I want to create *.bpl file but I am failing to do so.
Specifically, I am trying to make JEDI plugins, but I have tried an empty pure Delphi package, too.
If I create a new package in Delphi XE3, I get an empty unit - if I "make" this project called "Package1.bpl", I get a .dcu file in "debug/win32/", but no .bpl file.
No error is reported by the compiler.
An empty JEDI plugin (bpl-style) only gives a .dcu, too, while an empty dll-style JEDI plugin gives a .cdu and a .dll file in "debug/win32/".
This is the first time I am trying to make a new package, so I am completely lost.
What am I missing?
Go to the Tools menu and navigate to Environment Options -> Delphi Options -> Library.
There you find the Package Output Directory and the DCP Output Directory. These directories are the default output directories for BPLs and DCPs, so the bpl will be created if your packages is compiled, but in a different directory from what you expect.
The JEDI plugins probably have their output directory configured otherwise in Project -> Options.
For those that don't want to travel into Delphi IDE/options etc, lately in Delphi XE it's something like this:
"C:\Users\Public\Documents\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\Bpl;"
Your exact folder might be different based on 17.0
These folders also end up in the path environment variable of your system, bit dangerous and can lead to some mighty magic loading confusion ?!
"How's that BPL still loading after it was deleted from my local project folder ?" :)
Another solution is to add "." to your project settings without the "". Prevents you from having to modify your delphi environment options/settings, something you probably never want to do since JEDI and other projects may rely on these default settings to function properly. Only change it if you know what you are doing and how to correctly make JEDI and others work if it was changed, this may get tricky/hairy, probably requires search paths to be added.
Related
I am helping a coworker set up his computer so that his Delphi 7 environment works like mine. He has Delphi 7 installed plus the third party tools we use. We have a Delphi app with source. It compiles fine on my computer but when he compiles it on his computer, it keeps coming up with 'file not found' errors for many dcu files. These are dcu files of third party components, either which come with Delphi IDE or have been installed manually.
I renamed his C:\Program Files (x86)\Borland folder and copied my whole Borland folder structure to his so that he has what I have. So now his Delphi IDE and the app structure resembles mine, yet he still gets missing dcu's. Every time he gets a missing dcu, he adds its path to Delphi's 'Search path' list. For some dcu's, they exist in different folders which means we have to troubleshoot further to make sure we picked the correct version. My 'Search Path' is empty as shown below which tells me my Delphi doesn't use this entry to search for dcu's. Our computer's PATH environment variable entry has the same values for anything related to Delphi.
My question is why my delphi app compiles fine as it finds all the dcu's it needs which reside in different folders yet his Delphi is not finding them when we have the same folder structure and PATH?
How does the Delphi IDE finds all the dcu's it needs during compilation? What is left now to look at is the registry. Are the search patterns in the registry? Where? (We also have Delphi XE installed if this means anything)
You don't want to add these directories to your project's search path. That will make it so that only this project is able to use these components. Instead, you need to do this in the global library path, which applies for all projects. Check the library path of your existing installation, surely you'll find a large list of directories here.
Main Menu -> Tools -> Environment options dialog -> Library page -> Library Path edit box
They are the output paths, try looking in the following location
Tools > Options > Environment Options > delphi Options > Paths and Directories
This tells the IDE what source files to include. The only other difference can be if you system variables are different if you have any.
http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/XE8/en/Library
I have downloaded a component that has many packages in it, then I have install all the design time packages and generated all the other dcu files.I have to assign its path in Delphi search path every time I create a new application. Is there a way to assign its path to Delphi compiler search path once and all application will get access to these unit, so that I need not to manually set every time the path for a new application.
If you want to have some component automatically available for every new projects you need to change the default Delphi IDE options - specifically path locations - so that Delphi IDE knows where to find needed files.
You do this by going into menu Tools -> Options. Then in the TreeView which is used for splitting the options into multiple categories you select Enviroment Options -> Delphi options -> Library.
On the right side of the window you will now have different options regarding the path locations for libraries and source files.
In order to allow Delphi to find needed precompiled units of your component you need to add the folder in which they are located to Library path.
In order to allow Delphi to find source files of your component you need to add the folder in which they are located to Browsing path.
