I just added a new feature to the Delphi IDE Theme Editor which allow you to apply the current select theme to the Help Insight window.
Here is how the Help Insight window typically looks like
And now with the current theme applied.
This new option is enabled by default in the tool, but you can disable anytime using the settings window.
After a lots of tests, I can officially announce which the WMI Delphi Code Creator now can create C++ Code compatible with the Borland/Embarcadero compilers. This new feature will be very helpful for developers using Borland/Embarcadero C++ compilers because exist very few documentation about accessing the WMI from these compilers. The generated code can be compiled without any changes using the very old C++ Builder 5 until the modern C++ Builder XE2. The generated code uses the wbemcli.h library which is included in all the versions of C++ builder. Another feature of this release is which the generated C++ code include all the security settings needed to establish local and remote WMI connections.
As always all your suggestions and comments are very welcome.
You can download the application from the WMI Delphi Code Creator page.
#pragma hdrstop
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#include <wbemcli.h>
#include <comdef.h>
//CREDENTIAL structure
//http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa374788%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
#define CRED_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH 513
#define CRED_MAX_CREDENTIAL_BLOB_SIZE 512
#define CREDUI_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH CRED_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH
#define CREDUI_MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH (CRED_MAX_CREDENTIAL_BLOB_SIZE / 2)
// The Win32_Process class represents a sequence of events on a Win32 system. Any sequence consisting of the interaction of one or more processors or interpreters, some executable code, and a set of inputs, is a descendent (or member) of this class.
// Example: A client application running on a Win32 system.
#pragma argsused
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
wchar_t pszName[CREDUI_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH+1] = L"user";
wchar_t pszPwd[CREDUI_MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH+1] = L"password";
BSTR strNetworkResource;
//To use a WMI remote connection set localconn to false and configure the values of the pszName, pszPwd and the name of the remote machine in strNetworkResource
bool localconn = true;
strNetworkResource = localconn ? L"\\\\.\\root\\CIMV2" : L"\\\\remote--machine\\root\\CIMV2";
COAUTHIDENTITY *userAcct = NULL ;
COAUTHIDENTITY authIdent;
// Initialize COM. ------------------------------------------
HRESULT hres;
hres = CoInitializeEx(0, COINIT_MULTITHREADED);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Failed to initialize COM library. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Set general COM security levels --------------------------
if (localconn)
hres = CoInitializeSecurity(
NULL,
-1, // COM authentication
NULL, // Authentication services
NULL, // Reserved
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_DEFAULT, // Default authentication
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // Default Impersonation
NULL, // Authentication info
EOAC_NONE, // Additional capabilities
NULL // Reserved
);
else
hres = CoInitializeSecurity(
NULL,
-1, // COM authentication
NULL, // Authentication services
NULL, // Reserved
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_DEFAULT, // Default authentication
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IDENTIFY, // Default Impersonation
NULL, // Authentication info
EOAC_NONE, // Additional capabilities
NULL // Reserved
);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Failed to initialize security. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Obtain the initial locator to WMI -------------------------
IWbemLocator *pLoc = NULL;
hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_WbemLocator, 0, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IWbemLocator, (LPVOID *) &pLoc);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Failed to create IWbemLocator object." << " Err code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Connect to WMI through the IWbemLocator::ConnectServer method
IWbemServices *pSvc = NULL;
if (localconn)
hres = pLoc->ConnectServer(
strNetworkResource, // Object path of WMI namespace
NULL, // User name. NULL = current user
NULL, // User password. NULL = current
0, // Locale. NULL indicates current
NULL, // Security flags.
