Or via e-mail.

14.05.2012. Lazy Delphi Builder 1.6.2.200

Download in downloads section.

1. New: Always store lists of files in the same order in .LazyDbp file, to ease comparison of different .LazyDbp versions.
2. New: Hotkeys: Ctrl+Up and Ctrl+Down in Installation Log, to move between "Compiling …" messages.
3. New: Allow to stop file deletion on Build.
4. New: Added JCL Exception Dialog for easier error tracing.
5. New: Installed Packages Tab: Allow to remove or disable packages from Delphi.
6. Fix: Sometime profile can’t be compiled without reload.
7. Select files to compile dialog:
    1. New: Set focus to newly added folders.
    2. Fix: Few fixes in Substitute path dialog
8. Fix: Backup and delete files in separate thread. Show progress bar.
9. Fix: Feature #29024: Network paths support.
10. Fix: Bug #53575 (http://www.hostedredmine.com/issues/53575): Go to the "Environment Variables" window and select "Library paths". Right click -> Add new… and add 1 path. After that if you don’t click existing item and try to add another path the "List index out of bounds (-1)" is generated.
11. Fix: !Don’t run CnDebugViewer!
12. Many fixes and improvements in Installation Log.
13. Many minor GUI changes and improvements

If you use Lazy Delphi Builder, please, let me know (my contacts). I’d love to hear about it. =)

Some ideas for next release:

• Drag’n’drop to files/packages tree
• “Check wizard” in “Files to compile” tree to allow easier selection of for packages selected Delphi version.
• Rename old backups instead of deleting them to Windows Recycle Bin
• Compile packages/projects in separate thread.

1. Added main menu.
2. Added build mode: “Continue build”. If build process stopped with error, you can resolve problem and continue to compile only packages that were not built.
3. Added search (Ctrl+F) for packages tree and installation log.
4. Added: “Recently opened files” support.
5. Added: in /debug mode, print packages list in the same order they will be compiled.
6. Fixed: Access Violation on start on the computer where Delphi XE2/Pulsar installed.
7. New: If build process stopped with error, ProgressBar color will be changed to red.
8. Fixed: in packages tree selected record is lost on refresh.
9. Display time in Installation Log
10. New: in packages tree option Check all required packages.
11. Build settings Dialog:
• Show Warning if checkbox Clear out dirs is checked, but output dir for BPL files is default for IDE.
• Added Hints
• Event handlers for buttons near Edits
• In Directories Tab, button Save to profile was added to save settings to current profile. (in case of need to change settings without running build).
12. Fixed: Enviroinment and custom variables were processed with errors when used in relative paths.
13. Fixed: no need to click in Log to enable scrolling.
14. Added: Remove files from Recycle Bin in packages tree.
15. Changed: settings .ini filename does not depends on the name of exe file. Always used: LazyDelphiBuilderGUI.ini.

Note: to compile FireMonkey project with Pulsar Beta, there should be defined dcc param –default-namespace:system in Build Settings dialog.

Download in downloads section or here.

You can find it here: http://www.hostedredmine.com/projects/lazy/

p.s. registration is needed to register bug, so if you don’t want to register, mail me, or report bug in comments – I will register it by myself.

My previous post doesn’t provide full information about differences between RxLib and JVCL components. So here is full list of all public and published properties and methods, which are missing in JVCL-components. For every component.

Ante Scriptum: I definitely like new RTTI in Delphi 2010. =)

I created small program that compares properties and methods for each component using Delphi 2010 RTTI.

Program has 3 units:

• uRxJvComponents.pas – contains list of Rx and Jv classes. Creating this list was the only unpleasant part of this work.
• uCompareClasses.pas – class that compares Rx and JVCL components.
• RxJvCompareMainFormU.pas – main form. Can run comparison and show results in text/html format.

You can download: Rx and Jvcl Compare util.zip here

Remark: program can be compiled in Delphi 2010+. To compile you need to install both RxLib and JVCL.