You can read more information about these settings in the Delphi documentation which is also available online here:
http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/XE6/en/Library
Note if you don't own Delphi XE6 but one of the previous XE versions simply change the webpage URL by replacing "XE6" with the one you own.
EDIT: I have edited my answer to provide more specific information. Old post below:
If you got to Tools -> Options (or is it Enviroment Options in latest versions) you can set Default options for the Delphi IDE. These options also include the Default path settings which will be automatically used in all new projects.
The way I do this is to have a folder "Lib2" which I use as the unit output directory whenever I compile/install components - I let the components (I mean their source files, etc) be installed whereever they want).
(I call it "Lib2" because traditionally Delphi has placed its own DCUs in a folder called "Lib", and putting all the third-party ones in a folder separate from that one avoided having to re-install Delphi if my set-up got into a mess.)
If you do that, all you need do for new projects is to include the path to that folder in the project search path and set that as the default search path.
The way to do that varies with Delphi version - the D7 era it was just a question of ticking the "Default" checkbox on the Directories/Conditionals tab of Project | Options. The only minor problem is that sometimes the component needs a resource file; if the compiler complains about that, just copy it to there manually.
In XE4, there are several ways of getting Delphi to find compiled DCUs that you've send to Lib2 or whatever you care to call it:
The simplest seems to to do what the other answer suggests, namely add the Lib2 path to the list of Library paths under Tools | Options. The compiler will then use the DCUs it finds there without needing to be able to finds their sources, which is generally a good thing (see "btw" section below).
A second way is to create a project "Option Set" (see the OLH for details of what they are and how to create one, and then edit it (again, see OLH) to include Lib2 in the list of search paths. After that, you can apply that Option Set to any project which it suits. There may be a way to automatically apply your Option Set to new projects, but I haven't managed to find it yet. In any case ...
A third way is to add a project which has Lib2 amongst its search paths to the Delphi repository and then create new projects that you want to use Lib2's contents from this entry in the repository.
Btw, there is an important practical point to having 3rd party libraries and any of your own standard ones output their DCUs to your Lib2 or equivalent. Because the compiler can find the compiled DCUs there, it does not have to be able to find the source code of those libraries in order to be able to compile your project. Isolating the compiled DCUs in this way helps avoid the dreaded "unit x was compiled with a different version of y" error message (y usually being a bpl) which has been the cause of so many cries for help in Delphi newsgroups over the years.
Iam using Delphi 2005 and i have included a unit to the main unit using compiler directive i.e.{$I sample.pas} whenever I try to build the main pas file I get the below error . F 1026 File not found and it shows the path where the sample.pas file is available. I tried different options like tried adding the path of the pas file in the project options- search path and also in the tools-options -library path and it doesnt work. I googled it and found a solution which says to do the following:
In the IDE from the main menu, navigate to
“Tools|Options|Environment Options|Compiling and Running”
switch “Show Commandline” ON
AND set sure you have “Verbosity” set to “Diagnostic”.
The problem is Iam using Delphi 2005 and unable to find the “Verbosity” option in Delphi 2005. It would be great if some one can help me
In Delphi 2009 it is right under the Show Commandline setting:
However, unfortunately for you the verbosity option isn't present in D2006, so I guess it was introduced in either 2007 or 2009.
Oh, and as far as the include directive goes: if your sample pas isn't in the same folder as the unit in which it is included, you could try adding the path to the $I directive:
{$I ..\..\General\sample.pas}
Put the file in the same folder as your project units, and change its extension to ".inc" ( not mandatory but I think that by convention directives files are named like this).
A possible solution could be to get the code working in a package and then have the package keep that part of things compiled. I have been able to use include files in other paths with packages, but it is quite tempermental. It can start rejecting them even with packages for reasons I don't know. This is indeed a VERY annoying problem.
You might also look into doing your builds via your own batch files where you can take full control of the command-line settings that are being used.
I am trying to start making my own libraries avaialble as packages prior to compiling my Apps with these packages hence modularising my code. For years I've 'sort of' understood packages, breathing a sigh of relief when I load a component package and click on 'Install' and it does. I understand that the process of installing a component (or components) is via the creation of a BPL which is then registered with the IDE.
