Valient's IT Notes

TIOBE Index for August 2026

The TIOBE Programming Community index is an indicator of the popularity of programming languages. The index is updated once a month. The ratings are based on the number of skilled engineers world-wide, courses and third party vendors. Popular web sites Google, Amazon, Wikipedia, Bing and more than 20 others are used to calculate the ratings. It is important to note that the TIOBE index is not about the best programming language or the language in which most lines of code have been written. The index can be used to check whether your programming skills are still up to date or to make a strategic decision about what programming language should be adopted when starting to build a new software system.

TIOBE index

String, AnsiString in Delphi 2007, in Delphi 2009. Differences and Migration Implications

Official Unicode support was added in Delphi 2009 with code name Tiburón.

In Delphi Versions <= 2007, string was an alias for AnsiString (a single-byte character string type).
In Delphi Versions >= 2009, this changed, and string became an alias for UnicodeString (a multi-byte, UTF-16 character string type), while AnsiString remained available as a type for 8-bit character data.

This change was a major shift to include full Unicode support and has significant implications for code written in Delphi <= 2007 that is being migrated to Delphi 2009 or later.

Key Differences and Migration Implications

String Alias:

Delphi 2007 and earlier: String = AnsiString. The data was 8-bit and its interpretation (code page) was generally linked to the operating system's regional settings.
Delphi 2009 and later: String = UnicodeString. The data is 16-bit (WideChar), typically using UTF-16 encoding, allowing for a broad range of characters.

Character Types:

Delphi 2007: Char = AnsiChar (8-bit).
Delphi 2009: Char = WideChar (16-bit).

Type   | Delphi 2007 | Delphi 2009, XE
-------+-------------+----------------
string | AnsiString  | UnicodeString
char   | AnsiChar    | WideChar
pchar  | PAnsiChar   | PWideChar

Data Handling:

Direct assignments between AnsiString and the new UnicodeString (string) in Delphi 2009 involve implicit conversions, which can cause to performance issues or, more importantly, data loss if not handled carefully. The compiler will often issue warnings for these conversions.
The internal structure of AnsiString itself changed slightly between versions (e.g., in Delphi 2009, it stores a code page number, which was not present in Delphi 2007's AnsiString), making sharing strings between DLLs compiled with different versions problematic.

Migration pieces of Advice

To migrate code that uses strings between these versions, you generally have preferred approaches:

Explicitly Ansi-fy the Code (Short-term fix): Replace all instances of the generic string, Char, and PChar with their explicit 8-bit equivalents: AnsiString, AnsiChar and PAnsiChar. This retains the old behavior but means your application will not leverage Unicode natively and will still encounter conversion overhead when interacting with the rest of the Unicode VCL/RTL in Delphi 2009.
Resort to Unicode: Update your code to use the native UnicodeString (string) type throughout your application. Use AnsiString only at the boundaries where you interact with legacy data, files, or external APIs that require ANSI encoding (e.g., when saving or loading data from an older database). Use functions like TEncoding.GetString to properly decode data.
// Delphi <= 2007 code — assumes 1 byte per char, breaks silently under Unicode procedure TrimBuffer(var Buf: array of Char; MaxLen: Integer); var P: PChar; begin P := @Buf[0]; Inc(P, MaxLen); // wrong stride Char is 2 bytes P^ := #0; end;
The correction isn’t simple recompilation, but to audit every PChar, every SizeOf(Char) assumption, and every place where raw bytes to a file or socket expecting ANSI.
Compiler directives and conditional code
The Version constants are not intuitive but they may lead to mistakes:
{$IFDEF VER150} // Delphi 7 {$IFDEF VER185} // Delphi 2007 Win32 has VER180 & VER185 {$IFDEF VER200} // Delphi 2009 Tiburon {$IFDEF VER210} // Delphi 2010 Weaver
Prefer to use Compiler Version than Version constants
{$IF CompilerVersion >= 20.0} // Delphi 2009 and higher ... {$ELSE} ... {$IFEND}
If the codebase has already passed one migration, it likely has {$IFDEF} blocks keyed to old version constants. Don’t delete these blindly — audit each one with attention.

