FlexGraphics: A Powerful Library for Vector Graphics Applications in Delphi
FlexGraphics - Delphi Graphics Components 1.80 Full Source
If you are a Delphi developer who wants to create vector graphics applications under Borland Delphi (CAD, GIS, SCADA, VISIO), you might be interested in FlexGraphics. FlexGraphics is a set of components for creating vector graphics applications under Borland Delphi. It is an independent library that requires Borland Delphi or Borland C++Builder D5-XE10.2.
FlexGraphics – Delphi Graphics Components 1.80 Full Source
FlexGraphics allows you to create plots, drawings, electrical diagrams, concept maps, mnemonic charts, interactive plans with a higher degree of detail for various buildings or components. You can also create SCADA-systems, GIS-systems, and CAD-systems with this library. FlexGraphics can be considered as a mini analog for Visio.
In this article, we will show you how to install, use, and customize FlexGraphics for your Delphi graphics projects. We will also show you some examples of vector graphics applications made with FlexGraphics. By the end How to install FlexGraphics
To install FlexGraphics on your computer, you need to follow these steps:
Download the FlexGraphics 1.80 Full Source package from the official website or from the link provided by your vendor.
Extract the zip file to a folder of your choice.
Open the Delphi IDE and select File -> Open Project.
Browse to the folder where you extracted the FlexGraphics package and open the FlexGraphics.dpk file.
Select Project -> Compile and then Project -> Install to compile and install the FlexGraphics package.
Restart the Delphi IDE and check if the FlexGraphics components are available in the Component Palette under the FlexGraphics tab.
The system requirements for FlexGraphics are:
Borland Delphi or Borland C++Builder D5-XE10.2
Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10
At least 16 MB of RAM
At least 10 MB of free disk space
The compatibility issues for FlexGraphics are:
FlexGraphics is not compatible with Delphi for .NET or Delphi for Linux.
FlexGraphics is not compatible with third-party components that use their own canvas classes.
FlexGraphics is not compatible with some graphic formats that are not supported by Delphi, such as SVG or EMF.
How to use FlexGraphics
Creating vector graphics applications with FlexGraphics
To create vector graphics applications with FlexGraphics, you need to use the following components:
ComponentDescription
TFlexPanelA container component that provides a canvas for drawing and editing vector graphics objects. It supports zooming, scrolling, grids, layers, etc. It also handles mouse and keyboard events for user interaction.
TFlexObjectA base class for all vector graphics objects. It defines common properties and methods for drawing, moving, resizing, rotating, etc. It also supports serialization and deserialization of objects to files or streams.
TFlexLineA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a line object. It can have different styles, widths, colors, arrows, etc.
TFlexCurveA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a curve object. It can have different styles, widths, colors, arrows, etc. It can also be a bezier curve or a spline curve.
TFlexRectangleA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a rectangle object. It can have different styles, widths, colors, fills, etc. It can also be a square or a rounded rectangle.
TFlexEllipseA subclass of TFlexObject that represents an ellipse object. It can have different styles, widths, colors, fills, etc. It can also be a circle or an arc.
TFlexPolygonA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a polygon object. It can have different styles, widths, colors, fills, etc. It can also be a regular polygon or a star.
TFlexTextA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a text object. It can have different fonts, sizes, colors, alignments, etc. It can also be angled or wrapped.
TFlexImageA subclass of TFlexObject that represents an image object. It can load images from files or streams in various formats (BMP, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.). It can also be stretched or tiled.
TFlexSymbolA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a symbol object. It can load symbols from image libraries or custom class definitions. It can also be linked to other objects or data sources. Editing vector graphics with FlexGraphics
To edit vector graphics with FlexGraphics, you need to use the following components:
ComponentDescription
TFlexObjectBuilderA component that allows you to create and edit complex objects from simple ones. It supports grouping, ungrouping, combining, splitting, etc. It also provides a visual editor for editing object properties.
TFlexObjectGroupA subclass of TFlexObject that represents a group of objects. It allows you to manipulate multiple objects as a single unit. It also supports nesting and ungrouping of groups.
TFlexObjectAlignA component that allows you to align objects relative to each other or to the canvas. It supports horizontal and vertical alignment, spacing, centering, etc.
TFlexObjectMirrorA component that allows you to mirror objects horizontally or vertically. It also supports mirroring groups of objects.
