Pascal Newsletter #48 - 08-SEP-2003
Contents
1. A few words from the editor
2. HTML Dialog Boxes
Using the API ShowHTMLDialog function in the MSHTML.dll
3. Replacing the TStringGrid's standard InplaceEditor
How to modify a TStringGrid to have a picklist or an ellipsis editor
button in the selected cell
4. Using Delphi's Shell Controls
5. Inline Assembler in Delphi (X) - Playing sounds with the PC speaker
6. Forums / mailing lists
7. Delphi on the Net
- Components, Libraries and Utilities
· Shareware/Commercial
· Freeware
· Delphi and Borland products updates
- Articles, Tips and Tricks
· White Papers / Case Studies
- Tutorials and training
- Other links
- News
________________________________________________________________________
1. A few words from the editor
It's been almost four months since the last issue, but now I'm happy to
announce the newsletter is back! Thanks for the words of appreciation
and encouragement I've received from the subscribers. It's nice to know
the newsletter doesn't go unnoticed.
As usual, I'd like to start by thanking the authors who contributed
articles for this issue: Wes Turner, Werner Palmer and Dave Murray,
and I'm pleased to give the prizes for this issue to:
* Wes Turner ("HTML Dialog Boxes")
· SMImport v1.75 - by Scalabium Software ($30 standard, $50 with source)
Native VCL suite for importing data into a dataset without external
libraries. Supports import from: Access (using DAO/MS Jet), Excel
(without OLE/DDE), Lotus 123, QuattroPro, text, HTML, XML including
TClientDataset format, Paradox, dBase and any TDataSet descendant.
New in v1.75: visual Expression Builder; import from Word; direct
import for dBase, no BDE required; load BLOB fields for XML; extended
style for wizard dialog; OnCreateStructure event that allows creation
of a dataset with parsed columns before real import; and more.
http://www.scalabium.com/
* Werner Palmer ("Replacing the TStringGrid's standard InplaceEditor")
· EurekaLog v4.1.1 - by Fabio Dell'Aria (Std $24, Pro $49, Ent $99)
EurekaLog gives your application (GUI, Console, Web, etc.) the ability
to catch every exception, generate a detailed log (with unit, class,
method and line #) and send it via email. Fully integrated into the
IDE, you only need a single rebuild to add EurekaLog to your apps.
Does not decrease performance and increases compiled file size by just
0.5% - 4%. Compatible with Delphi 3 - 7 and all Windows platforms.
http://www.eurekalog.com/bannerclick.php?id=15
For the next issue, we have available the following prizes for two of
our contributors:
* NTTools 7 For Delphi - by i-tivity (US$ 49.95)
Stop battling the Windows NT Security API! Get your copy of NTTools 7
for Delphi 4/5/6/7 now and save countless hours with this collection
of 40 VCL components written specifically to deal with the Windows NT
Security functions. Full source code is included.
http://www.i-tivity.biz/nttools.htm
* LMD SearchPack 2.0 - by LMD Innovative (EUR 39)
LMD SearchPack includes 3 controls for integrating advanced text
search capabilities into your projects including support of AND, OR,
NEAR and NOT operators. Full source code and extensive demo projects
included. http://www.lmdinnovative.com/products/vcl/lmdsearchpack/
The unit HighResTimer.pas published in the last issue as part of the
article "High Accuracy Timings/Timer" -by Michael Darling- has been
fixed so it works under Delphi 6 and Delphi 7 (and hopefully Delphi 8
eventually). Thanks to Francisco Arena for letting us note about the
conditional compilation problem. The updated issue can be downloaded
from http://www.latiumsoftware.com/en/file.php?id=p47
By the way, there's been an update to the article "Base64 (MIME) Encode
and Decode" -by Daniel Wischnewski- published in the Pascal Newsletter
#40. Thanks to the author for the revision. The updated issue can be
downloaded from http://www.latiumsoftware.com/en/file.php?id=p40
I'd like to congratulate EC Software for its product Help & Manual (a
help authoring utility), which was chosen as Product Of The Year in the
Delphi Informant Magazine Readers Choice Awards 2003, apart from
blasting the Help-authoring Package category obtaining 51% of the votes!
http://www.delphizine.com/opinion/2003/09/di200309jc_o/di200309jc_o.asp
Keynote users can find the past 6 issues of this newsletter in a Keynote
file compiled by Jayan Chandrasekhar:
http://www.tranglos.com/free/files/kn_latium_delphi_newsletter.zip
About Keynote (freeware): http://www.tranglos.com/free/keynote.html
Well, this is it for now. I hope you enjoy this issue.
Regards,
Ernesto De Spirito
eds2008 @ latiumsoftware.com
__________________
Collaborated in this issue: Dave Murray
________________________________________________________________________
Help & Manual 3, by EC Software - Shareware ($ 279) - Help & Manual is a
WYSIWYG help authoring tool that will aid you in creating standard
WinHelp files (.HLP), Adobe PDF files, HTML pages and the new HTML HELP
(.CHM) files introduced in Windows 98, as well as other file formats and
printed documentation, everything from a single source. This is a must-
have for any software developer. http://www.helpandmanual.com/hmpage.htm
________________________________________________________________________
2. HTML Dialog Boxes
Using the API ShowHTMLDialog function in the MSHTML.dll
By Wes Turner <splitdfile @ yahoo.com>
Where is the ShowHTMLDialog function? In a .pas unit?
=====================================================
No. The ShowHTMLDialog() function is in the MSHTML.dll library, and you
will need to use
hLib := LoadLibrary('MSHTML.DLL');
to access this DLL, and then use
ShowHTMLDialog := GetProcAddress(hLib, 'ShowHTMLDialog');
to get the address for this function.
You can use this function only if Internet Explorer version 4 and above
is installed.
What does an HTML Dialog Box look like?
=======================================
When ShowHTMLDialog is used, Internet Explorer shows an IE Browser
window with only a dialog type Title bar (no menu or tool bars, or
status). This browser window will read the HTML in a file, and display
it like a browser window. If you need user input (buttons, edit, radio
buttons), you will use JScript or VBScript as the code language for
functions to read or change these inputs.
What code is needed to use the HTML Dialog?
===========================================
Since the HTML Dialog is an Internet Explorer browser window, COM is
used to communicate between your program and IE, with variants, IMoniker
and IHTMLDialog interfaces. And the ShowHTMLDialog function will
implement these interfaces for you.
The ShowHTMLDialog function is defined below:
function ShowHTMLDialog(
hwndParent: Cardinal; // parent's handle
UrlMnk: IMoniker; // IMoniker which has the HTML source file
PvarArgIn: PVariantArg; // Variant address that contains PWChar sent
// to dialog
PWCHOptions: PWChar; // pointer to WideChar with Dialog Options
PvarArgOut: PVariantArg // Variant address receives the data placed
// in IHTMLDialog::returnValue
): HRESULT; // function Result is an OLE HRESULT (Integer)
Parameters
hwndParent - Handle to the parent of the dialog box, can be zero.
UrlMnk - An IMoniker interface containing the URL from which the HTML
file for the dialog box is loaded, file can be in app's resources.
PvarArgIn - Pointer to a VariantArg record that contains the data sent
to the dialog box. The data passed in this VariantArg is placed in
the dialog window object's IHTMLDialog::dialogArguments property.
This is mostly set as a VT_BSTR, with a PWChar for text the dialog
will use for display. This parameter can be set as an empty
VariantArg (VT_EMPTY).
PWCHOptions - Window options for the dialog box. This parameter can
be NIL or the address of a PWChar that contains a combination of
values, each separated by a semicolon (;).
POptions := 'dialogHeight:13;dialogWidth:21;resizable:no;help:no;'
+ 'center:yes'
PvarArgOut - Pointer to a VariantArg record that contains the data
sent from the dialog box when it closes. This VariantArg gets the
data that was placed in the dialog window object's
IHTMLDialog::returnValue property. This parameter can be an empty
VariantArg.
Result Value - Returns S_OK if successful, or an error value.
The second parameter in ShowHTMLDialog is an IMoniker type. In order to
place data into an IMoniker, you would use the CreateURLMoniker function
in the UrlMon.pas, defined below:
function CreateURLMoniker(
MkCtx: IMoniker; // moniker to use as the base context, can be NIL
szURL: PWChar; // contains the text of URL to be parsed
out mk: IMoniker // moniker with the new URL created from MkCtx and
// szURL.