TComboEdit -> TJvComboEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TFilenameEdit -> TJvFilenameEdit

Properties:

• published property FileName: string
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TDirectoryEdit -> TJvDirectoryEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TDateEdit -> TJvDateEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxCalcEdit -> TJvCalcEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TTextListBox -> TJvTextListBox

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxCheckListBox -> TJvxCheckListBox

Properties:

• published property IniStorage: TFormPlacement
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• published property OnGetItemHint: TGetItemHintEvent
• published property HintSource: THPC_HintSource

Methods:

• procedure SaveStatesReg(IniFile: TRegIniFile)
• procedure RestoreStatesReg(IniFile: TRegIniFile)
• procedure SaveStates(IniFile: TIniFile)
• procedure RestoreStates(IniFile: TIniFile)

TFontComboBox -> TJvFontComboBox

Properties:

• published property Device: TFontDevice
• published property FontName: TFontName
• published property Options: TFontListOptions
• published property TrueTypeOnly: Boolean
• published property UseFonts: Boolean
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property DragKind: TDragKind
• published property ParentBiDiMode: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• published property Style: TOwnerDrawComboStyle
• published property OnContextPopup: TContextPopupEvent
• published property OnEndDock: TEndDragEvent
• published property OnStartDock: TStartDockEvent

TColorComboBox -> TJvColorComboBox

Properties:

• public property CustomColor: TColor
• published property AllColors: Boolean
• published property ColorNames: TStrings
• published property DisplayNames: Boolean
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property DragKind: TDragKind
• published property ParentBiDiMode: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• published property Style: TOwnerDrawComboStyle
• published property OnContextPopup: TContextPopupEvent
• published property OnEndDock: TEndDragEvent
• published property OnStartDock: TStartDockEvent

TRxSplitter -> TJvxSplitter

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxSlider -> TJvxSlider

TRxLabel -> TJvLabel

Properties:

• published property OnEndDock: TEndDragEvent
• published property OnStartDock: TStartDockEvent
• public property MouseInControl: Boolean

TRxRichEdit -> TJvRichEdit

Fields:

• PercentDone: Byte @ 360
• PrnPreviews: TList @ 364
• PrnPreview: TMetafile @ 368

Properties:

• published property DrawEndPage: Boolean
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• public property DefaultConverter: TConversionClass
• public property LinesUpdating: Boolean
• public property RtfSelText: string
• public property LinkClickRange: _charrange
• public property DrawEndPage: Boolean

Methods:

• procedure CreatePrnPrew(const Caption: string)
• class procedure RegisterConversionFormat(const AExtension: string; APlainText: Boolean; AConversionClass: TConversionClass)

TRxClock -> TJvClock

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• published property OnGetTime: TRxGetTimeEvent

TAnimatedImage -> TJvAnimatedImage

Properties:

• published property DragKind: TDragKind
• published property Opaque: Boolean

TRxDrawGrid -> TJvDrawGrid

Properties:

• published property IniStorage: TFormPlacement

TRxSpeedButton -> TJvSpeedButton

Properties:

• published property FlatStandard: Boolean
• published property MenuPosition: TRxDropDownMenuPos
• published property NumGlyphs: TRxNumGlyphs

TRxGIFAnimator -> TJvGIFAnimator

Properties:

• published property Image: TGIFImage

TRxSpinButton -> TJvSpinButton

Properties:

• published property ButtonStyle: TrSpinButtonStyle

TRxSpinEdit -> TJvSpinEdit

Properties:

• published property CheckOnExit: Boolean
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• public property CheckOnExit: Boolean

TRxSwitch -> TJvSwitch

TRxDice -> TJvDice

Properties:

• published property Value: TRxDiceValue

Methods:

• procedure RandomValue

TPicClip -> TJvPicClip

Properties:

• published property Cols: TCellRange
• published property Rows: TCellRange

TFormStorage -> TJvFormStorage

Properties:

