Revision as of 20:24, 19 March 2012

Introduction

The VA FileMan Delphi Components (FMDC) make it easy for developers to work with VA FileMan data in Delphi Applications. The components encapsulate the details of retrieving, validating, and updating VA FileMan data within a Delphi Application. This saves you from having to create your own custom remote procedure calls (RPCs) when you need to access VA FileMan data.

The VA FileMan components also include special enhanced features such as complete server-side error checking and data dictionary (DD) help.

If you're already familiar with Delphi, you can quickly create applications that retrieve and update VA FileMan data. The time needed to develop an Application to edit a set of VA FileMan fields with the VA FileMan components is comparable to the time to create the same Application using VA FileMan's character-based (roll-and-scroll) ScreenMan interface.

Documentation Features

• FMDC Quick Start Guide shows the basics of using FMDC to edit VA FileMan records.

• Getting Started provides an overview, orientation, and installation instructions.

• FMDC Components provides detailed information on each component, including properties and methods.

• How To: By Field Type shows how to edit each type of VA FileMan field.

• How To: By Task shows how to perform each major database task.

• Security discusses security issues.

• Advanced Topics discusses some specialized topics.

• DBS Reference provides links to the web-based DBS documentation.

*About Web Links*

Some links in this help file connect to the VISTA System Design & Development (SD&D) web server. These links connect to VA FileMan documentation that is pertinent to using the VA FileMan Delphi Components (FMDC). All such links are indicated by the =+= icon:

Inside the VA firewall, you can access: http://vista.med.va.gov

To access web links, you need to be able to connect to the VA Intranet web server.

FMDC Components

Data Access Components

• TFMFiler
• TFMFinder
• TFMFindOne
• TFMGets
• TFMHelp
• TFMLister
• TFMValidator

Custom Dialogs

• TFMLookUp

Data Controls

• TFMCheckBox
• TFMComboBox
• TFMComboBoxLookUp
• TFMEdit
• TFMLabel
• TFMListBox
• TFMMemo
• TFMRadioButton
• TFMRadioGroup

Other Information on the Web

The documentation at ftp://mirrors.medsphere.org/pub/downloads.va.gov/files/FOIA/VistAdocs/Infrastructure%20-%20NEW/Fileman_Delphi_Comp_(FMDC)/FMDC1_0IG.PDF

says a self-extracting .EXE file FMDC1_0.EXE has these files for Delphi 2 and delphi 3

Delphi 3 Installation

DIACCESS.DCU Diaccess compiled unit

DIDATAPROB.DCU Didataprob compiled unit

DIDATAPROB.DFM Form for didataprob unit

DIERR.DCU Dierr compiled unit

DIERR.DFM Form for dierr unit

DIHLP.DCU Dihlp compiled unit

DIHLP.DFM Form for dihlp unit

DITYPLIB.DCU Dityplib compiled unit

FMCMPNTS.DCR Resources for fmcmpnts unit

FMCMPNTS.DCU Fmcmpnts compiled unit

FMCNTRLS.DCR Resources for fmcntrls unit

FMCNTRLS.DCU Fmcntrls compiled unit

FMDC.CNT Contents file for Online Help

FMDC.DCP Compiled Package file for Delphi 3

FMDC.DPL Package library file for Delphi 3

FMDC.HLP Online Help

FMLOOKUP.DCR Resources for fmlookup unit

FMLOOKUP.DCU Fmlookup compiled unit

FMLOOKUP.DFM Form for fmlookup unit

Delphi 2 Installation

DIACCESS.DCU Diaccess compiled unit

DIDATAPROB.DCU Didataprob compiled unit

DIDATAPROB.DFM Form for didataprob unit

DIERR.DCU Dierr compiled unit

DIERR.DFM Form for dierr unit

DIHLP.DCU Dihlp compiled unit

DIHLP.DFM Form for dihlp unit

DITYPLIB.DCU Dityplib compiled unit

FMCMPNTS.DCR Resources for fmcmpnts unit

FMCMPNTS.DCU Fmcmpnts compiled unit

FMCNTRLS.DCR Resources for fmcntrls unit

FMCNTRLS.DCU Fmcntrls compiled unit

FMDC.CNT Contents file for Online Help

FMDC.HLP Online Help

FMDC.KWF Keyword file for integrating Online Help w/Delphi 2

FMLOOKUP.DCR Resources for fmlookup unit

FMLOOKUP.DCU Fmlookup compiled unit

FMLOOKUP.DFM Form for fmlookup unit

The file: ftp://mirrors.medsphere.org/pub/downloads.va.gov/files/FOIA/VistAdocs/Infrastructure%20-%20NEW/Fileman_Delphi_Comp_(FMDC)/fmdc1_0p1ig.pdf (ie: Installation guid for FMDC 1.0 patch 1) says that the new patch 1 isn't Delphi 2 compatible, but does say it is Delphi 4 compatible, but doesn't tell us what files are there.

