delphi: Revise application steps

Author: NickVolynkin

Delphi/PDFReportGenerator.dpr

@@ -18,41 +18,42 @@ uses
 
 procedure ExportReportToPdf(const ALayout, AOrderID, AOutput: string);
 // Parameters:
-// ALayout: path to the report ALayout file (.repx), default value: '..\Order.repx'
+// ALayout: path to the report layout file (.repx), default value: '..\Order.repx'
 // AOrderID: order ID to filter report data, default value: '11077'
-// AOutput: path to the AOutput PDF file, default value: '<ALayout>_<AOrderID>.pdf'
+// AOutput: path to the output PDF file, default value: '<ALayout>_<AOrderID>.pdf'
 var
   AConnection: TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection;
   AReport: TdxReport;
   AReportParameter: TdxReportParameter;
   AStream: TMemoryStream;
 begin
-  // Create a database connection
-  AConnection := TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection.Create(nil);
+  // Step 1: Create a report instance and load the report layout
+  AReport := TdxReport.Create(nil);
   try
-    // Assign a database name matching the name specified in the report ALayout
-    AConnection.DisplayName := 'NWindConnectionString';
-    // Assign a connection string to use the local SQLite database
-    AConnection.ConnectionString := 'XpoProvider=SQLite; Data Source=..\nwind.db; Mode=ReadOnly';
+    // Set an internal report name (does not affect the exported PDF content and file name)
+    AReport.ReportName := 'OrderReport';
+    // Load the report layout from the specified file
+    AReport.Layout.LoadFromFile(ALayout);
 
-    // Create a report instance
-    AReport := TdxReport.Create(nil);
+    // Step 2: Create a database connection
+    AConnection := TdxBackendDatabaseSQLConnection.Create(nil);
     try
-      // Set an internal report name (does not affect the exported PDF content and file name)
-      AReport.ReportName := 'OrderReport';
-      // Load the report ALayout from the specified file
-      AReport.Layout.LoadFromFile(ALayout);
-      // Load report parameters to enable changing their values
-      AReport.LoadParametersFromReport;
+      // Assign a database name matching the name specified in the report layout
+      AConnection.DisplayName := 'NWindConnectionString';
+      // Assign a connection string to use the local SQLite database
+      AConnection.ConnectionString := 'XpoProvider=SQLite; Data Source=..\nwind.db; Mode=ReadOnly';
 
-      // Set the value of the "OrderIdParameter" parameter in the report ALayout
+      // Step 3: Define Report Parameter Values
+      AReport.LoadParametersFromReport;
+      // Set the value of the "OrderIdParameter" parameter in the report layout
       for AReportParameter in AReport.Parameters do
         if AReportParameter.Name = 'OrderIdParameter' then
           AReportParameter.Value := AOrderID;
 
+      // Step 4: Export a report to PDF
       AStream := TMemoryStream.Create;
       try
-        // Export the report to PDF format and save it to a memory stream
+        // Export a report to PDF format and save it to a memory stream
         AReport.ExportToPDF(AStream);
         // Write the content of the memory stream to a file
         AStream.SaveToFile(AOutput);
@@ -61,10 +62,10 @@ begin
         AStream.Free;
       end;
     finally
-      AReport.Free;
+      AConnection.Free;
     end;
   finally
-    AConnection.Free;
+    AReport.Free;
   end;
 end;
 

README.md

@@ -4,48 +4,52 @@
 [![](https://img.shields.io/badge/💬_Leave_Feedback-feecdd?style=flat-square)](#does-this-example-address-your-development-requirementsobjectives)
 <!-- default badges end -->
 
-# DevExpress VCL Reports—Generate a PDF Report Using a non-GUI application
+# DevExpress VCL Reports—Generate a PDF Report Using a Headless (non-GUI) application
 
-This command line application uses the DevExpress VCL Reports components to generate a PDF report.
-The application obtains data from a database using a SQL query that includes report layout parameters.
+This example uses the DevExpress VCL Reports components to generate a PDF report using a command line application.
+The example demonstrates the capabilities of VCL Reports for producing reports in backend applications, webservers, or command line applications, all without the need for a GUI.
 
 The example includes projects for both [Delphi](./Delphi) and [C++Builder](./CPB).
 
 > ![Example of a PDF report produced by the command line application, showing an alphabetical list of products](./images/report.png)
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
-See: [DevExpress Reports Prerequisites](https://docs.devexpress.com/VCL/405768/ExpressCrossPlatformLibrary/general-recommendations/vcl-web-view-2-based-app-deployment#vcl-reportsdashboards-prerequisites)
+See: [DevExpress Reports Prerequisites](https://docs.devexpress.com/VCL/405773/ExpressCrossPlatformLibrary/vcl-backend/reports-dashboards-app-deployment#vcl-reportsdashboards-prerequisites)
 
+> [!Note]
+> An application using VCL Reports in headless mode does not require the `WebView2Loader.dll` library (unlike GUI applications).
 
 ## Implementation Details
 
-By following the steps outlined in this example, you'll create a standalone command line application using the
-[DevExpress VCL ](https://docs.devexpress.com/VCL/405469/ExpressReports/vcl-reports).
+By following the steps outlined in this example, you'll create an application that produce the
+[DevExpress VCL Reports](https://docs.devexpress.com/VCL/405469/ExpressReports/vcl-reports).
 
 ### Prepare a Template Report Layout
 
 An application needs a template report layout, created in the [Report Designer](https://docs.devexpress.com/VCL/405469/ExpressReports/vcl-reports).
-You can [store a report layout in a `.repx` file](https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/vcl-reports-store-layout-template-file)
+
+You can [store a report layout in a REPX file](https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/vcl-reports-store-layout-template-file)
 or [in a database](https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/vcl-reports-store-layout-template-database).
 
-This example loads a report layout from the [`Layout.repx`](./Layout.repx) file.
+This example loads a report layout from the [`Order.repx`](./Order.repx) file.
 
 ### 
 
+
+## Files to Review
+
+-   [`Delphi/PDFReportGenerator.dpr`](./Delphi/PDFReportGenerator.dpr) generates a report in headless (non-GUI) mode.
+-   [`Order.repx`](./Order.repx) contains a report layout which produces a customer order report.
+    You view and edit this file using the [file storage example application](https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/vcl-reports-store-layout-template-file).
+-   [`nwind.db`](./nwind.db) contains the Northwind example database.
+
 ## Documentation and Examples
 
 -   [Documentation: DevExpress VCL Reports](https://docs.devexpress.com/VCL/405469/ExpressReports/vcl-reports)
 -   [Example: Store Report Layouts within Text Files](https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/vcl-reports-store-layout-template-file)
 -   [Example: Store Report Layouts in a Database](https://github.com/DevExpress-Examples/vcl-reports-store-layout-template-database)
 
-## Files to Review
-
--   [`PDFReportGenerator.ini`](./PDFReportGenerator.ini) defines configuration settings used to generate a report.
-    In your product, you can implement these settings as 
--   [`Layout.repx`](./Layout.repx) contains visual report layout and database connection data.
--   [`Delphi/PDFReportGenerator.dpr`](./Delphi/PDFReportGenerator.dpr) generates a report in headless (non-GUI) mode.
-
 
 <!-- feedback -->
 ## Does This Example Address Your Development Requirements/Objectives?