Programming with C++Builder

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This guide contains information about C++ programming for 32-bit Windows; however, most of this information is true for 64-bit Windows also. (See Considerations for 64-bit Windows Application Development.)

Developing Applications with C++Builder

• Integrated Development Environment
• Designing Applications
• Creating Projects
• Editing Code
• Compiling Applications
• Debugging Applications
• Deploying Applications

Understanding the Component Library

• Understanding the Component Library
  • Properties, Methods, and Events
    • Types of Events
• Objects, Components, and Controls
  • TObject Branch
  • TPersistent Branch
  • TComponent Branch
  • TControl Branch
  • TWinControl Branch

Working with Components Index

• Setting Properties and Events
  • • Using Property Editors
• Calling Methods
• Working with Events and Event Handlers
  • Generating a New Event Handler
  • Generating a Handler for a Component's Default Event
  • Locating Event Handlers
  • Associating an Event with an Existing Event Handler
    • Using the Sender Parameter
    • Displaying and Coding Shared Events
  • Associating Menu Events with Event Handlers
  • Deleting Event Handlers
• Adding Custom Components to the Tool Palette

Working with Controls Index

• Implementing Drag and Drop in Controls
  • Starting a Drag Operation
  • Accepting Dragged Items
  • Dropping Items
  • Ending a Drag Operation
  • Customizing Drag and Drop with a Drag Object
  • Changing the Drag Mouse Pointer
• Implementing Drag and Dock in Controls
  • Making a Windowed Control a Docking Site
  • Making a Control a Dockable Child
  • Controlling How Child Controls Are Docked
  • Controlling How Child Controls Are Undocked
  • Controlling How Child Controls Respond to Drag-and-dock Operations
• Working with Text in Controls
  • Setting Text Alignment
  • Adding Scroll Bars at Run-Time
  • Adding the Clipboard Object
  • Selecting Text
  • Selecting All Text
  • Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text
  • Deleting Selected Text
  • Disabling Menu Items
  • Providing a Pop-up Menu
  • Handling the OnPopup Event
• Adding Graphics to Controls
  • Indicating That a Control Is Owner-drawn
  • Adding Graphical Objects to a String List
    • Adding Images to an Application
    • Adding Images to a String List
    • Drawing Owner-drawn Items
  • Sizing Owner-draw Items
  • Drawing Owner-draw Items
• Screen Scaling and ChangeScale
• Double-buffering and Remote Connections

Building Applications, Components, and Libraries Index

• Creating Applications
  • GUI Applications
    • User Interface Models
    • SDI Applications
    • MDI Applications
    • Setting IDE, Project, and Compiler Options
  • Console Applications
  • Service Applications
    • Service Threads
    • Service Name Properties
    • Debugging Service Applications
  • Programming Templates
• Creating Packages and DLLs
  • When to Use Packages and DLLs
  • Using DLLs in RAD Studio (C++)
  • Creating DLLs in C++Builder
  • Creating DLLs Containing VCL Components (C++)
  • Linking DLLs (C++)
• Writing Database Applications
  • Distributing Database Applications
• Creating Web Server Applications
  • Creating Web Services Applications
  • Creating WebBroker Applications
• Writing Applications Using COM
• Using Data Modules
  • Creating and Editing Standard Data Modules
    • Naming a Data Module and Its Unit File
    • Placing and Naming Components
    • Using Component Properties and Events in a Data Module
    • ClassGroup pseudo-property of TDataModule
    • Creating Business Rules in a Data Module
  • Accessing a Data Module from a Form
  • Adding a Remote Data Module to an Application Server Project
  • Setting the Framework Affinity for a Data Module
• Using the Object Repository
  • Sharing Items Within a Project
  • Adding Items to the Object Repository
  • Sharing Objects in a Team Environment
  • Using an Object Repository Item in a Project
  • Using Project Templates
  • Modifying Shared Items
• Enabling Help in Applications
  • Calling HTML Help from Applications
    • Types of HTML Help
    • Default Handling of F1 Help in VCL Applications
    • Customizing F1 Help in VCL Applications
    • Showing Help with Help Buttons
    • Associating Help with Menu Commands
    • Showing Help About Selected Menu Commands
    • Using the Hint Property to Show Contextual Help About Screen Objects
  • Help System Interfaces
    • Implementing ICustomHelpViewer
    • Communicating with the Help Manager
    • Asking the Help Manager for Information
    • Displaying Keyword-based Help
    • Displaying Tables of Contents
    • Implementing IExtendedHelpViewer
    • Using IHelpSystem
    • Implementing IHelpSelector
    • Registering Help System Objects
  • Using Help in a VCL Application
    • How TApplication Processes VCL Help
    • How VCL Controls Process Help
    • Calling a Help System Directly