• published property StoredValues: TStoredValues
• public property IniFileObject: TObject
• public property IniFile: TIniFile
• public property RegIniFile: TRegIniFile
• published property IniFileName: string
• published property IniSection: string
• published property MinMaxInfo: TWinMinMaxInfo
• published property RegistryRoot: TPlacementRegRoot
• published property UseRegistry: Boolean

Methods:

• procedure WriteString(const Ident: string; const Value: string)
• procedure WriteInteger(const Ident: string; Value: Integer)

TFormPlacement -> TJvFormStorage

Properties:

• public property IniFileObject: TObject
• public property IniFile: TIniFile
• public property RegIniFile: TRegIniFile
• published property IniFileName: string
• published property IniSection: string
• published property MinMaxInfo: TWinMinMaxInfo
• published property RegistryRoot: TPlacementRegRoot
• published property UseRegistry: Boolean

Methods:

• procedure WriteString(const Ident: string; const Value: string)
• procedure WriteInteger(const Ident: string; Value: Integer)

TRxWindowHook -> TJvWindowHook

Properties:

• public property HookWindow: HWND
• published property WinControl: TWinControl
• published property BeforeMessage: THookMessageEvent
• published property AfterMessage: THookMessageEvent

TAppEvents -> TJvAppEvents

Properties:

• public property Canvas: TCanvas

TSpeedBar -> TJvSpeedBar

Properties:

• published property Options: TSpeedbarOptions
• published property IniStorage: TFormPlacement
• published property Images: TImageList
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

Methods:

• procedure RemoveItem(Item: TSpeedItem)
• procedure AddItem(Section: Integer; Item: TSpeedItem)
• function NewItem(AOwner: TComponent; Section: Integer; const AName: string): TSpeedItem
• function AcceptDropItem(Item: TSpeedItem; X: Integer; Y: Integer): Boolean
• procedure SetEditing(Win: HWND)
• function SearchItem(const ItemName: string): TSpeedItem
• function FindItem(Item: TSpeedItem; var Section: Integer; var Index: Integer): Boolean
• procedure SaveLayoutReg(IniFile: TRegIniFile)
• procedure RestoreLayoutReg(IniFile: TRegIniFile)
• procedure SaveLayout(IniFile: TIniFile)
• procedure RestoreLayout(IniFile: TIniFile)
• procedure ReArrangeButtons(ByList: TStringList)
• function Items(Section: Integer; Index: Integer): TSpeedItem

TRxCalculator -> TJvCalculator

TRxTimerList -> TJvTimerList

Properties:

• public property Count: Integer
• public property EnabledCount: Integer
• published property Events: TList

Methods:

• function Add(AOnTimer: TNotifyEvent; AInterval: Integer; ACycled: Boolean): Integer
• function AddItem(Item: TRxTimerEvent): Integer
• procedure Clear
• procedure Delete(AHandle: Integer)
• procedure Activate
• procedure Deactivate
• function ItemByHandle(AHandle: Integer): TRxTimerEvent
• function ItemIndexByHandle(AHandle: Integer): Integer

TPageManager -> TJvPageManager

Properties:

• public property PageHistory: TPageHistory
• public property HistoryCommand: TPageHistoryCommand

TMergeManager -> TJvMergeManager

Properties:

• public property FormHistory: TFormHistory

TMRUManager -> TJvMRUManager

Properties:

• published property IniStorage: TFormPlacement

Methods:

• procedure LoadFromRegistry(Ini: TRegIniFile; const Section: string)
• procedure SaveToRegistry(Ini: TRegIniFile; const Section: string)
• procedure LoadFromIni(Ini: TIniFile; const Section: string)
• procedure SaveToIni(Ini: TIniFile; const Section: string)

TSecretPanel -> TJvSecretPanel

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TStrHolder -> TJvStrHolder

Properties:

• published property Macros: TMacros
• published property KeyString: AnsiString

Methods:

• function MacroByName(const MacroName: string): TMacro

TRxTrayIcon -> TJvTrayIcon

Properties:

