There are those time when users would like to use data entry dialogs as opposed to the spreadsheet or grid approach of data entry. Memo data entry is normally handed in a separate tab on the tabbed panel.
I have automated the process of generating data entry panels by traversing the MySQL database and extracting metadata. The metadata is then used to create data entry code which are available in a scroll box in case more datum than will fit in the default form size exists. This application was written in Delphi XE3.
I then select the .dfm of the targeted application’s form and the data source and table name are detected and extracted.
The extracted table name is then opened and all the fields in the table are used as input to generate the data entry panel codes. The results are then stored in the forms directory as FormName_dfm.txt for the code that needs to be in the form designer and FormName_pas.txt for the data definitions for the form that reside in the Pascal code portion of the form.
Create a new tab on the form and add a scroll box aligned to the client. Open the two files (FormName_dfm.txt and FormName_pas.txt) in the Delphi IDE.
Copy the contents of the _pas file to the clipboard. Position in the form’s class so the data definitions are inserted before any properties, function and methods section of the form and paste from clipboard.
[codesyntax lang=”delphi”]
DBEdit01: TDBEdit;
DBEdit02: TDBEdit;
DBEdit03: TDBEdit;
DBEdit04: TDBEdit;
DBEdit05: TDBEdit;
DBEdit06: TDBEdit;
DBEdit07: TDBEdit;
DBEdit08: TDBEdit;
DBEdit09: TDBEdit;
DBEdit10: TDBEdit;
DBEdit11: TDBEdit;
DBEdit12: TDBEdit;
DBEdit13: TDBEdit;
DBMemo14: TDBMemo;
Label01: TLabel;
Label02: TLabel;
Label03: TLabel;
Label04: TLabel;
Label05: TLabel;
Label06: TLabel;
Label07: TLabel;
Label08: TLabel;
Label09: TLabel;
Label10: TLabel;
Label11: TLabel;
Label12: TLabel;
Label13: TLabel;
Label14: TLabel;
BitBtn1: TBitBtn;
BitBtn2: TBitBtn;
[/codesyntax]
Now copy the contents of the _dfm to the clipboard. Navigate to the designer and view for as text. Move to the “end” statement of the scroll box. Paste the contents of the clipboard at that location.
[codesyntax lang=”delphi”]
object DBEdit01: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 0
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'cid'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 01
end
object DBEdit02: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 26
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'name'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 02
end
object DBEdit03: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 52
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'adr1'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 03
end
object DBEdit04: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 78
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'adr2'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 04
end
object DBEdit05: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 104
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'city'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 05
end
object DBEdit06: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 130
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'state'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 06
end
object DBEdit07: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 156
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'zip'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 07
end
object DBEdit08: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 182
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'poc'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 08
end
object DBEdit09: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 208
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'phone'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 09
end
object DBEdit10: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 234
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'email'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 10
end
object DBEdit11: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 260
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'web'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 11
end
object DBEdit12: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 286
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'uid'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 12
end
object DBEdit13: TDBEdit
Left = 135
Top = 312
Width = 241
Height = 21
DataField = 'pwd'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 13
end
object DBMemo14: TDBMemo
Left = 135
Top = 338
Width = 241
Height = 89
DataField = 'addr'
DataSource = BCSCompdm.adsei_comp
ParentColor = True
TabOrder = 14
end
object BitBtn1: TBitBtn
Left = 152
Top = 528
Width = 75
Height = 25
Kind = bkOK
NumGlyphs = 2
TabOrder = 17
end
object BitBtn2: TBitBtn
Left = 256
Top = 528
Width = 75
Height = 25
Kind = bkCancel
NumGlyphs = 2
TabOrder = 18
end
object Label01: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 0
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'cid : '
end
object Label02: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 26
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'name : '
end
object Label03: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 52
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'adr1 : '
end
object Label04: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 78
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'adr2 : '
end
object Label05: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 104
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'city : '
end
object Label06: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 130
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'state : '
end
object Label07: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 156
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'zip : '
end
object Label08: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 182
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'poc : '
end
object Label09: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 208
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'phone : '
end
object Label10: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 234
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'email : '
end
object Label11: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 260
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'web : '
end
object Label12: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 286
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'uid : '
end
object Label13: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 312
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'pwd : '
end
object Label14: TLabel
Left = 22
Top = 338
Width = 107
Height = 13
Alignment = taRightJustify
AutoSize = False
Caption = 'addr : '
end
[/codesyntax]
View the form as a form and you will see the scroll box populated with data elements.