Developing the Application User Interface Index

• Developing the Application User Interface - Overview
• Controlling Application Behavior
  • Working at the Application Level
  • Handling the Screen
• Using the Main Form
  • Hiding the Main Form
  • Adding Forms
  • Managing Layout
• Using Forms
  • Controlling When Forms Reside in Memory
    • Displaying an Auto-created Form
    • Creating Forms Dynamically
    • Creating Modeless Forms Such as Windows
    • Creating a Form Instance Using a Local Variable
  • Passing Additional Arguments to Forms
  • Retrieving Data from Forms
    • Retrieving Data from Modal Forms
    • Retrieving Data from Modeless Forms
• Reusing Components and Groups of Components
• Creating and Using Component Templates
• Working with Frames
  • Creating Frames
  • Using and Modifying Frames
  • Sharing Frames
• Developing Dialog Boxes
  • Using Windows Common Dialog Boxes
• Creating and Managing Menus
  • Opening the Menu Designer
  • Building Menus
    • Naming Menus
    • Naming the Menu Items
    • Adding, Inserting, and Deleting Menu Items
    • Adding Separator Bars
    • Specifying Accelerator Keys and Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Creating Submenus
    • Moving Menu Items
    • Adding Images to Menu Items
    • Viewing the Menu
  • Editing Menu Items in the Object Inspector
  • Switching Between Menus at Design Time
  • Using Menu Templates
  • Saving a Menu as a Template
    • Naming Conventions for Template Menu Items and Event Handlers
  • Manipulating Menu Items at Runtime
  • Merging Menus
    • Specifying the Active Menu: Menu Property
    • Determining the Order of Merged Menu Items: GroupIndex Property
  • Importing Resource Files
• Designing Toolbars and Cool Bars
  • Adding a Toolbar Using a Panel Component
    • Adding a Speed Button to a Panel
    • Assigning a Speed Button's Glyph
    • Setting the Initial Condition of a Speed Button
    • Creating a Group of Speed Buttons
    • Allowing Toggle Buttons
  • Adding a Toolbar Using the Toolbar Component
    • Adding a Tool Button
    • Assigning Images to Tool Buttons
    • Setting Tool Button Appearance and Initial Conditions
    • Creating Groups of Tool Buttons
    • Allowing Toggled Tool Buttons
  • Adding a Cool Bar Component
    • Setting the Appearance of the Cool Bar
  • Responding to Clicks
    • Assigning a Menu to a Tool Button
  • Adding Hidden Toolbars
  • Hiding and Showing Toolbars
• Common Controls and XP Themes

Using the VCL/RTL (C++)

• Printing (C++)
• Converting measurements (C++)
  • Performing conversions (C++)
  • Adding new measurement types (C++)
  • Creating a simple conversion family and adding units (C++)
  • Using a conversion function (C++)
  • Using a class to manage conversions (C++)
• Creating drawing spaces (C++)

Types of Controls Index

• Text Controls
  • Edit Controls
    • Memo and Rich Edit Controls
  • Text Viewing Controls
  • Labels
• Specialized Input Controls
  • Scroll Bars
  • Track Bars
  • Up-down Controls
  • Hot Key Controls
  • Splitter Controls
• Buttons and Similar Controls
  • Button Controls
  • Bitmap Buttons
  • Speed Buttons
  • Check Boxes
  • Radio Buttons
  • Toolbar Controls
  • Cool Bars
• List Controls
  • List Boxes and Check-list Boxes
  • Combo Boxes
  • Tree Views
  • List Views
• Grouping Controls
  • Group Boxes and Radio Groups
  • Panels
  • Scroll Boxes
  • Tab Controls
  • Page Controls
  • Header Controls
• Display Controls
  • Status Bars
  • Progress Bars
  • Help and Hint Properties
  • VCL Taskbars
• Grids
  • Draw Grids
  • String Grids
• Value List Editors
• Graphic Controls
  • Images
  • Shapes
  • Bevels
  • Paint Boxes
  • Animation Control

Working with Graphics and Multimedia Index

• Working with Graphics and Multimedia - Overview
• Overview of Graphics Programming
  • Refreshing the Screen
  • Types of Graphic Objects
  • Common Properties and Methods of Canvas
  • Using the Properties of the Canvas Object
    • Creating Drawing Spaces
    • Colors
    • Printing
    • Using Pens
      • Changing the Pen Color
      • Changing the Pen Width
      • Changing the Pen Style
      • Changing the Pen Mode
      • Getting the Pen Position
    • Using Brushes
      • Changing the Brush Color
      • Changing the Brush Style
      • Setting the Brush Bitmap Property
    • Reading and Setting Pixels
  • Using Canvas Methods to Draw Graphic Objects
    • Drawing Lines and Polylines
      • Drawing Lines
      • Drawing Polylines
    • Drawing Shapes
      • Drawing Rectangles and Ellipses
      • Drawing Rounded Rectangles
      • Drawing Polygons
  • Handling Multiple Drawing Objects in Your Application
    • Keeping Track of Which Drawing Tool to Use
    • Changing the Tool with Speed Buttons
    • Using Drawing Tools
      • Drawing Shapes (Code)
      • Sharing Code Among Event Handlers
  • Drawing On a Graphic
    • Making Scrollable Graphics
    • Adding an Image Control
      • Placing the Control
      • Setting the Initial Bitmap Size
      • Drawing On the Bitmap
  • Loading and Saving Graphics Files
    • Loading a Picture from a File
    • Saving a Picture to a File
    • Replacing the Picture
  • Using the Clipboard with Graphics
    • Copying Graphics to the Clipboard
    • Cutting Graphics to the Clipboard
    • Pasting Graphics from the Clipboard
  • Rubber Banding Example
    • Responding to the Mouse
      • What's in a Mouse Event
      • Responding to a Mouse-down Action
      • Responding to a Mouse-up Action
      • Responding to a Mouse Move
    • Adding a Field to a Form Object to Track Mouse Actions
    • Refining Line Drawing
      • Tracking the Origin Point
      • Tracking Movement
• Working with Multimedia
  • Adding Silent Video Clips to an Application
    • Example of Adding Silent Video Clips
  • Adding Audio or Video Clips to an Application
    • Example of Adding Audio or Video Clips (VCL Only)

