Living Lazarus

SimpleCompressor updated.

2011-03-29T12:45:00.001+01:00

I've received a few comments on the first version of SimpleCompressor and I've altered it a bit.

It now backs up the original executable before it processes it, informs you when it has finished and tells you how small your new executable is.

There is also an About box with simple instructions. Simple, to match the compressor.

Available from my Software pages for Windows 32bit, Linux 32bit and Linux 64bit, along with the sources.

2011-03-21T11:53:00.002Z

Reducing the size of Lazarus's compiled executables is fairly frequently commented on in the Lazarus forum. The default is for the exe to have all of the debugging tags kept in so this makes for a bulky exe even though the app in itself may be modest .

I have modified a small app by Marien van Westen from 2006 to enable you to compress your app to a very reasonable size.

Example: The compressor can work on another instance of itself to reduce its size from 19.5MB to 1MB.

I am packaging it so that versions exist for both Windows and Linux. There will be packages with just the necessary executables for both and a source package.

These will be uploaded soon onto my website and I will post in the Lazarus forums that they are available.

2009-09-07T11:43:00.002+01:00

Doh!

I've been using Slackware Linux and its Vector derivative for some time now and I have found that Freepascal and Lazarus make a great programming combination.

Installing is not a problem. Download the stable build of Freepascal, untar it, and, as root install using the shell script. Simply a matter of writing ./install.sh and pressing enter.

After downloading the source file Lazarus is installed into your home folder by untaring it, opening a terminal in the folder and issuing the command, make clean all.

This is how it's done with the latest versions anyway.

I have had the previous version (2.2.2) of Freepascal installed for a while and I have had a problem compiling updated versions of Lazarus. The errors that came up involved GTK2 calls. I investigated updating GTK2 just in case, no need to apparently, I have the latest version. It was only when I updated to Freepascal 2.2.4 and then compiled Lazarus that the errors were conspicuous by their absense!

Just a word to the wise if you are having this problem.

2008-05-29T18:16:00.003+01:00

New Application uploaded.

My database explorer application is taking longer to complete and release than I expected. I think I'm making it overly complicated, so I am editing and refining the code I have written before I finish the first release.

I have uploaded onto my website a small application that will, depending on the date picked from a calendar, allow you to enter, edit and delete notes. It uses a TDbf table to do so. It is a bit rough around the edges but works quite well.
One thing I have noticed is with the Linux version you have to place the database table and the HTML help file into the Home folder instead of the apps folder. This isn't necessary with the Windows version. Strange. I intend to continue working on it to iron out this wrinkle and I will hopefully add a print option to the File menu.

2007-11-28T11:15:00.000Z

Project update.

My Db explorer is coming along and I expect to have it ready for download within the next two months or so. This will be a testing release so, don't use it for any kind of production use.

You have been forewarned!

Lazarus 0.9.24 released.

Yes, the latest release is available and having downloaded and installed it on both Windows XP and Mandriva 2007 Spring I can tell you that it's the best yet. Lots of updates and bug fixes and a pleasure to use.

Try it out.

2007-07-11T09:13:00.000+01:00

Project update

In between work and my Open University course studies I have been working on a small dbf explorer and editor. It is fairly slow going but it is progressing at least. When it is finished (are they ever?) a user will be able to load a database examine and edit its table structure, and add, delete and edit individual records within it.

When will it be finished? Hopefully, within the next 3 months, or that's the plan.

2007-04-25T11:22:00.000+01:00

I haven’t posted anything here for a while I know. This is because I am working on a simple(!) programme to create and edit TDbf databases.

Oh yes, I am also part way through studying the next module of my Open University degree course. That’s the major reason.

2006-11-08T13:54:00.000Z

Windows version 0.9.20 released.

The Windows version is out, lots of work done since 0.9.18. Check it out for yourselves.

2006-11-07T14:28:00.000Z

New Version Released.

Yes, Lazarus 0.9.20 has been released for Linux. Available in RPM and Deb formats from the Lazarus site.

There is no sign of this version for Windows and Mac yet, but I don't suppose the release will be long delayed.

Enjoy!

2006-10-09T12:02:00.000+01:00

RandomRange function

Delphi has a great function that Lazarus lacks; the ability to return a random number within a set range. However, this little function will do the job really well.

Declare the following in the public section,

function RandomRange(aMin: Integer; aMax: Integer) : Integer;

Now add this to your implementation section

function TForm1.RandomRange(aMin: Integer; aMax: Integer) : Integer;
begin
RandomRange := Random(aMax-aMin) + aMin ;
end;

Usage is very simple,

declare a variable, say aNum and then use like this,

aNum := RandomRange(10,100);

Simple.

2006-10-06T16:12:00.000+01:00

Control Arrays

Lazarus does not have the inbuilt facility to create control arrays so a work around must be used. This is not as difficult as it might seem. Try the following.