Where I begin to get lost is how to make files available so that I can compile with EITHER a package OR pre-compiled dcu's (like the third party vendors do) and without pointing my project at the source code all the time. I can create a package with the following settings:
where I've specified that all my output will go into 'c:\scratch\wow'. After a build I find TEST.BPL, TEST.DCP and lots of DUC's. Now, when I point another project at this folder to use the DCU's, I get a missing DFM error (one of the units is a form). Should I be manually copying needed DFM's into this output folder? The DPK knows about this form, so why do I not get the DFM copied for me? I presume that using TEST.BPL, that file contains everything, but I wish to work in the two modes. Of course I can get around this by including the source folder in my project search path to find the DFM but third party libraries seem to already have the DFM's in their output folder. Did they install them there using the installer?
Thanks
instead
As others say you could use post-build events to copy your DFM files into place. Other people use a one-time external batch file that copies the DFMs to the DCU folder.
Personally I see very little benefit to making packages for things which are not developed also as reusable components. I also see very little benefit in partitioning an existing application into packages, when you don't reasonably need to use the same subsection or package more than once, or at designtime.
Things I would put into packages:
Delphi visual and non-visual components.
Things which absolutely must be plugged in at runtime, or left out. For example, supposing I sell MetaWare Light and MetaWare Pro, and instead of using compiler IFDEFs to build a differnt binary, I preferred for some reason to simply not ship the ADVANCEDFEATURE.BPL with my systems.
Things to beware of with packages:
I have run into a lot of compiler bugs when combining packages with generics. I have also run into IDE crashes and lockups, in Delphi 2009, 2010, XE and XE2. (I believe XE3 is better)
You should learn a bit about BorlandMM.dll and shared memory management in the BPL world before you move to it. There are some subtleties.
Packages limits the ability of the linker to decide what to remove. In fact, it pretty much destroys it. Packages contain everything that is linked into them, and nothing publically accessible can be removed.
Once you've created a binary package and shipped it to even one customer, you have a pretty difficult to modify contract (this BPL contains a particular signature or application binary interface) you have to be careful in the future to never change them, or mix and match them. Beware of DLL hell, even among your own customers, and be prepared to use versioning on your packages. Just as delphi packages have a version suffix, I recommend you use version suffixes in your own packages right off the bat, and bump them whenever binary compatibility has changed.
Delphi handles build dependencies between packages about as well as could be hoped, which is less well than a single monolithic application. In applications that I have that make heavy use of packages, I find project groups that contain a bunch of packages that depend on each other are very difficult to manage and build quickly. In fact, I have experienced that both compiles and builds are slower and more frustrating than they would be in a singular 750Kline megaproject.
I really wonder if you're not that into the package area of Delphi (you breath a sigh of relief whenever a delphi component actually builds and installs without issue?) if you really want to move into the Packages World totally. By all means, you should experiment. But I wouldn't bet the farm on it yet. Learn some more first.
Yes, you should copy the .dfm to the directory with the compiled units (.dcus), if that is the only directory you want in your search path. The BPL will of course contain the .dfms, and you need a .dcp to be able to link a BPL with your app.
Third party tools must have put the .dfms together with the .dcus in the directory using their installer, indeed.
Instead of copying *.DFM manually you can use Post-Build Event (Project/Options/Build Event), ex:
copy “$(PROJECTDIR)\Unit1.DFM” “c:\Scratch\wow\Unit1.DFM”
I found a way to do this without moving .dfm files to the directory of .dcu files, so you can have a directory for .dcu files only one for .dcp files only and another for .bpl files only.
All you need to do is to create another directory on your good structure, as I do. The directory is called RES and in it should be placed all the resource files (.res files, not .dcr files) that are used by applications compiled using your packages (components). In the Delphi Library Path, you must include in addition to the DCU directory (you should already have) a directory named RES.
On your component (design time) do everything you want with the form (design it, put other components, etc). In the source code of the unit you replace {$R *.dfm} with {$R UnitName.dfm}. In doing so, save all and close the DPK. Now move the .dfm file (do not copy, move!) to the RES folder (the .dfm file is a resource file to the Delphi. The {$R} directive is proof!) and after that open the DPK again to understand what has changed.
First realize that you may not open the form (F12) from his unit, though no error was issued by Delphi about "DFM missing".
Now, do a Build on your package and then install it. Realized again? No errors displayed! This happened because you have indicated the location of .dfm file in the Delphi library search path (RES directory).
