What's New in Delphi and C++Builder XE2

Go Up to What Was New in Past Releases

Note: This document describes a past release.

This release provides key new features for developing applications using both Delphi and C++Builder.

Summary of the XE2 Release

Key features of the XE2 release are:

• FireMonkey Application Platform for cross-platform applications that run on Windows (both 32- and 64-bit), Mac OS X, and iOS.
• VCL supports 64-bit Windows and 32-bit Windows
• The Delphi RTL now supports Mac OS X and both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows
• Cross-platform application development
  • Mac OS X Application Development
    • Two cross compilers for Mac OS X:
      • Delphi (DCCOSX.EXE, the Delphi Cross Compiler for OS X)
      • C++ (BCCOSX.EXE, the C++ Cross Compiler for OS X)
  • 64-bit Windows Cross-Platform Application Development (for Delphi only)
    • Delphi 64-bit cross compiler (DCC64.EXE, the Delphi 64-bit Command Line Compiler)
  • Platform Assistant (PAServer) required for cross-platform development
  • DataSnap Connectors for Mobile Devices (Android, Blackberry, iOS, and Windows Phone)
• LiveBindings in RAD Studio, the new data binding feature that simplifies your programming work with VCL and FMX

Important New Requirement: Unit Scope Names for VCL-FMX-RTL

Important: VCL-FMX-RTL units now use a dotted-prefix naming convention, such as System.Types and Vcl.Styles. If you have existing code that uses qualified identifiers (such as Types.IStream), code changes may be required in order to compile.

Note: The wizards and templates in RAD Studio automatically insert the properly unit-scoped unit names in uses and includes. However, be aware that in the help for the VCL-FMX-RTL Libraries, the unit scope does not appear in any names of units, classes, and members. Updating the documentation to show the the unit scope names will happen in a help update.

For more information, see:

• Unit Scope Names
• Unit Names Alphabetical List with Unit Scopes

Importing or Migrating Existing Projects into XE2

When you open a pre-existing project in XE2, the Project Upgrade Required dialog box prompts you to choose conversion options for your project (convert and rename, convert and create a backup, or convert in place). For more information, see:

• Importing or Migrating Existing Projects into XE2
• Project Upgrading (Tools Options page)