the same picture, you'd just need to double click on the picture and upload the desired image. However, let's press F11 to show the Object Inspector:
Enter the property with the Memo [ImageField] property. This turns the picture into an object associated with the data field. Our first stage is completed. Save it with same name rapff. A click on the preview gives us:
Now let's write the code required to load and view or edit our rap1frf report. To this add the following code to the project:
TForm1.Button2Click(Sender procedure: TObject);
begin
frReport1.LoadFromFile(' rap1.frf');
FrReport1.ShowReport;
end;
TForm1.ButtonClick(Sender procedure: TObject);
begin
frReport1.LoadFromFile(' rap1.frf');
frReport1.DesignReport;
end;
You have a preview option that gives end users the possibility to modify the report without changing the basic application.
Now we're going to add features to our basic example. You must add a TButton component with Caption := 'Print', and a TPrintDialog. We end up with this:
Also add the printer units in the uses clause of your form and put the following code in the OnClick event of the Print button:
TForm1.bPrintClick(Sender procedure: TObject);
var
FromPg, ToPg, Cpy: Integer;
ind: Integer;
St: String;
Collap: Boolean;
begin
// Load report definition
St:=ExtractFilePath(ParamStr(0));
frReport1.LoadFromFile(St+' rap1.frf');
// Mudando a impressora padrão
ind: = Printer.PrinterIndex;
// Preparar o estado; para sair se a preparação não funcionar
if not frReport1.PrepareReport then Exit;
// inicializa a limpeza do diálogo para edição de parâmetros
with PrintDialog1 C
begin
Options:=[poPageNums ]; // allows selecting pages/page numbers
Copies: = 1; // apenas uma espécie
Collate: = True; // cópias ordenadas
FromPage: = 1; // start page
ToPage: = frReport1.EMFPages.Count; // last page
MaxPage: = frReport1.EMFPages.Count; // maximum number of pages
if Execute then // limpeza do diálogo
begin
if (Printer.PrinterIndex < > ind ) // a impressora mudou?
or frReport1.CanRebuild // possui uma regeneração de estado?
// mudança de impressora
or frReport1.ChangePrinter(ind, Printer.PrinterIndex) then
frReport1.PrepareReport
else Exit; / / a mudança de impressora ocorreu de forma errônea
if PrintDialog1.PrintRange = prPageNums then // fez-se uma seleção de páginas
begin
FromPg : = PrintDialog1.FromPage; // first page
ToPg : = PrintDialog1.ToPage; // last page
end;
Cpy :=PrintDialog1.Copies; // number of copies
Collap :=PrintDialog1.Collate; // order copies
// recorte de edição da página FromPg com ToPg , " Cpy "
// exemplares ordenados (Collap))
frReport1.PrintPreparedReport(FromPg, ToPg, Cpy, Collap);
end;
end;
end;
It's a bit long, but if needed, you can create a descendant of TfrReport with an easier printing method or class , create a PrintReport (Report: string) procedure to load the report and print.
In the Edit File> Page Options menu you get this:
Select paper size:
Choose desired margins:
You can specify the number of columns and the space between them. In the editor's main menu, select File> Report options to display the following dialog box:
Here you specify the printer required for loading reports and the preparation is done in two ways.
- If you want to include the total number of pages in your page number, you should choose the Two-pass report options.
Here we'll add some variables unrelated to the data to our example. They make it possible, for example, to show the different names according to the context.
To do this, open the report editor and select the File menu and the Variable List. Test with a variable, as explained above. The only difference is that you will not select a value field, but leave None (the default value). Save the objects and add the Test variable as seen previously. Return to Lazarus (do not forget to save your report) and use the OnGetValue event of the FrRepor1 component by adding the following code:
procedure TForm1.frReport1GetValue(const ParName: String;
var ParValue: Varying; VAr fld: TField);
begin
// deal with variable number of dependencies
if UpperCase(ParName)=' TEST' then
ParValue:=' Answer: Variable " test1 " ';
end;
Alternatively, you can also pass the value directly to the variable using the following code:
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender:TObject);
begin
frReport1.Values.FindVariable('test').Field := QuotedStr('test1');
frReport1.ShowReport;
end;
The below(?) is not used for data iself, but to enable formatting the data with DisplayFormat.
Now let's see how to create a calculated variable. As before, we will create a new category (optional) and a variable. Test Calculation(?).
Select a new variable and select a value from the ComboBox "Other" and "Expression". This selection activates data entry for Expression. Type the following: [Table1 "SIZE".] + [Table1 "WEIGHT."]. That way you will get the sum of the fields of Size and Weight data (which is a bit ridiculous but it shows the principle). You can also use the variable name. You can also use the following operators:
Operator type | Operators |
---|---|
Logical | >, <, BUT, AND, NOT, =, < >, > =, < = |
Mathematical | -, *, +, MOD, / |
Further you can use the following standard functions:
Function | Descriptions | Examples |
---|---|---|
SUM | Sum | |
AVG | Average | |
MIN | Mínimum | |
MAX | Maximum | |
FORMATDATETIME | Formatted date and time | |
FORMATFLOAT | Formatted float value | |
LOWERCASE | Lowercase text | |
NAMECASE | Initial capitals, rest lowercase | |
STRTODATE | String converted to date | |
STRTOTIME | String converted to time | |
UPPERCASE | Uppercase text |
If this is not enough you can create your own functions, but that we will see later.