• public property Handle: HWND
• published property Enabled: Boolean
• published property Icons: TIconList
• published property Interval: Word
• published property ShowDesign: Boolean
• published property OnDblClick: TNotifyEvent

Methods:

• procedure Hide
• procedure Show

TRxMainMenu -> TJvMainMenu

Properties:

• published property MinTextOffset: Cardinal
• published property Style: TRxMenuStyle
• published property Images: TImageList

TRxPopupMenu -> TJvPopupMenu

Properties:

• published property LeftMargin: Cardinal
• published property MinTextOffset: Cardinal
• published property Style: TRxMenuStyle
• published property Images: TImageList
• published property OnDrawMargin: TDrawMarginEvent

Methods:

• procedure DefaultDrawMargin(ARect: TRect; StartColor: TColor; EndColor: TColor)

TClipboardViewer -> TJvClipboardViewer

TRxGradientCaption -> TJvGradientCaption

TDualListDialog -> TJvDualListDialog

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean

TRxLoginDialog -> TJvLoginDialog

Properties:

• published property IniFileName: string
• published property UseRegistry: Boolean

TRxMemoryData -> TJvMemoryData

Methods:

• procedure CopyStructure(Source: TDataSet)
• function LoadFromDataSet(Source: TDataSet; RecordCount: Integer; Mode: TLoadMode): Integer
• function SaveToDataSet(Dest: TDataSet; RecordCount: Integer): Integer

TRxDBGrid -> TJvDBGrid

Properties:

• published property IniStorage: TFormPlacement
• published property OnShowEditor: TDBEditShowEvent

Methods:

• procedure SaveLayout(IniFile: TIniFile)
• procedure RestoreLayout(IniFile: TIniFile)
• procedure SaveLayoutReg(IniFile: TRegIniFile)
• procedure RestoreLayoutReg(IniFile: TRegIniFile)

TRxDBLookupList -> TJvDBLookupList

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxDBLookupCombo -> TJvDBLookupCombo

Properties:

• published property EscapeClear: Boolean
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxLookupEdit -> TJvDBLookupEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TDBDateEdit -> TJvDBDateEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxDBCalcEdit -> TJvDBCalcEdit

Properties:

• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxDBComboEdit -> TJvDBComboEdit

Properties:

• public property Button: TEditButton
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxDBRichEdit -> TJvDBRichEdit

Fields:

• PercentDone: Byte @ 360
• PrnPreviews: TList @ 364
• PrnPreview: TMetafile @ 368

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean
• public property DefaultConverter: TConversionClass
• public property LinesUpdating: Boolean
• public property RtfSelText: string
• public property LinkClickRange: _charrange
• public property DrawEndPage: Boolean

Methods:

• procedure CreatePrnPrew(const Caption: string)
• class procedure RegisterConversionFormat(const AExtension: string; APlainText: Boolean; AConversionClass: TConversionClass)

TDBStatusLabel -> TJvDBStatusLabel

Properties:

• public property MouseInControl: Boolean

TRxDBComboBox -> TJvDBComboBox

Properties:

• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TRxQuery -> TJvQuery

TSQLScript -> TJvSQLScript

TMemoryTable -> TJvBDEMemoryTable

TQBEQuery -> TJvQBEQuery

TRxDBFilter -> TJvDBFilter

TDBIndexCombo -> TJvDBIndexCombo

Properties:

• published property NoIndexItem: string
• published property DisplayMode: TIdxDisplayMode
• published property Ctl3D: Boolean
• published property ParentCtl3D: Boolean

TDBProgress -> TJvDBProgress

TDBSecurity -> TJvDBSecurity

Properties:

• published property IniFileName: string
• published property UseRegistry: Boolean

TBDEItems -> TJvBDEItems

TDatabaseItems -> TJvDatabaseItems

TTableItems -> TJvTableItems

This article is written for those developers who still uses RxLib library in non-unicode Delphi and is thinking about going to Unicode.