Done! You can use your component and dfm will be found when your component is included in an application.
Many of you can now say that this way I will not longer be able to visually edit a form in the component design time. Yes this is true, but if you think about it, why would I want to change so often a form into a component that, in practice, should only be used and slightly edited? Draw your own conclusions ;)
How to set "Directories/Conditionals" in Project Options and "Library" path in Environment Options? Delphi help don't say much about these very important settings. I have all kind of strange errors because of wrong dependencies between my VCLs.
1.
I have merged a large set of 3rd party controls in a package called ThirdPartyPackages_D7.dpk. This is useful when I reinstall Delphi because I don't have to reinstall all those 3rd party VCLs amnually.
Then, I have my own controls in MyControls_D7.dpk which depends on the ThirdPartyPackages VCL. I also have another package BlgPackage.dpk that depends on MyControls.
At the end of the chain is my application (DPR project) which is using the controls in BlgPackage.
ThirdPartyPackages.dpk -> MyControls.dpk -> BlgPackage.dpk -> MyApplication.dpr
When I change/edit something to the second package (MyControls.dpk) and build the DPR application, it works. The compiler sees the changes made into that package.
However, if I close the project and load and compile the BlgPackage, it throws a nasty message that function xyz cannot be found in MyControls because I delete it (I have loaded MyControls' units into IDE in parallel with application's units). It seems that building the application only refreshes the DCU files for all used packages but not the DCP/BLP files.
How do I write and compile the code in the packages without explicitly loading the packages into the IDE and building them?
(Note: I have a nasty bug that does not allow me to switch between projects without restarting the IDE or to load a group of projects/packages (*.bpg) at the same time.)
2.
Another problem is that I want to store the compiled files (DCP/BPL/DCU) of a package in its folder (for example c:\MyProjects\Blg).
If I set the "Output directory", "Unit output directory" and "DCP output directory" boxes of BlgPackage package to its folder, not only its BPL/DCU/DCP files will be stored there but also the BPL/DCP files of MyControls will be stored there.
How can I have the binary files of each package in a separate folder?
Delphi 7, Win XP, all projects set to "Rebuild as needed"
You should explicitely compile packages - just compiling package files is not enough and as you have noticed leads to problems.
In modern Delphi versions you can create a project group (not sure about Delphi 7) that contains an application and packages you want to develop with the application, and you can easily switch between them and complile packages without need to close/reopen the application.
BlgPackage should not have an access to MyControls package sources (through "Library" path or by using the same directory), it should access only already compiled MyControls package, else the files from MyControls are compiled every time you build BlgPackage and the compiled files are stored in BlgControls DCU directory
ADDED
The "Library" path should lead to compiled files (.dcp, .dcu) and (if needed) resource files (.res, .dfm) only - it is enough to compile applications and packages that requires "MyControls" package. You can set the directory for compiled files directly in the package settings, and you should copy the resource files (if you need them) to the same directory manually. This directory should be included into "Library" path, or else you can use a directory already contained in "Library" path.
The "Library" path should not lead to source files (.pas) if you don't want these files to be compiled every time you build your BlgPackage or an application that requires "MyControls" package.
I use much simpler way for 3rd partie components and reinstalling Delphi.
Open regedit and find
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Borland/Delphi/xxx] where xxx is version and export whole
branch.
Open file and delete keys LMKEY, LMLIC.
Copy C:\Program Files\Borland\Delphi x\Projects\Bpl folder to another location
Copy C:\Program Files\Borland\Delphi x\Imports to another location
Reinstall Delphi including any updates and GExpert
Import previously saved registries
Restore Bpl And Imports Folder
And whoala, Delphi is back with all 3rd partie components and IDE settings. Only limitation is that all components must reside in same folder before and after reinstalling Delphi.
This also restores TeamSource settings. If you are reinstalling Windows as well, be sure to make windows user with same user name as before.
MY solution (kinda dirty, but hey it works):
I put ALL 3rd party libraries.controls in a single package (a super-package). I put all my controls in a single package.
Now, when I migrate the packages to a different PC all I have to do is to copy/paste two folders and set two paths.
Works for me - others may not agree with it and I can't blame them. I blame the 'hell designers' from Borland/Embarcadero. If you look on StackOverflow you will see that until now nobody provided an elegant solution to this.