A Collection of Delphi Tips & Tricks

March 11, 2005

The code has been tested in Delphi 6/7 and might not work in previous releases.

Contents
Application Minimize application to taskbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Prevent a screensaver to kick in as long as your application is running . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Forms Show/hide titlebar of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Set a form to stay on top of all other (non-topmost) windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Capture Maximize/Minimize/Close button clicks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Disable (gray out) Close button of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Detect the movement of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Disabling the movement of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Create form with rounded corners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Make transparent form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Detect when a form has been minimized, maximized or restored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Dialogs Modify the controls in common dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Repositioning common dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Controls Customized tooltips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Show controls hints on statusbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Disable the popup menu of TEdit and TMemo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hot-tracking controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Implementing a control array . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Using windows API in textbox programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Menus Disable the popup menu of TEdit and TMemo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1

Append items into system menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Mouse Check whether a mouse button is being pressed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Capture mouse clicks at statusbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Graphics Drawing rotated text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Avoid ickering in graphics programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Changing text alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Drawing transparent text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Save graphics to a bitmap le or a Windows Metale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Installing a font on the y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Fonts Get a list of system fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Files and folders Dragndrop les from Windows Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Open a le using its associated application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Determine the size of a le without opening it . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Send a le to Recycle bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Retrive the path of the Windows directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Windows API Check whether a mouse button is being pressed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Show/hide titlebar of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Set a form to stay on top of all other (non-topmost) windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Modify the controls in common dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Capture Maximize/Minimize/Close button clicks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Disable (gray out) Close button of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hot-tracking controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Append items into system menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Dragndrop les from Windows Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Send a le to Recycle bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Open a le using its associated application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Drawing rotated text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Monitor the changes of clipboards content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Detect the movement of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Disabling the movement of a form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Repositioning common dialogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Retrive the path of the Windows directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Using windows API in textbox programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Changing text alignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Capture mouse clicks at statusbar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Create form with rounded corners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Make transparent form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Detect when a form has been minimized, maximized or restored . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Prevent a screensaver to kick in as long as your application is running . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Installing a font on the y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Using WinHelp API . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Listing systems drives in a listbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Algorithms Converting between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal representation of a number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Miscellaneous Monitor the changes of clipboards content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Delphis equivalent of the VBs App object. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Find if you are connected to the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

1.

Customized tooltips
... type TMyHintWindow = class(THintWindow) constructor Create(AOwner: TComponent); override; end; ... constructor TMyHintWindow.Create(AOwner: TComponent); begin inherited Create(AOwner); Canvas.Font.Name := Arial; Canvas.Font.Size := 14; end; procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin Application.ShowHint := false; HintWindowClass := TMyHintWindow; Application.ShowHint := true; end;

2.

Check whether a mouse button is being pressed

... uses Windows; ... function IsBtnPressed(ABtn: integer): boolean; //ABtn can be either VK_LBUTTON, VK_MBUTTON, or VK_RBUTTON begin result := (GetAsyncKeyState(ABtn) and $8000) = $8000; end

3.

Show/hide titlebar of a form

... uses Forms, Windows; ... procedure ShowTitlebar(AForm: TForm; AShow: boolean); var style: longint; begin with AForm do begin if BorderStyle = bsNone then exit;

style := GetWindowLong(Handle, GWL_STYLE); if AShow then begin if (style and WS_CAPTION) = WS_CAPTION then exit; case BorderStyle of bsSingle, bsSizeable: SetWindowLong(Handle, GWL_STYLE, style or WS_CAPTION or WS_BORDER); bsDialog: SetWindowLong(Handle, GWL_STYLE, style or WS_CAPTION or DS_MODALFRAME or WS_DLGFRAME); end; end else begin if (style and WS_CAPTION) = 0 then exit; case BorderStyle of bsSingle, bsSizeable: SetWindowLong(Handle, GWL_STYLE, style and (not(WS_CAPTION)) or WS_BORDER); bsDialog: SetWindowLong(Handle, GWL_STYLE, style and (not(WS_CAPTION)) or DS_MODALFRAME or WS_DLGFRAME); end; end; SetWindowPos(Handle, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOMOVE or SWP_NOSIZE or SWP_NOZORDER or SWP_FRAMECHANGED or SWP_NOSENDCHANGING); end; end;

4.

