Delphi third-party control assessment

The ancients said: "to do good deeds, you must first sharpen your tools ."

I think anyone who uses Delphi should have a deep understanding of this sentence. Indeed, if Delphi does not support the control, the popularity will be greatly reduced, and there will be no such fan, so I will use BCB or VC again.

But now the control is full of sky and don't say it's a DSP (Delphi super page). The control above a deep adventure has been spreading over tens of thousands of times and is still being updated every day, A little scary:) However, when there are too many choices, the troubles will come along. (well, if there are so many mm options, let me pick them ), I can't try them all one by one, so many excellent controls are not well known, so I wrote this article, hoping to become a guide for everyone, play a role in attracting others.

Now, let's go to the subject. First, we will roughly divide the controls into classes to facilitate our subsequent discussions.

However, because there are too many types of controls, they are roughly divided into the following categories:

--- Interface style

--- Shell appearance

--- Editor class

--- Grid class

--- DB class

--- Report

--- Graphics

--- Comprehensive

The premise of the agreement is: all freeware, all source. As for commercial controls to be purchased, I will discuss them later. Each control we discuss in this article will give a quality score. Commercial controls and free controls are treated equally, not price-based, but quality-based:

　　

The general scoring criteria are as follows:

Level 1 super cool controls:

★★★★★

It is also a good control:

★★★★

General but distinctive controls:★★★

Controls below three stars are not covered in this article. (☆Indicates★The effect is halved)

　　

It should also be noted that this article aims to recommend some excellent third-party controls. All the controls mentioned in this article can be downloaded on www.delphiuser.com.

　　

◆ First, let's discuss free third-party controls (with source code ):

(I) interface style ------------

A good software should have an excellent operation interface, which I think is unquestionable. However, a friend who has used C/C ++ to write a program will surely feel this way. It is too tired to make a beautiful and easy-to-use interface (except for BCB ). But since the advent of Delphi, all this has suddenly changed.

Here, I first recommend four sets of excellent interface control packages.

　　

1. flatstyle2.1 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

A very good interface control package. What is cool? After faltstyle is used, you will know: In the latest version 2.1, flatstyle has made great changes, not only several new controls, the source code has also been greatly modified and more organized. however, there are still a few bugs. on this basis, awater revised it and added several controls. The feeling is that there is only one word to describe it! Highly recommended!

　　

2. jlaqua1.0 quality:★★★★

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Evaluation:

This is a control package for Mac OS interfaces. If you have a special liking for Apple's human interface, this is your best choice. absolutely eye-catching. however, because it is Version 1.0, awater still seems to have missed something after using it. but it's already good. I recommend it to you.

3. Platinum controls quality:★★★☆

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Evaluation:

It is also a control package similar to the Mac OS interface. Compared with jlaqua above, the main difference is that the control package simulates a classic old Mac OS style interface, while jlaqua is somewhat trendy, this control package also provides fewer types of controls and has a single function. However, it is quite special and worthy of recommendation.

　　

4. coolform quality:★★★

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Evaluation:

When I used this guy for the first time, I got stuck by his name. Later I checked its source code carefully and found out that it was actually a strange form, however, it is concise and has excellent functions, especially the Attribute Editor in the built-in editor. It is very interesting to write and can automatically generate a mask image based on the images you provide. Well, it's a good control. You don't need to use it as needed.

　　

(Ii) Shell appearance class -------------

I believe that many of my friends are not satisfied with the opendialog and savedialog provided by Delphi when writing a program. Sometimes they need to be something similar to the Resource Manager (Explorer, the FileListBox and directorylistbox provided by Delphi are too ugly and simple. Although Delphi provides shellapi. Pas, it is too troublesome to write such a component from the beginning. The following things can free you from redundant repetitive work.

　　

1. DFS tsystemtreeview v0.95 beta quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

Speaking of DFS, I believe that any old bird using Delphi will not be unfamiliar. This control can be regarded as a high-quality product, and awater won't chew on it much. However, it is still unstable due to the beta version, and sometimes it may cause errors. So I only played four stars, and it was a bit wronged. Recommended to you!

