Oregon Delphi User Group

In our continuing exploration on other programming langages and platforms, we cannot ignore Java. By using the JVM (Java Virtual Machine), the programmer can write once and run (almost) everywhere–at least more places than .NET can currently boast. Developers can write GUI client apps, enhance web pages, and build back-end server systems. Perhaps one of the more appealing aspects for Delphi Developers is the fact that Java is stronly typed and fully object-oriented.

This month, the topic will continue our exploration of PHP. Last month was an introduction, this month we’ll get more advanced. The topic will largely be directed by the audience, but will try to at least touch on the following topics: Setting up PHP, Apache, MySQL on Windows (WAMP) Configuration of PHP.INI (Development vs Production) How to control your web application with .htaccess Security issues We’ll also see some sample web pages generated with PHP and try to address any other topics the group wants to talk about.

PHP - that’s the P from LAMP - is essentially a scripting language used inside HTML code to build dynamic web pages. Tonight’s talk will be an introduction to PHP. Examples of different coding structures will be given, presented from the perspective of what the PHP equivalent is to the familiar Delphi structures. To illustrate these concepts in a practical way we’ll go through the steps to build a simple website for a small store.

If you didn’t get your copy of FinalBuilder in February, come to the meeting in April to learn about setting up batch files with command-line compiler options to automate your build tasks. And even if you do have FinalBuilder, come anyway to learn how to use a free, but commercial-quality setup-building tool, InnoSetup. David Cornelius has been maintaining his own scripts since he started programming in the 80s on DOS PCs.

FinalBuilder is a powerful Automated Build & Release Management tool which makes it easy for software developers to define and maintain a reliable and repeatable build process. FinalBuilder includes integration with version control systems, file and directory operations, iterators, source code compilers, testing tools, database systems, installation tools, as well as actions for deployment over the Internet and CD/DVD burning built in. Don’t forget we’d like to give away a free license of FinalBuilder 4 Professional worth $499 as a door prize.

There will be no “formal” presentation, but we’ll have a couple of laptops available and at least one member will be showing an application that “takes various text files as input, formats them into PDF invoices, statements, etc. and delivers them via email or fax to the customer.” We’d be interested to see what others are working on as well, so please come and share. PRESENTER David Cornelius has been using Borland’s software development tools since the mid-80’s.

Dexter is the next version of Delphi, Delphi 2006. It is a 64-bit compiler supporting the latest Win32 and .NET environments. Come learn about the next version of Pascal/C++/C# compilers from Borland and see ECO III in action (it’s child’s play!). There will be give-aways, including a copy of Delphi 2006. You won’t want to miss it! PRESENTER Anders Ohlsson from Borland Software Corporation (borland.com)

The topics that will be covered during this presentation include: Advantage TDataSet Descendant VCL for .NET, the BDP.NET provider and the native Advantage NET Data Provider. Advantage Database is one of the few database solutions that provide complete support for Delphi 2005. Advantage Version 8.0 is currently in Beta. The new version includes replication, on-line backup, scripting, transaction savepoints, and a newly re-designed Advantage Data Architect. Remember, the local server (peer-to-peer) is FREE and there is a low-priced, easy-to-use web server license.

This month, instead of a technical presentation, we will meet to discuss how to increase membership and participation. This forum serves an important place in the development community, not only for Delphi developers, but for all programmers. However, with attendance dwindling over the last couple of years, the burden of getting good speakers has risen. We will discuss how to make this group more beneficial to the members and what kind of topics are going to serve this commnuity best over the next year or two.

Alessandro Federici from RemObjects Software will present Chrome, the next generation Object Pascal language for the .NET and Mono platforms, and RemObjects Framework, the powerful RAD multi-tier solution. Chrome is the next Generation Object Pascal language for the .NET and Mono Platforms. It combines the elegance of Pascal with the power and flexibility of the Common Language Runtime. By borrowing some elements from languages such as C#, Java and Eiffel and by adding its own language innovations, Chrome greatly boosts the developer’s productivity by allowing to write less and better code.