Minimize application to taskbar

A common error is attempting to minimize the form (WindowStyle := wsMinimized), rather than the application itself.
... procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject); begin Application.Minimize; end;

5.

Show controls hints on statusbar

Button1.ShowHint := true; StatusBar1.AutoHint := true;

First method:

Second method:
type TForm1 = class(TForm) ... private

procedure ShowHint(Sender: TObject); ... procedure TForm1.ShowHint(Sender: TObject); begin StatusBar1.SimpleText := Application.Hint; end; procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin Application.OnHint := ShowHint; end;

6.

Modify the controls in common dialogs

... uses Windows, Forms, Dialogs, Dlgs; ... //create handler for OnShow event of common dialog procedure TForm1.OpenDialog1Show(Sender: TObject) ; var hwnd: THandle; begin hwnd := GetParent(OpenDialog1.Handle); //change title of OK button, "Open" > "Do Open" SetDlgItemText(hwnd, IDOK, PChar(&Do Open)); //hide the "Open as readonly" check box ShowWindow(GetDlgItem(hwnd,chx1),SW_HIDE); //these are the IDs of remaining controls: //IDCANCEL: the CANCEL button //stc3, stc2: the two label controls, "File name" and "Files of type" //edt1, cmb1: the edit control and combo box next to the labels //cmb2: combo box that allows to select the drive or folder //stc4: label for the cmb2 combo //lst1: list box that displays the contents of selected drive or folder end;

7.

Set a form to stay on top of all other (non-topmost) windows

... uses Forms, Windows; ... procedure SetTopmost(AForm: TForm; ATop: boolean); begin

if ATop then SetWindowPos(AForm.Handle, HWND_TOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOMOVE or SWP_NOSIZE) else SetWindowPos(AForm.Handle, HWND_NOTOPMOST, 0, 0, 0, 0, SWP_NOMOVE or SWP_NOSIZE) ; end;

8.

Capture Maximize/Minimize/Close button clicks

... type TForm1 = class(Form) ... public procedure WMSysCommand(var Msg: TWMSysCommand); message WM_SYSCOMMAND; ... procedure TForm1.WMSysCommand(var Msg: TWMSysCommand); begin if Msg.CmdType = SC_MINIMIZE) or (Msg.CmdType = SC_MAXIMIZE) or (Msg.CmdType = SC_CLOSE) then ... else DefaultHandler(Msg); end;

9.

Disable (gray out) Close button of a form

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); var hSysMenu: HMENU; begin hSysMenu := GetSystemMenu(Handle, false); EnableMenuItem(hSysMenu, SC_CLOSE, MF_BYCOMMAND or MF_GRAYED); end;

10.

Get a list of system fonts

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin ComboBox1.Items.Assign(Screen.Fonts); end;

11.

Disable the popup menu of TEdit and TMemo

//create a handler for OnContextPopup event of TMemo procedure TForm1.Memo1ContextPopup(Sender: TObject; MousePos: TPoint; var Handled: Boolean);

begin Handled := true; end;

12.

Hot-tracking controls

The purpose is to highlight the control which receives the focus. First method:
type TMyEdit = class(TEdit) protected procedure DoEnter; override; procedure DoExit; override; end; ... procedure TMyEdit.DoEnter; begin Color := clAqua; inherited; end; procedure TMyEdit.DoExit; begin Color := clWindow; inherited; end;

Second method:
type TMyLabel = class(TLabel) protected procedure WndProc(var AMessage : TMessage); override; end; ... procedure TMyLabel.WndProc(var AMessage: TMessage); begin if (AMessage.Msg = CM_MOUSEENTER) then Color := clAqua else if (AMessage.Msg = CM_MOUSELEAVE) then Color := clWindow; inherited; end;

13.

