February 2010 Newsletter
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DELPHIDABBLER FEBRUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER
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Welcome to the February 2010 newsletter, covering site updates from
December 2009 and January 2010.
Not so may updates this time as last. I've had a lot less spare time to
work on the stie and the code because of family commitments. The main
events of the last two months have been:
+ Some more code from the Code Library has been overhauled and more
documentation has been made available in the Wikis on GoogleCode.
+ More source code has been placed under Subversion version control and
made available online.
+ A new third party programs section has been added to the site - and
two programs added to it.
DelphiDabbler Forums - Your Views Needed
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I've had a couple of requests to set up forums on DelphiDabbler.com,
which I'm considering.
What do you think? Would you be interested?
I'll give the matter serious consideration if you tell me you'd use
them, but don't want to go to a lot of work if there will be little use,
especially since there are lots of forums out there already.
bbPress has been suggested to power the forums. I've tried that out but
had some problems with it. Any other suggestions? My webhost provides a
LAMP setup (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).
Please send your views pro or con via the contact page at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/contact using the subject "FORUM"
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December 2009 and January 2010 updates
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+ There's a new section of the site for 3rd party programs at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/3rdparty-programs
This new page contains two programs at present:
1) The CodeSnip Database Demonstrator program by Bill Miller.
See http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/cs-demo
This program was previously included on the main CodeSnip program
page.
2) Delphi Tables by David Redfern. This program contains a series of
tabbed windows that contain information that might be useful to
programmers:
* ASCII Codes
* Key Codes
* Real Types
* Precedences
* File Types
* Integer Types
* Operators
Get it from http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/d-tables
If you have anything that you would like to see published here that
fits with the theme of this site please let me know. The program must
be open source and you either need to provide the source code or say
how it can be obtained.
Having said that please be aware that disk space is limited so I can't
guarantee to host the code.
+ The article "How To Embed GoogleEarth in your Delphi Application"
contained some incorrect information on obtaining screen shots. The
relevant section was removed.
The article is at http://www.delphidabbler.com/articles?article=26
+ The System Information Unit received a couple of updates:
- v3.2.2 fixed a bug that prevented the unit compiling on Delphi 5.
- v3.3 now detects terminal services remote sessions.
Get the unit from http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/sysinfo
The complete code of each of these releases and some earlier versions
can be viewed in the Subversion repository on GoogleCode at
http://tinyurl.com/yka66lh and zipped sources can be downloaded from
http://tinyurl.com/yzbcp3b
+ The About Box Component has been placed under version control on
GoogleCode ( http://tinyurl.com/yjcb55s ) and updated to v3.5. Support
for Delphi 1 was stripped out and a bug that was freezing the Delphi
2010 was fixed. The component can be obtained from
http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/aboutbox or
http://tinyurl.com/yzhz35j
A wiki for the component was created at:
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/aboutbox-wiki
+ v1.2 of the Extended String Property Editor was released. The property
editor dialog box was revised to appear correctly when used with
Delphi 2010. The property editor was placed under version control on
Google Code ( see http://tinyurl.com/yfmsjyr ). Download the code from
http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/stringpe or
http://tinyurl.com/yzbvev7
+ The Drop Files Components were updated and placed under version
control on Google Code ( see http://tinyurl.com/ylnf53d ). The
controls now compile without warnings on later versions of Delphi.
Get the component from http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/dropfiles
or http://tinyurl.com/ygnw3cq
A wiki for the components has been created at:
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/dropfiles-wiki
+ The Shell Folders Unit has received a couple of makeovers to make it
compatible with Unicode Delphis and to take advantage of more features
of the "Browse for Folders" dialog box. The unit has also been added
to the ddab-lib project's version control system on GoogleCode. See
http://tinyurl.com/yhet992
- v2.2.5 made the code compile on Delphi 2009 / 2010 following a bug
report and request from a user. See the source at
http://tinyurl.com/yl3pfwg
- v2.3.0 added properties, events and display options to the Browse
For Folders dialog component. The component can now display an edit
box or hint string and the "Make New Folder" button can be hidden.
