DbAltGrid

DbAltGrid Suite

As it is well known, there are two ways to display database data. The first way is to use a form. The other way is to use a grid. The advantage of forms over grids is an ability to display and edit all the record's fields at a time. The advantage of grids over forms is an ability to display and edit multiple records simultaneously. Sometimes, however, when the number of fields is too great, not all the fields are accessible.
When a user gets bored of not being able to see all desirable fields through common grid without endless scrolling horizontally, guess what he thinks about the program developer? Do you really love your end-user?

    Did you ever wish of having a grid that lets you display and edit data not as rows and columns, but as records? A grid that would allow you to build unique user interface solutions?
    We offer you a new approach to the data grid interface. We offer you DbAltGrid component.
    DbAltGrid is fully compatible with Borland’s DBGrid. The TDbAltGrid class is TCustomDBGrid descendant, as TDBGrid is. By converting to DbAltGrid, you will not have any code impact or loss in grid functionality. DbAltGrid simply offers you more power to do what you want and what your end-user wants.

The DbAltGrid is the ideal grid for displaying and analyzing business information. The result is achieved by adding the following features to Borland’s DBGrid:

Multiple lines per record. DbAltGrid allows you to create multi-banded columns to enhance information display. You can customize record layout during both design time and run time. This methodology can offer an extremely efficient use of screen space.
Hierarchical columns structure. Now you can divide your columns into logical categories, consolidate them and attach to a parent column. That way you can imitate tree-like columns structure. Such interface is similar to object and array field types interface of the Oracle 8 database, but you can emulate this powerful methodology with any database now.
Enhanced column resizing and moving. Your user can resize and move column in both horizontal and vertical directions. DbAltGrid animates the column being moved with position indicators for much sharper look and feel for the user, as well as for you (the designer).
Row resizing. The user can adjust the height of rows to meet his/her specific needs. Furthermore, your user can adjust the height of each band in the row separately. As well as you - the designer.
Automatic calculation of row height and column width by a mouse double-click. The same applies for the designer.
Images in column headers. The DbAltGrid has now got an Images property which allows you to attach a TImageList to the grid for displaying pictures in the column headers. It allows you to setup pictures at design time.
Clickable button-like depressible column headers. Indicators that display the column sorted on and the sorting order used.
Automatic word-wrap in data cell and ellipsis draw indicator when the text doesn’t fit data cell or header. In that case you can see full text in a cell hint.
Fast, smooth and flicker free painting. Off-screen painting even by custom drawing in OnDrawColumnCell event handler.
Smart key mapping support. Optional carriage return automatic conversion to a tab. If you want, pressing the Down arrow key when the cursor is on the last record in the dataset does not result in append of new empty record. It is made possible with a hot key use.
Striped look. A background color of odd and even rows can be turned to alternate stripes like in ledger books.
Header cursor. Focus rectangle is drawn in title cell of the selected column.
Support of TClientDataSet object fields. Allows developers to use Non-BDE data sources.
Fully compatible with DBGrid. If you can use DBGrid in your application, you can use DbAltGrid too.

Take a look at screen shots of the DbAltGrid.

The DbAltGrid offers a new approach to the problem of controlling data displayed and edited in a grid. The DbAltGrid uses the dagTemplate components to define such a control. DbAltGrid comes with a standard template set for the most common chores, including displaying and editing numeric, Boolean, date, memo and graphic fields. There is also a unique template for displaying parent columns. It's fairly easy to descend new templates from our base TdagTemplate class. This makes the DbAltGrid infinitely customizable with templates of your own design!
The Template components that we designed for the DbAltGrid follow our strict guidelines on minimal resource usage. You need only one instance of template component of an appropriate kind in the application, irrespective of grids and fields number. When you do not need functionality of any template component, you do not add the extra footprint to your application.

The DbAltGrid Suite includes the following components with source code: TDbAltGrid, TdagCalendar, TdagNumPad, TdagCalculator, TdagBoolean, TdagGraphic, TdagMemo, and TdagParent . Versions for Delphi 4, Delphi 5, and C++ Builder 4 are available.

If you wish to download an evaluation copy of DbAltGrid Suite and demo program you can proceed directly to our download page. To learn more about DbAltGrid, including pricing and delivery information, please visit us online at http://www.dbaltgrid.com