Append items into system menu

type TForm1 = class(TForm) procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject); private procedure WMSysCommand(var Msg: TWMSysCommand); message WM_SYSCOMMAND; end; ... const ID_ABOUT = WM_USER + 1; procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); var hSysMenu: HMENU; begin hSysMenu := GetSystemMenu(Handle, false); AppendMenu(hSysMenu, MF_SEPARATOR, 0, nil); AppendMenu(hSysMenu, MF_STRING, ID_ABOUT, PChar(&About...)); end; procedure TForm1.WMSysCommand(var Msg: TWMSysCommand); begin if Msg.CmdType = ID_ABOUT then AboutForm.ShowModal else inherited; end;

14.

Dragndrop les from Windows Explorer

type TForm1 = class(TForm) procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject); private procedure WMDropFiles(var Msg: TWMDROPFILES); message WM_DROPFILES; end; ... procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin DragAcceptFiles(Handle, true); end; procedure TForm1.WMDropFiles(var Msg: TWMDROPFILES); var buf: array[0..MAX_PATH] of char;

filename: string; begin DragQueryFile(Msg.Drop, 0, @buf, sizeof(buf)); DragFinish(Msg.Drop); filename := string(buf); ... end;

15.

Determine the size of a le without opening it

uses SysUtils; ... function FileSizeByName(const AFile: string): integer; var sr: TSearchRec; begin if (Pos(AFile,) <> 0) or (Pos(AFile,?) <> 0) or (FindFirst(AFile, faAnyFile, sr) <> 0) then result := 1 //file was not found else result := sr.Size; end;

16.

Send a le to Recycle bin

uses ShellApi.pas; ... function RecycleFile(const AFile: string): boolean; var foStruct: TSHFileOpStruct; begin with foStruct do begin wnd := 0; wFunc := FO_DELETE; pFrom := PChar(AFile+#0#0); pTo := nil; fFlags:= FOF_ALLOWUNDO or FOF_NOCONFIRMATION or FOF_SILENT; fAnyOperationsAborted := false; hNameMappings := nil; end; Result := SHFileOperation(foStruct) = 0; end;

17.

Open a le using its associated application

The result is the same as if the le were double-clicked in Windows Explorer. 10

function OpenFile(AFile: string; ADir: string = nil; AParams: string = nil): boolean ; begin result := ShellExecute(Application.Handle, open, PChar(AFile), ADir, AParams, SW_SHOWNORMAL) >= 32; end;

The ADir parameter species the default directory for the shell operation. If nil, your applications current directory is used. If AFile species an executable le then AParams should contain the command line parameters to be passed to the application.

18.

Drawing rotated text

uses Windows, Graphics; ... procedure AngleTextOut(ACanvas: TCanvas; Angle, X, Y: integer; AStr: string); var LogFont: TLogFont; hOldFont, hNewFont: HFONT; begin GetObject(ACanvas.Font.Handle, SizeOf(LogFont), Addr(LogFont)); LogFont.lfEscapement := Angle 10; LogFont.lfOrientation := Angle 10; hNewFont := CreateFontIndirect(LogFont); hOldFont := SelectObject(ACanvas.Handle, hNewFont); ACanvas.TextOut(X, Y, AStr); hNewFont := SelectObject(ACanvas.Handle, hOldFont); DeleteObject(hNewFont); end;

19.

