Free White Paper and Source Code!

Are you either a

• Windows software developer using Visual Studio..
  or
• A programmer who has been using VCL in Delphi and C++Builder?

if so, you may be interested in incorporating Win/Mac functionality from the new FireMonkey application platform into your applications? If so, my latest white paper is now available.

Download the white paper Integrating FireMonkey Into Your Existing VCL, C# and C++ Applications

FireMonkey is the first native CPU and GPU powered platform for rich win/mac business applications.

In this paper, we will look at what is required to create a shared library with FireMonkey in RAD Studio that can be used across multiple platforms, specifically with Windows and Mac OS X. We will look at using the new library in Delphi FireMonkey and VCL applications and also with C#.

We will cover using the shared library for containing business logic that is shared across applications using examples. The first will be a simple library with no visual elements. The second will use FireMonkey forms within the library and illustrate the differences this causes due to GDI+. Finally, we also look at what is required to call the second example from a C# application.

The techniques used in this paper are relevant and applicable for developers using C++Builder to write visual (using FireMonkey) and non-visual code.

Download the white paper for Integrating FireMonkey into C++, C#, Delphi VCL, and C++ Builder applications.

A popular request at the end of the session was for the source code for the windows and mac search context demo that I wrote.

You can find that here : http://cc.embarcadero.com/Item/28773

This demo was covered in the FireMonkey in Action Live demo as well as in this video.

Also the white paper about FireMonkey Interoperability with other languages including C++, C# is here.

Bite sized InterBase Technical Sessions

Following on from the long webinars I’m currently working on some technical detailed sessions. These video’s will introduce the features and functions of InterBase to developers. The Video’s will cover a range of topics from Installation, using IBConsole, iSQL, Stored Procedures, Triggers, Journaling etc..

The first 3 video’s are now available online.

Installing InterBase on the MAC

Introduction to InterBase IBConsole

Introduction to InterBase iSQL command interface

To learn more about InterBase check out the InterBase website http://www.embarcadero.com/products/interbase and check back here for additional video releases.

1. Write your own dialog for the data entry (which means one for each platform in my case)
2. Use in-built (multi-platform ready) options

Well, FireMonkey and VCL applications have access to methods called InputBox and InputQuery. (in VCL.Dialogs / FMX.Dialogs) These typically take in a prompt, a value and return a value. Now Delphi and C++ Developers have been using these functions for years, and the great news is that they work multi-platform today when used with FireMonkey (which helps future proof your code for that move multi-platform, if you need to, in the future). There is however another override for these dialogs that is not as well known, and that is the ability to pass in arrays of prompts and values. This means that very easily you can gather multiple values from a single input screen.

Along with multiple input values, the dialog also accepts a function that will control if the dialog can close. This means your dialog close options are built in line as well. Here is an example of how you can do this using a feature introduced in 2009 Anonymous methods.

procedure TForm3.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  Vars : array of string;
begin
  SetLength(Vars,3);
  Vars[0] := '127.0.0.1';
  Vars[1] := '211';
  Vars[2] := 'TCP/IP';
  if InputQuery('Server Details',
               ['Host','Port','Protocol'],
               Vars,

                function (const Values: array of string): Boolean
                begin
                  Result := (Values[0] > '') and (Values[1] > '') and (Values[2] > '');
                end)

                then begin
    ShowMessageFmt('Host : %S '+#13+'Port : %s'+#13+'Protocol : %s',[Vars[0],Vars[1],Vars[2]]);
  end;
end;

OK, The test code here is called on a form, but my next step is to put this into the class I’m writing that manages the data connection, and then I’m ready to share the code between Windows and VCL applications. Happy days!!

Scandinavia (Helsinki -Finland; Ballerup - Denmark; Oslo - Norway)

Where I found a very cool named restaurant at the hotel in Ballerup - Restaurant Pascal! It was also great to hear at one event from Jens Fudge, who is a board member of the Danish Delphi User Group, of some great workshops they have coming up soon, including sessions on Test Driven Development with RadStudio and Delphi (April).

Turkey (Istanbul & Ankara).

