Borland C++ Builder -Components

In previous posts,I’ve covered some details about creating windows & console applications.If you haven’t read the previous part,please take a look at part1,part2 & part3.For those who followed this series continue reading this article.

Component palette

When you open up the Borland C++ Builder then you can see the palette below the main menu of the application.This palette contains the components that you can use & code for it to speed up application.Component are the pillars of Rapid application development as they allow user the flexibility in coding application.

Components carries pre-written code to accomplish some task.In order to use them you have to drop them onto the form & call their methods.Components makes life much easier for developers or programmers.Components can be visual or non-visual,some of the dialog related components are based on actions so they are not visible until you call them with respective methods.For this you have to work with their properties,events & methods.

Borland C++ Builder comes up with 29+ preloaded components.Most of these components are available based on the version you purchased e.g. if you’re using free version then most of the internet or database related components will not be available to you.

Installing components

While creating applications you will work with most of the components available to you from component.But in some cases you have to use custom pre-defined component to achieve some task in your program.You have to add that component in component palette.There are lots of such components available on the internet for BCB & Delphi.Installing & working with them can be fun.Follow the steps below to install component into the palette:

1. Select Component|Install Packages or Install component

2. Click the Add button and multi-select the design time packages you want to install then click Ok.

Sometimes the method described above can’t be used to install component.As some components require compiling & adding it into the existing borland packages.In such case you have to check the README or INSTALL instructions of that particular component.

If you want to taste components,drop memo component onto the form,and press F9 to see the results.You will see the form with text editing area,in order to make it more usable you’ve to add actions and align it.If you want try to experiment & if you have any trouble with it then read the borland’s documentation for the Text Editor tutorial.

Here is the list of components you may find interesting in your design:

Delphi-Scintilla Interface components

Synedit

These components gives you syntax highlighting capability,code folding & much more.Once you’re learning to play with components you’ll come across various problems,errors in your program.Don’t be afraid its quite obvious that you need to learn how to make them work with your program.If you’re sure with any component then take a look at the component authors FAQ or documentation or its respective forum.You will get most of the help from there.If you’re having problem with borlands pre-loaded components then you can ask for the help at their developer network.

Thank you for reading the final post in the Borland C++ Builder series.Hopefully this series proved

beneficial to you and helped establish a foundation for you to write your own programs using Borland C++ Builder.If you have any comments,suggestions or even flames do post them here.If you like this post then do spread word for the it.Thank you very much for reading.