Help keywords are now supported and help requests can be intercepted
via and event handler. The source is at http://tinyurl.com/ygmwf8j
The latest version of the unit is available from
http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/shellfolders or, if you want
older versions go to http://tinyurl.com/yz9mb9b
A wiki for the unit has been created at:
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/shellfolders-wiki
+ The tips database hasn't seen many changes this time. There is just
one new tip:
- "Force a TEdit to accept only numeric input"
By JM.
http://www.delphidabbler.com/tips/151
One tip has been updated:
- "Execute a DOS command and capture the output" has been updated to
work correctly with Unicode Delphis.
http://www.delphidabbler.com/tips/61
And the tip "How to create a TCheckBox with a transparent caption" has
been removed because a user noticed it didn't work correctly. It was
too buggy to fix.
See all the tips at http://www.delphidabbler.com/tips
+ There have been three releases of the CodeSnip Database Repository
program:
- v3.4.7
Made some minor changes to snippets editor and product registration.
- v3.4.8
Adds some further keyboard shortcut support to the overview pane and
improves status bar hints in compiler check pane.
- v3.5.0
The program can now be configured to start with all sections in the
overview pane collapsed. Use the "General" tab of the preferences
dialog box for this.
You can get the latest version of CodeSnip at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/codesnip
Get the source code from
http://codesnip.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/codesnip/
Select "trunk" for the latest development tree, "tags" to get the
source of a specific version or "branches/delphi2010-port" for the
Delphi 2010 compatible version.
Report bugs at http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/codesnip-bugs and
request new CodeSnip features at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/codesnip-featurereq
+ v2.1 of Bill Miller's CodeSnip demo program has been released. Get it
from http://www.delphidabbler.com/software/cs-demo
+ 14 new routines have been added to the Code Snippets database:
- BytesToGB()
Converts a value in bytes to gigabytes.
- BytesToGBStr()
Converts a value in bytes to its string representation in gigabytes.
- BytesToKB()
Converts a value in bytes to kilobytes.
- BytesToKBStr()
Converts a value in bytes to its string representation in kilobytes.
- BytesToMB()
Converts a value in bytes to magabytes.
- BytesToMBStr()
Converts a value in bytes to its string representation in megabytes.
- TrimAppMemorySize()
Trims the application's working set to minimum size.
Contributed by Shlomo Abuisak.
- IsRemoteSession()
Checks if the program is running under Windows Terminal Server as a
remote client session.
Taken from code published on about.com at
http://delphi.about.com/od/delphitips2008/qt/isremotesession.htm
- GetStartAndEndWord()
Gets the position of the start and end of the Nth word in a string.
Modified from code contributed by Bill Miller.
- CutWordByIndex()
Cuts the Nth word from a string and returns the cut word.
Contributed by Bill Miller.
- DeleteWordByIndex()
Deletes the Nth word from a string.
- GetWordByIndex()
Returns the Nth word from a string.
- PosByIndex()
Returns the start position of the Nth word in a string.
Contributed by Bill Miller.
- ReplaceWordByIndex()
Replaces the Nth word in a string with a new word.
Inspired by code contributed by Bill Miller.
No routines have been modified:
You can view all the new routines here:
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/1001
The whole database is at http://www.delphidabbler.com/codesnip
+ Further Delphi Library projects have been tested with Delphi 2010 and
updated as necessary. Complete results are now as follows:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Project Compatible
Delphi 2010?
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About Box Component (v3.5) YES
Component Help Installer (v2.2.1) NO (*1)
Drop Files Components (v5.0.2) YES
Extended String Property Editor (v1.2) YES
HKEY Property Editor (v1.0.4) YES
Macro Toolbar Display Wizard (v1.0) NO (*2)
Shell Folders Unit (v2.3) YES
Stream Extension Classes (v3.0) YES
System Information Unit (v3.2.1 and later) YES (*3)
Version Information Component (v3.2) YES
Version Information Component - 16 bit - (v1.0.2) NO (*4)
Window State Components (v5.3.1) YES
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*1 = Component Help Installer designed for use only with Delphi 3-7.