In year 2002 RxLib was officially merged with Jedi Visual Component Library. JVCL has special tool for rapid conversion of all Rx components, functions and units to according JVCL code. See previous post Jvcl Dev Tools: JvclConvert.

Why not to stay with RxLib, and move to JVCL?

1. JVCL is maintained. Bugs are fixed. You’ll always have JVCL version with newest Delphi IDE support.
2. RxLib is abandoned. There are few enthusiasts who try to release patches, but they are not coordinated. Most of existing RxLib versions for Delphi 2009, 2010 and XE has its own unique code changes. Most of them have bugs either. Even version that was released in “official” RxLib project on SourceForge has bugs.
3. JVCL supports Windows themes, RxLib is not.

This post contains list of all Rx components with according Jvcl component, package name, and short list of differences. You can find more detailed list in the next article “From RxLib to JVCL: details”.

Common properties

These properties were changed for all components:

• Rx property Ctl3D was replaced with Flat.
• Opaque property was replaced with Transparent.

Rx Tools Tab

Jv Non-Visual tab

TrxWindowHook –> TjvWindowHook

TrxTimerList –> TjvTimerList. TrxTimerTimerEvent has Tag property, but TJvTimerEvent doesn’t.

TrxPageManager –> TjvPageManager

TrxMergeManager –> TjvMergeManager

TrxMruManager –> TjvMruManager. Improved.

TrxMainMenu –> TjvMainMenu. Integrated with other JVCL-components, added styles support, ItemPainter, separate ImageLists for different states.

TrxPopupMenu –> TjvPopupMenu. Significantly improved. Integrated with other JVCL-components, styles support and ItemPainter, separate ImageLists for different states.

TStrHolder –> TjvStrHolder

TrxTrayIcon –> TjvTrayIcon. Component has few improvements.

TrxCalculator –> TjvCalculator. New events: OnClose and OnShow

Jv Application, Forms tab

TrxAppEvents –> TjvAppEvents

TrxGradientCaption –> TjvGradientCaption. Improved.

Jv System tab

TrxFolderMonitor –> This component is missing in JVCL. The most suitable replacement for it, is TjvChangeNotify component.

TClipboardViewer –> TjvClipboardViewer

Jv Dialogs tab

TrxLoginDialog-> TjvLoginDialog. Significantly improved. Instead of Ini-file, it uses TjvAppStorage.

TDualListDialog –> TjvDualListDialog. Improved.

Jv Bars, Panels tab

TSecretPanel -> TjvSecretPanel

TSpeedBar -> TjvSpeedBar.

Jv Persistence tab

TFormPlacement and TFormStorage –> TjvFormStorage. These components were joined to one component TjvFormStorage, which was improved heavily. It allows storing settings not only in Ini-files or Registry, but also in XML and database. This component is frequently used by the other JVCL components to store internal settings.

Jv Images, Animators tab

TPicClip –> TJvPicClip

Rx Controls

Every visual control has Windows themes support.

Jv Edits tab

TrxComboEdit –> TjvComboEdit. New property Action, DataConnector support (may act as DB-aware component).

TFilenameEdit –> TjvFileNameEdit. New picture on button, auto complete support, ImageList support for button’s picture.

TDirectoryEdit –> TjvDirectoryEdit. Updated picture for button. Browse for Directory dialog can be configured. It uses updated dialog. Also has autocomplete/autosuggest for directories on the disk. ImageList support for button’s picture.

TDateEdit –> TjvDateEdit. Added properties: DB (via DataConnector), Action.

TCurrencyEdit –> no.

TrxCalcEdit –> TjvCalcEdit

TrxSpinEdit –> TjvSpindEdit. Improved a little.

TrxRichEdit –> TjvRichEdit. Significantly improved.

Jv Lists, Combos, Trees tab

TFontComboBox –> TjvFontComboBox. Extended options, MRU (Most Recently Used) support, show icon for font, preview mode changed a little.