Writing Multithreaded Applications Index

• Writing Multi-threaded Applications
• Defining thread objects
  • Defining Thread Objects
  • Initializing the Thread
  • Writing the Thread Function
    • Using Thread-local Variables
    • Checking for Termination by Other Threads
    • Handling Exceptions in the Thread Function
  • Writing Clean-up Code
• Coordinating threads
  • Coordinating Threads
  • Avoiding Simultaneous Access
    • Locking Objects
    • Using Critical Sections
    • Using the Multi-read Exclusive-write Synchronizer
    • Other Techniques for Sharing Memory
  • Waiting for Other Threads
    • Waiting for a Thread to Finish Executing
    • Waiting for a Task to Be Completed
• Executing thread objects
  • Executing Thread Objects
  • Overriding the Default Priority
  • Starting and Stopping Threads
• Debugging Multi-threaded Applications
  • Naming a Thread
    • Converting an Unnamed Thread to a Named Thread
    • Assigning Separate Names to Similar Threads

Exception Handling in C++Builder

• Standard C++ Exception Handling
  • Standard C++ Exception Handling Syntax
  • Rethrowing Exceptions (C++)
  • Exception Specifications (C++)
  • Unwinding Exceptions (C++)
  • Constructors in Exception Handling (C++)
  • Handling Uncaught and Unexpected Exceptions (C++)
  • Leaking C++ Exceptions into Delphi RTL
• Structured Exceptions Under Win32 (C++)
  • Syntax of Structured Exceptions (C++)
  • Handling Structured Exceptions (C++)
  • Filtering Structured Exceptions (C++)
  • Mixing Standard Exceptions with Structured Exceptions (C++)
  • Defining Structured Exceptions (C++)
  • Raising Structured Exceptions (C++)
  • SEH Termination Blocks (C++)
• Delphi Exception Handling in C++
• C++Builder Exception Handling Compiler Options
• External Exception EEFFACE

Working with Packages and Components Index

• Working with Packages and Components - Overview
• Why Use Packages
  • Packages and Standard DLLs
• Runtime Packages
  • Loading Packages in an Application
    • Loading Packages with the LoadPackage Function
  • Deciding Which Runtime Packages to Use
  • Custom Packages
• Design-time Packages
  • Installing Component Packages
• Creating and Editing Packages
  • Creating a Package
  • Editing an Existing Package
  • Understanding the Structure of a Package
  • Editing Package Source Files Manually
  • Compiling Packages
    • Package-specific Compiler Directives
    • Using the Weak Packaging Directive
    • Compiling and Linking from the Command Line
    • Package Files Created by Compiling
    • Building Static Packages
• Deploying Packages
• Packaging Components Or Libraries Written In Classic and Clang C++ Win32 Compilers
• Packages for C++ New Toolchain

Creating International Applications Index

• Internationalization and Localization
  • Internationalizing Applications
    • Enabling Application Code to Work for Different Locales
      • Character Sets
      • Including Bi-directional Functionality in Applications
      • Locale-specific Features
  • Localizing Applications
    • Localization Considerations in UI Design
      • Text
      • Graphic Images
      • Formats and Sort Order
      • Keyboard Mappings
    • Isolating Resources
    • Using Resource DLLs
      • Creating Resource DLLs
      • Dynamic Switching of Resource DLLs
• Deploying Localized Applications

Deploying RAD Studio Applications

• Deploying Applications - Overview
• Deploying General Applications
  • Using Installation Programs
    • Identifying Application Files
    • Application Files, Listed by File Name Extension
    • Package Files
    • Deploying ActiveX Controls
    • Helper Applications
    • DLL Locations
• Deploying Database Applications
  • Deploying dbExpress Database Applications
  • Deploying BDE Applications
    • BDE
• Deploying Web Applications
• Programming for Varying Host Environments
  • Screen Resolutions and Color Depths
  • Considerations When Dynamically Resizing Forms and Controls
  • Considerations When Not Dynamically Resizing
  • Accommodating Varying Color Depths
  • Fonts
  • Operating System Versions
• Software License Requirements

See Also

• Programming with Delphi Index
• Considerations for 64-bit Windows Application Development.