The ANSI function to Ansi-fy, syntax for string

	Ansi-fy
`const C ='...';`	`const C: AnsiString ='...';`
CompareText	AnsiCompareText
CompareStr	AnsiCompareStr

Delphi 2007 and Delphi 2009+ difference in string types. Migration
To be continued

Delphi Version in Windows System Registry

Initially the project was made October 27, 2010 by Rodrigo Ruz
The essence of the project is to detect the Delphi (or Rad-Studio) versions installed in a system by check the existence of registry keys under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER root. Good illustration to the article Default system registry path for Delphi and C++Builder

The project was simplified, only one form was left and newer Delphi versions from XE2 up to Delphi 13 Florence were added.
The Delphi version remained the same - 2007
Checked in Delphi 2007
Date last modified: August 25, 2026

The project Delphi Version in System Registry is available in My Github Repository

Default system registry path for Delphi and C++Builder

User Settings Root folder - HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Shared/Global Settings Root folder - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Delphi

Borland Delphi 2	Software\Borland\Delphi\2.0
Borland Delphi 3	Software\Borland\Delphi\3.0
Borland Delphi 4	Software\Borland\Delphi\4.0
Borland Delphi 5	Software\Borland\Delphi\5.0
Borland Delphi 6	Software\Borland\Delphi\6.0
Borland Delphi 7	Software\Borland\Delphi\7.0
Borland Delphi 8	Software\Borland\Delphi\8.0
Borland Developer Studio 2005	Software\Borland\BDS\3.0
Borland Developer Studio 2006	Software\Borland\BDS\4.0
CodeGear RAD Studio 2007	Software\Borland\BDS\5.0
CodeGear RAD Studio 2009	Software\Borland\BDS\6.0
CodeGear RAD Studio 2010	Software\Borland\BDS\7.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\8.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE2	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\9.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE3	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\10.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE4	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\11.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE5	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\12.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE6	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\14.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE7	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\15.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE8	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\16.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.0 Seattle	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\17.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.1 Berlin	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\18.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\19.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.3 Rio	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\20.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.4 Sydney	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\21.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 11 Alexandria	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\22.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 12 Athens	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\23.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 13 Florence	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\37.0

Software implementation

C++Builder

Borland C++Builder 1	Software\Borland\C++Builder\1.0
Borland C++Builder 3	Software\Borland\C++Builder\3.0
Borland C++Builder 4	Software\Borland\C++Builder\4.0
Borland C++Builder 5	Software\Borland\C++Builder\5.0
Borland C++Builder 6	Software\Borland\C++Builder\6.0
Borland Developer Studio 2006	Software\Borland\BDS\4.0
CodeGear RAD Studio 2007	Software\Borland\BDS\5.0
CodeGear RAD Studio 2009	Software\Borland\BDS\6.0
CodeGear RAD Studio 2010	Software\Borland\BDS\7.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\8.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE2	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\9.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE3	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\10.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE4	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\11.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE5	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\12.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE6	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\14.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE7	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\15.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio XE8	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\16.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.0 Seattle	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\17.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.1 Berlin	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\18.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\19.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.3 Rio	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\20.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 10.4 Sydney	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\21.0
Embarcadero RAD Studio 11 Alexandria	Software\Embarcadero\BDS\22.0

Wallet of Satoshi. Some troubles revealed

I spent a whole day of my only life trying to figure out what the matter was.

Wallet of Satoshi
App Version 3.3.6 (352), iOS 26.6

This complements the information from the WoS official website and I think may be useful to those who also encounter similar problems.

The custodial wallet runs with a direct connection with the Belarusian IP address. But the self-custodial wallet only runs via VPN! And I couldn't switch the wallet to non-custodial wallet without VPN.

Custodial Wallet

Switch between custodial and self-custodial wallet without VPN freezes at three-quarters part.

Self-custodial Wallet

Wallet of Satoshi stuck without VPN at startup during Syncing... at three quarters.
If self-custodial wallet was once initialized it is possible to return to custodial wallet by menu.

Create a New Wallet / Restore Existing Wallet of Satoshi

If self-custodial wallet was not once initialized on device, this state of the application can only be overcome either by restoring the self-custodial wallet of Satoshi, if it was already once created before, or by reinstalling the application.
Force-closing the app and restarting leads to nothing new, the app starts in the same state.

No or lost VPN

Wallet of Satoshi with message: Recovery Failed! Please check your 12 words and try again.