Implementing a control array

... const Count = 5; type TForm1 = class(TForm) procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject); public Edits: array[0..Count1] of TEdit; procedure EditChange(Sender: TObject); end; ... procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);

11

var i: integer; begin for i := 0 to Count1 do begin Edits[i] := TEdit.Create(Self); with Edits[i] do begin Parent := Self; SetBounds(10, 10 + i50, 200, 40); Tag := i; //each control should remember its index OnChange := EditChange; //same event handler for all controls end; end; end; procedure TForm1.EditChange(Sender: TObject); var i: integer; begin i := TEdit(Sender).Tag; ShowMessage(IntToStr(i)); end;

20.

Converting between decimal, binary, and hexadecimal representation of a number

uses StrUtils, SysUtils; function DecToBin(N: int64): string; var i: integer; neg: boolean; begin if N = 0 then begin result := 0; exit end; SetLength(result, SizeOf(N)8); neg := N < 0; N := Abs(N); i := 1; while N <> 0 do begin if N and 1 = 1 then result[i] := 1 else result[i] := 0;

12

N := N shr 1; Inc(i); end; if neg then begin result[i] := ; Inc(i); end; Delete(result, i, length(result)); result := ReverseString(result); end; function DecToHex(N: int64): string; begin if N < 0 then result := + Format(%0x, [Abs(N)]) else result := Format(%0x, [N]); end;

21.

Monitor the changes of clipboards content

uses Windows, Forms, Clipbrd; type TForm1 = class(TForm) Image1: TImage; procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject); public procedure WMDrawClipboard(var Msg: TWMDrawClipBoard); message WM_DRAWCLIPBOARD; end; ... procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin SetClipboardViewer(Handle); end; procedure TForm1.WMDrawClipboard(var Msg: TWMDrawClipBoard); begin if Clipboard.HasFormat(CF_BITMAP) then Image1.Picture.Assign(Clipboard); end;

22.

Detect the movement of a form

uses

13

Windows, Forms; type TForm1 = class(TForm) Edit1: TEdit; Edit2: TEdit; public procedure WMMove(var Msg: TWMMove); message WM_MOVE; end; ... procedure TForm1.WMMove(var Msg: TWMMove); begin Edit1.Text := IntToStr(Left); Edit2.Text := IntToStr(Top); end;

23.

Disabling the movement of a form

uses Windows, Forms; type TForm1 = class(TForm) public procedure WMNCHitTest(var Msg: TWMNCHitTest); message WM_NCHITTEST; end; ... procedure TForm1.WMNCHitTest(var Msg: TWMNCHitTest); begin inherited; with Msg do if Result = HTCAPTION then Result := HTNOWHERE; end;

24.

Repositioning common dialogs

//create handler for OnShow event of common dialog procedure TForm1.OpenDialog1Show(Sender: TObject); var hwnd: THandle; rect: TRect; dlgWidth, dlgHeight: integer; begin hwnd := GetParent(OpenDialog1.Handle); GetWindowRect(hwnd, rect);

14

dlgWidth := rect.Rightrect.Left; dlgHeight := rect.Bottomrect.Top; MoveWindow(hwnd, Left+(WidthdlgWidth) div 2, Top+(HeightdlgHeight) div 2, dlgWidth, dlgHeight, true); Abort; end;

25.

Avoid ickering in graphics programming

There are four ways to reduce ickering: 1. Use the DoubleBuffered property of TWinControl descendants: set DoubleBuffered := true;. 2. If your control is not transparent, include csOpaque in ControlStyle: ControlStyle := ControlStyle + [csOpaque];. 3. Handle the WM_ERASEBKGND Windows message and set Msg.Result := 1; in the handler. 4. Use o-screen bitmaps (like double-buering, but works for any control) Lets see an example of the last method:
uses Graphics; ... procedure TForm1.Paint(Sender: TObject); var bmp: TBitmap; begin bmp := TBitmap.Create; bmp.Width := ClientWidth; bmp.Height := ClientHeight; //now draw on bmp.Canvas as you would do on TForm1.Canvas with bmp.Canvas do begin ... end; Canvas.Draw(0, 0, bmp); bmp.Free; end;

26.

