What's new in LMD-Tools 8?

• • • Introduction
• • • LMD 2007 Shared Runtime
• • • Improved System Themes support / New Native Theme Engine
• • • Windows Vista support
• • • New Bonus Packs: LMD ChartPack and LMD PrintPack
• • • New and improved controls
• • • Improved Standalone Packs
• • • LMD VCL Complete, SVN Access and LMD DevUtil

LMD-Tools 8 constitutes an extensive update against version 7: More than 30 new components were added (new labeled controls not counted). Check out full component list in LMD-Tools 8 Data Sheet. New global objects and classes were introduced and existing ones improved. At last hundreds of improvements and fixes to existing components were added! Besides that LMD-Tools truely integrates into the LMD 2007 product line, sharing major parts (the LMD Shared Runtime) with other main LMD products (LMD ElPack, LMD IDE-Tools). Check the LMD 2007 Package Structure for more info.
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LMD-Tools, LMD ElPack and LMD IDE-Tools share the same core runtime. This avoids redundant code and provides common advanced features for all major LMD products. This includes a shared Unicode library, improved HTMLRenderer (including support for display of TGraphic descendants) and shared imagelist support (all main LMD imagelist container are part of the LMD Shared Runtime packages), advanced designtime support (completely new editors for all LMD container controls, new component editor for TLMDGraphicList) and much more. Other examples are:

XML Support Library
A new, extremly fast and fully unicode-enabled XML support library was added. It adds only a small footprint to your Exe-files. XML data can be loaded from files, custom streams, resources or strings. Like other new support libraries this one is written completely in Pascal - no need for additional DLL's or Object files.

New RegEx Engine
Besides that Regular Expression evaluation support was updated! The RegEx support from previous version was replaced by a new unicode-enabled native RegEx library with PRCE compatible syntax.

Support of new compression formats
Support for additional compression formats was added. Besides LZRW and other simple compression formats, which were supported already in previous releases, two new major compression formats are available: On the one hand ZLlib support, which is similar to the known implementation with C++ object files - except that it is a true native Pascal solution which was also ported to VCL.NET. Using ZLIB compression any kind of data (including TStream objects) is possible. On the other hand support of compressing/decompressing CAB files was added.

PNG support and new TLMDBitmap object
The LMD 2007 Runtime includes native support for PNG files (as TGraphic implementation and with TLMDPNGImageList control). PNG files can be used in your apps like any other TGraphic formats like TBitmap or TJpeg.
A new TLMDBitmap class was introduced, which is derived from TBitmap and mainly utilizes the Windows built-in OleLoadPicture function. GIF, JPEG, Icon or Bitmap Files can be loaded without additional special VCL libs (features are not available In VCL.NET, because support of different graphic formats is available through ImageFormat in TBitmap property already).

Validator Controls
The LMD Validator framework introduces a set of components which allow implementation of professional-level client-side validation in an elegant and simple way without writing much code (often without any code at all). The two main tasks taken over by the validator and error provider controls are: To check for validity a value entered by a user into some input control and to provide feedback about validation results (e.g. to indicate an error) in some way.
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The support of System Themes was improved in LMD-Tools 8. Like in recent VCL versions many LMD controls support ParentBackground property, which allows transparent display in themed mode (when CtlXP/Themed mode is enabled. This transparency feature is different from the one provided with Transparent property). Besides that the native ThemeEngine of ElPack 5 was improved and moved to the LMD 2007 Shared Runtime, hence LMD-Tools controls support now like LMD ElPack skinning and theme switching at runtime. New in the LMD 2007 release are theming support for windows Caption and NC areas and improved loading/unloading/switching themes functionality at runtime. Like in previous releases any .MSStyles theme file can be used at runtime. Such .MSStyles can be also encapsulated in compressed CAB files.
Furthermore an addtional controller component was added, which allows centralized control of application wide theme settings (including specification of behaviour for readonly, disabled and other states).
Please note, that by default native ThemeEngine is switched off. To enable native ThemeEngine, corresponding compiler switch must be changed and all files recompiled (Source version required).
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Support of Vista features was added - even for IDEs before Delphi/C++ 2007! Use TLMDVistaFormExtension, TLMDFormGlass, TLMDFileOpen- and TLMDFileSaveDialog to add features not available in older Delphi/C++ releases. Besides that methods for Vista and Aero Glass detection are provided. Includes updated TLMDTaskDialog (now with HTML and Unicode support) - use vista style dialogs even on non-Vista systems!
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Two new Standalone Packages were added to the LMD 2007 release. LMD PrintPack serves as shared package and introduces the TLMDMlGen component (this control was previous available in ElPack as MLGen. It is used to separate data from presentation logic and allows to change the format of the output text without rebuilding the application or changing the data source). In a free upcoming 2007.1 release LMD PrintPack will add additional printing support controls.
LMD-Tools CE user receive the new LMD ChartPack component suite. This package was designed for clear and efficient graphic representation of data in VCL(.NET) applications. Different data sources (DB, XML data etc.) are supported. Several popular 2D and 3D chart types are available - in the first release 10 different main chart types are included.
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LMD-Tools 8 adds several new components. Major examples are the new TLMDPageControl or TLMDTabControl controls, which add a lighweight page control with different visual styles and true themed support even for left/right/bottom tabs. Other examples are new dialog controls and Theme Engine support controls.
Besides that existing controls were improved as well. Examples are the complete integration of Validator support to all List- and Edit-controls and native support of themed display for all LMD ComboBoxes.
Finally designtime support was improved for many components. E.g. all LMD container controls received a new unified editor, a new TLMDGraphicList Component Editor was added, etc.
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All LMD Standalone Packs were modified and adapted to LMD 2007 Shared runtime, hence much code was rewritten and/or redundant code removed.
Important and extensive changes were made to LMD DesignPack (full Unicode support on NT-based systems, support for frames, alignment support lines etc.), LMD ScriptPack (Unicode and Debugger support), LMD RichPack (speed improvements) etc.
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LMD-Tools can be purchased as standalone package or as part of LMD VCL Complete. The LMD VCL Complete Package includes all LMD 2007 VCL(.NET) packages distributed by LMD Innovative. This product is also available as Subscription release with SVN access (the LMD-Tools source repository). The LMD VCL 2007 source branch is quite complex with three main products and various sub- and standalone packages: Therefore LMD DevUtil was created, which allows simple and fast compiling and installing of any possible package combination (check DevUtil instructions for more info) into any supported IDE. This is a complete automated process and saves a lot of time against compiling and installing the package within the IDE by loading project groups.
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• • • Continue with "LMD-Tools 8 Key Features"
• • • Back to LMD-Tools 8 Product Page