Delphi Basics : Using Inheritance in Dephi 7 - A Simple Example

1. Create a Standard Form as the Ancestor Form.

In the above example, I have added a InfoPower TwwDBNavigator,TwwDBGrid controls as well as a ADODataset and a DataSource all duly connected to each other.

2. Select File/New/Others to get the following Dialog

3. Click OK to get the inherited Form StdViewForm1 which looks exactly like the form that we created in (1) above.

4. Then, just adjust the command text property to read from another table and bingo, you have another module ready to go. Then just select File/Save As and add it to the menu item of your choice. That's it !

DevExpress: How to Manually Install Developers Express into Delphi 5 ?

In an earlier article, I had written about Developers Express's decision NOT to support D5 anymore. So what happens when you install the latest DevExpress into D7. Simple, it kills off your existing installation of DevExpress  in D5.

So what to do ?

No worries, here is how you can manually install any prior verion of DevExpress into D5. Use File/Open to open  & recompile in the suggested order as below :-

1) XP Theme Manager - dxThemed5.dpk (RTL)
2) Xpress Common - dxComnd5.dpk (RTL)
3) Express GSI + Lib (dxGDIPlusD5.apk)
4) CxLibrary - cxLibmyclD5.dpk (RTL)
5) As for dxComnD5.dpk (need also to click Intall)
4) ExpressBars (need to recompile and install 2+2 dpk)

Update on 3rd October 2012 

Another way to have the latest version (#59) Developer Express components updated in D7 without killing off the version installed in D5 is really simple. Just create another User Name in Win7 and installed the latest version :-)

Delphi 5 to Delphi 7 : Variants.pas

If you use functions such as VarOfArrayOf() or constants such as null, reminder to add variants to the uses clause of your *.pas and your problem will go away

DevExpress Components : Installing D5 & D7 (or later) on the same PC

Issue :

The DevExpress Team announced in 2007 that wef from v28, the Delphi IDE will no longer be supported.

Of course, you can continue using Build 27, however, DevExpress cannot guarantee that this will be able to apply code fixes designed for newer builds of our components to the libraries from this build. From DevExpress point of view, it is best to migrate to a newer version of Delphi if you wish to use the latest versions of their components.

The Solution

Although you can't use the latest  DevExpress setup for this purpose, you can do the following to have both versions installed:-

1. Install v27 under the required IDE. Backup all the binary (and other necessary files). It's easy, since our setup copies files only under the product's root folder.

2. Install latest version #46 as at 7th Sept 2009

3. Restore backed up file to a folder, and install the required components from v27 manually, by registering packages via the IDE.

DevExpress: Using DX Ribbon

1. Add a dxribbon component
2. Add Tabs as necessary such as Home, Appearance, Help etc
3. Within a Ribbon.tab, add groups as necessary
4. Use 2 cxImageList for small & large images
5. Add a dxBarManager and create toolbars for each of the Groups withing a Ribbon Tab

Delphi Basics : What is the meaning of *.dsk, *.ddp,*.cfg, *.dof, *.res etc ?

Looking at your Project Folder, have you ever wondered what the following extensions mean ?

*.dpr
Delphi Project files, one per project

*.res
Delphi Resource files, one per project

*.pas
Delphi Source files before compiling

*.dfm
Delphi Forms

*.dcu
Delphi Compiled Units, after compiling *.pas

*.exe
Windows executable resulting after linking of *.dcu