*2 = Macro Toolbar Display Wizard is for Delphi 7 only, by design.
*3 = System Information Unit compiles OK with or without deprecated
code included.
*4 = The 16 bit Version Information Component is designed only for use
with Delphi 1.
If a project is not listed here, it's not been tested. Lobby me if you
want it prioritising.
+ As has been noted above, The DelphiDabbler Code Library project on
Google Code has been expanded and now contains the following
components, units and IDE extensions:
* About Box Component
* Drop Files Components
* Extended String Property Editor
* HKEY Property Editor
* Shell Folders Unit
* Stream Extension Classes
* System Information Unit
* Version Information Component
* Window State Components
The project's home page is at http://code.google.com/p/ddab-lib/ and
lists the above and provides links to the Wikis that document the
project.
The code repository is at http://tinyurl.com/ykgjbc2 and downloads of
all versions of the components, property editors and units released
since the project was established are archived at
http://tinyurl.com/ykawn4n
Bugs can be reported and features requested at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/ddlib-issues
+ The PasH project has been moved from Assembla to GoogleCode. It has
been renamed to PasHi (Google id = pas-hi) becauses I've just found
out there's another project named pash :-( Furthermore I've added the
beta GUI front end for PasHi to the repo. A new release with the
renamed programs will be available quite soon.
The new GoogleCode page is at http://code.google.com/p/pas-hi/ and the
repo browser is at http://code.google.com/p/pas-hi/source/browse/
If you're a Subversion user you can do a read-only check out at
http://pas-hi.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/
Bugs should be reported (or you can request features) at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/pashi-issues
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Coming Soon?
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Despite some further progress there's still quite a bit to do in
bringing the code library into line with Unicode Delphis. The Wiki
documentation project also continues. If you've any preferences as to
which library projects to update first, get in touch.
I'm considering releasing a Unicode version of CodeSnip in beta -
currently testing a Delphi 2010 build of v3.5.0 at home and it seems OK.
There will be a renamed release of the Pascal Syntax Highlighter quite
soon.
There are still lots of code to add to the code snippets database and
may more tips from the Delphi Pool. I'll try to uploaded some of these.
Please be aware though that, because of family illness, the website
probably won't be updated frequently. Please allow plenty of time for me
to respond to your emails.
Any other requests? Please tell me.
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Make a Donation
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All the services and software provided on DelphiDabbler.com are, and
will remain, free, so you do not need to pay for anything.
However, it costs money to keep DelphiDabbler running, so any donations
are gratefully received. You can make donations via PayPal from the
Donation page: http://www.delphidabbler.com/donate
Thanks
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Other Mailing Lists
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Apart from this mailing list there are others dealing with specific
programs or parts of the site. They are:
+ The Code Snippets mailing list that is used to notify of updates to
the Code Snippets database and the allied offline reader program.
Sign up at: http://www.delphidabbler.com/subsid/maillist?list=codesnip
+ The Delphi Tips mailing list is used to notify of updates to the
Delphi Tips section of the site.
Sign up at: http://www.delphidabbler.com/subsid/maillist?list=tips
+ *** NEW ***
Delphi Code Library mailing list provides information about the Delphi
Code Library on both DelphiDabbler.com and the ddab-lib project on
Google Code. Includes notification of bugs, releases and documentation
updates.
Sign up at: http://www.delphidabbler.com/subsid/maillist?list=codelib
If you want to un-subscribe from this list, please follow the link at
the end of this email.
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Feedback
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I really appreciate feedback - it certainly encourages me to keep
DelphiDabbler.com going.
So, if you have anything you want to suggest, or any constructive
criticism, please get in touch.
Comments about the site are welcome via the guestbook which you will
find at http://www.delphidabbler.com/guestbook
Otherwise please use the contact page at
http://www.delphidabbler.com/contact to suggest features, report bugs,
ask questions or submit code snippets or tips. Alternatively, email me
on delphidabbler at yahoo dot co dot uk.
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