Problems with using components in 2 forms

[lloydie2]

I have just started writing my first application in Delphi and I am now stuck communicating between forms. I am using a serial port component TnrComms which has a main serial port component and a Device dropdown box component. I wish to select the dropdown box on a different form in the same project, but I don't know how to reference the main serial port component so that I can select that component in the object inspector. Have a look and point me in the right direction.

form 1


code:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
unit datacollex;

interface

uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
Dialogs, Menus, ExtCtrls, ToolWin, ActnMan, ActnCtrls, StdCtrls, ComCtrls,
nrclasses, nrcomm, dataport;

type
TMainForm = class(TForm)
MainMenu1: TMainMenu;
File1: TMenuItem;
A1: TMenuItem;
Options1: TMenuItem;
Options2: TMenuItem;
Disconnect1: TMenuItem;
Help1: TMenuItem;
SerialPortSettings1: TMenuItem;
Quit1: TMenuItem;
Panel2: TPanel;
ActionToolBar1: TActionToolBar;
IncomingDataEdit: TRichEdit;
Panel1: TPanel;
OutgoingSQLEdit: TRichEdit;
Panel3: TPanel;
Panel4: TPanel;
Panel5: TPanel;
nrComm1: TnrComm; // this is the component
SelectPort1: TMenuItem;
procedure SelectPort1Click(Sender: TObject);
procedure SerialPortSettings1Click(Sender: TObject);
private
{ Private declarations }
public
{ Public declarations }
end;

var
MainForm: TMainForm;

implementation

{$R *.dfm}

procedure TMainForm.SelectPort1Click(Sender: TObject);
var dlg: TPortForm;
begin
dlg := TPortForm.Create( Self);
dlg.ShowModal;
end;

procedure TMainForm.SerialPortSettings1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
nrComm1.ConfigDialog;
end;

end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Form 2

code:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
unit dataport;

interface

uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
Dialogs, StdCtrls, Menus, ComCtrls, nrcomm, nrcommbox;

type
TPortForm = class(TForm)
MainMenu1: TMainMenu;
File1: TMenuItem;
Quit1: TMenuItem;
PortOk: TButton;
PortCancel: TButton;
nrDeviceBox1: TnrDeviceBox; //this is the dropdown box
private
{ Private declarations }
public
{ Public declarations }
end;

var
PortForm: TPortForm;

implementation

{$R *.dfm}

end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanx

 

[Zathras]

Add

 datacollex

to the [blue]

 uses

[/color] list and reference the component by qualifying with the form name (as named in the [blue]

 var

[/color] section):

   MainForm.nrComm1

 

[lloydie2]

Thanks Zathras for your help. Had to sort out the circular reference, but ended up with the following.

Code:-----------------------------------------------------

unit dataport;

interface

uses
Windows, Messages, SysUtils, Variants, Classes, Graphics, Controls, Forms,
Dialogs, StdCtrls, Menus, datacollex, nrcomm, nrcommbox;

type
TPortForm = class(TForm)
MainMenu1: TMainMenu;
File1: TMenuItem;
Quit1: TMenuItem;
PortOk: TButton;
PortCancel: TButton;
nrDeviceBox1: TnrDeviceBox;
procedure PortOkClick(Sender: TObject);
private
{ Private declarations }
public
{ Public declarations }
end;

var
PortForm: TPortForm;

implementation

{$R *.dfm}

procedure TPortForm.PortOkClick(Sender: TObject);
begin
MainForm.nrComm1.Active:=true;
PortForm.Close;
end;

end.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Can you poin me in the right direction for closing this form for PortOkClick?

 

[Zathras]

Easiest way when using .ShowModal is to set the ModalResult property of the button to mrOk and eliminate the line where you have

 PortForm.Close

You could also use a BitBtn and set the Kind property to bkOK. Delphi automatically then sets the ModalResult property to mrOk.

Also, to get around circular references (assuming you meant in the

 uses

clause), you can put a secondary

 uses

line in the implementation section. -- see the help file.

 

[lloydie2]

Thanx Zathras that all woked OK