How to create a TClientDataSet from the contents of a TStringGrid

Question

I'm using Delphi 7 and QuickReports on Windows 7. Normally QuickReports require a DataSet generated by a query, but I want to make a report from the contents of a StringGrid as though the StringGrid is a representation of the results of a query.

How?

Answer 1

I assume the set of columns is fixed within the StringGrid (and withing the corresponding TClientDataSet). Step-by-step instructions:

1. Drop a TClientDataSet on the form
2. Doublic-click on the TClientDataSet, hit the INSERT key on the keyboard to add an new field, add one field for each of your grid's columns. Example: COL1, String, 128 width.
3. Right-click on the TClientDataSet on the form and hit "Create DataSet"
4. AT RUNTIME run this kind of code:

  CS.Append;
  CS['COL1'] := 'Whatever';
  CS['COL2'] := 'An other thing';
  CS.Post;

You'll need to do the Append/Post in a loop, looping over each row in the grid. You can assign the COL1, COL2 etc in an other loop, or you can hand-code it.

Answer 2

Use the QuickReport.OnNeedData event handler. It passes a var parameter called MoreData (a boolean); setting it to True means it gets called again. Leave the QuickReport.DataSource property blank, and use plain TQRText controls rather than TQRDBText.

// CurrLine is an Integer. In your case, it can represent a row in the StringGrid.
procedure TPrintLogForm.QuickRep1NeedData(Sender: TObject;
                      var MoreData: Boolean);
begin
  MoreData := (CurrLine < StringGrid1.RowCount);
  if MoreData then
  begin
    qrTextLine.Caption := StringGrid1.Cells[0, CurrLine];
    qrTextData.Caption := StringGrid1.Cells[1, CurrLine];
    Inc(CurrLine);
  end;
end;