Delphi VCL Extensions (RX) Library 2.31 ======================================= The Ultimate Suite of Native Delphi Components for Delphi versions 1, 2 & 3. 100% Source Code. Last revision date May 08, 1997. TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Overview History Installation Demonstration Programs Source Files Copyright Notes Overview -------- Delphi VCL Extensions (RX) Library contains a large number of components, objects and routines for Borland Delphi with full source code. This library is compatible with all Delphi versions (16 & 32 bit), also ready for upcoming Delphi 3.0, and ready for using with Borland C++ Builder. This collection includes over 50 native Delphi components, all of which have been designed for both 16 and 32-bit development. So, whether you're developing applications for Windows 3.1, Windows 95 or Windows NT, RX Library will give you the edge you've been looking for. RX Library is a FREEWARE product. Feel free to distribute library as long as all files are unmodified and kept together. The authors disclaim all warranties as to this software, whether express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Use under your own responsability, but commentaries (even critiques) in English (or in Russian) are welcome. 1. Components: - TRxDBLookupCombo provides an incremental search through lookup list by directly typing into the combo control while the lookup list is displayed, LookupSource can refer to TTable, TQuery, TRxQuery or TQBEQuery. It even incrementally searches on the query results and much more... - TRxDBLookupList is the same as TrxDBLookupCombo (in functionality). - TRxDBComboBox is a TDBComboBox descendant allowing to have different values displayed from that stored in database without using a lookup table. Allows you to display understandable text versions of stored codes in your table. - TRxDBGrid provides you with the ability to change the background color and font displayed within individual cells and entire rows and columns; save and restore columns order and display width in ini-files and system registry; display icons for BLOB, memo, OLE and picture fields; select multiple records; convert columns headings to buttons. - TDBStatusLabel displays the DataSet state (for all datasets) or current record number (for DBase or Paradox tables). - TDateEdit and TDBDateEdit (data-aware version) allows direct typing and has a button to bring up calendar in popup window (combo-box alike) or in a dialog. - TQBEQuery enables Delphi applications to use Paradox-style Query-by-example (QBE) statements to query tables, and perform insert and update queries. - TRxQuery is a TQuery descendant. It supports macros in the SQL text, which are similar to Params. Macros allow to change query text easily and handy. - TSQLScript allows multiple SQL statements in one query. - TRxDBFilter encapsulates BDE ability to filter records locally. The component provides event on filtering and/or conditions in StringList property. - TDBProgress dispays BDE operations progress for IDAPI drivers that support callback-functions. - TDBIndexCombo is a visual interface component that provides your end- users with an easy means of changing the current display order of data being retrived from an indexed table. When the user selects the TDBIndexCombo component, it's drop-down selection list is populated with the DisplayNames of all indexes available for the table it's assigned to. - TBDEItems, TDatabaseItems, TTableItems are lists populated by the corresponding BDE information (database list, table list, field list etc). - TDBSecurity provides most common dialogs for database applications: Login Dialog and Change Password Dialog. - TRxDBRichEdit - permits the user to display and enter Rich Text Format (RTF) data in a memo or BLOB field. - TAnimatedImage - animation "bitmap by bitmap". Design-time editor allows you to load Windows animation cursors (ani-files) to this component. - TClipboardViewer is a visual control that displays the contents of Clipboard using different formats. - TCurrencyEdit - moneys and numbers input. - TPicClip represents a bitmap as the logical array of bitmaps and supports access by index. - TFormPlacement allows to save and restore form size, position and window state in/from ini-file or Registry. - TFormStorage allows you to read and write virtually any component published property to an INI file or the system Registry with virtually no code. Works with 3rd party and your own custom controls as well. Don't be stuck with dozens of INI-Aware components, use TFormStorage and let it manage all that for you. - TPageManager is useful when creating multipage dialogs such as "Experts" (or "Wizards"). - TColorComboBox is a combo box to pick up color. - TFontComboBox is a combo box to pick up font name. - TRxLabel is a customizable shadowed label. - TTextListBox is TListBox successor with automatic horizontal scrollbar if necessary. - TRxSplitter separates two controls to allow to change their sizes in run-time. Never again create a splitter by hand using panel components. Add splitter support to any application by using the RxSplitter component. - TRxSlider and TRxSwitch are slider and switch controls respectively with the ability to change their looks. TRxSlider provides more features than the Win32 common control, such as custom thumbs. - TRxSpinEdit and TrxSpinButton are spin controls variants. - TSpeedBar with horizontal or vertical orientation that can be placed at the top, bottom, left, right of the form. Customizable in designer and in run-time using drag&drop operation, similar to Delphi speedbar. Allow you use flat and transparent buttons such as standard-style buttons. Button's transparent ability lets graphics show through from under the speedbar. - TComboEdit, TFilenameEdit, TDirectoryEdit are the edit boxes with buttons. User can type data into an edit box or can bring up dialog or popup