): HResult; // function Result is an OLE HRESULT (Integer)
This URL string (szURL) needs to be prefixed with "file://" to signify a
disk file location, or with "res://" to signify a program's resource
location, and in the case of a resource it should be followed by the
path and file name, and a "/#" preceding the resource number, like this
for file:
UrlStr := 'file://C:\Program Files\HtmlDlg1.htm';
or
UrlStr := 'file://' + ExtractFilePath(ParamStr(0)) + 'HtmlDlg1.htm';
and like this for a resource:
UrlStr := 'res://MyProgram.exe/#101';
or
UrlStr := 'res://' + ExtractFileName(ParamStr(0)) + '/#101';
====> the #101 is defined in your resource creation .rc file
The third and fifth parameters in ShowHTMLDialog are of PVariantArg
type, that is, a Variant that Delphi does not automatically "decode"
for you, so you will need to read or set the variant data type .vt
(VarArgs.vt) yourself and then use that data "Type" when using the
data in the Variant.
Sample button click code for HTML dialog
========================================
Here is a button click that will show an HTML dialog box. I do not check
for Internet Explorer version, since this does not use DHTML or COM
objects that are only in higher versions (5, 6, 7 , 8) of IE. This uses
an HTML file on disk (HtmlDlg1.htm) in the application's folder. A text
string (VarArgs.bstrVal) is sent to the dialog with the dialog title, an
information text string, and text items to put in the combo box. The
code for the HtmlDlg1.htm web page is below this button click code.
uses ActiveX, ComObj, UrlMon;
procedure TForm1.button_FileHtmlDlgClick(Sender: TObject);
type
TShowHTMLDialog = function(hwndParent: Cardinal;
UrlMnk: IMoniker; PvarArgIn: PVariantArg;
PWCHOptions: PWChar; PvarArgOut: PVariantArg): HRESULT; stdcall;
var
hLib2: Integer;
ShowHTMLDialog: TShowHTMLDialog;
URLMoniker: IMoniker;
VarArgs, VarReturn: TVariantArg;
ArugStr, UrlStr, Return: String;
POptions: PWChar;
begin
Return := 'ERROR, IE version is Below 4 or does not support HTML '
+ 'dialogs';
hLib2 := LoadLibrary('MSHTML.DLL');
if hLib2 <> 0 then
try
ShowHTMLDialog := GetProcAddress(hLib2, 'ShowHTMLDialog');
if Assigned(ShowHTMLDialog) then
begin
// The PvarArgIn is used to Pass Data To the HTML Dialog.
// The VarArgs Variant will be used here as a PWChar, with the
// ^ being used as a Delimiter for the seven sub Strings, that
// are sent to the Dialog
ArugStr := 'HTML Dialog Top Title^This is Information text '
+ 'passed to the Dialog<br>Type your Name Below^'
+ 'Small^Medium^Large^My Size^One size fits all';
// The first sub string is the dialog Title, the next substring
// is the text (and HTML) that will be written to the html with
// JScript document.write(ArgArray[1]) , notice that I have
// HTML tags in this Text, this allows you to customize the
// dialog from your programs data, all of the sub strings that
// follow are placed in the Combo Box
VarArgs.vt := VT_BSTR;
VarArgs.bstrVal := StringToOleStr(ArugStr);
// the UrlStr is prefixed with the file:// to signify a disk
// file, use res:// to signify a resource}
UrlStr := 'file://'+ExtractFilePath(ParamStr(0))+'HtmlDlg1.htm';
// the URLMoniker is set to the URL of the source of the htm
// file used for the dialog box, it can be a disk file, a
// program resource, or an Internet file address, if the html
// file is not found, a blank dialog box is displayed
OLECheck(CreateURLMoniker(nil, StringToOleStr(UrlStr),
URLMoniker));
POptions := 'dialogHeight:17;dialogWidth:23;resizable:no;'
+ 'help:no;center:yes';
// POptions can be omitted (set to nil), but it allows you to
// set some options of the dialog, like width and height
VariantInit(OleVariant(VarReturn));
// VariantInit sets the VarReturn.vt to VT_EMPTY
if ShowHTMLDialog(Handle, URLMoniker, @VarArgs, POptions,
@VarReturn) = S_OK then
begin
// The JScript window.returnValue will automatically set the
// VarReturn.vt to the data Type that is assigned to it, I only
// use 2 data types for the window.returnValue , a JScript
// text string (VT_BSTR - OLE wide string) and an integer
// (VT_I4) , so any other variant data type will indicate an
// Error
if VarReturn.vt = VT_BSTR then
begin
Return := VarReturn.bstrVal;
// I use a ^ to delimit the VarReturn.bstrVal, but the
// first Char is the Radio Box number, which is below 9, so
// I do not delimit it, since it will always be a single
// Char Return[1]}
Return := 'OK was Clicked'#10'Radio was '+Return[1]+#10
+ 'Combo1 was '+Copy(Return,2,Pos('^',Return)-2)
+ #10'Edit Text was '
+ Copy(Return,Pos('^',Return)+1, 512);
end else
if VarReturn.vt = VT_I4 then
Return := 'OK was NOT clicked'#10'the VarReturn is '
+ IntToStr(VarReturn.lVal)
else
Return := 'Variant Data type is not integer or OLE '
+ 'string, ERROR';
end else
Return := 'The ShowHTMLDialog FAILED';
end;
finally
FreeLibrary(hLib2);
end;
ShowMessage(Return);
end;
HTML code for the dialog above
==============================
Below is the HTML code for the web page "HtmlDlg1.htm", to be displayed
in the HTML Dialog box created by the Delphi code above. To get
functionality from your dialog box (button press, enter text, combo
boxes) you will need to use an HTML script language. If you don't know
HTML or any HTML scripting language (JScript, JavaScript, VBscript),
then HTML dialog boxes are not for you.
The window.dialogArguments is your access to the data passed to the
dialog box. You will usually pass a Wide String or an Integer in your
VarArgs parameter to the dialog box. If you want more than one data
item in your VarArgs variant, you can use a delimited string and the
Split method in
ArgArray = window.dialogArguments.split("^");
Split will use it's single parameter as the delimiter character, to
divide up the string into an array. The only data this usage gets from
the dialog box comes in the VarReturn variant. If you need more than
one data item returned, you can again use a delimited string, as I have
done here.