Retrive the path of the Windows directory

uses Windows, StrUtils; ... function GetWinDir: string;

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var buffer: array[0..MAX_PATH] of char;; begin GetWindowsDirectory(buffer, MAX_PATH); result := string(buffer); if RightStr(result,1) <> \ then result := result + \; end;

27.

Using windows API in textbox programming

Memo1.Perform(EM_LINEFROMCHAR, nCaret, 0) returns zero-based index of the line which contains zerobased caret poisition nCaret. If nCaret is 1 then the index of the current line is returned. Memo1.Perform(EM_LINEINDEX, nLine, 0) returns caret position at the beginning of the line nLine. If nLine is 1 then the beginning of the current line is returned. Memo1.Perform(EM_LINELENGTH, nCaret, 0) returns the length of the line which contains caret position nCaret. Memo1.Perform(EM_SETMARGINS, EC_LEFTMARGIN or EC_RIGHTMARGIN, MAKELONG(wLeft,wRight)) sets the left and right margin of memo to wLeft and wRight pixels, respectively. Memo1.Perform(EM_CHARFROMPOS, 0, MAKELPARAM(x,y)) returns character index in the low-order word

and the line index in the high-order word corresponding to the pixel position (x,y) in memos client area.

28.

Changing text alignment

By default, TCanvas.TextOut(X,Y,Text) puts the upper left corner of Text at (X,Y). First method:
uses Windows; ... TForm1.Paint(Sender: TObject); begin SetTextAlign(Canvas.Handle, TA_CENTER or TA_BOTTOM); Canvas.TextOut(100,100,Hello World); //other possibilities are: //TA_BASELINE, TA_BOTTOM, TA_TOP, //TA_LEFT, TA_RIGHT end;

Second method:
... TForm1.Paint(Sender: TObject); var Text: string; begin Text := Hello World; with Canvas do

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TextOut(100 TextWidth(Text) div 2, 100 TextHeight(Text), Text); end;

29.

Drawing transparent text

The backround of the text drawn onto a canvas is lled with the current brush.
Canvas.Brush.Style := bsClear; Canvas.TextOut(100,100,Hello World);

30.

Delphis equivalent of the VBs App object

Go to Project | Options and ll in the elds in Application page and Version info page.
unit AppUnit; interface type TApp = class protected //if the constructor is declared as protected then the //class can be instantiated only within this unit constructor Create; public Title: string; Path: string; ExeName: string; HelpFile: string; FileDescription: string; FileVersion: string; ProductName: string; ... end; var App: TApp; implementation uses SysUtils, StrUtils, Forms, Windows, Dialogs; type PLongInt = ^Longint; constructor TApp.Create;

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var nBytes, nInfoLen: DWORD; psBuffer: PChar; pntValue: Pointer; iLangID, iCharSetID: Word; strID: string; begin ExeName := Application.ExeName; Path := ExtractFilePath(ExeName); if RightStr(Path,1) <> \ then Path := Path + \; Title := Application.Title; HelpFile := Application.HelpFile; nBytes := GetFileVersionInfoSize(PChar(ExeName), nBytes); if nBytes = 0 then begin ShowMessage(No version information available!); exit; end; psBuffer := AllocMem(nBytes + 1); GetFileVersionInfo(PChar(ExeName), 0, nBytes, psBuffer) VerQueryValue(psBuffer, \VarFileInfo\Translation, pntValue, nInfoLen) iLangID := LoWord(PLongint(pntValue)^); iCharSetID := HiWord(PLongint(pntValue)^); strID := Format(\StringFileInfo\%.4x%.4x\, [iLangID, iCharSetID]); if VerQueryValue(psBuffer, PChar(strID + FileDescription), pntValue, nInfoLen) then FileDescription := AnsiReplaceStr(PChar(pntValue), \n, #13#10); if VerQueryValue(psBuffer, PChar(strID + FileVersion), pntValue, nInfoLen) then FileVersion := PChar(pntValue); if VerQueryValue(psBuffer, PChar(strID + ProductName), pntValue, nInfoLen) then ProductName := PChar(pntValue); FreeMem(psBuffer, nBytes); end; initialization App := TApp.Create; finalization App.Free; end.

