Question

How do I copy ("Assign") one CategoryPanel to another at runtime?

Asked by: peterhindle

I'm trying to add an object of class TCategoryPanel to a CategoryPanelGroup at runtime. I'd like to copy an existing CategoryPanel, which already belongs to the group (and was created statically).

I can create the new panel, by calling the create method for the CategoryPanelGroup, and assigning its returned value to myNewPanel.
 
However, when I try something like this:

   myNewPanel.Assign(myExistingPanel);

I get the following error:
---------------------------
Debugger Exception Notification
---------------------------
Project Harps1.exe raised exception class EConvertError with message 'Cannot assign a TCategoryPanelActions to a TCategoryPanel'.
---------------------------

I can't find a reference to a thing of type "TCategoryPanelActions", and - as I'm still something of a novice - I'm stumped.

Please help. Thanks.

var
  myNewPanel: TCategoryPanel;
 
begin
  try
    myNewPanel := myExistingCategoryPanelGroup.CreatePanel(Self) as TCategoryPanel;
 
    newPanel.Assign(myExistingPanel);  // Causes EConvertError
 
...

                                  
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Asked On
2009-08-10 at 09:57:43ID24640573
Tags

Delphi 2009

Topics

Delphi Components

,

Pascal Programming Language

,

Delphi Programming

Participating Experts
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Answers

 

by: SteveBayPosted on 2009-08-10 at 11:14:08ID: 25062438

Could it be a simple as:
 newPanel.Assign(myExistingPanel)
should be:
 MyNewPanel.Assign(myExistingPanel);

Might this be a simple syntax error?

 

by: peterhindlePosted on 2009-08-10 at 11:23:35ID: 25062513

Unfortunately not. Apologies - my example code is wrong (and I'll see if I can edit it now), but I didn't make that mistake in the real code in my application.

Many thanks for your suggestion.

Peter

 

by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-10 at 22:59:39ID: 25066460

what have you put in your existing categorypanel ?

 

by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-10 at 23:53:09ID: 25066654

looking into the sources ... there is no Assign implemented for TCategoryPanel
you'll have to implement your own ...

it's probably because it's a container (descendant from TCustomPanel)

this is a way of writing your own TCategoryPanel.Assign(Source: TPersistent);

unit Unit1;
 
interface
 
uses
  Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
  Dialogs, ExtCtrls, Contnrs, StdCtrls, ActnList, ButtonGroup, CategoryButtons;
 
type
  TCategoryPanel = class(ExtCtrls.TCategoryPanel)
  public
    procedure Assign(Source: TPersistent); override;
  end;
 
  TCategoryPanelGroup = class(ExtCtrls.TCategoryPanelGroup)
  protected
    function GetCategoryPanelClass: TCategoryPanelClass; override;
  end;
 
  TfrmMain = class(TForm)
    btnAddPanel: TButton;
    cpg: TCategoryPanelGroup;
    cpExisting: TCategoryPanel;
    CategoryButtons1: TCategoryButtons;
    ButtonGroup1: TButtonGroup;
    aclGroup: TActionList;
    Action1: TAction;
    Action2: TAction;
    Action3: TAction;
    Action4: TAction;
    procedure btnAddPanelClick(Sender: TObject);
    procedure Action1Execute(Sender: TObject);
  end;
 
var
  frmMain: TfrmMain;
 
implementation
 
{$R *.dfm}
 
{ TCategoryPanel }
 
procedure TCategoryPanel.Assign(Source: TPersistent);
var s: TCategoryPanel;
begin
  if Source is TCategoryPanel then
  begin
    s := TCategoryPanel(Source);
    Caption := s.Caption;
    Collapsed := s.Collapsed;
    Color := s.Color;
    CollapsedHotImageIndex := s.CollapsedHotImageIndex;
    CollapsedImageIndex := s.CollapsedImageIndex;
    // et cetera ... for properties
  end else
    inherited Assign(Source);
end;
 
{ TCategoryPanelGroup }
 
function TCategoryPanelGroup.GetCategoryPanelClass: TCategoryPanelClass;
begin
  Result := TCategoryPanel;
end;
 
{ TfrmMain }
 
procedure TfrmMain.Action1Execute(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ShowMessage(Sender.ClassName);
end;
 
procedure TfrmMain.btnAddPanelClick(Sender: TObject);
var p: TCategoryPanel;
  bg: TButtonGroup;
begin
  p := TCategoryPanel(cpg.CreatePanel(Self));
  p.Assign(cpExisting);
  // copy children
  bg := TButtonGroup.Create(Self);
  bg.Parent := p;
  bg.Align := alTop;
  bg.ButtonOptions := bg.ButtonOptions + [gboFullSize];
  bg.Assign(ButtonGroup1);;
end;
 
end.

