This version is similar to Delphi 2005 and I have just started the evaluation.

Delphi 5		Super
Delphi 6		What happened??
Delphi 2006		This is crap!

For instance

• Place a button on a form
• Click on the button
• Press F1 for help

  Delphi 5		You get context sensitive help
  Delphi 2006 Win32		Nothing happens
  Delphi 2006 .NET		You get context sensitive help

• Click on one of the Button's properties (in the Object Inspector)
• Press F1 for help

  Delphi 5		You get context sensitive help
  Delphi 2006 Win32		You have to select either Win32 help or .NET help or C++Builder help
  Delphi 2006 .NET		You get context sensitive help

But, if you want to do .NET development ... then the help works much better.

(Originally, I think that I had to select between 3 options in Win32 development, but now there are only 2 - Delphi win32 and C++ Builder. Perhaps my memory is poor, or I may have modified something.)

Even though Delphi 2006 now uses html help (displayed in the required IE 6 browser) instead of the old Windows help, it appears that the help uses the same rtf files as before - but the instructions for creating a help file are pretty worthless.

Specifically, the help page - "Adding component Help files" - is missing and the other 2 pages are worthless (contain no data).

Using Delphi 2006 win32 components, F1 help does not work at all ... it is totally worthless. Instead, you must use Ctrl-F1 (not documented anywhere) or you have to manually type the class name (don't forget the initial 'T').

The lousy html help no longer has a separate display window for properties and methods - they display in the same window as the normal help. On the plus side, there is one line of help next to each entry (this is pretty cool).

(But, overall, html help really sucks.)

The *.bpl file is for BDS 2006, but, since the Source is included, you can compile one for BDS 2005.

Since I use this all the time (because some critical functions are missing from the VCL), accessing it is a major issue

Delphi 5	Help is provided from the menu via Help / Windows SDK	Acceptable
Delphi 6	You must manually navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Borland Shared\MSHelp	I can't imagine what these guys were thinking
Delphi 2006	The help is automatically integrated with the regular help Identified as Platform SDK	Hey ... this is a real improvement :)

This "help" describes creating only .NET type forms - some tour ... you would never know the true power of this product because native win32 applications are not mentioned.

DBGrid1:        TDBGrid;
IBDataSet1:     TIBDataSet;
IBDatabase1:    TIBDatabase;
IBTransaction1: TIBTransaction;
DataSource1:    TDataSource;

	Delphi 5	Delphi 6	Delphi 2006
Blank Form	287 KB Debug 333 KB	xx KB Debug xx KB	xx KB Debug xx KB
Table Access	657 KB Debug 743 KB	788 KB Debug 902 KB	1,009 KB Debug 1,152 KB
Table Access with IBFilterDialog1	757 KB Debug 855 KB	-	1,021 KB Debug 1,166 KB

URL: http:// cpcug.org / user / clemenzi / technical / Languages / Delphi / Delphi_Versions_2006.html