[codesyntax lang=”delphi”]
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit Name: BCSCompU
@Author Mr. Arch Brooks, Software Engineer, Brooks Computing Systems LLC
@Version 1.0
Date: 04-Jan-2014
Purpose:
History:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
unit BCSCompU;
interface
uses
BCSXE3Utilsdp, System.Classes, System.SysUtils, System.Variants,
BCSCompdmU, Vcl.ComCtrls, Vcl.Controls, Vcl.DBCtrls, Vcl.Dialogs,
Vcl.ExtCtrls, Vcl.Forms, Vcl.Graphics, Vcl.Grids, Vcl.Menus, Vcl.StdCtrls,
Vcl.TabNotBk, Winapi.Messages, Winapi.Windows, Vcl.DBGrids, Vcl.Buttons,
Vcl.Mask;
type
/// DB Grid Class Overide
TDBGrid = class(Vcl.DBGrids.TDBGrid)
protected
procedure Paint; override;
end;
/// Tab Sheet Class
TTabSheet = class(Vcl.ComCtrls.TTabSheet)
private
/// Tab Control Color
FColor: TColor;
procedure SetColor(Value: TColor);
procedure WMEraseBkGnd(var Msg: TWMEraseBkGnd); message WM_ERASEBKGND;
public
constructor Create(aOwner: TComponent); override;
property Color: TColor read FColor write SetColor;
end;
/// BCSComp Primary Class
TBCSCompC = class(TForm)
/// BCS XE3 Utilities Component
BCSXE3UtilsCmp1: TBCSXE3UtilsCmp;
/// BCSComp Color Dialog
BCSCompColor: TColorDialog;
/// BCSComp Colors Menu Item
BCSCompColors1: TMenuItem;
/// BCSComp DB Navigator
BCSCompDBNavigator1: TDBNavigator;
/// BCSComp DB Memo
BCSCompDBMemo1: TDBMemo;
/// BCSComp SB Grid
BCSCompDBGrid1: TDBGrid;
/// BCSPageColor Main Menu
BCSCompMainMenu1: TMainMenu;
/// Main Page Control
BCSCompPageControl1: TPageControl;
/// Help Menu Item
BCSCompHelp1: TMenuItem;
/// Status Panel For Dialog
BCSCompStatusPanel1: TStatusBar;
/// Tab sheet 1 for page control
BCSCompTabSheet1: TTabSheet;
/// Tab sheet 2 for page control
BCSCompTabSheet2: TTabSheet;
/// Timer for Dialog
BCSCompTimer1: TTimer;
tasDataEntryForm: TTabSheet;
ScrollBox1: TScrollBox;
DBEdit01: TDBEdit;
DBEdit02: TDBEdit;
DBEdit03: TDBEdit;
DBEdit04: TDBEdit;
DBEdit05: TDBEdit;
DBEdit06: TDBEdit;
DBEdit07: TDBEdit;
DBEdit08: TDBEdit;
DBEdit09: TDBEdit;
DBEdit10: TDBEdit;
DBEdit11: TDBEdit;
DBEdit12: TDBEdit;
DBEdit13: TDBEdit;
DBMemo14: TDBMemo;
Label01: TLabel;
Label02: TLabel;
Label03: TLabel;
label04: TLabel;
Label05: TLabel;
Label06: TLabel;
Label07: TLabel;
Label08: TLabel;
Label09: TLabel;
Label10: TLabel;
Label11: TLabel;
Label12: TLabel;
Label13: TLabel;
Label14: TLabel;
BitBtn1: TBitBtn;
BitBtn2: TBitBtn;
Panel1: TPanel;
Panel2: TPanel;
procedure BCSCompColors1Click(Sender: TObject);
procedure BCSCompCreate(Sender: TObject);
procedure BCSCompDBGrid1TitleClick(Column: TColumn);
procedure BCSCompDrawTab(Control: TCustomTabControl; TabIndex: Integer;
const Rect: TRect; Active: Boolean);
procedure BCSCompFormActivate(Sender: TObject);
procedure BCSCompGridColor;
procedure BCSCompHelp1Click(Sender: TObject);
procedure BCSCompStatusBar1DrawPanel(StatusBar: TStatusBar;
Panel: TStatusPanel; const Rect: TRect);
procedure BCSCompTimer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
private
{Private declarations}
FDColor: TColor;
public
{Public declarations}
property RDColor: TColor read FDColor write FDColor;
end;
var
/// BCSComp Dialog Pointer
BCSCompC: TBCSCompC;
implementation
{$R *.dfm}
var
/// TimeStamp Variable
ftime: String;
/// Item Index
i: Integer;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: Paint
Date: 06-Jan-2014
@Param None
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TDBGrid.Paint;
var
LDrawInfo: TGridDrawInfo;
begin
inherited Paint;
CalcDrawInfo(LDrawInfo);
if LDrawInfo.Horz.GridBoundary < LDrawInfo.Horz.GridExtent then
begin
Canvas.Brush.Color := Color;
// use the Color property to paint the background