<html id=dlg1 style="width: 25.9em; height: 22em">
<!-- If you DO NOT use the PWCHOptions in the ShowHTMLDialog, you can
put dialog window's width and height above -->
<head>
<title>HTML Dialog Test</title>
<script language="JScript">
var RBnum = 0;
var ArgArray = new Array();
// get the dialog arguments into an array with .split and the
// delimiter
ArgArray = window.dialogArguments.split("^");
// the ArgArray check below is not necessary, but allows you to have a
// Default dialog box with an empty PvarArgIn from ShowHTMLDialog
if (ArgArray.length == 0) {ArgArray[0] = "Dialog Title";}
if (ArgArray.length == 1) {ArgArray[1] = "No <b>Info</b> Text";}
if (ArgArray.length == 2) {ArgArray[2] = "None";}
// the first Array string is the Title
document.title = ArgArray[0];
// set the default return value
window.returnValue = 0;
function StartUp()
{
// clear selections in Combo1
Combo1.options.length = 0;
// add the ArgArray strings to the Combo1 selections
var index;
index = 2;
// start with index of 2 because the first 2 strings are title and
// info
while(index < ArgArray.length)
{
var tempOption = new Option(ArgArray[index]);
Combo1.options[Combo1.options.length] = tempOption;
index++;
}
// set the first Combo1 selection position
Combo1.options[0].selected = true;
}
function OkClick()
{
// this return value means that the OK button was clicked
window.returnValue = RBnum+Combo1.options[Combo1.selectedIndex].text+
"^"+Edit1.value;
// since the window.returnValue is a variant, it cant get text or
// numbers or objects
// The integer RBnum is automatically converted to text
// close the dialog window
window.close();
}
function CancelClick()
{
// this -1 return value means that the Cancel button was clicked
window.returnValue = -1;
window.close();
}
function RadioClick(num)
{
RBnum = num;
// check and UnCheck the Radios
RB1.checked = (num == 0);
RB2.checked = (num == 1);
RB3.checked = (num == 2);
}
</script>
</head>
<body onload="StartUp()" BGCOLOR="#A0E2F2" TEXT="Black">
<center>
<font size="5"><b>A HTML Dialog Box</b></font>
<!-- I use Fixed Font sizes because IE may have it's default font
size as large or small, throwing off your sizing, but you could
use style sheet settings to define fonts, colors, borders -->
<font size="3">
<br><script language="JScript">
// a very useful operation - document.write( )
// the second array string is the INFO text written here
document.write(ArgArray[1])
</script>
<br><input type=text name="Edit1" value="No Name" size="24"
title="Type your Name Here"><p>
<table border="2" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td><font size="3"><input type=radio name="RB1" checked=1
onClick="RadioClick(0)">Howdy<br>
<input type=radio name="RB2" onClick="RadioClick(1)">Late<br>
<input type=radio name="RB3" onClick="RadioClick(2)">Goomba</font>
</td>
<td><font size="3">Pick your Size - <select
name="Combo1"></select></font>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<P><input type=button value="OK" id="OkBut" onClick="OkClick()"
title="Click to use the Entries above">
<input type=button value="Cancel" id="CancelBut"
onClick="CancelClick()">
</font>
</center>
</body>
</html>
There are seven sub-strings in the VarArgs of the ShowHTMLDialog
parameter, the first string is used as the Dialog Title. The second as
the "info" text written to the HTML page with JScript. And all of the
remaining sub-strings are added to the combo box. For more advanced HTML
dialog boxes it is also possible to set up an IDispatch link between the
dialog box and your program, so the dialog box could call code in in
your Delphi program through IDispatch.
Using a resource for the HTML file source
=========================================
You can use the same code above for a program resource HTML file, except
you must change the UrlStr to
UrlStr := 'res://' + ExtractFileName(ParamStr(0)+'/#101');
OLECheck(CreateURLMoniker(nil, StringToOleStr(UrlStr), URLMoniker));
and add a resource to your program where you will need to define the
HTML file as number 23 and define the call for that resource as a
number, like this for HtmDlg.rc:
#define RT_HTML 23
#define Dlg1 101
Dlg1 RT_HTML "HtmlDlg1.htm"
You will need to define the RT_HTML as the number 23 (you could use any
other designation beside RT_HTML, but that's the MS name), and then give
your HTML files a number definition like 101.
If you have a web browser or other web page display in your program, you
may consider using HTML dialogs.
__________________
Visit the author's web site if you want to learn how to code programs in
API without the Forms Unit: http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/delphizeus/
You'll find many example programs for basic Windows programming.
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________________________________________________________________________
3. Replacing the TStringGrid's standard InplaceEditor
How to modify a TStringGrid to have a picklist or an ellipsis editor
button in the selected cell
By Werner Palmer <werner.pamler @ infineon.com>
The TStringGrid is a widely used Delphi component. It is possible to
enter text directly into the grid cells, but it is sometimes desirable
to use alternative inplace editors, such as a combobox to select from a
picklist of values, or a user dialog called by clicking on an ellipsis
button in the corresponding grid cell. While this is a standard
behavior for a TDBGrid, it is not available for the non-data aware
TStringGrid. Some solutions can be found all over the web, but the basic
functionality, however, has been implemented already in the ancestor of
any grid, TCustomGrid. I'm working with Delphi 6, and this may not be
true for older versions.
The corresponding inplace editor which has all the features mentioned
can be found in the Grids unit as TInplaceEditList. It can be accessed
by deriving a new component from TStringGrid, which will be named
TNewStringGrid here. In this new component, the method "CreateEditor" is
overridden to use the TInplaceEditList as inplace editor (instead of the
standard TInplaceEdit). The new StringGrid also inherits the method
"GetEditStyle" which decides which cells will use the new inplace
editor.
In the implementation of TNewStringGrid, we create a new event
"OnGetEditStyle" which calls the GetEditStyle method. The event handler
receives the cell coordinates and returns the editor style (esSimple,
esPickList or esEllipsis, as defined in Grids.pas).
Additionally for the esPicklist editor style, we have to write an event
handler for the "OnGetPickListItems" event to pass the pick list (a
TStringList) to the new string grid. For the esEllipsis editor style, we
need an event handler for the event "OnEditButtonClicked" which is fired
when the user clicks on the new ellipsis button; this event handler for
example could open a complex dialog querying user input and should fill
the cell with the corresponding text entered.
Don't forget to activate the goEditing option of the StringGrid;
otherwise you won't be able to edit the grid data.
The NewStringGrid unit and a demo project can be found attached.
________________________________________________________________________
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4. Using Delphi's Shell Controls
By Dave Murray <irongut @ vodafone.net>
From Delphi 6 onwards, Borland provides shell controls including
TShellTreeView and TShellListView that mimic the functionality of
Windows Explorer but they are tucked away on the Samples page of the
palette, have no documentation and even their source can be hard to
find; its in Delphi\Demos\ShellControls. You could be forgiven for
thinking they are an afterthought that you're not expected to use.
Recently, I wanted to build my own FTP client because I don't like any
of the free ones I've tried and I thought 'I've got Indy' so how hard
can it be? I checked out the demo for TIdFTP, the Indy FTP client
component, and the networking end looked pretty easy so I started to
think about design. I wanted something simple and decided on a view of
the local file system above a view of the remote file system with the
main toolbar in-between. Each view would contain a TreeView and a
ListView with a few buttons for simple, Explorer-like navigation. I also
wanted drag and drop between controls and with Explorer. At this point I
went looking for components to implement the local side and discovered
Borland's shell controls. I decided that this kind of layout is
something that I could reuse so I started working on a generic frame.
So how do they work? Well some functionality is easy to implement but in
other ways these controls can be awkward and confusing. Most of the
methods you'd expect to find either don't exist or return parameters
that are of dubious value. Often they are the wrong type for other calls
you want to make. What should have been a couple of hours of easy
programming rapidly turned into several nights of reading source code,
experimentation and hair pulling. At some point during this process I
decided to turn it into an article so I could share my pain with you. ;)
Let's start with the easy stuff. I connected my TShellTreeView to a
TShellListView and then started on a toolbar. The first button I wanted
was one to move up the directory tree and after a bit of looking I
realised that the TShellListView.Back method would do this for me. Most
of the other buttons I wanted were more difficult so I'll come back to
them but a Views button for the TShellListView was easy. I just created
a popup menu for my button that sets TShellListView.ViewStyles. At this
point I had a simple file manager that provides the standard Explorer
context menu and basic navigation features.
I considered adding a TShellComboBox above the file list. I wanted it to
resize with the frame like the other controls but it doesn't have an
Align property. I tried using Anchors but could not get the effect I
wanted so I scrapped that idea.
Now on to the more complicated stuff. The shell controls don't provide
methods to help us manipulate files so we need to use the Windows API.
The SHFileOperation() function can perform Copy, Move, Delete and Rename
operations so I wrote the following wrapper to make it easier to use.
function TconExplorerFrame.FileOperation(const source, dest : string;
op, flags : Integer) : boolean;
// perform Copy, Move, Delete, Rename on files + folders via WinAPI
var
Structure : TSHFileOpStruct;
src, dst : string;
OpResult : integer;
begin
// setup file op structure
FillChar(Structure, SizeOf (Structure), #0);
src := source + #0#0;
dst := dest + #0#0;
Structure.Wnd := 0;
Structure.wFunc := op;
Structure.pFrom := PChar(src);
Structure.pTo := PChar(dst);
Structure.fFlags := flags;
case op of
// set title for simple progress dialog
FO_COPY : Structure.lpszProgressTitle := 'Copying...';
FO_DELETE : Structure.lpszProgressTitle := 'Deleting...';
FO_MOVE : Structure.lpszProgressTitle := 'Moving...';
FO_RENAME : Structure.lpszProgressTitle := 'Renaming...';
end; // case op of..