1. For example, if the connection requires VPN, Wallet of Satoshi displays a message: "Recovery Failed! Please check your 12 words and try again."
Green color indicates that the words are correct, there is a connection problem.
Turn on the VPN before starting the wallet recovery. If this status happened, the VPN will not help, restart WoS.
2. Red and green colors in the font can serve as a clue for an attacker while words brute force.

If the VPN connection is dropped or you disconnect, Wallet of Satoshi gives out the message: "A network error occured. Please check your connection."
The message disappears when the VPN is restored.

Without VPN stuck the Wallet of Satoshi on the Finalizing... at the eleventh of twelve parts of circle

Switching from WoS Custody Wallet to Self-custodial wallet without VPN stuck the app on the Finalizing... at the eleventh of twelve parts of circle.
Despite the fact that the Custodial and Self-custodial wallets have different Lightning addresses, the wallet in Self-custodial mode receives notifications about the money arrival to the Custodial address without VPN enabled.

On August 16th I sent a link to this description of my experience with the Wallet of Satoshi, they gave a ticket and not a word.

Conclusion: soon of all you'll be able to use your Wallet of Satoshi from Belarus without a VPN.

Pygame 2.6.1. was not installed on Python 3.14.6 (3.14.5)

Running py -m pip install -U pygame --user to install Pygame the error message occured: Getting requirements to build wheel did not run successfully.
After update to pillow-12.2.0 the Pygame was not install all the same.

pygame 2.6.1 was released: Sept. 29, 2024

Pygame is dead?

For newer versions of Python (e.g. 3.14+), it's best to use the latest community release: python -m pip install pygame-ce.

TitleBar - Delphi component which adds many features: AutoHide, SetRegion, border width for form, color for everything, good looking borders, ShowInTaskbar, etc.

This is a curiosity component demonstrates, what can be made of Delphi forms and control elements.
This is another note for Delphi code modernization trend
Changes in TTitleBar by Valient Newman in an attempt to revive an old project and to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 6 and higher.
Corrections were tested in Delphi 2007, 2009 environment. Date last modified by Newman: January 30, 2025
Checked in in Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated January 30, 2025

TTitleBar v2.01

TitleBar - Delphi component which adds many features: AutoHide, SetRegion, border width for form, color for everything, good looking borders, ShowInTaskbar, etc.

The components TTitleBar v2.01 is available in My Github Repository

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments. Source code is provided free of charge. The software is provided to you “AS-IS”. As such, there is no guarantee of any support whatsoever.

credits to:
Seth Taylor made this component on February 8, 1999 on Delphi 3

Christmas tree on Python on Turtle

# Christmas tree on Python
import turtle

def line(x1, y1, x2, y2):
    turtle.penup()
    turtle.goto(x1, y1)
    turtle.pendown()
    turtle.goto(x2, y2)
    
screen = turtle.Screen()
screen.title("Christmas Fir tree")
screen.setup(500, 500)
# To turn the drawing upside down
screen.setworldcoordinates(0, screen.window_height(), screen.window_width(), 0)

turtle.pencolor('green')

line(200,210,220,230)
line(220,230,180,230) 
line(180,230,200,210)
line(200,230,230,250)
line(230,250,170,250)
line(170,250,200,230)
line(200,250,250,270)
line(250,270,150,270)
line(150,270,200,250)
line(200,270,270,290)
line(270,290,130,290) 
line(130,290,200,270)
line(200,290,290,310)
line(290,310,110,310) 
line(110,310,200,290)

turtle.hideturtle()
turtle.exitonclick()

This simple code example was intentionally made similar to Christmas tree on Pascal on Android

The Christmas tree on Python on Turtle is available in My Github Repository

Christmas tree on Pascal on Android

Fir Tree on Pascal N-IDE on Android

Realized on Pascal N-IDE - Editor Compiler.

Pascal N-IDE - Editor Compiler, Nguyễn Mậu Hiếu, mauhieudev on Google Play

The Christmas tree on Pascal on Android is available in My Github Repository

Fir Tree Code on Pascal N-IDE on Android

program Firtree; 
uses graph, crt; 

var g,h: integer; 

begin 

g := detect; 
initgraph(g,h,'EGAVGA.BGI'); 
setcolor(2); 

line(200,210,220,230); ,
line(220,230,180,230); 
line(180,230,200,210);
line(200,230,230,250);
line(230,250,170,250);
line(170,250,200,230);
line(200,250,250,270);
line(250,270,150,270);
line(150,270,200,250);
line(200,270,270,290);
line(270,290,130,290); 
line(130,290,200,270);
line(200,290,290,310);
line(290,310,110,310); 
line(110,310,200,290);

readln; 
end.