Canvas.FillRect(Rect(LDrawInfo.Horz.GridBoundary, 0,
LDrawInfo.Horz.GridExtent, LDrawInfo.Vert.GridBoundary));
end;
if LDrawInfo.Vert.GridBoundary < LDrawInfo.Vert.GridExtent then
begin
Canvas.Brush.Color := Color;
// use the Color property to paint the background
Canvas.FillRect(Rect(0, LDrawInfo.Vert.GridBoundary,
LDrawInfo.Horz.GridExtent, LDrawInfo.Vert.GridExtent));
end;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: Create
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param aOwner: TComponent
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
constructor TTabSheet.Create(aOwner: TComponent);
begin
inherited;
FColor := clWhite;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: SetColor
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Value: TColor
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TTabSheet.SetColor(Value: TColor);
begin
if FColor <> Value then
begin
FColor := Value;
Invalidate;
end;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: WMEraseBkGnd
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param var Msg: TWMEraseBkGnd
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TTabSheet.WMEraseBkGnd(var Msg: TWMEraseBkGnd);
begin
if FColor = clBtnFace then
inherited
else
begin
Brush.Color := FColor;
FillRect(Msg.dc, ClientRect, Brush.Handle);
Msg.Result := 1;
end;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompColors1Click
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Sender: TObject
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompColors1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
ti: Integer;
begin
if BCSCompColor.Execute then
begin
Color := BCSCompColor.Color;
RDColor := Color;
BCSCompTabSheet1.Color := Color;
BCSCompTabSheet2.Color := Color;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Color := Color;
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Color := Color;
BCSCompGridColor;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Repaint;
end;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompCreate
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Sender: TObject
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
Color := RDColor;
BCSCompTabSheet1.Color := Color;
BCSCompTabSheet2.Color := Color;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Color := Color;
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Color := Color;
BCSCompGridColor;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Repaint;
{BCSCompTabSheet1.Color := Color;
BCSCompTabSheet2.Color := Color;
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Color := Color;
BCSCompGridColor;}
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompDBGrid1TitleClick
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Column: TColumn
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompDBGrid1TitleClick(Column: TColumn);
begin
BCSCompdm.ataei_comp.IndexFieldNames := Column.FieldName;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompDrawTab
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Control: TCustomTabControl; TabIndex: Integer; const Rect: TRect;
Active: Boolean
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompDrawTab(Control: TCustomTabControl;
TabIndex: Integer; const Rect: TRect; Active: Boolean);
var
AText: string;
APoint: TPoint;
begin
with (Control as TPageControl).Canvas do
begin
Brush.Color := Color;
FillRect(Rect);
AText := TPageControl(Control).Pages[TabIndex].Caption;
with Control.Canvas do
begin
APoint.x := (Rect.Right - Rect.Left) div 2 - TextWidth(AText) div 2;
APoint.y := (Rect.Bottom - Rect.Top) div 2 - TextHeight(AText) div 2;