TColorComboBox –> TjvColorComboBox. Improved.

TrxDrawGrid –> TjvDrawGrid.

TTextListBox –> TjvTextListBox.

TrxCheckListBox –> TjvxCheckListBox (или TjvCheckListBox). Missing property HintSource.

Jv Labels tab

TrxLabel –> TjvLabel. Heavily improved.

Jv Visual tab

TrxClock –> TjvClock. Can display date.

Jv Trackers, Sliders, Splitters tab

TrxSlider –> TjvxSlider. No support for Windows themes.

TrxSplitter –> TjvxSplitter. No support for Windows themes.

Jv Visual tab

TrxDice –> TjvDice  (interesting, if anyone has used this component in serious project?:))

Jv Images, Animators tab

TAnimatedImage –> TjvAnimatedImage. Opaque property was renamed to Transparent.

TrxGifAnimator –> TjvGifAnimator. Added property Threaded.

Jv Buttons tab

TrxSpinButton –> TjvSpinButton.

TrxSpeedButton –> TjvSpeedButton. Added support for Hot Track Options.

TrxSwitch –> TjvSwitch

Rx DbAware

Jv Data Controls tab

TRxDBGrid -> TjvDBGrid. Significantly improved. Link to JVCL DbGrids review in Russian: описание Jvcl DbGrid-ов.

TrxDbComboEdit –> TjvDbComboEdit

TrxDbDateEdit –> TjvDbDateEdit

TRxDBLookupList -> TjvDbLookupList

TRxDBLookupCombo -> TjvDbLookupCombo

TRxLookupEdit -> TjvDbLookupEdit

TDBDateEdit -> TjvDbDateEdit.

TRxDBCalcEdit -> TjvDbCalcEdit

TRxDBRichEdit -> TjvDBRichEdit. Has same improvements as TjvRichEdit

TDBStatusLabel -> TjvDbStatusLabel

TRxDBComboBox -> TjvDbComboBox

Jv Data Access tab

TRxMemoryData -> TjvMemoryData. Improved: new features and events. Many bugs were fixed.

Jv BDE tab

TRxQuery -> TjvQuery

TSQLScript -> TjvSQLScript

TMemoryTable -> TjvBDEMemoryTable

TDBSecurity -> TjvDbSecurity. IniFileName property was replaced with AppStorage and AppStoragePath properties.

TQBEQuery -> TJvQBEQuery

TRxDBFilter -> TjvDbFilter

TDBProgress -> TJvDbProgress

TBdeItems -> TjvBDEItems

TTableItems -> TjvTableItems

TDatabaseItems -> TjvDatabaseItems

TDBIndexCombo -> TjvDbIndexCombo

Neccessary JVCL packages

Here is the list of JVCL packages that you will need to have full set of RxLib components in JVCL:

• JVCL Application and Form Components – TjvAppEvents, TjvGradientCaption
• JVCL BDE Components – components from Jv Bde tab
• JVCL Core Components – AppIni
• JVCL Custom Controls – TjvTrayIcon
• JVCL Database Components – Db controls
• JVCL Dialog Components – TjvDualListDialog, TjvLoginDialog
• JVCL Multimedia and Image Componets – TjvAnimatedImage, TjvGifAnimator
• JVCL Non-Visual Components – TjvMergeManager, TjvPageManager, TjvStrHolder
• JVCL Standard Controls – most of the edit controls (edits, comboboxes)
• JVCL System Components – TjvFormStorage, TjvChangeNotify, TjvClipboardViewer, TjvMRUManager, TjvWindowHook
• JVCL Visual Controls – TjvxSplitter, TjvSpeedBar, TjvClock, TjvDice

If you answered yes at least one time, then you might be interested to know about JVCL developer tools.

JVCL (Jedi Visual Component Library) contains few great utilities, that can help to improve component development process. These utilities located in JVCL\devtools folder. Most of utilities described in file devtools.txt. This post adds few comments to those descriptions.