Create and save a new project called Experiment.

Place an Image onto the form you have created. Name it shapeImage_0. Set its Visible property to false.

Now, in the Public declarations section create an array so...

images : array[1..20,1..20] of TImage;

Underneath create a procedure called Shapes(i : integer; f : integer);

In the var section put this.. MAP : array[1..20,1..20] of integer;

Now create the Shapes procedure..

procedure TForm1.Shapes(i : integer; f : integer);
begin
with images[i,f] do
begin
Canvas.Rectangle(20,20,0,0);
Case MAP[i,f] of
0 : begin Canvas.Brush.Color := clYellow;
Canvas.Pen.Color := clYellow;
Canvas.Ellipse(5,5,15,15);
end;
1 : begin Canvas.Brush.Color := clWhite;
Canvas.Pen.Color := clWhite;
Canvas.Ellipse(5,5,15,15);
end;
2 : begin Canvas.Brush.Color := clRed;
Canvas.Pen.Color := clRed;
Canvas.Ellipse(1,1,18,18);
end;
3 : begin Canvas.Brush.Color := clBlue;
Canvas.Pen.Color := clBlue;
Canvas.Ellipse(1,1,18,18);
end;
end;
end;
end;

Now, fill in the FormCreate like this..

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
var
i, f, g, nCtrl : integer;
begin

{ create images for shapes }
nCtrl := 0;
for f := 1 to 20 do
begin
for i := 1 to 20 do
begin
Inc(nCtrl);
images[f,i] := TImage.Create(self);
with images[f,i] do
begin
parent := self;
tag := nCtrl;
name := 'shapeImage_' + IntToStr(tag);
visible := True;
autosize := False;
stretch := false;
Height := 20;
Width := 20;
Left := 10 + (i*20) - 19;
Top := 5 + (f*20) -20;
Canvas.Pen.Color := clBlack;
Canvas.Brush.Color := clBlack;
OnClick := @shapeImage_0Click;
end;
end;
end;

Randomize;
for i := 1 to 20 do
begin
for f := 1 to 20 do
begin
g := Random(100);
if(g >= 1) then MAP[i,f] := 0;
if(g >= 30) then MAP[i,f] := 1;
if(g >= 60) then MAP[i,f] := 2;
if(g >= 80) then MAP[i,f] := 3;
Shapes(i, f);
end;
end;
end;

Now, to end create an OnClick event with the TImage you placed on the form and fill it with this..

procedure TForm1.shapeImage_0Click(Sender: TObject);
var
j, k, l, m: integer;
i : Longint;
begin
i := TImage(sender).Tag;
for j := 1 to 20 do
begin
for k := 1 to 20 do
begin
if images[j,k].Tag = i then
begin
l := j;
m := k;
end;
end;
end;
MessageDlg( 'You have clicked on ' + IntToStr(l) + ',' + IntToStr(m), mtInformation, [mbOk],0);
end;

Save and execute the application and you should see this..

Click on one of the shapes and a message dialog will pop up and tell you which element of the control array you accessed.

That's it, from this starting point you can do a great deal. I'm sure you can think of more!

2006-09-24T20:23:00.000+01:00

The Lazarus site has an updated version of the RAD available. I only downloaded the Windows version 0.9.18 and installed it today so it's too early to give my impressions of it. There are also versions available to download for Linux and Mac OSX. Get yours today.

I was surprised that I was the first person to download it from the SourceForge site, never had that before. It makes a change to be first in line!

The Lazarus Experience

2006-09-17T11:00:00.000+01:00

A few years ago I discovered the Free Pascal Compiler.

I had been using Delphi for about 7 years and began experimenting with FPC. Fun.

However, it proved difficult to develop a GUI based application. Then I began to read about this development called Lazarus. It was very rough around the edges but had great promise. The development has reached a stage where users can develop very advanced and complex apps. The great thing is that it is Open Source, freely downloadable and extendable.

This blog is intended to show how you can download and install the RAD and begin to make use of it. I will publish code snippets of various things I have found useful. necessary or just plain desirable!

There are versions available for Windows, Linux, Mac, BSD and others. You can develop on one platform and deploy your App across all of the available platforms.

If you are interested give it a try. You can get it from www.lazarus.freepascal.org.

What do you need?

WINDOWS : Download the current stable version - Version 0.9.16 - and doubleclick to install. This release includes the FreePascal compiler and sources.

LINUX : Download the FreePascal compiler and sources from the Lazarus site, install these first and then download and install the Lazarus file, again the stable version is 0.9.16. You may receive notices that you are missing dependencies, install the devel-libraries of the missing dependencies and try again.

MAC : The process is similar to that of Linux.

Once it is installed, start Lazarus up and then compile the default App that first appears, if it compiles and runs then congratulations! You are a programmer!

More soon.