Once upon a time there were Delphi Haters and their list of vendors who stopped supporting Delphi

Cemetery of Delphi Vendors who stopped supporting

I found Delphi Haters' Blog. Vendors who stopped supporting Delphi with date: Saturday, July 24, 2010
The fact is that Delphi/Object Pascal is in 8th position on tiobe.com TOP10 list of programming languages for November 2025 and the fact is encouraging.
There is fresh, the almost exact copy of origin list of vendors who stopped supporting Delphi I made a copy of these lists for myself and deleted the duplicates in them.
As for me, this is not a Delphi Vendors Cemetery, but an expanded window of opportunity and an experience that can be borrowed.

I look for information about them in search engines.

Vendors who went out of business

athrasoft.com – Vendor of Athrasoft Plugins
cgiexpert.com – Vendor of CGIExpert
odbc98.com – Vendor of ODBC98 – reason cited as poor or non-existent sales
classicsw.com – Vendor of Classic Component
PIMFlashfesoft.com – Vendor of PIMFlash
turbopower.com – Vendor of TurboPower Components
maxcomponents.net – Vendor of Max Help and Max Components
buypin.com – Vendor of B.S. components
vistadb.com – Vendor of Apollo database
asp-express.com – Vendor of classic ASP components
classicworks.com.au – Vendor of Classworks Development VCL
defined.net – Vendor of Defined Forms
dream-com.com – Vendor of Dream Company
crynesoft.com – Vendor of Genesis Component Pack
teletech-systems.com – HelpWriter application
volgadb.com – Vendor of Volga Database
DFS (Delphi Free Stuff)
animatedmenus.com – Vendor of Animated Menus – cited Poor sales
acctsync.com – Vendor of QuickBooks Components
DuckReports – Vendor of Duck Reporting Components
BalticSolutions – Vendor of ColorMemo
Helping Hands Software – n/a
UDC Corp – Vendor of MemoWriter, PowerSpreadsheet
IBrightSolutions – Vendor of Simulation Software
Unley Software – KeyDB
DictaSoft.com, Layout Components
CrystalVCL.net, Crystal VCL and other components
Cando Framework
RHITech.com, Excel Add-in component
DScriptVCL.com, Delphi Scripting VCL components
CSS-Software.com, CSS Component Suite
JB Components/ JB Component Suite
CytonResearch.com, VCL Component Packs
Codecellerate.com, Drawing Engine,
EZCad Soft, EZSoft Engineering
ValdSoft, VSLib component package
AriseSoft, AriseSoft Shell Component Pack (and others)
CoolPaint.com, HTML tokenizer, HTML mini-viewer, Cool Chart
ksv.hypermart.net, Handmade VCL Components
alphadomino.ru, Gantt Chart components
ta4delphi.com, Technical Analysis Charting components
praktical.com, Praktical Organic button components
maverick.co.uk, Aqua Mac-looking components
FlatStyle.de, Flat Style Components
SlickTools.com, InfoMatters office components
MediaPilot.com, Installation components
Intag.de, DxComponent Collection

Vendors who stopped supporting Delphi

Softel VDM – Vendor of SftTree, SftBox, SftButton – reason cited as “massive software piracy”
AHM Tritron Tools – Vendor of AHM Components
adrock.com – Adrock Calendar Components (GPL)
tekhnologos.com – Their VCL library is no longer for licensing
SweetControls.com – Sweet Controls
degisy.com – Degisy Controls

Vendors who stopped supporting one of their Delphi components/ or all of their products

MicroOlap.com, Packet Sniffer for Delphi, end of life
SciBit.com MySQL Components, end of life
KsDev.com, Block Engine, Office VCL (disappeared from their site)
lphaAsp.com Alpha Corporation, Alpha Units, Alpha Interceptor (disappeared from their site)
Djordje Peric, PDJ Packs (their website is no longer available)
CodeBot.com, CodeBot library (no longer available for download)
SuiPack.com, KeyDB (formerly from SUIPack)
Syntetix.com, Theme Control
CoolDev.com (All their Delphi products are now freeware)
9spice.net RapidSolutions, RapidTree, 9Rays Treeview
Willmark.ru, WillMark Tree Wizard
GeoCities/Stephan Marais – Open Sybase CT-Library Library
TekhneLogos.com, PowerCad, supposedly given a non-existent 10% discount on Torry’s
Baltsoft.com, ProjectPlus components
Tops.com.pl, SMSC Delphi components (cited as “no demand” or “very low response”)
Timelesstech.com, all their Delphi components (Lock & Key, Fax components)

DFS EllipsisPanel is Delphi component that can shorten the caption text, replacing it with '...'