Now we define a format for the variables of an area. A format is valid for all variables of a display area. To show the format editor, click the right button on an area and then in Variable Format.
The first ComboBox indicates the type of data (text, numeric, date, time, logical/boolean). The second allows you to select a preset format. The Text type does not allow any Number type formatting. The Number type requires a decimal number with a comma (to do: verify this. Is this country specific?). Except for Text and Logic types, you can use the formatting features of Lazarus.
You can also include the concept of highlighting, which is very useful for emphasizing data. You can specify a condition that determines when highlighting is applied. For that use the keyword Value to indicate the value of the variable. Here is the highlighting for all values greater than 1000. By default highlighter is a simple bold on white background. You can set these parameters to an area by clicking the Highlight button.
You can also set the color of the background and style and color of the used font by selecting Intensified brightness.
Functions
You need to add the following line to the file FR.lng (is this still the correct name for Lazreprot?):
, FCT = CATEGORY | FCT (<X> <Y>, <z>) | Help function on the
where:
- FCT is the function name.
- CATEGORY is the category name.
- FCT (<X> <Y>, <z>), is the layout of the required parameters, with a maximum of 3 parameters.
- Help Is a small help text which should allow the user to understand the purpose of the function.
- | is a separator.
Each parameter is separated by commas and can be an expression, a constant, a variable, a field or data. Alphanumeric type constants should be limited by a character. The variables are delimited by and.
Data fields are limited to the variables and have the following format:
- Dataset_Name. "Field_Name"
Statistical functions
- SUM(<X >)
- Returns the sum of values represented by <X>, which is generally a data field.
- AVG(<X >)
- Returns the average of <X> values.
- COUNT
- Count the number of occurrences.
- MIN(<X >)
- Returns the lowest value of all values represented by <X>
- MAX(<X >)
- Returns the highest value of all values represented by <X>
Date functions
- FORMATDATETIME(<X>, <Y >)
- Returns <Y> TDateTime in format <X>. <X> uses the default syntax for Lazarus formats.
- FORMATFLOAT(<X>, <Y >)
- Returns the numeric value <Y> in format <X>. <<X> uses the default syntax for Lazarus formats.
- STRTODATE(<X >)
- Returns the TDateTime(? not date?) representation of string < X >. < X > must be formatted correctly.
- STRTOTIME(<X >)
- Returns the TDateTime time part representation of string < X >. < X > must be formatted correctly.
String functions:
- LOWERCASE(<X >)
- Returns lowercase <X>
- UPPERCASE(<X >)
- Returns uppercase <X>
- NAMECASE(<X >)
- Returns <X> with initial capitals
- COPY(<X>, <Y>, <Z >)
- Similar to Pascal Copy: returns string <X> from position < Y > for < Z > characters.
Numeric functions
- FRAC(<X >)
- Returns the decimal part of number < X >
- INT(<X >)
- Returns the integer part of number < X >
- ROUND(<X >)
- Returns the number < X > rounded to an integer (up? down? nearest integer? banker's rounding?)
- STR(<X >)
- Returns the string representation of number < X >
Logical/boolean functions
- IF(<X>, <Y>, <Z >)
- Returns < Y > if expression < X > is true. If false, returns retorna < Z >.
To add your own functions is really quite simple. Some source code to add the functions POS and SQRT below:
Unit FR_OGFct;
interface
implementation
uses FR_Pars, FR_Class; // Standard declarations needed for Lazreport!! Note: FR_pars etc? Are these names ok?
type
// Our own functions are declared here.
TfrOGFunctionLibrary = class(TfrFunctionLibrary)
public
constructor Create; override;
procedure DoFunction(FNo:integer procedure; p1, p2,
p3:Variant; var valley:string); override;
p3:Variant; var valley:string);
end;
//**************************
// * TfrOGFunctionLibrary
constructor TfrOGFunctionLibrary.Create;
begin
inherited Create;
// Add our functions to the list of available functions:
with List do
begin
Add('POS');
Add('SQRT');
end;
end;
Procedure TfrOGFunctionLibrary.DoFunction(FNo:Integer procedure; p1,
p2, p3:Variant; Var valley:String); //valley?
Var
Par1, Par2: Varying;
Result: Variantying; //variantying? variant?
begin
Try
Case FNo of //this is the index of the functions as added in the constructor
0 :
begin // POS function
Par1:=VarToStr(Parser.Calc(p1));
Par2:=VarToStr(Parser.Calc(P2));
Result:=Pos(Par1,Par2);
end;
1 : // SQRT function
Result:=SQRT(Parser.Calc(P1));
end;
Except
// String with error details
Result:='Error in function '+List.Strings[FNo];
end;
Val:=VarToStr(Result); // Resulting string
end;
rocedure DoInit;
begin
frRegisterFunctionLibrary(TfrOGFunctionLibrary);
end;
In the FR.lng file, you'll need to add the following lines:
- SQRT = Matemática e Trigonometria | SQRT(<X>) |Retorna a raiz quadrada de <X>
- POS = Strings | POS(<X>,<Y>) Retorna a posição da string <X> em <Y>
Publish a report then File>List and this window will appear:
You may notice the appearance of a small (...) button, active only in the case of an expression. Click below to open the editor:
You may notice the similarity. If you click the Add button it will load the editor parameters:
Depending on the number of parameters, you have more or less edit areas. The (...) button makes it possible to open the expression generator to set the parameter.
See also
- Tutorial de LazReport Version used as a basis for this translation.