Delphi 7

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Delphi 7 is a Windows based Object Pascal development environment. Like all Delphi versions it is a Rapid Application Development environment. Delphi 7 was mostly a quality release from Delphi 6 with several bundled libraries.

Delphi 7 appeared in 2002. Like Delphi 5 it is still one of the most widely used Delphi versions to this day. Delphi 7 was fast, stable and could run on almost any PC. Delphi 7 included support for XML and UML. There was also limited support for .NET. Borland, for example, advertised in 2002 with the text: “The first independent path to Microsoft .NET”. Furthermore, support for Windows XP themes was added.

Four versions of Delphi 7 appeared: Delphi 7 Architect, Delphi 7 Enterprise, Delphi 7 Professional and Delphi 7 Personal. Delphi 7 sits at a major crossroad of Delphi’s evolution. It was the bridge to Linux with Kylix, the bridge to the new .NET, and the last IDE before the switch to Galileo. This made it very hard to migrate away from.   Delphi 7 was later succeeded by Delphi 2005.

Part of Delphi 7’s staying power was that it was the last IDE with the floating form designer. Delphi 8 and 2005 and later versions switched to the Galileo IDE with a single window and docked interface. It took a few major releases before the new IDE and all the other changes were to the same level of stability and quality found in Delphi 7. The latest Delphi brings back multiple editing and designer windows again, making it a welcome upgrade for those still using Delphi 7. 

Key Enhancements in Delphi 7

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Changes

• Compiler Messages: New commands to display additional compiler message info and greater control over compiler warnings.
• Component Palette Changes: Introduction of new component pages, including CLX-only versions, Indy Intercepts, Indy I/O Handlers, IW Standard, IW Data, IW Client Side, IW Control, and Rave pages.
• Code Insight Changes: Faster code completion and new HTML code completion, alongside customizable code completion managers.
• Debugger Changes: Enhanced Watch List with multiple tabs, new columns, and a checkbox to enable or disable individual watches.
• Miscellaneous Improvements: Partially compile projects, multiple message view tabs, multi-select components, and enhanced editor options.

Web Technology Changes

• IntraWeb Support: Development of web server applications using standard form tools with IntraWeb, included fully in the Enterprise edition and as a subset in the Professional edition.
• Apache 2 Support: New target type for Web Broker, WebSnap, and SOAP.
• Web Services Enhancements: New UDDI browser, support for SOAP headers and attachments, type support customization, and new events and properties for better control over web services.

COM and Database Technology Changes

• COM Changes: Import Type Library dialog to create CoClass wrappers for .NET assemblies.
• Database Updates: Updated dbExpress drivers for various databases, new TSimpleDataSet component, and deprecated SQL Links.

Component Library Changes

• Windows XP Themes: Support for common controls version 6 in VCL applications.
• New Components: TSimpleDataSet, TPageSetupDialog, colorizing components for menus and toolbars.
• Changed Components: Enhanced CLX versions of TOpenDialog and TSaveDialog, new properties for TCustomForm and TCustomComboBoxEx.
• Deprecated Components: Information available in readme.txt.

Runtime Library and Compiler Changes

• Runtime Library: New exception class EFileStreamError, enhancements to TStrings, Math, StdConvs, StrUtils, SysUtils, VarCmplx, and Variants units.
• Compiler: Support for three new compiler warnings to aid in porting code to .NET.

Reporting and Documentation

• Rave Reports: Inclusion of Rave Reports components for report generation.
• ModelMaker: Tools for simplifying design and creating UML-style diagrams, available fully in the Enterprise edition and as a trial in the Professional edition.
• Documentation: All documentation files distributed on the Delphi Companion Tools CD, new Delphi Language Guide, and updated tutorials available as PDFs.

From Delphi 7 to Delphi 12?

Delphi 7 is more than twenty years old. From Delphi 7 to Delphi 12, significant improvements have been made. If you are using an application developed in Delphi 7, it might be time to upgrade. At GDK Software, we can easily convert your Delphi 7 application to the latest version using our in-house conversion tool. Want to know more? Read more about upgrading or updating Delphi or contact us!