Delphi code modernization trend
Changes in TdfsEllipsisPanel have been made by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2, 2009 and higher.
Checked in 2009
Updated 22 dec 2025

TdfsEllipsisPanel v1.20

DFS EllipsisPanel is Delphi component that can shorten the caption text, replacing it with '...' when it does not fit the available space. Also a generic function that "ellipsifies" a string is provided.

The components TdfsEllipsisPanel v1.20 is available in My Github Repository

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments. All DFS source code is provided free of charge. The software is provided to you "AS-IS". As such, there is no guarantee of any support whatsoever. The component throws an Access violation error and its source code can be used as an example for study.

credits to:
Bradley D. Stowers The author of All Delphi Free Stuff (“DFS”)
Copyright 1996, Brad Stowers. All Rights Reserved.

DFS GrabBar - Delphi component, grab bar, or splitter, to allow two windows to be resized simultaneously

Delphi code modernization trend
Changes in TdfsGrabBar have been made by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2, 2009 and higher.
Checked in 2009
Updated 22 dec 2025

TdfsGrabBar v1.17

DFS GrabBar is a bar that allows two TWinControl components to be resized by dragging it.

The components TdfsGrabBar v1.17 is available in My Github Repository

credits to:
Bradley D. Stowers The author of All Delphi Free Stuff (“DFS”)
Copyright 1996, Brad Stowers. All Rights Reserved.

DFS MRUFileList - Delphi component to simplify adding MRU file lists to menus

TMRUFList Demo with RadStudio Delphi 2009 Closed Files list

Delphi code modernization trend
Changes in TdfsMRUFileList have been made by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2, 2009 and higher.
Checked in Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 21 dec 2025

TdfsMRUFileList v2.68

DFS MRUFileList - Delphi component that greatly simplifies adding MRU file lists to menus.
TMRUFList Demo was made with RadStudio Delphi 2009 Closed Files list in mdFileNameOnly.

The components TdfsMRUFileList v2.68 is available in My Github Repository

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments. All DFS source code is provided free of charge. The software is provided to you "AS-IS", and all risks and losses associated with it's use are assumed by you. As such, there is no guarantee of any support whatsoever.

credits to:
Bradley D. Stowers The author of All Delphi Free Stuff (“DFS”)
Copyright 1996, Brad Stowers. All Rights Reserved.

MiTeC File Explorer is Windows Explorer-like component

Delphi code modernization trend
Changes in TMFileExplorer have been made by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 6 and higher.
Checked in Delphi 7 and Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 20 dec 2025

TMFileExplorer v1.15

MiTeC File Explorer is Windows Explorer-like component.

The components TMFileExplorer v1.15 is available in My Github Repository

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments. All source code is provided free of charge. As such, there is no guarantee of any support whatsoever.

DFS Icon Controls: Icon ComboBox and Icon ListBox caching components for Delphi

TdfsIconComboBox Demo with Delphi 2009 icons

Delphi code modernization
Changes in TdfsIconComboBox and TdfsIconListBox have been made by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2, 2009 and higher.
Checked in Delphi 7 and Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 18 dec 2025

TdfsIconComboBox and TdfsIconListBox v1.17

The caching Icon ComboBox and Icon ListBox components for Delphi.

A dropdown list style combobox that displays the icons that exist in a given file, and a listbox that displays the icons that exist in a given file, either horizontally or vertically.

TdfsIconListBox Demo with Delphi 2009 icons

Features: Optionally, the control can disable itself when the filename is invalid. Optionally, the control can load icons "on demand." This speeds up the initialization process greatly because all icons do not have to be loaded when the control is created. Many file formats can be read from, including: .EXE, .DLL, .ICO .ICL { PCTools? Icon Library .NIL { Norton Icon Library ListBox can simulate a grid of icons, allowing you to set the number of icons to be displayed in both the X and Y direction. This setting can be changed dynamically.