Another file I have (FMDCP1TM.doc) lists these:

Delphi 4 Installation

DIACCESS.DCU Diaccess compiled unit

DIACCESS.PAS Pascal source file

DIDATAPROB.DCU Didataprob compiled unit

DIDATAPROB.DFM Form for didataprob unit

DIDATAPROB.PAS Pascal source file

DIERR.DCU Dierr compiled unit

DIERR.DFM Form for dierr unit

DIERR.PAS Pascal source file

DIHLP.DCU Dihlp compiled unit

DIHLP.DFM Form for dihlp unit

DIHLP.PAS Pascal source file

DITYPLIB.DCU Dityplib compiled unit

DITYPLIB.PAS Pascal source file

FMCMPNTS.DCR Resources for fmcmpnts unit

FMCMPNTS.DCU Fmcmpnts compiled unit

FMCMPNTS.PAS Pascal source file

FMCNTRLS.DCR Resources for fmcntrls unit

FMCNTRLS.DCU Fmcntrls compiled unit

FMCNTRLS.PAS Pascal source file

FMDC.BPL Package library file for Delphi 4

FMDC.CNT Contents file for Online Help

FMDC.DCP Compiled Package file for Delphi 4

FMDC.DCU Compiled Unit for Delphi 4

FMDC.DPK Package source file for Delphi 4

FMDC.HLP Online Help

FMDC.RES Resource file

FMLOOKUP.DCR Resources for fmlookup unit

FMLOOKUP.DCU Fmlookup compiled unit

FMLOOKUP.DFM Form for fmlookup unit

FMLOOKUP.PAS Pascal source file

I haven't found a technical or user manual for Delphi 5. The page: http://code.osehra.org/files/vdl/Infrastructure/FileMan%20Delphi%20Components%20(FMDC)/ has Delphi 5 instructions in a readme

Additional hints are in the file:

http://mirrors.medsphere.org/pub/downloads.va.gov/files/FOIA/Software/VistA_FOIA_Historical_Files/VISTA_FOIA_RELEASES_BEFORE_2008/FMDC-FileMan%20Delphi%20Components/FMDC-1_SEQ-1_PAT-1.txt

- Source code is now provided for the FMDC components.

While this patch only provides code changes for developer's client

 workstations, a build also is included for the server side so that the
 patch number will appear in the package file. 
 The software distribution includes:
  
 FILE NAMES      DESCRIPTION                     Blocks          Bytes
 FMDC1_0P1.EXE   FMDC Self-Installing Executable   1894         969709
 FMDC1_0P1IG.PDF Installation Guide                 146          74560
 FMDC1_0P1TM.PDF Technical Manual                    71          36305

This led to a google search which yielded this address:

http://mirrors.medsphere.org/pub/downloads.va.gov/files/FOIA/Software/VistA_FOIA_Historical_Files/VISTA_FOIA_RELEASES_BEFORE_2008/FMDC-FileMan%20Delphi%20Components/

[TXT] FMDC-1_SEQ-1_PAT-1.kid 13-Sep-1999 20:00 13K [TXT] FMDC-1_SEQ-1_PAT-1.txt 13-Sep-1999 20:00 4.5K [TXT] FMDC-1_SEQ-2_PAT-2.kid 24-Jan-2000 20:00 7.1K [TXT] FMDC-1_SEQ-2_PAT-2.txt 24-Jan-2000 20:00 2.4K [ ] FMDC1_0P1.EXE 13-Sep-1999 20:00 947K [DIR] PROGRAMS/ 19-Mar-2012 01:22 -

and in http://mirrors.medsphere.org/pub/downloads.va.gov/files/FOIA/Software/VistA_FOIA_Historical_Files/VISTA_FOIA_RELEASES_BEFORE_2008/FMDC-FileMan%20Delphi%20Components/PROGRAMS/

[ ] FMDC1_0.EXE 03-Sep-1998 20:00 929K

I downloaded the FMDC1_P1.EXE, ran it, and it appears that it creates the source code files, though only for Delphi 3 & Delphi 4. I assume that these files will need to be reviewed to be loaded into a more "modern" Delphi version.

The install log for running FMDC1_0P1.EXE follows:

• • • Installation Started 03/19/12 16:12 ***

Title: Fileman Delphi Components V1.0 Patch 1 Installation Source: C:\DOWNLO~1\FMDC\FMDC1_~1.EXE Made Dir: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc Made Dir: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3 File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmdc.dpk File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\dierr.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\DiTypLib.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Diaccess.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Didataprob.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmcmpnts.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmcntrls.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\dihlp.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmcmpnts.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Diaccess.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmcmpnts.dcr File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmcntrls.dcr File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmcntrls.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\DiTypLib.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\dihlp.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\dierr.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\DiDataProb.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\dihlp.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\DiDataProb.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\DIERR.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmdc.dpl File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmdc.hlp File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmdc.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmlookup.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\fmdc.cnt File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmlookup.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmdc.res File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmdc.dcp File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmlookup.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D3\Fmlookup.dcr Made Dir: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4 File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Trpcb.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\dihlp.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\dihlp.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\dihlp.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Diaccess.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\dierr.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\dierr.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\DiDataProb.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\DiDataProb.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\DiDataProb.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Diaccess.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\dierr.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmdc.bpl File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmdc.dcp File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmcmpnts.dcr File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmcntrls.dcr File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmlookup.dcr File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmdc.res File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\DiTypLib.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmcmpnts.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmcntrls.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmdc.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmlookup.dcu File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmlookup.dfm File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmdc.dpk File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\DiTypLib.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmcmpnts.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmcntrls.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmlookup.pas File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\fmdc.cnt File Copy: C:\Downloads\FMDC\Fmdc\D4\Fmdc.hlp RegDB Key: SOFTWARE\Vista\Fmdc RegDB Val: C:\DOWNLO~1\FMDC\Fmdc RegDB Name: FmdcDir RegDB Root: 2

Index

• Table of Components and RPC's called