　　

2. lsfileexplorer 2.7 quality:★★★☆

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Evaluation:

A good control package, the only pity is that the tlsdirtreecombo part has a bug. When tlsdirtreecombo is placed on the tcoolbar or tcontrolbar, once the width changes, you will find that the clickbutton position of tlsdirtreecombo has serious misplacement. Haha, awater wanted to call it★★★★☆, The result is dropping. It's a pity. If this bug can be corrected, it would be nice, but I will say it again. Is it free after all. It is worth recommending to you.

(Iii) Editor class ----------

Is there such a feeling? Memo is too simple, RichEdit is not easy to use, and the version is too messy and prone to problems. Do you want to have a powerful editing control that supports syntax highlighting like the editor provided by Delphi? Please refer to the following two items.

　　

1. mwedit 0.92a quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

This is currently a top-level free control, with powerful commercial controls and open source code, but the majority of Delphi programmers are blessed! With it, you can easily write an editor like the editor that comes with Delphi. In addition to the special highlight display that supports Pascal syntax, more than 10 other syntaxes can be highlighted. The best thing is that mwedit can still be connected to the database. It is so powerful that we strongly recommend it to you!

　　

2. Unicode EDIT 1.0 quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

This control is one of the famous Jedi projects. It is basically similar to the above mwedit, but it is not as powerful as it is, but it is also very good. The feature is that more than one hundred Unicode (widestring) functions are built in. Isn't that scary? Oh, I recommend it to you!

(Iv) grid class --------

In reality, many data organization methods are very suitable for grid representation, especially in a system with a large amount of data and complicated information. Without Grid Control, it cannot be imagined. However, the grid that comes with Delphi, whether it is stringgrid, drawgrid, or DBGrid, is not powerful enough. The following grid controls may make you feel excited.

　　

1. tstringaligngrid 2.0 quality:★★★★

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Evaluation:

Although this control is free of charge, it can be seen that the author is still very careful. The function is not very powerful, but enough. As long as you are not doing anything special, this control is definitely your best choice. A Detailed Help file is provided, which is recommended.

　　

(V) dB class ------

In this regard, there seems to be no outstanding free controls. If you pick them up, you just find this one.

　　

1. tkbmmemtable v. 2.33 quality:★★★★

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Evaluation:

A good memory table control. If you are in urgent need of such controls, try it. It is recommended.

(6) Report class ----------

When it comes to reports, many of my friends will feel a strange sensation. After tasting the embarrassment of Quickreport, we have always sought out an excellent report control with outstanding functions. Below we recommend two excellent report controls, they are also developed by Chinese people themselves:

　　

1. ereport quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

A very good report control is designed for the Chinese report format. It also contains a report editor, which works in a similar pattern. It would have taken a month to use Quickreport, you can use ereport in three days. However, it should be noted that ereport currently does not support report nesting, which is a pity. (Wang hansong himself, author of the report, said that the nested part of the report has already been written. Unfortunately, I am not careful about the loss, and I have never written it down. Whining ......)

　　

2. rmachine quality:★★★★

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Evaluation:

Not many people may know about this stuff. But speaking of fastreport, I believe everyone should have heard of it. This control was developed based on the famous fastreport and fixed some bugs and enhanced many functions. Pretty good. Recommended!

　　

(Vii) graphics class --------

It should be said that the range of graphic controls is too large. There are also a variety of effect from the general image to the chart. The content is too wide, so I will simply pick up some of the most distinctive introductions.

　　

1. fastlib quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

A very good graphics library provides a large number of graphic processing functions, which are powerful and even inferior to some commercial controls. The various graphic effects made with it can only say one thing. We strongly recommend you!

　　

2. GLScene (OpenGL component) quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

Have you ever tried to write the OpenGL program like this: select a model, and then add lights and textures to it. Adjust the size and position in real time. Not satisfied? Just change the model and try again. Everything does not seem to be writing a program, but like editing it on site in 3dsmax. How are you doing? It's amazing. You can't try it now. Oh, I strongly recommend it to you!

