DFM-Viewer 3.4 (on Sep 06 1999)

T & R (VA), Donetsk, Ukraine

  This program let programmers view and edit Delphi family
(Delphi-1, 2, 3, 4, C-Builder) forms (DFM-files). There is possibility
to view forms "as text" or "as form", connect/disconnect runtime packages,
object inspector, edit string resources which could be useful when dealing
with localisation & etc. Delphi 3/4 runtime packages required

The historical information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  The utility has appeared rather recently (in 1998) as Viewer for
personal use. Then it didn't have neither number nor version. Now it
is much more than a viewer, however we have decided not to change
"the historical name".

  The program works ONLY if Delphi run-time packages (.DPL, BPL-files) are
available on the computer (or in PATH'). Initially, the information about
the packages is read from the Windows Registry. The place for the packages
is kept in a local INI-file, with the help of which it is possible to make
further configuration of the system. 

For work, the following files are required:
- DFMView.exe - "starter"
- DFMView.cfg - file of an initial configuration (INI-file) 
- DFMView3.dll - run-time support for Delphi-3 forms
- DFMView4.dll - run-time support for Delphi-4 forms 

  It gives you an opportunity to examine any Delphi family form.
(Delphi-1, 2, 3, 4, C-Builder). The problems can arise if one tries to
process forms with unknown components/properties. In this case 
the appropriate packages have to be simply connected ;)
through the menu "Options".

  The current version works with Delphi-3, 4 packages. After installation
by default Delphi-3 packages will be used. To switch to
Delphi-4 you need to change the DLL-name from DFMView3.dll to
DFMView4.dll in a file DFMView.cfg .

Structure of DFMView.cfg:

[Viewer]
DLL=DFMView3.dll

Program features:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Command line launch and "default" representation (Form or Text);
- Drag & Drop support and "default" representation; 
- "Hot" keys installation, the forms behaviour definition;
- Packages register/unregister;
- "Half dead" forms (as runtime);
- Forms behaviour change (dead, live).
  You can set forms display conditions in the system menu (Alt + Space) for
  existing forms and in configuration menu for newly created forms.
- At request you can set "only 1 Form" mode. It means, that an open file
  will be closed automatically when a new one is opened. This feature is
  very useful when one uses the program as "external viewer" in all
  navigating programs (FAR, Explorer, Windows Commander, WinNavigator and etc).
- There is a possibility to edit forms in edit mode + Syntax Highlight + 
  content tree with auto navigation in the text;
- String resources collection and editing, in the process of localization,
  for example;
- Forms can be stored as a Delphi form (DFM) or as a text; 
- There is a possibility to switch forms viewing mode AsText/AsForm (hotkey F12);
- ObjectInspector (hotkey F11). Select object -- Ctrl+Click
- "Compilation" + elementary syntactic analysis; 
- List of the open forms (Alt + 0)
- Other features (press the mouse right button and you'll see;);

  ATTENTION: if one tries to see half-dead forms, he should consider that the
component's behavior is defined by the code which is in the package where the
component is defined. "Dead mode" is the safe way to view the form.


Freeware version limitations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  * The term of use is 30 days.

  * A few functions are only accessible to the registered users.


Future plans
~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Maybe "as form" editor will be remade so that it will look like NoteBook.


Conditions of use
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Energetic betatesters could count on free program registration (if they
would wish) and authors' appreciation plus some profession secrets.


Known bugs
~~~~~~~~~~
  The nastiest one is the spontaneous CharSet switching in the text editor.
We didn't find any way to make TRichEdit work correctly.

  As it is well known, the real bugs are yet to come. The authors will
greatly appreciate any information about them (bugs).

  But, if for some reason the program starts to behave incorrectly, first
try to remove an INI-file. In this case the program will start with the
defaults.

HomePage:
http://batry.hypermart.net/DFMV_1e.htm
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Orchard/9358/DFMV_1e.htm

For the latest version, please use the following link:
http://batry.hypermart.net/DFMView.zip
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Orchard/9358/DFMView.zip

Please send your requests to:
mailto:Trunov@dicom.donetsk.ua   or
mailto:batry@i.am
