Question:
I was a VB programmer, until my recent shift to Delphi 2.0. How can I create a database in code?
Answer:
It depends on the type of database youwant to build. However, I can show you how to do it with a Paradox table.
What you have to do is declare a TTable variable, create an instance, thenwith the TTable’s FieldDefs property, add field definitions. Finally, you’llmake a call to CreateTable, and your table will be created. Here’s someexample code:
{ “Add” is the operative function here. Add(const Name: string; DataType: TFieldType; Size: Word; Required: Boolean);}procedure CreateATable;var tbl : TTable;begin tbl := TTable.Create(Application); with tbl do begin Active := False; DatabaseName := ‘‘; TableName := ‘‘; TableType := ttParadox; with FieldDefs do begin Clear; Add(‘LastName’, ftString, 30, False); Add(‘FirstName’, ftString, 30, False); Add(‘Address1’, ftString, 40, False); Add(‘Address2’, ftString, 40, False); Add(‘City’, ftString, 30, False); Add(‘ST’, ftString, 2, False); Add(‘Zip’, ftString, 10, False); end; {Add a Primary Key to the table} with IndexDefs do begin Clear; Add(‘Field1Index’, ‘LastName;FirstName’, [ixPrimary, ixUnique]); end; CreateTable; {Make the table} end;end; The procedure above makes a simple contact table, first by defining thefields to be included in the table, then creating a primary key. As you cansee, it’s a pretty straightforward procedure.