　　

3. tpicshow v2.3 quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

This little stuff provides one hundred and twenty-two kinds of graphic effects, and the efficiency is also good. There is a lot of time left for you to check books and code. Come and try it. Add some special switching effects to the graphics in your program so that your user can praise your program interface. Oh, I strongly recommend it to you!

　　

㈧ Class --------

A comprehensive control Package refers to a hodgedge of various types of controls. The following lists some excellent comprehensive control packages for free controls:

　　

1. rxlib 2.75 quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

Speaking of this guy, should everyone be familiar with it? Well, awater won't say much, but don't tell me you don't know yet. I strongly recommend it to you!

　　

2. Ralib 1.52a quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

Although the name of this Dongdong and rxlib is a different word, it is more powerful than rxlib, but it is not as well known as rxlib in China. Let's try it and ensure you will be pleasantly surprised. We strongly recommend you!

　　

3. devexpress Forum Library 2.0 quality:★★★★☆

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This control package is a free and source code expansion package produced by developer Express, a famous Delphi control manufacturer. Adhering to the consistent style of developer Express, this control package reveals a "Nobility" everywhere, including many excellent controls, it doesn't feel like a free control at all. If you look at its source code, you will have a more clear and reasonable structure. It is really a famous man. Haha. However, such a good stuff can not be obtained at will. First, you have to participate in the developer express forum and register with them (of course it is free of charge. Register now. Highly recommended!

　　

Well, after reading the free third-party controls above, let's take a look at the commercial controls. We also divide the commercial controls into eight categories for evaluation, we can compare it with the Free controls we have previously recommended to see who is interested in it. Commercial controls may not be all dominant!

　　

◆ Commercial controls (but you have to pay for them ):

(I) interface style ------------

1. devexpress bars 3.1 Quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

It is a control group of Word2000 Interface Class produced by developer Express, a famous Delphi control manufacturer. The powerful functions and the interface are gorgeous. I even have some doubts that dephi's menu and toolbar use this stuff. It's cool. In contrast, the free toolbar97 is simply a chicken threat and tasteless. Well, if you want to make a beautiful pop-up interface, this is your best choice, and you can still have a lot of time to repeat. It is strongly recommended !!!

　　

2. extarpack 1.5 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

If you want to make your own program interface an alternative, this is the best choice. You can arm your program to your teeth. If others do not know it, they will definitely think that you will use a new operating system. If you want to surprise others, use extarpack. It will make you satisfied. However, I would like to remind you in advance that the system resource consumption of this stuff is not small. Highly recommended!

　　

3. formcontainer 1.5 quality:★★★★★

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You have never used the teechart that comes with Delphi. Is it of quality written by two programmers in the company that comes with teechart. Never humiliate teechart. Do you know what a person will be dumb in front of a computer? Most of them see the program written with formcontainer. Haha. Absolutely, the classic interface style can surprise you. Awater is an amazing programmer who can write this control. Unfortunately, the source code cannot be obtained, or you must study it carefully. We strongly recommend you !!

　　

(Ii) Shell appearance class -------------

1. Shell control pack VCL v1.5 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

Awater does not need to bother with this control. I just want to say: It feels like using Resource Manager (Explorer. Haha, very good. We strongly recommend you !!

(Iii) Editor class ----------

1. Dream memo 3.1 Quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

Powerful editing controls produced by the famous Delphi control manufacturer dream company. It should be said that all aspects are excellent. At least before awater didn't use mwedit, he thought it was the best. Right now, hey, of course it's not the best. However, it is indeed very powerful, but it is a pity that this stuff is too complex to write. So, there are also many bugs. But it is worth recommending to you.

　　

2. plusmemo 5.2 quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

This control is old and powerful. Very distinctive. It has its own style and supports data sensing. It is also very compact. Very good. We strongly recommend you !!

