Creating property to store two values - delphi

Question

Using Delphi 10 I have two values work_start and work_finish of type TTime that I need to read and write from database table so I though to create a property for each one like that
private
fWorkStart: TTime;
function GetWS: TTime;
procedure SetWS(const Value: TTime);
Public
property WorkStart: TTime read GetWS write SetWS;
....
procedure MyClass.SetWS(const Value: TTime);
begin
fWorkStart := value;
mydataset.Edit;
mydataset.FieldByName('work_start').AsDateTime := fWorkStart;
mydataset.Post;
end;
function MyClass.GetWS: TTime;
begin
if mydataset.FieldByName('work_start').IsNull then
fWorkStart := encodetime(6,0,0,0)
else
fWorkStart := mydataset.FieldByName('work_start').AsDateTime;
result := fWorkStart;
end;
WorkFinish property is the same. So is there a way to create one property for both times or my code is fine ?

Answer 1

Craig's answer demonstrates record properties, which means you have a single property that gets set as a unit; you can't set the start and finish times independently. Dawood's answer demonstrates an array property, which allows independent accesses, but imposes cumbersome bracket notation on the consumer. Kobik's comment improves the semantics, but we can do even better using index specifiers.
First, define an enum to represent the two kinds of times:
type
TWorkTime = (wtStart, wtFinish);
Use those values in your property declarations, and provide an extra parameter to your property accessors to represent the index:
private
FWorkTime: :array[TWorkTime] of TTime;
function GetWT(Index: TWorkTime): TTime;
procedure SetWT(Index: TWorkTime; const Value: TTime);
public
property WorkStart: TTime index wsStart read GetWT write SetWT;
property WorkFinish: TTime index wsFinish read GetWT write SetWT;
To reduce the bloat Craig warns about in your accessors, you can define another array with the corresponding fields names, which lets you avoid duplicating code for your different fields:
const
FieldNames: array[TWorkTime] of string = (
'work_start',
'work_finish'
);
function MyClass.GetWT(Index: TWorkTime): TTime;
begin
if mydataset.FieldByName(FieldName[Index]).IsNull then
FWorkTime[Index] := EncodeTime(6, 0, 0, 0)
else
FWorkTime[Index] := mydataset.FieldByName(FieldNames[Index]).AsDateTime;
Result := FWorkTime[Index];
end;

Answer 2

It is possible:
//Define a record to hold both
type
TTimeRange = record
StartTime: TTime;
EndTime: TTime;
end;
//And have your property use the record
property WorkHours: TTimeRange read GetWorkHours write SetWorkHours;
However, this would force clients of your class to interact using the record structure. Basically the complications you'd encounter outweigh the small benefit you'd gain.
So I don't recommend it.
(Although it's worth remembering the technique because in other scenarios it may prove more useful.)
As for your code:
Handling of properties is fine. Although in the code you've presented fWorkStart is redundant.
I'd caution against Edit and Post within your property writer. Apart from the fact that updating 1 field at a time in the Db would be highly inefficient, your method has unexpected side-effects. (And can you always assume edit is the right choice and not insert?)
In your property reader, assuming NULL == 6:00 is not a good idea. NULL has very specific meaning that the value is unknown/unassigned. Defaulting it in the wrong place leads to being unable to tell the difference between 6:00 and NULL. (I'm not saying never default a null; just understand the implications.)

Answer 3

yes you can use indexed properties
property WorkTime[IsStart: Boolean]: TDataTime read GetWorkTime write SetWorkTime;
procedure MyClass.SetWorkTime(IsStart: Boolean;const value: TDataTime);
begin
mydataset.Edit;
if IsStart then
mydataset.FieldByName('work_start').AsDateTime := value else
mydataset.FieldByName('work_Finish').AsDateTime := value;
mydataset.Post;
end;
function MyClass.GetWorkTime(IsStart: Boolean): TTime;
begin
if IsStart then
Begin
if mydataset.FieldByName('work_start').IsNull then
fWorkStart := encodetime(6,0,0,0)
else
fWorkStart := mydataset.FieldByName('work_start').AsDateTime;
result := fWorkStart;
end else
begin
if mydataset.FieldByName('work_finish').IsNull then
fWorkfinish := encodetime(6,0,0,0)
else
fWorkfinish := mydataset.FieldByName('work_finish').AsDateTime;
result := fWorkfinish;
end
end;