OpResult := 1;
try
// perform operation
OpResult := SHFileOperation(Structure);
finally
// report success / failure
result := (OpResult = 0);
end; // try..finally..
end; // function TconExplorerFrame.FileOperation
This function returns true if the operation is a success and displays a
progress dialog if necessary. Look-up SHFILEOPSTRUCT in the WinAPI help
to see the possible values of op and flags. I still can't decide if I'll
need to access this function from outside my frame so for the moment it
is a private method but I may change this in the future.
A Delete button was now simple, all I had to do was determine which file
or folder is selected and delete it using FileOperation().
While doing a Refresh button I decided to write a generic function that
could be called from other methods and would refresh both controls.
TShellTreeView.Refresh takes a node as a parameter, but which node to
pass? I tried passing the current folder but that didn't always work
(this also seems to be a problem in Explorer). Then I tried passing the
root node and this works properly. TShellListView flickers when we
refresh a TShellTreeView it is connected to so I detach them first. See
the procedure TconExplorerFrame.Refresh in the source.
When creating a new folder we need to give it a unique name. The usual
way to do this is to call it 'New Folder' and add a number to the name
if that folder already exists. I wrote a GetNewFolderName() function
that would return the unique name I needed using the DirectoryExists()
function from SysUtils.pas and a while loop. My Create Folder button
calls this function and then uses CreateDir() from SysUtils.pas.
I wanted to provide a Properties button but the shell controls don't
have any useful methods. Since pressing Alt+Enter in a TShellListView
works I dived into ShellCtrls.pas and checked out the source. Initially
it looked simple, all you need to do is call DoContextMenuVerb. Or not,
because DoContextMenuVerb is not a method of TShellListView but is a
procedure private to ShellCtrls.pas. At this stage I decided plagiarism
was the easiest course and copied it into my frame unit.
Double-clicking files in TShellListView doesn't work (in Win2k at least)
but choosing Open from the context menu does. Checking the source it
does have a DblClick method that calls ShellExecute(). At this point I
noticed TShellFolder.ExecuteDefault. Since a TShellFolder can be a file
or a folder and we can get the selected item as a TShellFolder by
calling TShellListView.SelectedFolder writing an OnDblClick event method
was easy. This also ensures that double-click doesn't just try to open
the file but performs the default action from its context menu which is
what Explorer does. See TconExplorerFrame.shlllstvwFilesDblClick.
At this point I had everything I wanted except Drag and Drop. I'd never
done Drag and Drop before so I had to do some reading before I started.
Ideally I would like to be able to change the cursor if the user presses
Ctrl, like Explorer does. This means using a TDragControlObject to
supply a drag image list so I decided to keep things simple for now and
leave that effect out.
I started with dragging from my TShellListView to my TShellTreeView. The
methods and properties necessary (with the right return types) don't
seem to exist until you realise the SelectedFolder property can return
files as well as folders. I wrote an OnDragOver event for the
TShellTreeView so that it would accept items from the TShellListView and
started on its OnDragDrop event. I quickly found I couldn't access the
file being dragged from this event so decided to store it in a variable
global to my frame during TShellListView.OnStartDrag and then clear it
in TShellListView.OnEndDrag. I had trouble with the target folder too,
TTShellTreeView.GetNodeAt and TTShellTreeView.DropTarget return a
TTreeNode but to get the path for a file operation I wanted a
TShellFolder so I Select the DropTarget to retrieve the SelectedFolder
(a TShellFolder) and then Select the previous folder again. This makes
the TShellListView flicker horribly (you can actually see it change dir)
so I tried using TShellListView.Items.BeginUpdate and EndUpdate but this
didn't work so I had to detach it from its TShellTreeView, perform the
select operations and then re-attach it. This is nasty and I don't like
it but it works. The OnDragDrop event doesn't provide any information
about the keyboard and I want a Copy operation if the user is pressing
Ctrl at the end of the drag. I used the GetKeyState() function from the
Jedi Code Library (JCLSysInfo.pas) for this.
Having got drag working from my TShellListView I changed my OnDragOver
and OnDragDrop events to also accept a folder dragged from my
TShellTreeView and added OnStartDrag and OnEndDrag events to it. These
six events provide all the features required for dropping a file on the
TShellTreeView from within the frame. To keep it simple I only allow the
user to select and drag one item at a time.
Explorer allows you to drag a folder from the tree to the file list and
to drag files to folders within the list. But dragging a folder from
TShellTreeView selects and displays that folder and in either case
TShellListView.DropTarget always returns nil! Because of this I couldn't
find any way to implement these features. :(
Having done what I could to provide Drag and Drop within my frame I now
wanted to make it work with Explorer. To accept a file dropped from
Explorer we use Windows messages and I was unsure if this would effect
my Drag and Drop events but I was pleased to find that it didn't. I did
have a few problems getting it properly setup though. We need to call
DragAcceptFiles() with the handle of the control that will accept files
to let Windows know to send it the drop files message but TFrame doesn't
have an OnCreate event and we can't refer to its components or itself in
an initialization section. I had wanted my frame to be fully
encapsulated but I had to settle for calling DragAcceptFiles() in the
OnCreate event of the form that contains it. Initially I wanted to pass
the handle to my TShellListView so that files could only be dropped
there but that would need a WMDROPFILES message for the TShellListView
so I ended up accepting files anywhere on the frame by passing its
handle. Once I got round these problems the rest was easy.
The procedure TconExplorerFrame.WMDROPFILES handles the drop message. It
uses DragQueryFile() from the WinAPI to determine the number of items
being dropped and then uses it again to get an item's full path as it
iterates through the list. Windows automatically provides us with a Copy
cursor and pressing Ctrl or Shift doesn't effect it so I copy the items
to the folder currently displayed in my TShellListView.
I had also wanted to be able to drag files to Explorer or other
instances of my test program but I've been unable to find any articles
or tips that explain how to do it. I had hoped that enabling drag from
Explorer might have given me one of these features as a side-effect or
helped me work out how to do them but it didn't. I think I need to
create my own descendant of TCustomShellListView that is drag enabled
with the shell but I'm unsure where to begin.
So that's the end of my exploration of Borland's shell controls. If
anyone knows how to drag from Delphi to other applications or can
suggest other improvements to my frame please contact me. The source
for my frame and test program are in the attached archive, feel free to
use it in your own programs.
________________________________________________________________________
Support us! Vote for the Pascal Newsletter in The Programming Top 100!
http://top100borland.com/in.php?who=20
________________________________________________________________________
Vote for the Pascal Newsletter in The Programming Pages!
http://www.programmingpages.com/?r=latiumsoftwarecomenpascal&Language=29
________________________________________________________________________
5. Inline Assembler in Delphi (X) - Playing sounds with the PC speaker
The IN and OUT assembler instructions allow us to read from and write to
an I/O port respectively.
To read from a port:
in accumulator, port
IN reads a byte, word or doubleword from the specified port into the
accumulator register, i.e. AL, AX, or EAX for a byte, word or doubleword
port respectively. The port number can be a byte constant (0..255) or
the DX register (to have access to all I/O ports).
To write to a port:
out port, accumulator
OUT writes the byte, word or doubleword in the accumulator register to
the specified port. Again, the port number can be a byte constant or the
DX register.
Here we'll see an example of the use of assembler for reading and
writing to I/O ports to program the 8253/8254 Counter/Timer and the
8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface (PPI) chips on the motherboard
in order to make the built-in PC speaker play a tone.
The steps to play a tone using those chips are the following:
1) Prepare the 8253/8254 to receive the frequency. This is done by
writing the value $B6 to the Timer Control Register (port $43).
2) Write the frequency of the sound to the 8253/8254's Frequency
Register (port $42). Actually, it's not the frequency in Hertz that
we should write to the register, but the result of 1331000 divided
into that frequency. First we should write the low order byte of the
result, and then the high order byte.
3) Turn the speaker on and make it use the 8253/8254 Counter/Timer.
This is done by turning on the first two bits of Port B of the 8255
PPI (port $61).
4) Turn the speaker off when the sound should stop. This is done by
turning off the second bit of Port B of the 8255 PPI (port $61).