(Iv) grid class --------

1. devexpress expressquantumgrid 2.1 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

It is also a super grid control developed by developer Express, a famous Delphi control manufacturer. It is mainly used in database operations and usage. Powerful functions, with many unique martial arts ". Well, if you use the Go field to score the score, the level of this control may still be above 9. Super-class. Even in the same commercial controls, I am afraid that the database operations are better than expressquantumgrid. If you match the dxtreelist and dxprintsystem from the same door, it's really no match in the world. It is written in VCL 100%. Is it cool. We strongly recommend you !!!!!

　　

2. topgrid 2.01 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

This control is not as sharp as devexpress expressquantumgrid in terms of database operations. However, it is widely adapted and competent for all the work of stringgrid, drawgrid, and DBGrid. Unlike expressquantumgrid, it is only applicable to database operations. In addition, the topgrid interface is very cool, a bit like the datawindow in powerbuild, and it is more beautiful. The function is very flexible and it is very convenient to operate each cell in the grid. The only drawback is that the compiled EXE file is a little bigger, but you can use ASPack to press it on both sides. We strongly recommend you !!!

　　

3. xlgrid 1.62 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

Using this control reminds me of Microsoft Excel. Powerful, powerful, or powerful. Unfortunately, database operations are not supported. On its home page, there is a pre-release 2.0 implementation function plan. awater saw it, and it was cool. Unfortunately, it hasn't been released yet. However, this 1.62 version is quite cool. We strongly recommend you !!!

(V) dB class ------

There are too many, from the high-end Asta to the comprehensive performance of dbisam, from Dao to Topaz, and the famous infopower, there are too many, and all of them are five-star. Awater won't write any more. In this regard, commercial controls won in all respects. Haha.

(6) Report class ----------

1. reportbuilder 5.0 quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

This is a very powerful report control. Do not ask me how powerful it is, because it is estimated that it can be clearly described to you by writing a full 5000 or 6000 words. If you are missing a powerful report control that is applicable to a wide range of functions, you only need it. This is your best choice. It can be said that as long as you want to get it, it is basically done. We strongly recommend you !!!

　　

2. htmlreport quality:★★★★☆

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Evaluation:

Put this stuff on, it may be a waste of data. It cannot be said that the function is very powerful. But you can see its name. There is a very fashionable word in it: HTML. By the way, it is used for this purpose. If you need it, you can find it. The overall performance is also good. Of course it is not as powerful as the reportbuilder above. We strongly recommend you !!

(Vii) graphics class --------

1. Pegasus series of graphic control quality:★★★★★

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Evaluation:

Pegasus has produced many well-known graphics controls, such as fxtools and imagn. If you have high requirements on graphic processing, consider the first-class controls produced by Pegasus. It is not a normal free control that can be replaced. We strongly recommend you !!

㈧ Class --------

I will not write the evaluation for the comprehensive class, whether it is a dinosaur LMD, ahm2000, rzlib, or an exquisite 1 stclass. The powerful functions and a wide range of controls are comparable to those of free control packages. The only thing that worries me when I use them is what I should use? Oh, isn't that a headache :)

　　

In comparison, I think everyone has a bottom point. Under the evaluation of the above eight free controls and commercial controls, it should be said that commercial controls take an absolute advantage, except for one editor class, free controls can compete with commercial controls, and there is a certain gap between the rest. Especially in the DB class, the free controls are the most left-dead. However, if there is no white lunch in the world, do you still have to spend money to buy good things. However, we can conclude that although commercial controls are powerful and of excellent quality. However, if you do not have much money to buy, or you do not have very strict performance requirements for a certain aspect of the program, you can fully consider using some excellent third-party free controls, or perform secondary development on the basis of the blueprint to meet your design requirements. This is also a very good and cost-effective solution :)

From the above discussion, you should be able to understand some information about third-party controls of Delphi. However, awater should remind you that although controls are good, they cannot be abused. A good programmer should not only use it, but also write it on his own. If you have time to study the source code of excellent controls, it will be helpful for improving the level, and you can have a deeper understanding of the object-oriented programming mechanism. I hope that one day we Chinese people can write excellent programs like Delphi, so that foreigners in the world can develop third-party controls for us .....