The components TdfsIconComboBox and TdfsIconListBox v1.17 is available in My Github Repository

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments. All DFS source code is provided free of charge. As such, there is no guarantee of any support whatsoever.

FWTrayIcon - component for registering class to work with the system tray

Delphi code modernization
Changes in TFWTrayIcon by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2009 and higher.
Checked in Delphi 7 and Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 18 dec 2025

TFWTrayIcon v1.05

Сomponent for registering class to work with the system tray.

The component TFWTrayIcont v1.05 is available in My Github Repository

The component has realization issues for instance with hint display and the use of this component is on your own risk.

The software is provided as is without any garanties and warranty.
This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments.

credits to:
Fangorn Wizards Lab Exstension Library
Alexander (Rouse_) Bagel, his GitHub
© Fangorn Wizards Lab 1998 - 2005.

FWHint - component to register class to work with application hints

Delphi code modernization
Changes in TFWHint by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2009 and higher.
Checked in Delphi 7 and Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 17 dec 2025

TFWHint v1.05

Сomponent for registering class to work with application hints.

The component TFWHint v1.05 is available in My Github Repository

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments.

credits to:
Fangorn Wizards Lab Exstension Library
Alexander (Rouse_) Bagel, his GitHub
© Fangorn Wizards Lab 1998 - 2005.

DlgTest is design-time testing of TCommonDialog component descendants

Delphi legacy code modernization
Corrections brought in DlgTest by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 6, when the design-time and runtime code must be separated.
Checked in Delphi 7 and Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 17 dec 2025
The component DlgTest is available in My Github Repository This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments.

DlgTest v1.05

DFS Color Button

Delphi legacy code modernization
Corrections brought in CBtnForm, ColorAEd, DFSClrBn by Valient Newman to make the component meet the requirements of Delphi 2, 2009 and higher, where WinTypes, WinProcs units are absent.
Checked in Delphi 7 and Delphi 2007, 2009
Updated 15 dec 2025

TdfsColorButton v2.62

A Windows 95 and NT 4 style color selection button, which displays a palette of 20 color for fast selection and a button to bring up the color dialog.

This component can be freely used and distributed in commercial and private environments.

The component DFS Color Button is available in My Github Repository

If WinTypes and WinProcs units are absent in Delphi

Alias to the project: WinProcs=Windows WinTypes=Windows

WinTypes and WinProcs units are absent in Delphi 2 and higher.

WinTypes.pas and WinProcs.pas are units from Windows 3.1x., they come from Turbo Pascal and Delphi 1.
In Win9x and later they were replaced with Windows.pas.

First solution to add an alias to the project: WinProcs=Windows, and WinTypes=Windows.
Delphi admits some aliases. For example, aliases for backwards compatibility from WinProcs and WinTypes to Windows.
The full string with conditional compilation directives may be sush as WinTypes=Windows;WinProcs=Windows;DbiTypes=BDE;DbiProcs=BDE;DbiErrs=BDE;

Second solution is to use in code conditional compilation directives for various Delphi versions.


{$IF CompilerVersion >= 9.0}
// Delphi 2 and higher
Windows,
{$ELSE}
WinTypes, WinProcs,
{$IFEND}

Remaking old components for Delphi
Переделывая старые компоненты для Delphi

Key Differences and Migration Implications

Migration pieces of Advice

The ANSI function to Ansi-fy, syntax for string

Delphi

C++Builder

Wallet of SatoshiApp Version 3.3.6 (352), iOS 26.6

Custodial Wallet

Self-custodial Wallet

No or lost VPN

TTitleBar v2.01

Fir Tree on Pascal N-IDE on Android

Vendors who went out of business

Vendors who stopped supporting Delphi

Vendors who stopped supporting one of their Delphi components/ or all of their products

TdfsEllipsisPanel v1.20

TdfsGrabBar v1.17

TdfsMRUFileList v2.68

TMFileExplorer v1.15

TdfsIconComboBox and TdfsIconListBox v1.17

TFWTrayIcon v1.05

TFWHint v1.05

DlgTest v1.05

TdfsColorButton v2.62

Wallet of Satoshi
App Version 3.3.6 (352), iOS 26.6