The following inline assembler function implements the steps listed
above:
procedure SpeakerSound(Frequency: word; Duration: longint);
// Copyright (c) 2003 Ernesto De Spirito
// Visit: http://www.latiumsoftware.com
// Plays a tone thru the PC speaker using the 8253/8254
// Counter/Timer chip and the 8255 Programmable Peripheral
// Interface (PPI) chip on the motherboard.
// NOTE: This code won't work under Windows NT/2000/XP.
asm
push edx // Push Duration on the stack (for Sleep)
mov cx, ax // CX := Frequency;
// Prepare the 8253/8254 to receive the frequency data
mov al, $B6 // Function: Expect frequency data
out $43, al // Write to Timer Control Register
// Compute the frequency data
mov dx, $14 // DX:AX = $144F38
mov ax, $4F38 // = 1331000
div cx // AX := 1331000 / Frequency;
// Send the frequency data to the 8253/8254 Counter/Timer chip
out $42, al // Write low byte to the Frequency Address
mov al, ah // AL := High byte of AX
out $42, al // Write high byte to the Frequency Address
// Tell the 8255 PPI to start the sound
in al, $61 // Read Port B of the 8255 PPI
or al, $03 // Set bits 0 and 1:
// bit 0 --> use the 8253/8254
// bit 1 --> turn speaker on
out $61, al // Write to Port B of the 8255 PPI
// Wait
call Sleep // Sleep(Duration); // requires Windows unit
// Tell the 8255 PPI to stop the sound
in al, $61 // Read Port B of the 8255 PPI
and al, NOT 2 // Clear bit 1 (turn speaker off)
out $61, al // Write to Port B of the 8255 PPI
end;
Sample call:
procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
i: integer;
begin
Randomize;
for i := 1 to 3 do
SpeakerSound(Random(900)+100, 200);
end;
NOTES:
* Since IN and OUT imply direct access to the hardware, and given that
Windows NT/2000/XP don't allow that for user applications, then those
instructions won't work (will generate an exception) under these
operating systems (unless running in protected mode at ring 0, also
known as kernel mode). Anyway, under these operating systems the Beep
API function accepts two arguments ignored under Windows 95/98/Me:
frequency in hertz and duration in milliseconds. The only catch is
that this function is synchronous, while the code I introduced above
is susceptible to be modified to play sounds asynchronously.
* Using the PC speaker to make sounds is OBSELETE. Applications should
use MIDI or WAVE sounds instead.
________________________________________________________________________
Delphi BUGS?
Catch & Log every BUG showing Unit, Class, Method, Line #.
Now with support for command-line compiler and IntraWeb applications.
http://www.eurekalog.com/bannerclick.php?id=15
________________________________________________________________________
6. Forums / mailing lists
To join any of our forums, the best way is to subscribe from the web,
since that way you'll be able to access the features available at the
web site (like changing your subscription options, viewing the past
messages, accessing the files section, etc.). A Yahoo! ID is required
for that, and you can get yours free by registering as a Yahoo! user,
but if you don't want to register or if you don't have full Internet
access, you can also subscribe by email (you'll only have email access).
* Delphi (intermediate level): If you know a lot about Delphi but you
are still far (or not so far) from being a guru, then this forum is
for you. This is the only forum for intermediate-level Delphi
programmers on the Web... Delphi experts are also welcome! :-)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delphi-en/
Subscription:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delphi-en/join
delphi-en-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
* Delphi (all levels): A Delphi group open to all levels.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delphi-all/
Subscription:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delphi-all/join
delphi-all-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
* Kylix: Kylix programming.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KylixGroup/
Subscription:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KylixGroup/join
KylixGroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
* Components: This is a forum for searching/recommending software
components (VCL and CLX components, ActiveX objects, DLL libraries,
shared objects, etc.), as well as utilities, tutorials, information,
etc.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/components/
Subscription:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/components/join
components-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
* Software Developers: This is a forum for discussions about software
development and to share experience in the work, professional or
commercial environments. It is not a programming forum, matters
treated here are supposed to be more general or language independent.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/software-developers/
Subscription:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/software-developers/join
software-developers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
________________________________________________________________________
Merlin's Delphi Forge
Delphi and Kylix news, FAQ, downloads, links, forums and more.
Accepting uploads and submissions.
http://www.delphifaq.net/
________________________________________________________________________
7. Delphi on the Net
By Dave Murray <irongut @ vodafone.net>
Components, Libraries and Utilities
===================================
Shareware / Commercial
----------------------
* InterBase 7.1 Trial - by Borland
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30157,00.html
* Trial Version of C#Builder Enterprise Available for Download
http://bdn.borland.com/article/0,1410,30278,00.html
* Personal Edition of C#Builder 1.0 Available for Download.
This edition is limited to free non-commercial development.
http://bdn.borland.com/article/0,1410,30203,00.html
Freeware
--------
* TurboPower OfficePartner v1.64b - by TurboPower (with source)
OfficePartner is the easy way to integrate your project with Microsoft
Office. With OfficePartner you can access COM services in Office with
easy to use VCL components.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/tpofficepartner/
* KeyNote v1.6.1 - by Marek Jedlinsky (MPL 1.1 with source)
A flexible, multi-featured tabbed notebook based on Windows' standard
RichEdit control. It's always accessible with a single keypress, even
when working in another application. The basic idea of KeyNote is that
you can include many separate notes within a single file. Features
include strong data encryption, styles, macros, plugins and templates.
Delphi source code available.
http://www.tranglos.com/free/keynote.html
* DScriptVCL - by DelphiScript (freeware, source code available for $49)
Give your applications Winamp's look & feel with DScriptVCL. Includes
Main Forms, Menus, Panels, Leds, Numeric Displays, Progress Bars,
Buttons, Checkboxes and many more graphical components.
http://www.delphiscript.com/dscriptvcl/
* WinAmpDll - by Ivan Spiridonov (with source)
A DLL Project that shows how to create WinAmp General Purpose Plugins.
http://www.torry.net/vcl/mmedia/winamp/wagppdll.zip
* Keyboard Macro Manager v1.0 - by Daniel Cunningham
Delphi IDE Enhancement for saving / restoring keyboard macros.
http://www.torry.net/vcl/experts/ide/keymac.zip
* TssSimpleIPC v1.0 - by Sunisoft (with source)
TssSimpleIPC is a component for Interprocess Communications.
http://www.torry.net/vcl/system/appscommunications/simpleipc.zip
* QTest v1.9 - by Michael Johnson (with source)
Delphi friendly way to create test cases for test-centric coding, ala
extreme programming. Update includes logging capability, more detail,
and some expansion of the methods of testing.
http://www.sourcecodeonline.com/details/qtest.html
* QSetup Installation Suite 4.0.0.4 - by Pantaray Research
Highly effective and powerful setup program featuring a user-friendly
and intuitive user interface designed to let you create high quality
sophisticated installation delivery with minimum effort and no script
programming. QSetup is FREE for independent software developers.
http://www.pantaray.com/
* Delphi.DX - by Tim Baumgarten (with source)
DirectX header file conversions for DirectX 7, 8 and 9.
http://www.crazyentertainment.net/dx.php?ver=nine
* PBPreview v4.50.00.00 - by BakSoft-Denmark (with source)
OpenDialog with custom Preview of your files.
http://bak-o-soft.dk/Default.asp?Page=PBPreview
* PBPrinter-SetupDialog v6.10.00.00 - by BakSoft-Denmark (with source)
Printer Setup dialog with the ability to get/set printer settings at
designtime & runtime.
http://bak-o-soft.dk/Default.asp?Page=PBPrinterSetupDialog
* TFindFile - by HANAX Software (with source)
Very simple component, can be used to searching for specified files
in specified directory(ies) and all it's subfolders.
http://hanaxsoftware.com/files/hanax_findfile.zip
Delphi and Borland Product Updates
----------------------------------
* DbExpress Driver for IBM DBM v8 for Delphi 7 Users
This patch for Delphi 7 is available to registered users.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30320,00.html
* Fixes for Kylix 3 Issues on Newer Distros (updated) - Andrés Colubri
Kylix 3 (particularly C++) on newer Linux distros (eg. RedHat 8+,
Madrake 9+, SuSE 8.2) has a number of bugs: compilation errors with
STL, unresolved references when linking, installer and IDE hangs, etc.
