LMD VCL 2016 - News

LMD 2016 Minor releases: LMD 2016 History

General

Support for IDEs and operating systems

Supports any Delphi/C++Builder VCL release version 6 or better (including new Delphi/C++Builder 10 Seattle).
Including 64bit support for XE2 and higher! The next Delphi/C++Builder release will be supported almost immediately after public availability.
Supported IDEs
- Delphi 6 and better
- C++ Builder 6 and better
- Delphi 2005.NET - Delphi 2007.NET
- Turbo (2006) Professional versions for Delphi, C++ and Delphi.NET
- All corresponding Studio Products (BDS 2006, CRS 2007, CRS 2009, RAD Studio 2010, XE, XE2, XE3, XE4 etc.)
Supported operating systems
- Win98 and WinNT4 or better (including Windows 7/8/10 or Windows Server 2012(R2)).

For recent Delphi/C++Builder releases LMD VCL package support same platforms as the VCL which is included in the IDE (e.g. Delphi 2009 officially supports Win2k or better only). [Top]

64bit support (Delphi XE2 and higher)

All packages were ported to 64bit. Exception: Compatibility controls (dcllmdlegacy) can not be used in 64bit applications.
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Package naming conventions

Sinde LMD VCL 2012 package names have been changed to be more consistent with VCL naming convention. LMD version number and IDE version number were removed from package names. Runtime package names are prefixed now with "lmdrt", design-time package names with "dcllmd". Some examples of generated package file names are: lmdrtdocking.dcp, lmdrtdocking.bpi, lmdrtdocking.lib, dcllmddocking.dcp, dcllmddocking.bpi, dcllmddocking.lib. IDE version suffix is still included in generated "bpl", e.g. lmdrtdocking_230.bpl for Delphi 10 Seattle.

This change simplifies porting projects (supposed they are compiled with run-time packages) to another IDE version. Since package references contain neither IDE version nor LMD platform version, migrating to a future IDE version requires almost no changes.
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LMD 2016 DevUtil

The DevUtil tool (available for LMD VCL Complete Subscription customers with SVN access) was updated (e.g. with Delphi/C++Builder 10 Seattle support) and improved. It is now easier than ever to switch between different workspaces (sets of component packages), even leaving the current IDE is no longer required!
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NG 2016 Complete included in any LMD VCL Major product

All major products (LMD VCL Complete, LMD-Tools, LMD IDE-Tools and LMD ElPack) include now a full license of NG Complete - our latest and most up-to-date VCL controls. Besides the already known NG ConnectionPack, SerializerPack, HTMLPack, DialogPack and ValidatorPack the brand new NG Drag&DropPack is included, which simplifies Drag&Drop operations within but also outside your projects enormously. [Top]

LMD 2016 Reg Utility

Since 2016 release NG Controls uses same license scheme like LMD VCL product line. This you can review on your machine available licenses for both LMD VCL and NG products via the RegUtility. Since version 2013 RegUtility installer copies all files to the %APPDATA%\LMD Innovative folder (instead of system folder in previous releases). As known from previous releases the new reg utilities recognize earlier license files (regardless whether they are stored in system or appdata folder), so that only one reg utility is required for current and previous licenses. [Top]

New subscription model and new customer area

We received some criticism for our old update policy (especially observing the very fast Embarcadero release cycle and our yearly updates).
Old update policy included free minor updates with same major version number - until next major release was available. We offered only for VCL Complete packages subscription models.
Following changes will be introduced with 2016 licenses:

Each full- or update purchase includes now a one year subscription (free-of-charge)

This one-year subscription refers to major version updates. If a new major version is released within subscription period, you'll receive automatically new version free of charge. VCL Complete customers will receive even fully new LMD VCL products released in subscription period.

Minor updates with same major version number are handled like before:

These updates are always free of charge for all major (products LMD-Tools, ElPack, IDE-Tools, etc.) and standalone packs. These updates are placed in our protected download areas and can be downloaded free of charge - anytime (using your registration utility).

What happens when subscription expires?

Subscription period refers only to the right receiving free major version updates.
If your subscription expires, your licenses behaves like before (free minor updates until next major release, perpetual use of the current license).
To reflect new changes we introduced a new customer area, where customers can review and check license status at one single place. [Top]

Package Changes

General

LMDSysIn.pas

New platform types (TLMDSysPlatform) for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 support
New global variables for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 support
Controls which makes use of this enhancements (like TLMDInformationLabel etc.) include additional values as well.

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Standalone Packs

LMD DialogPack

Buttons width calculating bug fixed.

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LMD DockingPack

New VCL Styles support has been added! New special built-in style, which is called VCLStyle can be used together with VCL Styles feature of the latest Delphi versions (XE2 and up). The style utilize new dynamic colors feature of the LMD-DockingPack styling system to reflect corresponding VCL Style colors.
The dynamic colors feature allow to specify colors in the style's XML as references to VCL Style colors, font colors and elements colors. As well, some predefined color modification functions, like Highlight, Shadow and Blend, can be used. Moreover, internal system support Accent and AccentText functions, which return bright accent color for each VCL Style; for most styles this color correspond to scButtonFocused color, but for some styles it has been hard-coded to provide adequate accent.

GDICheck call is removed from BitBlt to work around the bug happens when user sessions is changed.

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LMD GridPack

The bug with column idexes has been fixes, which provide grid compatibililty with third-party in-memory datasets.
OnGetCellColor event has been published in TLMDDBGrid control class.