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31.

Capture mouse clicks at statusbar

uses Windows, Messages, Forms, Classes, SysUtils, Controls, ComCtrls, Commctrl; type TForm1 = class(TForm) StatusBar1: TStatusBar; procedure FormCreate(Sender: TObject); private procedure WMNotify(var AMsg: TWMNotify); message WM_NOTIFY; end; ... procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); var i: integer; begin for i := 0 to 3 do with StatusBar1.Panels.Add do begin Width := 100; Text := Format(Panel %d,[i]); end; end; procedure TForm1.WMNotify(var AMsg: TWMNotify); var pNMM: PNMMouse; ctrl: TWinControl; hWindow: HWND; iPanel: integer; begin inherited; pNMM := PNMMouse(AMsg.NMHdr); hWindow := pNMM^.hdr.hwndFrom; ctrl := FindControl(hWindow); iPanel := pNMM^.dwItemSpec; case pNMM^.hdr.code of NM_CLICK: Caption := Format(%s was clicked at panel %d,[ctrl.Name,iPanel]); NM_DBLCLK: Caption := Format(%s was doubleclicked at panel %d,[ctrl.Name,iPanel]); NM_RCLICK: Caption := Format(%s was rightclicked at panel %d,[ctrl.Name,iPanel]); NM_RDBLCLK:

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Caption := Format(%s was rightdoubleclicked at panel %d,[ctrl.Name,iPanel ]); end; end;

32.

Find if you are connected to the Internet

uses IWinInet; ... procedure CheckConnection; var dwFlags: DWORD; begin if InternetGetConnectedState(@dwFlags, 0) then begin if (dwFlags and INTERNET_CONNECTION_MODEM)=INTERNET_CONNECTION_MODEM then ShowMessage(Connected through modem) else if (dwFlags and INTERNET_CONNECTION_LAN) = INTERNET_CONNECTION_LAN then ShowMessage(Connected through LAN) else if (dwFlags and INTERNET_CONNECTION_PROXY) = INTERNET_CONNECTION_PROXY then ShowMessage(Connected through Proxy) else if (dwFlags and INTERNET_CONNECTION_MODEM_BUSY) = INTERNET_CONNECTION_MODEM_BUSY then ShowMessage(Modem is busy); end else ShowMessage(Offline); end;

33.

Create form with rounded corners

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); var rgn: HRGN; begin GetWindowRgn(Handle, rgn); DeleteObject(rgn); // set the radius of corners to 100px rgn:= CreateRoundRectRgn(0, 0, Width, Height, 100, 100); SetWindowRgn(Handle, rgn, TRUE); end;

34.

Make transparent form

uses Windows, Forms, Classes, Controls, ComCtrls; type TForm1 = class(TForm)

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TrackBar1: TTrackBar; procedure TrackBar1Change(Sender: TObject); end; ... procedure SetTransparent(hWnd: longint; value: Byte); // opaque: value=255; fully transparent: value=0 var iExStyle: Integer; begin iExStyle := GetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE); if value < 255 then begin iExStyle := iExStyle Or WS_EX_LAYERED; SetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, iExStyle); SetLayeredWindowAttributes(hWnd, 0, value, LWA_ALPHA); end else begin iExStyle := iExStyle xor WS_EX_LAYERED; SetWindowLong(hWnd, GWL_EXSTYLE, iExStyle); end; end; procedure TForm1.TrackBar1Change(Sender: TObject); begin SetTransparent(Handle, TrackBar1.Position); end;

35.

