[bilm]

I'm a hobbist programmer using Delphi 5 Standard. I've used ASL for a couple of years and love it.

I have updated ASL to the latest edition a number of times without any problems.

My last version before installing v7.04 was AlphaControls 2009 v6.61 Lite Edition.

I was always able to re-comple my projects without errors and, as a test, was always able to compile the ASL demo.

But not this time. With AlphaControls 2010 v7.04 Lite Edition I can not do either one without getting an exception.

Have you made changes to ASL so that v7.04 no longer supports D5?

I can always go back to v6.61. That is not a problem.

Is ASL v6.61 compatible with Win7 ?

If you want detailed debugging info let me know what info you would like and I will send it.

bilm

[Sereby]

I'm using D5 and D2009 under Win7 x64 and all is working fine.

What type of error do you get? if its something that only happen when opening the project then just click ignore (open all forms to ignore it for all) and re-save the project.

if its something else then you have to tell us what error you get

[bilm]

Problem solved. My bad.

I had set up all the sSkinProvider & sSkinManager properties but had not selected a SkinName.

I was just leaving it blank. This causes an exception. All is well now and projects & demo compile without errors.

I have a question about the demo & the TsStoredSkin class.

The v7.04 ASL demo has added XPMan since v6.61. XPMan wasn't made available until D7. So I commented it out. But I thought maybe I should include Mike Lischke's Theme Manager (standalone component) which is what we D5ers do in such cases. But Theme Manager caused an exception in the demo so I deleted it. It compiles fine without it and all the Alpha controls and standard controls are nicely skinned and look great to me. So what does the demo use XPMan for? Doesn't AlphaControls have built-in themes support?

And I guess Class TsStoredSkin no longer has the properties: GeneralData, Images and Patterns ?

Because when I re-compiled my projects with 7.04, I got the 'Propery does not exist' error.

And sListBox has replaced sAlphaListBox or it was renamed ?

Are there any other changes I need to know about?

bilm

[Support]

XPMan was added just for support of XP themes (system themes are not supported without Manifest, and AlphaSKins haven't the built-in manifest).

GeneralData, Images and Patterns properties were removed from internal skins, because are not used.

TsListBox and TsComboBoxEx controls inherited from standard controls now.

Other changes in the version 7 :

* Internal bitmap format is changed from 24 to 32 bits

* Faster drawing and improved animations

+ Added minimizing/restoring animation, added the TsSkinManager.AnimEffects.Minimizing property

+ Forms and dialogs may be alphablended automatically when moved, added TsSkinManager.AnimEffects.BlendOnMoving property

+ Added TsSkinProvider.AllowBlendOnMoving property

+ Added new cbSavedColors style for the TsColorBox component

+ Added 'SELECTION' skin section

* Drawing of selections was improved in TsListView, TsTreeView and in all comboBoxes and listboxes from the package

+ All comboBoxes and listboxes from the package may be alphablended (if defined in skin)

* Updated the ASkinEditor.exe

* All skins are updated

* TsComboBoxEx component is changed completely (default style is csExDropDown)

* In the TsButton control added support of the CommandLink style and the Reflected property

* TsSkinManager.AllowGlowing property was moved to TsSkinManager.Effects.AllowGlowing

* Huge changes in the ASkinEditor tool

* ZLibEx unit was renamed to acZLibEx for compatibility with original ZLibEx library

– Removed the deprecated TsCommonData.InitCacheBmp procedure (use InitCacheBmp procedure which is declared in the sCommonData unit)

– Support of unpacked internal skins was removed (only packed skins may be built-in now)

Some notes about a migrating from AphaControls version 6 to version 7 :

1. Don't forget to backup own projects!

2. Load all forms in projects and resave them (datamodules must be resaved too if SkinManager is placed there)

3. If you have Delphi or Builder warnings about unexisting “GeneralData” property (after the project loading) – ignore it.

GeneralData is a property of internal skin which is not used now.

4. It's strongly recommended to update all skins to latest versions (internal skins must be reloaded too).

Old skins may work slow. If you have own skin then open him in the latest ASkinEditor, press the “Warnings” button

and you will have information how the skin may be improved.

[Author]

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