Most interesting utility is JVCLConvert, which allows easily converting project from RxLib to JVCL. Developers of component libraries may be interested in PackagesGenerator tool, which can create project files (dpr and dpk) and project group files for different Delphi versions.

To compile utilities, file CompileDevTools.bat should be run. However, if you have several Delphi versions installed on your PC, it’s better to compile utilities manually in IDE. You can open all utilities projects via devtools.bpg project group.

I ran into situation, when form processed with DFMCleaner couldn’t be opened in Delphi 6. I think it happened (I didn’t research for actual reasons), because DFMCleaner was compiled using Delphi 2010 compiler when via CompileDevTools.bat. After I recompiled DFMCleaner manually in Delphi 6, it worked fine.

Warning: before using any of tools, make backup copy of your sources. Or better use version control system (f.e. Subversion).

JVCLConvert

Scan source files and replaces one string with another using dictionary. JVCL contains dictionaries to convert:

• RxLib to JVCL;
• RaLib to JVCL;
• design eXperience to JVCL;
• dictionary to format keywords in CamelCase;
• other libraries that were merged with JVCL to JVCL;
• also dictionaries to upgrade from older version of JVCL.

Although, some of the dictionaries are not up-to-date, so you may need to edit them manually. I will blog later about my changes to RxLib2JVCL dictionary.

MakeRC

Creates file new.RC, from files in given folder. Each row in result rc file will look like:

<NAME> BITMAP "<NAME>.BMP"

Created rc file can be compiled to DCR-file with command:

brc32 new.rc -r -fonew.dcr

MakeDOF

Creates DOF from template. Scans subfolders and overwrites all existing files.

MakeCFG

Creates CFG file from template. Scans subfolders and overwrites all existing files.

Bpg2Make

Creates makefile (.MAK) from project group file (.BPG).

JConvert

JConvert converts DFM files from binary format to text and vice versa. Difference from convert.exe, that is shipped with Delphi, JConvert processes only those DFM files, that actually need to be converted. Also has -c(heck) parameter, which allows to know how many DFM can be converted, without processing files.

isu

Removes unused records from dfn-files (translation files). Works with current folder and subfolders. Does not make backup copies. Does not have any options.

ErrLook

Delphi clone of ErrLook tool from Visual Studio. Can search for error codes. See documentation. To compile you’ll need HTMLHlp.pas from http://delphi-jedi.org (API Library Files)

DFMCleaner(dc)

Removes unsupported properties from DFM files. Properties to be removed are read from the list. Nice tool to work with dfm-files that should be opened in different Delphi version. Has predefined lists of properties that appeared only in latest Delphi version (f.e. ExplicitHeight).

dxgettextResstr

Extracts to resourcestring all strings compatible with dxgettext "_(string)" . See devtools.txt.

ReadPalettes (Florent, rom)

Extract information on installed components in CSV file. Should be installed as expert. See usage.txt for more information.

I couldn’t compile it.

MakePNG

MakePNG. Convert BMP to PNG. Requires 3d party component TPngImage from Gustavo Daud. (http://pngdelphi.sourceforge.net/)

Res2Bmp

Extracts bitmaps from RES and DCR files and saves them as BMP. Requires Resource Utilities and Graphics Utilities from Colin Wilson. (http://www.wilsonc.demon.co.uk/delphi.htm)

Lazy Delphi Builder 1.4.0.175 is out.

Funny stuff: everyone, who seen poster from the previous post asked me “why the gallows?”. Indeed it was the crane pulling delphi work up.

Few words on project. LazyDB was designed as instrument to simplify project/components compilation. It scans folders, find all source files. Asks you what do you want to compile. Let you specify build settings and output folders. It will compile everything, and even copy all resource files to one folder. Then it will save your settings to disk and allow to run them later, even from console. It can replace path parts with variables. It can use enviroinment variables: system, Delphi, internal. It can override variable values. All settings are stored in text files (ini format).

