Delphi classes_(re)

Mon, 7 Jul 1997 15:10:24 +0100 (BST)

On Sat, 5 Jul 1997 20:21:24 +0200 Frank Heckenbach  wrote:
>
>Ken Linder wrote:
>
>> The Object Inspector is a development tool that allows the developer to
>> 'non-programaticaly' set the properties of an object before instantiation.
>> Here is a quick example:
>>
>> ...
>> published
>>    Caption : string;
>>    Status  : (Maximized, Minimized, DontKnow);
>>    SomeNum : integer;
>> ...
>> Lets say the above is part of an object that can be 'dragged' onto the
>> desired window. (Yes, I know I am talking Windows here)  Selecting the
>> object after it is dragged onto the window will make the 'object inspector'
>> display all 'published' properties of that object.  The object inspector
>> will allow the programmer to enter some string for Caption, select one of
>> the enumerated values for Status, and an integer for SomeNum.  At run-time
>> the object inspector don't exist.  It is strictly part of the Delphi (and
>> C++ builder) development tool.
>
>AFAI understand it, it's just some form of debugger, isn't it? (Typical for
>all the Windoze hype to introduce new names for the same old things...?)
>I think, changing values of object fields can be done with any debugger.

The object inspector is not a form of debugger. It is a visual
design tool, that allows the properties of an object to be set
and changed without writing any source code (just change the
values in the object inspector). Thus, it is possible (in theory)
to write a fully fledged program without writing a single line of
code. It all depends on the richness of your "components".

>Anyway, so the difference between "published" and "public" is just relevant
>to the debugger, not to the compiled program?

It is relevant to the object inspector, at design time. The values
which you set in the object inspector are preserved in the
compiled program (just as if you had manually written the code 
to set those values before compiling the program).

Best regards, The Chief 
Dr Abimbola A. Olowofoyeku (The African Chief, and the Great Elephant)
Author of:  Chief's Installer Pro v3.60 for Win16 and Win32.
Homepage:  http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/African_Chief/
E-mail: laa12@cc.keele.ac.uk


The African Chief (laa12@cc.keele.ac.uk)