This package contains a collection of fixes to address these issues.
http://codecentral.borland.com/codecentral/ccweb.exe/listing?id=20136
* First Update Pack for C#Builder Available to Registered Users
http://bdn.borland.com/article/0,1410,30287,00.html
Articles, Tips and Tricks
=========================
* Simple Programming Tip #3 - by Charlie Calvert
Learn how refactoring can help you create robust and easy to maintain
programs.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30304,00.html
* Interview with Nick Hodges - by Clay Shannon
Nick Hodges, member of TeamB and the Borland Conference Advisory
Board, explains why he prefers WebSnap to 3rd party web app creation
solutions, talks about his Super Bowl bet with the interviewer, his
unusual method of working, etc.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30040,00.html
* Data Access in ADO.NET - by Cary Jensen
ADO.NET provides the native data access layer for the .NET framework.
This article is the first in a series to look at ADO.NET, and begins a
discussion of the data access mechanism.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30113,00.html
* Using Visual Form Inheritance with IntraWeb 5.1 in Delphi 7
- by Tjipke A. van der Plaats
This article explains a way to be able to use visual form inheritance
with IntraWeb (5.1). Something that normally is not working.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30195,00.html
* Interview with Marco Cantu - by Clay Shannon
Author and trainer Marco Cantu tells us about the 15th century house
in which he lives, encourages people to turn off their televisions,
praises Stupid White Men (the book, not obtuse caucasians) and, of
course, talks about programming.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30052,00.html
* Interview with Ray Konopka - by Clay Shannon
Ray Konopka talks about the mechanics of the Borland Conference
advisory board, his work on Code Site for .NET, the great BorCon pizza
thread time slice demonstration, his High School record in Track and
Field, and Octane.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30095,00.html
* Interview with Cary Jensen - by Clay Shannon
Trainer/author/BorCon Advisory Board member Cary Jensen talks about
his hair, his books, JBuilder, psychology, .NET data sets and predicts
fun surprises at BorCon this coming November in San Jose.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30114,00.html
* Data Storage in ADO.NET - by Cary Jensen
This article is the second in a series to look at ADO.NET. In this
installment we take a look at the ADO.NET data storage classes.
http://community.borland.com/delphi/0,1419,1,00.html
* InterBase 7.1 Trial Technical Specifications - Sriram Balasubramanian
Capabilities of the InterBase 7.1 Trial version.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30151,00.html
* The Coad Letter 110: Announcing UML 2.0 - by Randy Miller
The UML 2.0 Specification has been approved by the OMG. The final
editing process is going on and the specification is set to be
released to the public by the end of the year. Here is what is new.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30144,00.html
* What's New in UML 2? The Use Case Diagram - by Randy Miller
This article examines a new element of the use case diagram in UML 2.0
including multiplicities and conditions on "extends" relationships.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30166,00.html
* Business Rules - by Randy Miller
This article looks at business rules in a modeling and development
environment.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30158,00.html
* InterBase Community Tools and Solutions - by Aaron Ruddick
Third party tools and solutions for InterBase.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30126,00.html
* Interview with Steve McConnell - by Clay Shannon
Steve McConnell, the author of several important programming books
including "Code Complete", "Rapid Development", "Software Project
Survival Guide", and "After the Gold Rush" answers questions about his
current projects.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29921,00.html
* Get Your Delphi Apps off to a Fast Start - by Clay Shannon
Explains how and why you should create a template project. This can
save you a lot of time whenever you begin a new Delphi project, as the
normal "setup work" you do will already be done - setting properties,
adding forms and units, etc.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29907,00.html
* Interview with Lino Tadros - by Clay Shannon
Lino Tadros talks about creating the first ActiveX control ever
written with Delphi, a practical joke he played on some of his
employees, why he eschews the newsgroups lately, who he impersonates,
and the new magazine he is writing for.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30085,00.html
* Simple Programming Tip #2 - by Charlie Calvert
A discussion of benefits to be derived from using testing tools such
as JUnit, DUnit, NUnit or CppUnit. The heart of the argument is that
such tools encourage programmers to create highly modular, reusable
classes that are easy to maintain.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30049,00.html
* Are We Not Geeks? - by Clay Shannon
Why is programming the least understood of all professions? There is
a conspiracy to defame us! Hollywood and Madison Avenue don't want us
to come out from behind our cubicle walls. A tongue-in-cheek take on
how programmes are viewed.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29920,00.html
* Interview with Chad "Kudzu" Hower - by Clay Shannon
Chad "Kudzu" Hower, prime mover behind Indy and IntraWeb, talks about
the future of Delphi, what he thinks of .NET, how to bring about world
peace, why he rarely reads computer books, and other things.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30038,00.html
* Disseminating Your Software - by Clay Shannon
The difference between deployment and dissemination of software is
discussed, as is the relative merits of hosting your own software or
outsourcing that chore. DIY vs. outsourcing is also examined relative
to the processing of payments.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29931,00.html
* InterBase 7.1 DataType to ADO.NET C# Type mappings - by Borland
Developer Support Staff
InterBase SQL datatypes and C# Object Type mappings using the
InterBase Borland Data Provider (BDP).
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30108,00.html
* Distributed Information Systems, From A to Z: Part I - Serge Dosyukov
This article is a first in a series discussing several aspects of
building distributed information systems using Delphi 7 and Indy.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30025,00.html
* Interview with Ray Lischner - by Clay Shannon
Ray Lischner talks about his books, how he backed into programming,
his keyboard deafness, the extent of his multilingualism, C#, his
predictions for a post-.NET Borland and what he's working on.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30013,00.html
* Life cycle of a Database Application - by Oleg Meeting
Analyses a database project's life pattern and concludes some useful
recommendations for developers.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,28994,00.html
* This Old Pipe - by Randall Nagy
Few appreciate how much modern computing relies upon pipes and
streams. This article reviews how to apply these elegant IPC
mechanisms to your console and GUI applications.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29772,00.html
* Using XMLBroker with IntraWeb - by Guinther Pauli
This article will explain how to use the XMLBroker in a IntraWeb
application, caching data and updates in browser. And finally, how to
solve this updates to database server.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29860,00.html
* Advanced Dynamic Packages - by Vino Rodrigues
Topics covered include: Calling Custom Class Methods, Calling Standard
Functions and Procedures, Obtaining Package Information and Obtaining
Knowledge of Class Names.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29119,00.html
* An Introduction To Endo-Testing Using Mock Objects - by Sascha Frick
Problems arise when applying unit testing and test driven development
principles to complex projects. This article describes how to overcome
the problems with endo-testing and mock objects.
http://www.thedelphimagazine.com/samples/1677/1677.htm
* Creating Custom Windows Event Logs - by Dennis Passmore
Explains what is involved in creating custom event logs and why they
will come in handy to monitor your applications.
http://www.thedelphimagazine.com/samples/1655/1655.htm
* Code Reuse Through Interfaces - Rob Collins
Code reuse is perhaps more talked about than done, so this article
shows how code reuse can be achieved, with aggregated Delphi
interfaces.
http://www.thedelphimagazine.com/samples/1664/1664.htm
* Registering DLL and ActiveX Controls from Code - by Zarko Gajic
How to register / unregister OLE controls such as dynamic-link library
(DLL) or ActiveX Control (OCX) files from a Delphi application.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa040803a.htm
* Exposing the OnClick Event for a DBGrid - by Zarko Gajic
Delphi's DBGrid does not respond to the OnClick event. Here's how to
hack a DBGrid and surface the OnClick event - using the so-called
"protected hack".
