Re: TZF - tzListBox - CONTINUING

MessageI couldn't resist putting in my humble observation. While the Topaz components are great, there are standard Delphi equivalents of most. Over the years many standard components have evolved to the point where they have more features than their Topaz counter parts. Additionally, there are many 3rd part components that far outperform both Topaz and Delphi components. Because you can now use a TDataSource, you don't need to rely only on the Topaz grids, list boxes, etc. For example, I use Woll2Woll components. Their grid component can color the active row, and use a separate color for the active field by setting a couple of properties. You can also alternate row colors by setting a property. In addition to more properties, there are more events. For example, in the Woll2Woll grids I use with Topaz, I set the property that makes the column headers perform like a button (it actually goes down when you click it). Then I use the event to sort the data. Naturally, this require
 s a little code to change the index based on the column that was clicked. 

I love Topaz for data access, but I have always found other VCL components easier to get professional results with less code. Admittedly the third party components are an additional expense, however they have saved me many hours of coding, and my time is worth just enough to justify the expense.



Agency Business Systems, Inc.
(503) 659 6752
www.AgencyBusinessSystems.com
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"If you want a better answer, 
  ask a better question." -- Unknown.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Philip Kidder 
  To: [email protected] 
  Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 7:33 AM
  Subject: Re: TZF - tzListBox - CONTINUING


  Alex,

  Thanks for your insight. I never looked at DBLookUpListBox I've used the Topaz components from the start.

  Phil
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Alex Mackinnon 
    To: [email protected] 
    Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 10:45 AM
    Subject: RE: TZF - tzListBox - CONTINUING


    I'm puzzled... the base behaviour you require is provided by the standard DBLookUpListBox.

    Since the current record of the dataset is set when selecting any item picking up the secondary values is trivial... just read them from the current record.

    But am I missing something? Are you, perhaps, using a version of Delphi where the TTzDBF can't be used with the default data controls? (I seem to remember that being a problem before D5)

    A.
      -----Original Message-----
      From: Philip Kidder [mailto:[email protected]] 
      Sent: 07 November 2003 14:16
      To: [email protected]
      Subject: Re: TZF - tzListBox - CONTINUING


      Bob,

      You have the idea. I want to assign the database and the datafield in the properties. Then when I display the listbox it would automatically be filled with the values in the datafield.

      Ex: DBFile: Plants.dbf
            datafield: Shrubs
      The value of Shrubs is ROSES, MOCK ORANGE, AZALEA
      When the tzlistbox is displayed it should contain the lines ROSES, MOCK ORANGE, AZALEA. Any filters that are in effect on the database should effect the items displayed.

      While I am giving my wish list it would be nice if there was a second field in the listbox that would be hidden from view. Then when a value is picked I could get the value in the second field and work with it.

      Ex: For each Shrub displayed the hidden field could contain the shrubs index value or record number which I could use for further processing.

      Phil

        ----- Original Message ----- 
        From: [email protected] 
        To: [email protected] 
        Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 11:11 PM
        Subject: Re: TZF - tzListBox - CONTINUING


        In a message dated 11/06/2003 9:16:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:



          Bob,

          Thanks for the explanation, but it is not the way I would design a listbox. Most of the time I want to pick from the items in a database not update a field in a database.

          I still think it should load automatically from the file and allow me to set a filter.

          Phil



        ... continuing ... sorry, I hit the SEND by mistake.

        A database with a field named   "shrub"   and a listBox1 ...
        You want to do what???    Maybe fill up the listBox1 with all
        the unique values of    "shrub"    in the database??

        Explain what you want to do??

        Bob

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