Save graphics to a bitmap le or a Windows Metale

uses Graphics; ... procedure SaveToBitmapFile(AFile: TFilename); var bmp: TBitmap; begin bmp := TBitmap.Create; bmp.Width := 400; bmp.Height := 400; with bmp.Canvas do begin //drawing commands end; bmp.SaveToFile(AFile); bmp.Free; end; procedure SaveToMetafile(AFile: TFilename);

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var emf: TMetafile; mfc: TMetafileCanvas; begin emf := TMetafile.Create; emf.Enhanced := true; // save as Enhanced Metafile emf.Width := 400; emf.Height := 400; mfc := TMetafileCanvas.Create(emf, 0); with mfc do begin //drawing commands end; mfc.Free; emf.SaveToFile(AFile); emf.Free; end;

36.

Detect when a form has been minimized, maximized or restored

TForm1 = class(TForm) ... procedure WMSize(var Msg: TWMSize); message WM_SIZE; end; ... procedure TForm1.WMSize(var Msg: TWMSize); begin inherited; // otherwise TForm1.Resize is not fired if Msg.SizeType = SIZE_MAXIMIZED then ... else if Msg.SizeType = SIZE_RESTORED then ... else if Msg.SizeType = SIZE_MINIMIZED then ... end;

37.

Prevent a screensaver to kick in as long as your application is running

uses Windows; ... procedure AppMessage(var Msg: TMsg; var Handled: Boolean); begin if (Msg.Message = WM_SYSCOMMAND) and ((Msg.wParam = SC_SCREENSAVE) or (Msg.wParam = SC_MONITORPOWER)) then Handled := true;

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end; procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin Application.OnMessage := AppMessage; end;

38.

Installing a font on the y

Assume that a font le MyFont.ttf resides in application directory.

uses Windows, Forms, SysUtils; ... procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); begin AddFontResource(PChar(ExtractFilePath(Application.ExeName) + \MyFont.ttf)); SendMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM_FONTCHANGE, 0, 0); end; procedure TForm1.FormDestroy(Sender: TObject); begin RemoveFontResource(PChar(ExtractFilePath(Application.ExeName) + \MyFont.ttf)); SendMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM_FONTCHANGE, 0, 0); end;

39.

Using WinHelp API

Implementing your own Whats this? button

uses Windows; ... procedure TForm1.btnHelpClick(Sender: TObject); begin PostMessage(Handle, WM_SYSCOMMAND, SC_CONTEXTHELP, 0); end;

40.

Listing systems drives in a listbox

uses Windows; function GetVolumeName(aRoot: string): string; var

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VolumeSerialNumber : DWORD; MaximumComponentLength : DWORD; FileSystemFlags : DWORD; VolumeNameBuffer : array[0..255] of char; begin GetVolumeInformation(PChar(aRoot), VolumeNameBuffer, sizeof(VolumeNameBuffer), @VolumeSerialNumber, MaximumComponentLength, FileSystemFlags, nil, 0); result := string(VolumeNameBuffer); end; function DiskInDrive(aDrive: char): boolean; var vErrMode: word; begin if aDrive in [a..z] then Dec(aDrive, $20); if not (aDrive in [A..Z]) then raise Exception.Create(Not a valid drive letter); vErrMode := SetErrorMode(SEM_FAILCRITICALERRORS); try result := (DiskSize(Ord(aDrive) $40) <> 1) finally SetErrorMode(vErrMode); end; end; procedure TMainForm.FormCreate(Sender: TObject); var drv: char; begin for drv := a to z do case GetDriveType(PChar(drv + :\)) of DRIVE_REMOVABLE, DRIVE_FIXED, DRIVE_CDROM: if DiskInDrive(drv) then ListBox1.Items.Add(UpperCase(drv) + : ( + GetVolumeName(drv + :\) + ) ) else ListBox1.Items.Add(UpperCase(drv) + :); end; end;

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