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa083003a.htm
* Accessing Protected Members of a Component - by Zarko Gajic
Many Delphi components have useful properties and methods that are
marked invisible ("protected") to a Delphi developer. In this article
you will find the workaround to this problem - thus enabling you to
access a DBGrid's RowHeights property, for example.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa082603a.htm
* Accessing protected members of a component - by Zarko Gajic
Many Delphi components have useful properties and methods that are
marked invisible ("protected") to a Delphi developer. In this article
you will find the workaround to this problem - thus enabling you to
access a DBGrid's RowHeights property, for example.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/mpreviss.htm
* CheckBox inside a DBGrid - by Zarko Gajic
Here's how to place a check box into a DBGrid. Create visually more
attractive user interfaces for editing boolean fields inside a DBGrid.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa082003a.htm
* Adding components to a DBGrid - by Zarko Gajic
How to place just about any Delphi control (visual component) into a
cell of a DGBrid. Find out how to put a CheckBox, a ComboBox (drop
down list box) and even an Image inside the DBGrid.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa081903a.htm
* Computer restrictions with Delphi and Registry - by Zarko Gajic
How to enable your applications to make restrictions to what users can
(and cannot) do with their computer using Delphi and the Registry.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa081703a.htm
* Implementing PING without using raw sockets - by Serhiy Perevoznyk
Implementing Internet pings using Delphi and the Icmp.dll.
http://delphi.about.com/od/internetintranet/l/aa081503a.htm
* A Simple example of Artificial Intelligence using Delphi - R. Dhungel
The article explores Delphi approach to AI, using the pebble picking
game. A simple game is used to show how computer can learn by
correcting mistakes.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa081003a.htm
* DLLs Made Simpler - by Richard Le Mesurier
This article is aimed at removing the fear of writing DLLs for
beginners. A lot of beginners think DLLs are really complex, when
actually they are pretty simple.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa080803a.htm
* Professional Looking Grids with Custom Drawing - by Vegar Vikan
Using custom drawing to make your grids look as nice as the expensive
third party suites. Three main topics are presented: how to fix-up the
column headers, how to add clickable buttons and checkboxes inside
cells and how to simulate merged cells.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa072203a.htm
* PDF Managing Tools - by Zarko Gajic
Need to create, encrypt or manage PDF files from Delphi? Using the
tools and components in this listing you will get powerful control of
PDF documents in your applications.
http://delphi.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/aatppdf.htm
* Reading and Manipulating XML files - by Zarko Gajic
Learn how to read and manipulate XML documents with Delphi using the
TXMLDocument component.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa072903a.htm
* Locate, Display and Execute Control Panel Applets - by Zarko Gajic
Interested in Delphi code to mimic the Windows Control Panel folder
behavior? In this article you can learn how to find CPL files, how to
extract description, name and even the applet icon. Even more, learn
how to execute applets from your applications.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa062403a.htm
* TComplexMath - by Thomas Bejstam
When using Delphi to develop engineering applications, you'll often
find that the mathematics support in the development environment is
not enough. TComplexMath unit is a way out! Full source code.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa070103a.htm
* Free Source VCL Sets! - by Zarko Gajic
Looking for a free source multi-purpose Delphi component collection
to add more power to your applications? Look no more, here's a list
of the best Delphi component (free with source) sets on the Net!
http://delphi.about.com/cs/toppicks/tp/aatpfreevclset.htm
* A TreeView of Data - by Anand Gopalakrishnan
How to display a dataset of records from a table or query in a
treeview component.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa060603a.htm
* Adding Regular Expression Filtering to ShellListView - George Merriman
How to add regular expression (filename) filtering to the Delphi file
explorer application.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa052503a.htm
* Shell Controls: Delphi's Hidden Gems - by George Merriman
How to create a reasonable Delphi facsimile of the Windows Explorer,
all without writing a single line of code.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa052503a.htm
* Records in Delphi: Part 1 - by Zarko Gajic
Learn about records, Delphi's Pascal data structure that can mix any
of Delphi's built in types including any types you have created.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa062700a.htm
* Records in Delphi: Part 2 - by Kevin S. Gallagher
Why and when to use variant records and creating an array of records.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa070803a.htm
* TNumEdit - by Michael Klaus
TNumEdit is a TEdit descendant that only accepts numerical input. You
can adjust whether to accept positive or negative numbers, integers or
decimals. You can also limit the input by using MinValue and MaxValue.
http://delphi.about.com/library/weekly/aa070603a.htm
* About Delphi Programming *Current Headlines* - by Zarko Gajic
Put About Delphi Programming *Current Headlines* on your web site for
FREE! Get the *Current Headlines* without leaving the Delphi IDE using
the free Delphi IDE add-on.
http://delphi.about.com/library/blsticker.htm
* UML Sequence Diagrams Show Class Collaboration - by Kirk Knoernschild
The dynamic aspects of class collaborations can be represented in UML
with sequence diagrams. Find out how to use sequence diagrams as a
tool in your application development and get a better understanding of
object interaction.
http://builder.com.com/article.jhtml?id=u00320030814KXK01.htm
* Follow these Steps to Secure your Data Layer - by Robert W. McLaws
A secure data layer is essential for a truly secure application. Learn
how to nurture a secure environment for the pivotal Data tier of your
application with the correct tools.
http://builder.com.com/article.jhtml?id=u00320030731MCL01.htm
* Three Recovery Models for Backing Up your SQL Server - by Ed Martin
Backing up SQL Server is a standard practice, but knowing which
recovery model to use can be confusing. Use these tips to get started
with your backup strategy.
http://builder.com.com/article.jhtml?id=u00320030429gcn01.htm
* SQL Server: Design for Security from the Start - Harkins + Gunderloy
When developing a SQL Server database security must be a priority even
during the design process. Prepare a more secure database application
by familiarizing yourself with these guidelines before you start your
next project.
http://builder.com.com/article.jhtml?id=u00320030715ssh01.htm
* Use Microsoft JET'S ShowPlan to Write More Efficient Queries
- by Susan Sales Harkins and Mike Gunderloy
In large databases, an inefficient query can reduce performance to a
crawl and incur the ire of users. The ShowPlan feature of Microsoft's
Jet engine can help you plan more efficient queries, optimize your
database, and increase performance.
http://builder.com.com/5100-6388-5064388.html?fromtm=e601
* Secure SQL Server: Installing for Security - by Harkins + Gunderloy
Securing SQL Server is vital to the proper design of any database
system. Get the lowdown on how to install SQL securely, protect data
from prying eyes, and ensure its validity.
http://builder.com.com/5100-6388-5054470.html
* Basic .Net: Framework Compatibility Issues - by Builder.com
Multiple .NET Framework versions means there are more options to
consider during implementation. This article looks at compatibility
issues between versions 1.0 and 1.1 of the .NET Framework and explore
what you can do to reduce versioning problems.
http://builder.com.com/5100-6389-5055539.html
* Differences Between Jet's ISNULL() and T-SQL's COALESCE() Functions
- by Susan Sales Harkins and Doris Manning
Null values are handled differently by Access when compared to SQL
Server. Get a hands-on explanation of the appropriate null functions
for each database and improve your application's reliability.
http://builder.com.com/5100-6388-5053997.html
* Avoid Security Vulnerabilities in your CGI Programs - Scott Robinson
CGI makes creating Web-executable programs quick and easy - both for
you and for hackers. Learn about some of the explicit security
vulnerabilities of CGI and how to avoid them.
http://builder.com.com/5100-6371-5061201.html
* How to execute a Javascript function in a Webbrowser/ IE Document?
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/en/showcode.php?id=1732
* How to display items in a listview control display as a group (XP)?
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/en/showcode.php?id=1782
* How to know when a form is activated or deactivated?
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/en/showcode.php?id=1775
* How to Determine if you are running inside Virtual PC?
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/en/showcode.php?id=1756
* How to implement a Linked List Memory Table?
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/en/showcode.php?id=1758
* How to get the server (router) and client IP address of your dial-up
connection? - by Sunish Issac
There are quite a lot of articles on retrieving IP addresses for LAN
interfaces. Here's one for dialup using RAS(Remote Access Services).