TFlexObjectRotateA component that allows you to rotate objects by any angle. It also supports rotating groups of objects and snapping to predefined angles.
TFlexUndoRedoA component that allows you to undo and redo the changes made to the vector graphics. It supports unlimited levels of undo and redo and can be linked to a menu or a toolbar.
TFlexClipboardA component that allows you to copy, paste, cut, and move objects between different FlexPanels or applications. It supports textual and binary formats and can be linked to a menu or a toolbar.
Saving and loading vector graphics with FlexGraphics
To save and load vector graphics with FlexGraphics, you need to use the following components:
ComponentDescription
TFlexStorageA component that allows you to save and load vector graphics to files or streams. It supports textual and binary formats and can be linked to a menu or a toolbar.
TFlexDataA component that allows you to attach data to vector graphics objects or files. It supports various data types (string, integer, float, boolean, etc.) and can be used for storing additional information or linking to external data sources.
TFlexDBStorageA component that allows you to save and load vector graphics to databases. It supports various database types (BDE, ADO, IBX, etc.) and can be used for storing large amounts of vector graphics data.
Displaying and printing vector graphics with FlexGraphics
To display and print vector graphics with FlexGraphics, you need to use the following components:
ComponentDescription
TFlexPageHistoryA component that allows you to navigate through the pages of a vector graphics document. It supports adding, deleting, moving, renaming, etc. of pages and can be linked to a menu or a toolbar.
TFlexBackgroundImageA component that allows you to set a background image for a vector graphics document. It supports loading images from files or streams in various formats (BMP, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.) and can be used for creating watermarks or templates.
TFlexGradientFillA component that allows you to fill objects with gradient colors. It supports linear, radial, conical, rectangular, etc. gradients and can be used for creating realistic effects.
TFlexTransparencyA component that allows you to set the transparency level for objects. It supports alpha blending and can be used for creating overlapping or semi-transparent effects.
TFlexAngledTextA component that allows you to draw text at any angle. It supports various fonts, sizes, colors, alignments, etc. and can be used for creating labels or annotations.
TFlexGouraudShadingA component that allows you to draw objects with gouraud shading. It supports smooth color transitions and can be used for creating 3D effects.
TFlexPrinterA component that allows you to print vector graphics documents. It supports various printer settings (orientation, margins, resolution, etc.) and can be linked to a menu or a toolbar.
How to customize FlexGraphics
To customize FlexGraphics according to your needs, you need to use the following components:
ComponentDescription
TFlexClassManagerA component that allows you to integrate specific class definitions for vector graphics objects. It supports registering, unregistering, creating, etc. of custom classes and can be used for extending the functionality of FlexGraphics.
TFlexLinkManagerA component that allows you to link vector graphics objects to other objects or data sources. It supports creating, deleting, editing, etc. of links and can be used for creating interactive or dynamic vector graphics applications.
TFlexUserFieldsA component that allows you to add user-defined fields and values to vector graphics objects. It supports various data types (string, integer, float, boolean, etc.) and can be used for storing additional information or customizing object behavior.
TFlexImageLibraryA component that allows you to create your own image libraries for vector graphics symbols. It supports loading and saving images in various formats (BMP, JPG, PNG, GIF, etc.) and can be used for creating custom symbols or icons.
Examples of vector graphics applications made with FlexGraphics
To illustrate the power and flexibility of FlexGraphics, here are some examples of vector graphics applications made with FlexGraphics:
A CAD system for designing electrical circuits. It uses FlexGraphics to draw and edit circuit components, wires, labels, etc. It also uses FlexData to attach data to circuit objects and FlexLinkManager to link circuit objects to external data sources.
A GIS system for displaying and analyzing geographical data. It uses FlexGraphics to draw and edit maps, layers, regions, points, etc. It also uses FlexData to attach data to map objects and FlexLinkManager to link map objects to external data sources.
A SCADA system for monitoring and controlling industrial processes. It uses FlexGraphics to draw and edit process diagrams, sensors, valves, indicators, etc. It also uses FlexData to attach data to process objects and FlexLinkManager to link process objects to external data sources.
A VISIO system for creating and editing diagrams of various types. It uses FlexGraphics to draw and edit shapes, connectors, text boxes, images, etc. It also uses FlexData to attach data to diagram objects and FlexLinkManager to link diagram objects to external data sources.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to install, use, and customize FlexGraphics for your Delphi graphics projects. We have also shown you some examples of vector graphics applications made with FlexGraphics.
