Creating or Extending a Package to Use the Tools API

Go Up to Extending the IDE Using the Tools API

To use the Tools API, first you need to:

1. Create a package or edit an existing package.
2. The designide package provides access to the Tools API. If designide is not listed in the Requires node of your package:
   1. Right-click the Requires node and select Add Reference.
   2. On the Add dialog box that opens, enter the following path into the Package name field and click OK:

      Delphi: C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\lib\win32\release\designide.dcp

      C++: C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\lib\win32\release\designide.bpi

If you are writing a package in C++, you also need to add the vcl\design folder to your include paths:

1. Select Project > Options > C++ (Shared Options).
2. On the Include path field, click the button.
3. On the Include path dialog box that opens, paste the path below into the input field and click Add.

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Embarcadero\Studio\17.0\include\windows\vcl\design

4. Click OK on the Include path and Project Options dialog boxes to save your changes.

You can now use your package to write code that extends the IDE using the Tools API.

See Also

• Obtaining Tools API Services
• Working with Packages and Components