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3683.asp
* Changing the z-order of controls - by Daniel Wischnewski
Move your control step-by-step.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3684.asp
* RAVE Export Device for EMF, WMF and Bitmaps - by Julian Ziersch
How to implement a generic RAVE render device.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3685.asp
* How To Use MSAccess In Delphi (using BDE Components) - by Ameenudeen M
Methods to access data in MS Access Database from Delphi Application
using standard BDE Components.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3687.asp
* Handle OleExceptions - by Andreas Schmidt
A EOleException has more information than the default handler shows.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3694.asp
* DialogUnits To Pixels - by Jean Claude Servaye
How to convert dialogs units in pixels if the dialog do not use the
system font.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3695.asp
* Check for exe files and DLLs - by Peter Johnson
This article looks at how we examine a file to check if it is a DOS or
Windows executable and, if so, whether it is a program file or a DLL.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3696.asp
* TreeView+ComboBox - by Eugine Veselov
How to create a combobox which has a popup treeview.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3699.asp
* Converting ASCII to Paradox - by gourari noureddine
Exports delimited file to a Paradox table.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3700.asp
* Dynamic ODBC DSN create and ADV MS-SQL Login - by Mike Heydon
This class adds dynamic ODBC Alias/DSN generation at run-time. Also
featured is two login modes, one that lets the programmer handle
returned errors and another that stays in a loop with error messages
that allows retry and Alias/DSN user setup. There are also properties
that set and retrieve ODBC Alias/DSN driver and dsn settings such as
CPTimeout, Version etc.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3702.asp
* Advanced exception handler to find the exception source file name,
call stack and all other related information - by Clever Components
This article describes how to replace the standard Delphi exception
handlers with advanced ones in order to get more control over all
errors occuring during run-time execution. It is possible to collect
very detailed information about all occured exceptions and save this
information for later use without any interference with end-user.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3703.asp
* Using TList's and Pointers in Delphi - by Stewart Moss
A small demonstration that shows how to use the TList helper object
and how to use pointers. It creates a list of Pointers to Integers but
they could be a list of pointers to any record or class type.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3705.asp
* Component to Monitor Clipboard - by Enrique Ortuño
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3708.asp
* Direct File Access with a StringGrid - by Max Kleiner
From time to time we need to populate a StringGrid from a file and
save it to a file in a well defined structure like a record. Here's a
way to handle this with a contol class.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3709.asp
* Converting a floating point value to an integer value - by Jim Carter
Real to Integer typecasting.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3712.asp
* Methods for Cutting and Pasting SQL Select Order by Clause - A. Wijoyo
Most of data access components don't have method for sorting in memory
records. So the only way for sorting records is add an order by clause
to the query and reopen it. These method make this task easier to do.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3715.asp
* Inline-editing with a TTreeView - by Omer Can
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3720.asp
* TTreeView descendant showing LAN hierarchy - by Eugine Veselov
This component shows your LAN resources represented as a tree.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3721.asp
* Design time Icons for CoClasses - by Andreas Schmidt
How to add icons to CoClasses in an ActiveX DLL or automation server.
Icons will be shown in IDEs like VB, VC++, Delphi, etc.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3725.asp
* Exchange Items in a TListView - by Mike Shkolnik
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3726.asp
* Open Password Protected xls File + Save Without Password - M. Shkolnik
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3727.asp
* Replace Text or Font in doc File - by Mike Shkolnik
How to use an OLE automation for MS Word and replace some text string
in any document.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3728.asp
* BitCompression - by Ritchie Blackmore
Why using whole byte to store bynary data when single bit is enough?
With this unit you can compress boolean array into byte array in one
move.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3730.asp
* Read picture maketime from digital camera file - by Maarten de Haan
Almost every digital camera stores the datetime of the camera clock in
the JPG-file when a picture is taken. This function will return the
first occurence of the datetime found in the JPG-file.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3732.asp
* plain MySQL access - by Ionel Roman
How to access MySQL databases in plain source code using just library.
(Windows and Linux)
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3733.asp
* Adding Line no and Column no to TRichTextBox - by Sridhar n
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3734.asp
* Exporting an TImage contents to WMF format - by Walter Alves Chagas
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3735.asp
* Show System Menu for Form - by Mike Shkolnik
How to activate a system menu by button click.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3737.asp
* WinInet: Implementing Resuming Feature - by Clever Components
This article describes the most efficient way to continue downloading
a file from a point where it stoped and organize the mutithreaded
downloading feature using the WinInet library.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3738.asp
* When to use Interfaces, when to use Inheritance? - by Max Kleiner
There are two possibilities to define a (same) class hierarchy: with
interfaces, with inheritance. Which one suits your needs?
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3745.asp
* Delphi .NET: "Hello, world!" - by Herbert Poltnik
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3750.asp
* Delphi .NET: Get Computer IP address - by Herbert Poltnik
How to get the list of the computer's IP addresses.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3751.asp
* Reterive Windows / IExplorer Special Folders - by Magnus Flysjö
Using SHGetSpecialFolderPath API to get special folders.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3759.asp
* Increasing speed of a ListBox with 1,000,000 lines - by Werner Pamler
Populating the items of a ListBox can become extremely slow for a VERY
large number of items. Is there a way to speed this up?
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3761.asp
* How To Load File Data To a String Using TFileStream - by Michael Cone
How To Load File Data To a String Using TFileStream.
http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3762.asp
White Papers / Case Studies
---------------------------
* Case Study: Smart Restaurant Solutions
See how Smart Restaurant Solutions took advantage of Delphi 7 Studio
to deliver a Web Services-based solution to keep ahead of the
competition.
http://www.open-consult.com/casos/srs.pdf
Tutorials and Training
======================
* BorCon 2003 to be be held in San Jose, California November 1-5, 2003
http://info.borland.com/conf2003/
* Borland Web Seminars
The Borland Web Seminar Series is designed to address the latest in
development, deployment, and integration technologies.
http://info.borland.com/web_seminar/
Available Web Seminars include:
- Delivering high-performance applications for the Microsoft .NET
Framework
- Simplifying Integration of the Microsoft .NET Framework with
J2EE/CORBA
- Driving Alignment of IT Initiatives with Business Goals
- Why Upgrade to JBuilder 9
- Accelerating Productivity with Agile Modeling
- Introduction to the Borland Embedded Databases
- Performance Management for J2EE Systems
* Writing MS SQL Server Extended Stored Procedures with Delphi
- by Berend de Boer
Presents a framework which makes writing Microsoft SQL Server Extended
Stored Procedures a breeze with four sample xp's (Extended Stored
Procedures) shown and discussed.
http://www.berenddeboer.net/article/1293.zip
Source code: http://www.berenddeboer.net/article/1293_C.zip
* Integrating with Outlook - By Berend de Boer
This article explores the possibilities of using Microsoft Outlook as
an extension of your program, or vice versa, your program as an
extension of Outlook. The article gives you a good idea of Outlook's
object model. You'll be able to integrate straight into Outlook itself
by extending Outlook's menu and toolbars. After reading this article
you should be able to program and control Outlook, sending mail and
reading contacts. Also you should have a good start in writing
Exchange Extensions.
http://www.berenddeboer.net/article/1292.zip
Source code: http://www.berenddeboer.net/article/1292_C.zip
Other Links
===========
* Get the New Delphi Desktop Wallpaper - by Borland
Show your support for Borland with our cool new Delphi wallpaper.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,30321,00.html
* Borland Partner CDs are online - by John Kaster
The partner CD submissions for Borland's latest IDE products are
available for download.
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,29797,00.html
* C#Builder Personal Download Now Available
C#Builder Personal is now available as a free download for
non-commercial development.
http://www.borland.com/products/downloads/download_csharpbuilder.html
* Delphi-PRAXiS
Delphi community for German speaking programmers.
http://www.delphipraxis.net
* Delphi Programmers @ SETI - by m3rlin
Newly founded SETI@Home group created for Delphi programmers.
Join myself and m3rlin in the search for little green men. :)
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/stats/team/team_156396.html
News
====
* Borland Upgrades Embedded Database - by Paul Krill
Borland Software introduced InterBase 7.1, a cross-platform embeddable
database that adds support for Windows Server 2003.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/03/06/17/HNinterbase_1.html?platforms
* BorCon 2003 to be be held in San Jose, California November 1-5, 2003
http://info.borland.com/conf2003/
Other Borland conferences around the world:
- EKon 7 - 7th German/Borland Developers Conference - Frankfurt -
September 21-26, 2003
http://www.entwicklerkonferenz.de
http://www.entwicklerkonferenz.com/
- Borland Conference Europe - Amsterdam - November 10-12, 2003
http://www.europeanborlandconference.com/
- Borland Conference France - Paris - December 10-11, 2003
http://info.borland.fr/conference/2003/
* Open Letter to the Borland C++ Developer Community - by J.P. LeBlanc
Learn about the future of the Borland C++ product line.
http://bdn.borland.com/article/0,1410,30279,00.html
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