Config Manager Version 1.5 Released

Version 1.5 of Delphi Configuration Manager has been released.

More information and an updated User Guide is available from

http://www.alphalink.com.au/~jed/dcm.htm

Change List

• fix link in about box
• add email address to about box
• fix duplicate entries of configurations when saving
• add support for multiple Delphi versions
• support for large fonts
• save form positions of Load Config Dialog and New Config Dialog
• fix display of hints on status bar
• improve stability and ability to recover if required XML files are missing
• add Remove StarTeam filter to remove the StarTeam menu item from appearing

DCM: The system cannot find the file specified - FIX

A big thanks to Mark Elder for bringing this to my attention.

If you create a configuration based on the Win32 base config, you may get an error on startup that says the following:

The system cannot find the file specified, ClassID {A960a625-2a7a-455c-89f3-3c4b0796980c}

There are two ways that this problem can be solved:

1. load up the configuration and uncheck the $(BDS)\Bin\DataExplorer90.bpl. The problem with this is that you no longer get access to the Data Explorer.
2. load up the configuration and check the $(BDS)\Bin\dotnetcoreide90.bpl. The problem with this is that you now are using .NET and startup is a little slower.

Which way would you like the base configuration to work? I am favouring solution number 1 at the moment. Let me know which one you think most appropriate.

Delphi Config Manager: 1.1 Release

Delphi Configuration Manager version 1.1 is now available. The following enhancements have been made in this release:

• Find and Find Next functionality added
• The requirement of starting Delphi for a new configuration is no longer needed
• Make sure a package listed in a base configuration is actually included on the users system before including it in a new configuration
• Filter added to Remove ECO support
• More items added to the Edit Menu
• Ability to create a Desktop Short Cut for a configuration

The Launcher Application also received the following updates:

• Ability to set a config as the default and after 5 seconds of being idle, will launch that configuration
• Set the previously launched configuration as the selected config when starting again

Coming in the next release

1. Support for different Delphi versions. Hopefully Delphi 6 through to Delphi 2005. If you have a Delphi 6 installation and want to send me an export of the HKLM\software\borland\delphi6 registry key, send me an email and I'll let you know if I still need one. Without this, I am unable to support Delphi 6 as I don't have it installed, and don't really want to install it.
2. Clone Config support (as it will be used to clone configs to different versions).
3. Any bug fixes that are required.
4. There is something else as well but it is super secret and I'm not sure if I will get a chance to implement it in the next release.

Steve Trefethen has mentioned Delphi Configuration Manager in his blog.

Did You Know #2: Clipboard Monitor

Q) What is the clipboard monitor for?
A) The clipboard monitor is notified when new text is copied to your clipboard. It then scans that text for some criteria to determine if a QC report number could be contained in the information. If it thinks it is a report number, the number is listed in the clipboard monitor's list. You can then double click on the report number to open that report.

I created the clipboard monitor because when I was searching through newsgroup, I didn't want to have to stop every couple of messages to lookup a report. This way, I can read the newsgroups at my leisure, copy report numbers to the clipboard and then access then using JED, QC when I am ready. You can also customise what text the monitor checks to determine if the text that is on the clipboard, could contain a report number.

Clipboard Viewer Buttons (from Left):

Activation button - by default the clipboard monitor is not active. Press this button to activate the monitor (it will stay in the down position). This is persisted between JED, QC sessions

Clear - clear the monitor list

Options - An options dialog that allows you to add extra text strings to check for report numbers. Most common ones are already included by default.


Hope you find this functionality as useful as I do.

Delphi 2005 stuff on Code Central

Some Code Central submissions from me

http://cc.borland.com/ccweb.exe/author?authorid=205627

* IDE Addin to view your Bookmarks
Allows you to view bookmarks that you have set for the current file in the IDE. Bookmarks are now persisted between IDE sessions for a file. Can be docked and saved in desktop layouts.

* Message Notifier Component
Simple implementation of the now popular notification dialog. Not exactly full of features. Works in VCL.NET and Win32 with a demo application that shows that shared source might just be possible.

* Export a dataset to Excel using managed Office Assemblies
How to export a dataset to an excel spreadsheet using the Microsoft Office managed assemblies. This is a WinForms application and works with Office XP. Won't work with office 2000 and I haven't tried it with Office 2003. Be on the lookout, late binding examples may follow...

Comments are always welcome!

I need a couple of testers!

If anyone is interested in testing some new software I have written send me an email to jeremy dot north at gmail dot com.

Please indicate what you would like to test:

JED, QC - IDE Edition - more information available from www.alphalink.com.au/~jed/QC
This test will be for a couple of weeks (depending on issues found)


Delphi Configuration Manager - A tool for customising and managing your different Delphi 2005 configurations. This test will be very short - perhaps one day (unless serious issues are uncovered).
1) knowledge of how to export and import registry keys.
2) different installation folders for delphi 2005 (ie not default install location)
3) People who have a COMPLETE delphi 2005 install - Higher the sku the better (but not a deal breaker).

cheers,

Sneak Peak: JED, QC - IDE Edition

Here are a couple of links to a version of JED, QC that integrates into
the Delphi 2005 IDE. This is the reason the newest win32 alpha hasn't
been released just yet!

Image 1
Image 2
Image 3