TextRect(Rect, Rect.Left + APoint.x, Rect.Top + APoint.y, AText);
end;
end;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: FormActivate
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Sender: TObject
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompFormActivate(Sender: TObject);
begin
Color := RDColor;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Invalidate;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Color := Color;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Canvas.Brush.Color := Color;
BCSCompDBGrid1.Canvas.Refresh;
BCSCompGridColor;
BCSCompTabSheet1.Color := Color;
BCSCompTabSheet2.Color := Color;
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Color := Color;
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Color := Color;
i := 0;
repeat
if Self.BCSCompDBGrid1.Columns[i].Width > 150 then
begin
Self.BCSCompDBGrid1.Columns[i].Width := 150;
end;
Inc(i);
until (i > (Self.BCSCompDBGrid1.Columns.Count - 1));
BCSCompdm.ataei_comp.Open;
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Panels[0].Text := 'Record Count is : ' +
FormatFloat('#,##0', BCSCompdm.ataei_comp.RecordCount);
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompGridColor
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param None
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompGridColor;
begin
// Color := RDColor;
i := 0;
repeat
BCSCompDBGrid1.Columns[i].Color := Color;
Inc(i);
until i > BCSCompDBGrid1.Columns.Count - 1;
// BCSCompDBGrid1.Repaint;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompHelp1Click
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Sender: TObject
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompHelp1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
BCSXE3UtilsCmp1.ShellExec('http://bcswebs.us/bcs002/');
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompStatusBar1DrawPanel
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param StatusBar: TStatusBar; Panel: TStatusPanel; const Rect: TRect
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompStatusBar1DrawPanel(StatusBar: TStatusBar;
Panel: TStatusPanel; const Rect: TRect);
begin
with StatusBar.Canvas do
begin
FillRect(Rect);
case Panel.Index of
0: // fist panel
begin
Brush.Color := Color;
Font.Color := clBlack;
// Font.Style := [fsBold];
TextRect(Rect, 2 + Rect.Left, 2 + Rect.Top, Panel.Text);
end;
1: // second panel
begin
Brush.Color := Color;
Font.Color := clBlack;
// Font.Style := [fsItalic];
TextRect(Rect, 2 + Rect.Left, 2 + Rect.Top, Panel.Text);
end;
2: // Third panel
begin
Brush.Color := Color;
Font.Color := clBlack;
// Font.Style := [fsItalic];
Panel.Text := ftime;
TextRect(Rect, 2 + Rect.Left, 2 + Rect.Top, Panel.Text);
TextOut(0, 0, ftime);
end;
end;
end;
end;
{*-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Procedure: BCSCompTimer1Timer
Date: 04-Jan-2014
@Param Sender: TObject
@Return None
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
procedure TBCSCompC.BCSCompTimer1Timer(Sender: TObject);
begin
DateTimeToString(ftime, 'dddd, mmmm dd, yyyy hh:mm:ss ', now);
BCSCompStatusPanel1.Panels[2].Text := ftime;
end;
end.
[/codesyntax]
The BCS XE3 code generator provides the basic form functionality with a data module, database navigator, database grid and memo editor. That generated code is input to this tool. Code generators are quite useful and saves countless hours of perfunctory coding tedium.
Depending in user interest I will make the source code available for this tool.
Mr. Arch Brooks, Software Engineer, Brooks Computing Systems, LLC authored this article