The two events in Turkey had over 100 attendees at each location and it was great to see a number of young developers attending. There is a great & growing passion for Rad Studio tools out there, and so good to see so many new developers attending.

Delphi Developer Days

Monday this week, I was at the launch of Delphi Developer Days 2012 in London (Heathrow). After giving a quick product it was great to see Marco and Cary give some cracking session. I was also really impressed by the wealth of material they have for the attendees. The hand book and code samples are exceptionally good!

DevWeek - London.

Finally, i’ve been attending DevWeek in London with hundreds of other developers. Our stand, hosted by Grey Matter, was really busy again with loads of Visual Studio developers really interested in how using C++ Builder they can write applications for Windows and Mac (WinMac) from the same code base- TODAY! After massive interest the winners of the Kindle and Wowee from the prize draw are shown below.

For more competitions and to find out more about how FireMonkey can help you get to multiple platforms today with stunningly visual, fast native applications on Windows, Mac and iOS check out this link http://embt.co/firemonkey-info

This was a great event with so many customers sharing their excitement at XE2 with seeing 64bit Delphi and also FireMonkey for Delphi and C++ Builder enabling true multi-platform development for WinMac from the same code base.

FireMonkey in Multi-Colour anyone?

One of the funniest parts of the day was the monitor with a color disorder. (and the cheer every time it switched back to full colour mode) - Who would work with technology?

FireMonkey from Tower 42

The following day I was back on a plane and this time over to Dublin to Croke Park. We were joined there by Stephen Foley (good first name) from Micromail. Its always fun getting over to Ireland and the welcome was as always very warm. Especially exciting for me was chatting about InterBase and the cool features that you get in even the smallest fully featured embedded versions like Journaling, delta backups, point in time recovery and column and table encryption.

The next two weeks will see me visiting five more cities more more live events. Hope to see you somewhere along the way

13th March - Helsinki, Finland
14th March - Copenhagen, Denmark
15th March - Oslo, Norway

19th March - Istanbul, Turkey
20th March - Ankara, Turkey

Due to the success of the events, Dr Glenn Wylie (Director of Partner Sales covering South Africa & Sub Sahara Africa) promised he would get David I to join us for the next visit; and true to his word, last week, David I and myself had the pleasure of heading to South Africa for two events hosted excellently again by DeveloperConnections. (Thank you Manoli and team!)

Over 200 developers attended the FireMonkey In Action LIVE! events held in Johannesburg and Cape Town, which also saw the launch of the South African Delphi Developer Group.

Johannesburg FireMonkey Event March 2012

For all attendees of the event, there is a Special offer from Developer Connection for 10% discount on top of the Buy One Product Get One Free Offer currently running (valid until 30th March 2012) - Visit : www.developerconnections.co.za or www.thedevbay.com for details.

Embarcadero Events

The best place to find out about events and webinars Embarcadero are running is via the events page of the website.

You can also get email notifications, which you can manage notifications through your EDN account settings. https://members.embarcadero.com/editaccount.aspx; so keep an eye on your emails too.

We have a lot of Delphi, C++ Builder and FireMonkey events running later this month and into March so DO have a look today! We are especially excited as David I will be joining me for South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town), London and Pawel for Breukelen.

Community Events

Along with the Embarcadero events, its also worth keeping an eye on community events.

Delphi experts Marco Cantù and Cary Jensen are present their annual Delphi Developer Days tour. Their first event is in London on 26th-27th March 2012, just around the corner from Heathrow. I will also be there both days if you want to come and meet me and ask questions.

I’ve also been told today they have a SPECIAL OFFER - Early Bird Discount of 10% off of the regular price when people register on or by 27th February 2012 for London.

For more about Delphi Developer Days 2012 visit  http://www.delphideveloperdays.com/

Keeping with the UK, there are also Delphi and C++ centric groups like the UK Developer Group. I know from personal experience, these are a great way to build community links and learn from your peers.

Follow this link for the code for BizFlow http://cc.embarcadero.com/item/28751

For the video replay of BizFlow click here. http://youtu.be/TbIgGRWGA-I

Biz Flow - FireMonkey 3D Fish Facts Editor