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* Read-me file for Version Information Component.
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DelphiDabbler Version Information Component ReadMe
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<h1>
<div>Version Information Component</div>
<div class="subtitle">ReadMe</div>
</h1>
<h2 id="contents">
Contents
</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="#description">Description</a></li>
<li><a href="#installation">Installation</a></li>
<li><a href="#demo">Demo Projects</a></li>
<li><a href="#update">Update History</a></li>
<li><a href="#license">License</a></li>
<li><a href="#bugs">Bugs and Feature Requests</a></li>
<li><a href="#author">About the Author</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="description">
Description
</h2>
<p>
<var>TPJVersionInfo</var> is a 32 bit non-visual component for all Win32
versions of Delphi that encapsulates the version information contained in an
executable file's resources.
</p>
<p>
The component reads information from a designated file's
<var>VERSIONINFO</var> resource. The required file is specified in the
component's <var>FileName</var> property. Setting <var>FileName</var> to the
empty string fetches version information for the executable file containing
the component. The boolean <var>HaveInfo</var> property indicates whether the
file contains version information. This component can access variable file
information for each language provided in the resource.
</p>
<p>
Run-time properties enable access to to version information. Properties
enable:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
Access to fixed file information, either by field or the whole record.
</li>
<li>
Access to the number of translations stored in the version information.
</li>
<li>
Selection of the translation for which information is to be returned by
other properties.
</li>
<li>
Access to the language and code page of the current translation &ndash; by
code and by name.
</li>
<li>
Access to the string file information for the current translation &ndash;
named properties access the Microsoft-defined string information, while an
array property gives access to any string item by name.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
Version numbers are encapsulated in <var>TPJVersionNumber</var> records which,
on Delphi 2006 or later, can be directly assigned to a string and can be
compared using the normal equality operators. Helper functions are also
provided for use with earlier Delphis that can format version numbers as text
and can compare them.
</p>
<h3>
Limitations
</h3>
<p>
The component makes calls to the Windows API. Therefore the version
information being read must follow the Microsoft guidelines &ndash; be warned
that not all software complies!
</p>
<h3>
Compatibility
</h3>
<p>
<var>TPJVersionInfo</var> compiles on all Win32 versions and personalities of
Delphi. Releases up v3.3 have tested with Delphi versions 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 2006
and 2010 while later releases have been tested on Delphi 7 and 2006 to XE3 and
are assumed to work on later versions.
</p>
<p>
The unit name changed to <code>PJVersionInfo</code> at release 3 &ndash; this
means that programs using earlier versions will need to be modified (or to
have an alias set in Delphi's Project Options) before being recompiled using
the new version. Functionally, the component is backward compatible with
earlier versions.
</p>
<h3>
Further information
</h3>
<p>
For detailed information about version information refer to the Windows SDK.
</p>
<h2 id="installation">
Installation
</h2>
<div class="pullout">
<strong>Important Note:</strong> If you are updating from an earlier version
of this component and have installed the <em>DelphiDabbler</em> About Box
Component (<var>TPJAboutBoxDlg</var>) you may need to uninstall it before
updating this component, and re-install the about box component once the
update has been installed. If the About Box Component is earlier that v3.2 it
will need to be updated to the most recent version.
</div>
<p>
The <em>Version Information Component</em> is supplied in a zip file. Before
installing you need to extract all the files from the zip file. The following
files will be extracted:
</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong><code>PJVersionInfo.pas</code></strong> &ndash; Component source
code.
</li>
<li>
<strong><code>PJVersionInfo.dcr</code></strong> &ndash; Component palette
glyph.
</li>
<li>
<code>PJVersionInfo.hlp</code> &ndash; Help file that integrates into the
Delphi 3-7 IDE.
</li>
<li>
<code>PJVersionInfo.als</code> &ndash; Keyword file required when
integrating the help file with Delphi 6 and 7.
</li>
<li>
<code>ReadMe.htm</code> &ndash; This read-me file.
</li>
<li>
<code>ChangeLog.txt</code> &ndash; Change log.
</li>
<li>
<code>MPL-2.txt</code> &ndash; Mozilla Public License v2.0.
</li>
<li>
<code>Documentation.URL</code> &ndash; Shortcut to the component's online
documentation.
</li>
</ul>
<p>
In addition to the above files you will find the the source code of two <a
href="#demo"
>demo projects</a> along with readme files in the <code>Demos\1</code> and
<code>Demos\2</code> sub-directories.
</p>
<p>
You can now install the component into the Delphi IDE.
</p>
<p>
For Delphi 3 onwards you must include <code>PJVersionInfo.pas</code> and
<code>PJVersionInfo.dcr</code> in a design time package that is installed into
the Delphi IDE. If you need help doing this <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/install-comp"
>see here</a>.
</p>
<p>
Note that the help file included in the download can only integrate with the
IDE in Delphi 3-7. For information on how to do this, see <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/articles?article=15"
>this article</a>. Users of other versions of Delphi can either use the help
file as a stand-alone file (in which case some links won't work) or you can
use the component's <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/verinfo-docs"
>online documentation</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="demo">
Demo Projects
</h2>
<p>
The source code for two demo projects is included. The demos are:
</p>
<ol class="spaced">
<li>
<code>VIDemo.dpr</code> is an application that can extract and display
version information from any program (provided that the program has valid
version information).
</li>
<li>
<code>HelpEgs.dpr</code> implements all the <a
href="http://delphidabbler.com/url/verinfo-egs"
>examples</a> from the online documentation and help file.
</li>
</ol>
<p>
These demos require Delphi 7 or later.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Note:</strong> To load the projects into Delphi 2007 first delete the
relevant <code>.dproj</code> file and then load the project from the
<code>.bdsproj</code> file.
</p>
<div class="pullout">
With some minor changes they will also compile as 64 bit Windows targets using
the 64 bit Delphi. (Tested with Delphi XE3). To do this create a 64 bit
Windows target, ensure that the compiler can find the component source file
(or a 64 bit compiled unit) and disable automatic version information
generation.
</div>
<h2 id="update">
Update History
</h2>
<p>
A complete change log is provided in a text file that is included in the
download.
</p>
<h2 id="license">
License
</h2>
<p>
This component is released under the terms of the <a
href="http://www.mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/"
>Mozilla Public License v2.0</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="bugs">
Bugs and Feature Requests
</h2>
<p>
Bugs can be reported or new features requested via the <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/url/ddlib-issues"
>Issue Tracker</a>.
</p>
<p>
If no similar report or request has been recorded already, use the <em>New
Issue</em> link to add a new issue. Please select the <em>Defect Report from
User</em> template and be sure to specify the <code>Project-verinfo</code>
label.
</p>
<p>
Feature requests are also made using the Issue Tracker. This time please
select the <em>Feature Request</em> template and, again, specify the
<code>Project-verinfo</code> label.
</p>
<h2 id="author">
About the Author
</h2>
<p>
I'm Peter Johnson &ndash; a hobbyist programmer living in Ceredigion in West
Wales, UK, writing write mainly in Delphi. My programs and code are
available from: <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/"
>http://www.delphidabbler.com/</a>.
</p>
<p>
I can be <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/contact"
>contacted via the website</a>.
</p>
<div class="endnotes">
<div class="comments">
Please <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/contact"
>let me know</a> if you have any comments about the component, but please
use the Issue Tracker noted above to report bugs and request new features.
</div>
<div class="copyright">
This document is copyright &copy; 2005-2013, P D Johnson, <a
href="http://www.delphidabbler.com/"
>www.delphidabbler.com</a>.
</div>
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