FlexGraphics is a set of components for creating vector graphics applications under Borland Delphi. It is an independent library that requires Borland Delphi or Borland C++Builder D5-XE10.2. It allows you to create plots, drawings, electrical diagrams, concept maps, mnemonic charts, interactive plans with a higher degree of detail for various buildings or components. You can also create SCADA-systems, GIS-systems, and CAD-systems with this library. FlexGraphics can be considered as a mini analog for Visio.
FlexGraphics provides you with a rich set of components for creating and editing vector graphics objects, such as lines, curves, rectangles, ellipses, polygons, text, images, symbols, etc. It also provides you with components for saving and loading vector graphics to files, streams, or databases, attaching data to vector graphics objects or files, linking vector graphics objects to other objects or data sources, customizing vector graphics according to your needs, displaying and printing vector graphics with various effects, and navigating through the pages of a vector graphics document.
FlexGraphics is a powerful and flexible library that can help you create vector graphics applications under Borland Delphi with ease and efficiency. It is compatible with Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10 and Borland Delphi or Borland C++Builder D5-XE10.2. It is not compatible with Delphi for .NET or Delphi for Linux or third-party components that use their own canvas classes or some graphic formats that are not supported by Delphi, such as SVG or EMF.
If you are looking for a reliable and versatile library for creating vector graphics applications under Borland Delphi, you should choose FlexGraphics. It is a proven and tested library that has been used by many Delphi developers around the world. It offers you many advantages over other alternatives, such as:
It is easy to install and use. You just need to download the package, compile and install it, and start creating your vector graphics applications.
It is independent and self-contained. You do not need any external dependencies or libraries to use it.
It is fast and efficient. It uses optimized algorithms and data structures to handle vector graphics operations.
It is flexible and customizable. You can extend its functionality by integrating your own class definitions or image libraries or by adding user-defined fields or values to objects.
It is compatible and interoperable. You can save and load vector graphics in various formats (textual or binary) or store them in databases. You can also copy, paste, cut, and move objects between different FlexPanels or applications.
It is powerful and feature-rich. It supports many types of objects, properties, methods, events, etc. It also supports many effects, such as gradient fill, transparency, angled text, gouraud shading, etc.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about FlexGraphics:
What is the difference between FlexGraphics and other Delphi graphics components?
The main difference between FlexGraphics and other Delphi graphics components is that FlexGraphics is designed for creating vector graphics applications under Borland Delphi. Vector graphics are graphics that are defined by mathematical equations rather than pixels. They can be scaled, rotated, moved, etc. without losing quality or resolution. Other Delphi graphics components are mainly designed for creating bitmap graphics applications under Borland Delphi. Bitmap graphics are graphics that are defined by pixels rather than equations. They have a fixed size and resolution and cannot be scaled, rotated, moved, etc. without losing quality or resolution.
How can I get support for FlexGraphics?
If you need support for FlexGraphics, you can contact the official website or the vendor from whom you purchased the product. You can also check the online documentation, tutorials, demos, and forums for FlexGraphics. You can also join the FlexGraphics mailing list or the FlexGraphics newsgroup to get help from other FlexGraphics users and developers.
How can I update FlexGraphics?
If you want to update FlexGraphics, you can check the official website or the vendor from whom you purchased the product for any new versions or patches. You can also subscribe to the FlexGraphics newsletter or the FlexGraphics RSS feed to get notified of any updates. You can also follow the FlexGraphics blog or the FlexGraphics social media accounts to get the latest news and information about FlexGraphics.
How can I license FlexGraphics?
If you want to license FlexGraphics, you need to purchase a license from the official website or the vendor from whom you purchased the product. You can choose from different types of licenses, such as single-user license, site license, corporate license, etc. You can also get a free trial version of FlexGraphics for evaluation purposes.
What are some alternatives to FlexGraphics?
Some alternatives to FlexGraphics are:
TeeChart: A set of components for creating charts and graphs under Borland Delphi.
ImageEn: A set of components for manipulating images and multimedia under Borland Delphi.
TRichView: A set of components for displaying and editing rich text under Borland Delphi.
ReportBuilder: A set of components for creating reports and documents under Borland Delphi.
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