During last week, I was working on new version, spending several hours per day. I polished console version. I added “fast compile just for test” mode. And I implemented variable value define for console version. Got no time to work on documentation, although.

Changes:

1. Console version: All errors should be handled properly now. In case of error in proram, %ERRORLEVEL% will be set to 1. Improved error description.
2. Added build modes. New build mode: TestBuild. It allows to quickly run build process with all output files created in Temporary directory (%TEMP%). These files will be deleted on Lazy Delphi Builder exit. This mode allows to ensure, that current config can be compiled. For console version there is new cmd switch /tb. For GUI version there is a button in Build settings dialog. Settings for TestBuild mode will not be saved in profile.
3. Added verification of command line switches on program start. If LazyDB will not recognize any param it will show error message (console version will stop). But you can bypass that check by specifying /by cmd parameter.
4. Now paths shortening (replace absolute paths with relative, and long file/folder names with short) is enabled only if Delphi version prior to 2005 is used. Also, added cmd param /sp – (Short Paths) that allows to enable/disable use of short paths for any Delphi version.
5. Fixed: don’t work buttons in Build settings dialog.
6. Fixed: Scan New Folder.. error in packages tree for virtual folders “Resources”, “Sources”.
7. Fixed: hanging when open “Browse for Folder” dialog.
8. Packages tree: show Shell Context menu for any file or folder.
9. Packages tree: fixed errors in popup menu for items in Recycle Bin.
10. For /verbose and /debug modes, full list of specified command line parameters (and values) is displayed now. Added to ease debugging when program run from scripts.
11. Console version: updated /help command output.
12. Console version: Allow define/redefine environment options from command line using /ev <EnvVarName=Value[;EnvVar2=Valu2]> switch. It can override variables stored in Lazy Profile, Delphi environment variables, and also system environment variables in paths. Works only for variables, that were defined in format $(EnvVar).

• Still not fixed: incorrect .dproj files parsing. Waiting for a fix from JCL team.

Plans.

• Simplify workflow
• Documentation writing

Lazy Delphi Builder 1.3.0.163 arrived.

Changes:

1. Added Delphi XE support.
2. Fixed bug that allowed randomly to get compilation error without any details in error log.
3. More debug messages in /debug mode.
4. Check that dcc32.exe is functional (not trial) before compile. In earlier versions, Lazy Delphi Builder did nothing, displaying text: Compiled success.
5. Build settings dialog completely reworked. Now with wizard. Before running build process it displays short summary with full description of jobs to be done (which folders will be used, what will be compiled, what not).
6. Fixed: “Ignore IDE Paths” value was not saved.
7. Files tree: Scan new folder action now changes $(variable) to actual folder.
8. Debug output text is displayed in different color (gray in GUI, cyan in console).
9. Additional log in main window is now hidden.
10. Changed icon and logo.
11. Added option to ignore settings from .dproj, .bdsproj, .dof files. (.cfg were ignored in all versions).

• Known issue: Lazy Delphi Builder incorrectly parses .dproj files. Settings for every configuration but the Base are ignored.

Development plan

• work on manual
• allow rapid build to temporary folder (to check, that compilation will be successful)
• maybe rework algorythm to compile first in temporary folder, and only then copy to destionation Output folders.
• increase amount of checks executed before build
• maybe allow to generate .bat that will compile everything
• command line parameters check
• test that console version returns error codes

Need help

• In testing.
• Writing documentation.
• Need information on how to add support of CBuilder. Output and input files descriptions. How do components installed to CBuilder. What’s the difference from Delphi.

Curious thing is that, Delphi XE has two new system Enviroinment variables (all hail to crossplatform compilation): $(BDSLIB) and $(platform), which aren’t documented, and seems to be unsupported by dcc32.exe. Version will be ready when I fix these variables  substitution. And after some testing, new version will be deployed.

In parallel, I’m working on russian/english documentation. English manual will take more time.

If you have any ideas, suggestions on improvement, feel free to report here.