                                              
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by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-10 at 23:53:32ID: 25066656

--dfm--

object frmMain: TfrmMain
  Left = 188
  Top = 81
  Caption = 'Test Category panels'
  ClientHeight = 451
  ClientWidth = 588
  Color = clBtnFace
  TransparentColorValue = clDefault
  Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
  Font.Color = clWindowText
  Font.Height = -11
  Font.Name = 'Tahoma'
  Font.Style = []
  OldCreateOrder = False
  PixelsPerInch = 96
  TextHeight = 13
  object btnAddPanel: TButton
    Left = 294
    Top = 16
    Width = 75
    Height = 25
    Caption = 'Add Panel'
    TabOrder = 0
    OnClick = btnAddPanelClick
  end
  object cpg: TCategoryPanelGroup
    Left = 0
    Top = 0
    Width = 273
    Height = 451
    VertScrollBar.Tracking = True
    HeaderFont.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
    HeaderFont.Color = clWindowText
    HeaderFont.Height = -11
    HeaderFont.Name = 'Tahoma'
    HeaderFont.Style = []
    TabOrder = 1
    ExplicitLeft = 24
    ExplicitTop = 136
    object cpExisting: TCategoryPanel
      Top = 0
      Height = 209
      Caption = 'cpExisting'
      TabOrder = 0
      object CategoryButtons1: TCategoryButtons
        Left = 0
        Top = 0
        Width = 269
        Height = 73
        Align = alTop
        ButtonFlow = cbfVertical
        Categories = <
          item
            Color = 15395839
            Collapsed = False
            Items = <
              item
              end
              item
              end
              item
              end
              item
              end>
          end
          item
            Color = 16771839
            Collapsed = False
            Items = <>
          end>
        RegularButtonColor = 14410210
        SelectedButtonColor = 12502986
        TabOrder = 0
      end
      object ButtonGroup1: TButtonGroup
        Left = 0
        Top = 73
        Width = 269
        Height = 110
        Align = alClient
        ButtonOptions = [gboFullSize, gboShowCaptions]
        Items = <
          item
            Action = Action1
          end
          item
            Action = Action2
          end
          item
            Action = Action3
          end
          item
            Action = Action4
          end>
        TabOrder = 1
        ExplicitLeft = 24
        ExplicitTop = 96
        ExplicitWidth = 100
        ExplicitHeight = 100
      end
    end
  end
  object aclGroup: TActionList
    Left = 408
    Top = 32
    object Action1: TAction
      Category = 'cpgGroup1'
      Caption = 'Test A'
      OnExecute = Action1Execute
    end
    object Action2: TAction
      Category = 'cpgGroup1'
      Caption = 'Test B'
      OnExecute = Action1Execute
    end
    object Action3: TAction
      Category = 'cpgGroup1'
      Caption = 'Test C'
      OnExecute = Action1Execute
    end
    object Action4: TAction
      Category = 'cpgGroup1'
      Caption = 'Test D'
      OnExecute = Action1Execute
    end
  end
end

                                              
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by: peterhindlePosted on 2009-08-11 at 01:13:27ID: 25066948

Geert,

In haste, (children to deal with) thank you very much indeed! I'll put this into action a little later, and let you know how I get on.

Many thanks again for taking all this trouble.

Peter

 

by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-11 at 03:50:21ID: 25067597

no problem

 

by: peterhindlePosted on 2009-08-11 at 05:59:15ID: 25068427

Geert,

Right! I've run your test program, and it does exactly what I've been looking for.  Thank you again.

I shall now try to modify and incorporate (read: shamelessly plagiarise) your code in my app. I'll let you know how I get on.

On a related topic, to use the code you supplied, I created a new form, and pasted/edited your Ascii version of its .dfm file. This worked fine, but I notice now that, if I want to modify /some/ aspects of it (e.g. the event handler for an OnClick event), making changes using the Object Inspector has no effect - I have to modify the ascii .dfm text. Is this to be expected? (I did warn you that I was a novice.)

Clearly, my last question is outside the scope of the original one, so If I'm being a bit naughty asking it here, just say so, and I'll be very happy to create a new question.

Yet again, thank you very much for taking the trouble - not just to answer my question -  but even to write example code. I'm very grateful to you.

Best wishes,

Peter

 

by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-11 at 06:06:50ID: 25068505

lol,
>>I did warn you that I was a novice

There is nothing wrong with being a beginner at something.
It makes it easier to help if this is known.

To edit a dfm file, from the IDE: Right click on the form, make sure the "Text dfm" is checked, then click
"View as text"

this will convert the visual form to the text version
it is not actually necessary to edit the text like this, the editor does a fine job,
but sometimes it needs a little help (very little actually)

to go back, right click in the text editor, click on "View as Form"

or to swap between both: "ALT-F12"

this is ok for minor tweaking

 

by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-11 at 06:14:19ID: 25068588

the best way is to create the 2 files from notepad in the same directory
(with the correct names off course, unitname.pas and unitname.dfm)
and then open the .pas (form) from the editor

then modify using the inspector

otherwise it's just a struggle

 

by: peterhindlePosted on 2009-08-11 at 14:19:36ID: 31613807

Geert - You've done a wonderful job. I hope you don't mind if I post a follow-up question over the next day or two.

Best wishes,

Peter

 

by: Geert_GruwezPosted on 2009-08-12 at 01:37:03ID: 25076697

>>I hope you don't mind if I post a follow-up question over the next day or two.

You can ask as many questions as you want ...
If possible I will answer, if not ... there is still other experts

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