Adding TField and TDataset to Component Propertis

Question

I want to add two properties to my component: a TDataSet and a TField, so that when I set the TDataset property I can then select from its fields in the DataField Property.
I don't know how to make the relation between the DataField and the DataSet properties.

How can I do that?

Answer 1

If you change your component to have a DataSource: TDataSource property instead of a DataSet: TDataSet property, Delphi's standard TDataFieldProperty editor will automatically populate your DataField: string property for you. You can then link your desired TDataSet component to a TDataSource component.

If you want the drop-down list to appear for any string property that is not named DataField , you can register TDataFieldProperty manually for that property via RegisterPropertyEditor() .

If you want to have a TDataSource property whose name is not DataSource , you can derive from TDataFieldProperty and override its virtual GetDataSourcePropName() method.

If you must accept a TDataSet directly, you will have to write a custom property editor for your DataField property, and have it call TDataSet.GetFieldNames() directly.