Delphi Versions - 2005

Some comments on using Delphi 2005 (trial) - the .NET version. Delphi ASP.NET is ok and the IDE has a few improvements, but I still prefer Delphi 5.

Most of these comments are based on using the Delphi 2005 trial (free) version.

If you are not doing web development, do not buy this product - stick with Delphi 5 - it is much faster.

General | ASP.NET | Missing functionality | New web units | Built-In Help | Built-In Actions | Different Units


General

When testing a new version of a compiler, I usually try to convert an existing program that I have written. These comments apply to a 3D Viewer I use to see Mars images. The same machine was used for both versions (512 MB RAM).


ASP.NET

The main reason I am interested in upgrading Delphi is to develop web based applications with a "thin" (browser only) client.

Of course, I have issues with the ASP.Net development, (there will be a separate page on this), but in general, it works and there is an adequate amount of on-line help.

Note: The built-in help is less than useful.


Missing functionality

In the trial version, it is fair to expect some missing functionality. Basically, having these would have made debug much easier - but for a free trial version ...


New web units - Indy

Delphi 2005 has replaced the FastNet (TNMHTTP) components with Indy (TIdHTTP) components These units are not found I tryied replacing
  TMNHTTP -> TIdHTTP

The Indy component has 4 overloaded "get" methods However, none of them allow data to be written the the hard drive Had to use trial and error (including discovering an Indy design error) to figure out how to save an image to a file.

Using the Indy components, F1 help does not work at all ... it is totally worthless. Instead, you have to manually type the class name (don't forget the initial 'T').

There is an overloaded Get method ... but they don't link to each other. To read all 4 pages, you have to go back to the previous page, do a lot of scrolling, and then click on another overloaded method. (What a hassel.)


Delphi 5 code


Delphi 2005 code


Delphi 2005 code using FileStream

Attempts to use a FileStream failed - apparently my error - not an Indy design problem.


Built-In Help

Delphi 5 - super
Delphi 6 - What happend??
Delphi 2005 - this is crap!

Even though Delphi 2005 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, "Adding component Help files" is missing in the trial version and the other 2 pages are worthless (contain no data).

Using the Indy components, F1 help does not work at all ... it is totally worthless. Instead, you have to manually type the class name (don't forget the initial 'T').

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.)


Author: Robert Clemenzi - clemenzi@cpcug.org
URL: http:// cpcug.org / user / clemenzi / technical / Languages / Delphi / Delphi_Versions_2005.html