window by clicking a button. - TMemoryTable implements BDE in-memory table as a data set component (with Delete operation). - TRxCheckListBox is a list box with built-in check boxes. - TRxSpeedButton provides you more features than the standard TSpeedButton component, such as Transparent, Flat and GrayedInactive properties and Drop-Down Menu. - The TRxTimerList component provides all the functions of the standard TTimer component, plus the additional benefit of using only one Windows timer for up to 32767 timing events. You can customize this component in designer using easy-to-use component editor. - TConverter, TRxClock, TSecretPanel, TRxDice, TRxCalculator, TRxTrayIcon, TAppEvents, TStrHolder, TMRUManager, TRxWindowHook and much more. 2. The editors of standard properties with some advanced features. - TPicture and TGraphic adds Copy and Paste Buttons, supports Icons in Clipboard, uses open dialog box with preview. - THint enables multi-line hint entry. 3. Units that provide functions and objects to work with databases, images, strings, dates, files, INI-files. 4. RX Library Help-file in Delphi Help style in Russian ;-( that can be built into the Delphi multihelp system. 5. A couple of simple demo applications. History ------- - RX 2.31 (May,08,1977). This release. Delphi 3.0 release (build 5.53) compatibility. Bug fixes. - RX 2.30 (Apr,22,1997). New components: TMRUList, TRxTimerList, TRxWindowHook. Delphi 3 (confidential beta pre-release, build 3.0.4.78) compatibility. Bug fixes. - RX 2.01 (Feb,12,1997), 2.02 (Mar,10,1997). Bug fixes. New component TRxDBRichEdit. Version 2.02 became available for download on Internet. - RX 2.00 (Nov,24,1996). New components: TMemoryTable, TRxCheckListBox, TRxDBComboBox, TStrHolder, TAppEvents. Bug fixes. - RX 1.32 (Nov,11,1996). Delphi 2.0 compatible version. New components: TSQLScript, TPageManager, TRxTrayIcon. - RX 1.03 (Jun,14,1996). Compiled DCU-files removed from installation package. New components: TFormStorage, TDBSecurity, TRxQuery, TSpeedbar, TRxSpinButton, TRxSpinEdit, TRxCalculator. - RX 1.02 (Dec,27,1995). Private version. - RX 1.01 (Dec,04,1995). Bug fixes, new component TRxDBFilter. - RX 1.00 (Nov 1995). Initial release for Delphi 1.0 available in russian Fido. - ExtVCL component collections from Apr,25,1995 and Jul,20,1995. Installation ------------ Run RXINST.EXE. In Delphi 1.0 and 2.0 after installing use the "Install Components..." item on Delphi's Options menu (or "Component\Install..." in Delphi 2.0) to add the RxCtlReg.PAS, RxDBReg.PAS and RxTooReg.PAS units to the component library. This units registers all RX Library components on the "RX Controls", "RX DBAware" and "RX Tools" pages accordingly. In Delphi 3.0 use "File\Open..." menu item to open consistently packages DCLRXCTL.DPK, DCLRXDB.DPK and DCLRXTLS.DPK. In "Package.." window click "Install" button to register RX Library components on the "RX Controls", "RX DBAware" and "RX Tools" pages accordingly. WARNING! This version of RX Library was tested only with Delphi 3.0 build 5.53 (Mar, 20, 1997). To install the help and keyword file, follow these steps: - Click on the HelpInst icon in the Delphi group in the Program Manager. - Select File|Open from the menu. Change directories so you are in the \Delphi\Bin directory, and select the Delphi.hdx file. Click the OK button. - Select Keywords|Add Keyword File from the menu. Change directories so you are in the directory where you stored the help files of the RX. Select the RX.KWF (in Delphi 1.0) or RX32.KWF (in Delphi 2.0) file, and click the OK button. - Select File|Save from the menu. This will recompile the Delphi.hdx file. You can then close the Helpinst program. You will now be able to jump to the help file for the RX Library by selecting the appropriate property and hitting 'F1.' Unfortunately, Help file now available is only in Russian. This help requires Arial Cyr and Courier New Cyr fonts (code page 1251). C++ Builder Compatibility ------------------------- Remove dot in conditional define {$DEFINE CBUILDER} in module RX.INC to use RX Library components with Borland C++ Builder. WARNING! RX Library is not tested properly with Borland C++ Builder. Use under your own responsability. Demonstration Programs ---------------------- Demostrations programs included in RX Library use tables from DELPHI\DEMOS\DATA directory and BDE alias "DBDEMOS". Source Files ------------ All sources (100%) of RX Library are available in RX\UNITS directory. All language specific string constants used in RX Library are collected in resource files. There are sources for string resource files in English and Russian. The rest resource files containing bitmap images and icons for component palette are also included as compiled resorces (*.R16, *.R32) and as *.RC-files. Resource files sources are available in RX\RESOURCE directory. So, you can use any resource compiler (i.e. BRC.EXE or BRC32.EXE) to create *.RES (*.R16 & *.R32) and *.DCR (*.D16 & *.D32) files. Copyright Notes --------------- Most of the modules in library written by us. We have to make a note of units based on sources of other authors. Unit RXLOOKUP is based on original Delphi VCL units DBLOOKUP, DBCTRLS. Unit STRUTILS is based on unit of string-handling routines AGSLIB by Alexey Lukin, for whom we appreciated during 4 years experience. Unit DBEXCPT is modified unit DBEXCEPT.PAS from Borland Delphi 1.0 C/S Demos DELPHI\DEMOS\DB\TOOLS. Some components in unit DBLISTS are based on DELPHI\DEMOS\DB\TOOLS\BDETABLE unit of Delphi 1.0 Demos. Unit PICTEDIT contains advanced property editor based on unit PICEDIT.PAS from VCL, unit IMAGPRVW.PAS is modified unit IMAGEWIN.PAS from Borland Delphi 1.0 C/S Demos DELPHI\DEMOS\IMAGVIEW. Authors: Fedor Koshevnikov (kosh@masterbank.msk.ru) Igor Pavluk (pavluk@masterbank.msk.ru) Serge Korolev (korolev@masterbank.msk.ru) FidoNet: 2:5020/104 Software development department. Master-Bank. Moscow, Russia.