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LMD InspectorPack

VCL Styles support has been added to several other standalone packs, for example LMD InspectorPack:
- Property Inspector demo in Golden Graphite Style
- Property Inspector demo in Metro Blue Style

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LMD RichPack

TLMDRichPageSetupDialog bug has been fixed.
The bug with long line and big font size in LMDRichScrollText control has been fixed.

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LMD Tools

NG Controls 2016 changes
VCL Styles support has been reworked and improved to most LMD-Tools controls.

A new demo was added to demonstrate VCL Styles support for LMD-Tools controls (works in XE2 and better only - check \lmdtools\VCLStyles_XE2up folder).
Windows 10 support has been added to LMD SysPack.

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LMD ElPack

NG Controls 2016 changes
TEL(X)Tree: Behaviour of horizontal scrollbar visibility changed (when no columns are shown). E.g. in certain situtations last item was hidden or not visible.
TElXTree: The following events have been added - OnCtlClick, OnCtlDblClick, OnCtlMouseDown, OnCtlMouseMove, OnCtlMouseUp.
TElScrollBar using Step property in keyboard mode bug fix.
Tab processing along with tabs width property has been added in Html controls.
Anchoring issue (with disabled themes) with ElPageCtrl fixed

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LMD IDE-Tools

NG Controls 2016 changes
VCL Styles support has been added to TLMDComponentPalette component and other IDE-Tools controls
- IDE-Tools demo in Metro Blue look
- IDE-Tools demo in Golden Graphite look
- IDE-Tools demo in Sapphire Kamri look
ScriptPack Impoter files for Delphi/C++ 10 Seattle added
Small bug, related to Lua Script engine, has been fixed in LMD-ScriptPack.

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Changes/Enhancements since initial LMD VCL 2015 release

All packages

[+] Delphi/C++ XE8 compatibility including new installers!
[+] Along with XE8 helpfile installer help file menu items in IDE (XE8 only) for LMD help files were added.
[*] LMD VCL Configuration dialog updated (Info section)
[*] Review of code for 64bit related changes
[-] Fixed: LMD VCL Configuration dialog could not be started on older Delphi releases (e.g. Delphi 7).
[-] Current ThemesManager object (if one is set) is now released when application is closed.
[-] Critical bug with TLMDPngImage (causing TLMDPngImageList to fail loading images from streams) fixed.
[-]TLMDPNGImageList/TLMDGraphicList Component Editors reworked (modeless -> modal dialogs). Solves AVs in IDE when using TLMDPNGImageList/TLMDGraphicList controls after editor was executed.
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LMD Tools

[+] Tab processing (using <tab> syntax) has been added to the HTML rendering engine.
[+] More correct background color is now used instead of clInfoBk as a default hint color; the color is calculated averaging drawed theme part pixels.
[*] Internal managing of hint windows has been redesigned.
[-] The bug with usage of several TLMDMessageHint components in one project has been fixed.
[-] TLMDComboBox drawing bug, related to Style = csSimple, has been fixed.
[-] Fixed: TLMDButton drawing bug with enabled VCL Styles (XE2 and better)
[-] TLMDMathParser: Memory Leaks removed.
[-] TLMDWndButtonShape: Problem with TLMDWndButtonShape controls (AV when clicked, application end) fixed.
[-] TLMDCustomShapeButton: Bug, related to painting of invisible button has been fixed.
[-] TLMDDateTimePicker: am/pm bug has been fixed.
[-] TLMDEdit.PasswordChar bug fix (changing Text property changed PasswordChar value). This problem occured exclusively on C++Builder 7 only.
[-] LMDSysIn.pas: Header problems with C++Builder fixed
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LMD ElPack

[+] TElXTree: OnCtlClick, OnCtlDblClick, OnCtlMouseDown, OnCtlMouseMove, OnCtlMouseUp events added
[+] CalendarFormColor and CalendarFormFont properties have been added to TElDateTimePicker control; overall control look has been improved.
[+] More correct background color is now used instead of clInfoBk as a default hint color; the color is calculated averaging drawed theme part pixels.
[+] OnImageNeededEx event has been added to TElHTMLPanel control.
[+] ThumbColor property has been added to TElCtrlScrollBarStyles class.
[+] TElFolderDialog: New property EnableCustomButton added.
[*] TElDateTimePicker: Change in cursor settings behaviour
[-] TElMouseHint size calculation bug has been fixed.
[-] TElScrollBar: Step property in keyboard mode bug fix.
[-] TElTree and TElXTree bug, related to drawing of check-boxed and radio-buttons with VCL styles turned on, has been fixed.
[-] TElXTree: Problem with UseXPThemes property fixed.
[-] TELXTree: Cell selection bug (provided by abb).
[-] TElXTree Copy/Paste in IDE caused AV when cells contained HTML text or HTML style was enabled.
[-] TElXTree: Problems with OwnStyle definitions in 64bit projects solved (caused DFM loading errors in 64bit applications.
[-] The bug with drawing themed TElTree and TElXTree checkboxes in latest IDE versions has been fixed.
[-] TElMenu bug, related to X64 platform has been fixed.
[-] TElCurrencyEdit: Fixed - depending on Scale/PixelsPerInch settings, display was cut off (on the right side)
[-] TElPanel: When BorderSides property is enabled, alignment of inner controls is now correctly adjusted.
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