0, // Authority (e.g. Kerberos)
0, // Context object
&pSvc // pointer to IWbemServices proxy
);
else
hres = pLoc->ConnectServer(
strNetworkResource, // Object path of WMI namespace
pszName, // User name
pszPwd, // User password
NULL, // Locale
NULL, // Security flags
NULL, // Authority
NULL, // Context object
&pSvc // IWbemServices proxy
);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Could not connect. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
cout << "Connected to root\\CIMV2 WMI namespace" << endl;
// Set security levels on the proxy -------------------------
if (localconn)
hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(
pSvc, // Indicates the proxy to set
RPC_C_AUTHN_WINNT, // RPC_C_AUTHN_xxx
RPC_C_AUTHZ_NONE, // RPC_C_AUTHZ_xxx
NULL, // Server principal name
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CALL, // RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_xxx
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_xxx
NULL, // client identity
EOAC_NONE // proxy capabilities
);
else
{
// Create COAUTHIDENTITY that can be used for setting security on proxy
memset(&authIdent, 0, sizeof(COAUTHIDENTITY));
authIdent.PasswordLength = wcslen (pszPwd);
authIdent.Password = (USHORT*)pszPwd;
authIdent.User = (USHORT*)pszName;
authIdent.UserLength = wcslen(pszName);
authIdent.Domain = 0;
authIdent.DomainLength = 0;
authIdent.Flags = SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY_UNICODE;
userAcct = &authIdent;
hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(
pSvc, // Indicates the proxy to set
RPC_C_AUTHN_DEFAULT, // RPC_C_AUTHN_xxx
RPC_C_AUTHZ_DEFAULT, // RPC_C_AUTHZ_xxx
COLE_DEFAULT_PRINCIPAL, // Server principal name
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_PRIVACY, // RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_xxx
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_xxx
userAcct, // client identity
EOAC_NONE // proxy capabilities
);
}
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Could not set proxy blanket. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
pSvc->Release();
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Use the IWbemServices pointer to make requests of WMI ----
IEnumWbemClassObject* pEnumerator = NULL;
hres = pSvc->ExecQuery( L"WQL", L"SELECT * FROM Win32_Process",
WBEM_FLAG_FORWARD_ONLY | WBEM_FLAG_RETURN_IMMEDIATELY, NULL, &pEnumerator);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "ExecQuery failed" << " Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
pSvc->Release();
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Secure the enumerator proxy
if (!localconn)
{
hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(
pEnumerator, // Indicates the proxy to set
RPC_C_AUTHN_DEFAULT, // RPC_C_AUTHN_xxx
RPC_C_AUTHZ_DEFAULT, // RPC_C_AUTHZ_xxx
COLE_DEFAULT_PRINCIPAL, // Server principal name
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_PRIVACY, // RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_xxx
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_xxx
userAcct, // client identity
EOAC_NONE // proxy capabilities
);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Could not set proxy blanket on enumerator. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
pEnumerator->Release();
pSvc->Release();
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
}
// Get the data from the WQL sentence
IWbemClassObject *pclsObj = NULL;
ULONG uReturn = 0;
while (pEnumerator)
{
HRESULT hr = pEnumerator->Next(WBEM_INFINITE, 1, &pclsObj, &uReturn);
if(0 == uReturn || FAILED(hr))
break;
VARIANT vtProp;
hr = pclsObj->Get(L"Name", 0, &vtProp, 0, 0);// String
if (!FAILED(hr))
{
if ((vtProp.vt==VT_NULL) || (vtProp.vt==VT_EMPTY))
wcout << "Name : " << ((vtProp.vt==VT_NULL) ? "NULL" : "EMPTY") << endl;
else
if ((vtProp.vt & VT_ARRAY))
wcout << "Name : " << "Array types not supported (yet)" << endl;
else
wcout << "Name : " << vtProp.bstrVal << endl;
}
VariantClear(&vtProp);
hr = pclsObj->Get(L"ProcessId", 0, &vtProp, 0, 0);// Uint32
if (!FAILED(hr))
{
if ((vtProp.vt==VT_NULL) || (vtProp.vt==VT_EMPTY))
wcout << "ProcessId : " << ((vtProp.vt==VT_NULL) ? "NULL" : "EMPTY") << endl;
else
if ((vtProp.vt & VT_ARRAY))
wcout << "ProcessId : " << "Array types not supported (yet)" << endl;
else
wcout << "ProcessId : " << vtProp.uintVal << endl;
}
VariantClear(&vtProp);
pclsObj->Release();
pclsObj=NULL;
}
// Cleanup
pSvc->Release();
pLoc->Release();
pEnumerator->Release();
if (pclsObj!=NULL)
pclsObj->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 0; // Program successfully completed.
}
#pragma hdrstop
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
#include <wbemcli.h>
#include <comdef.h>
//CREDENTIAL structure
//http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa374788%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
#define CRED_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH 513
#define CRED_MAX_CREDENTIAL_BLOB_SIZE 512
#define CREDUI_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH CRED_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH
#define CREDUI_MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH (CRED_MAX_CREDENTIAL_BLOB_SIZE / 2)
// The Create method creates a new process.
// The method returns an integer value that can be interpretted as follows:
// 0 - Successful completion.
// 2 - The user does not have access to the requested information.
// 3 - The user does not have sufficient privilge.
// 8 - Unknown failure.
// 9 - The path specified does not exist.
// 21 - The specified parameter is invalid.
// Other - For integer values other than those listed above, refer to Win32 error code documentation.
#pragma argsused
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
wchar_t pszName[CREDUI_MAX_USERNAME_LENGTH+1] = L"user";
wchar_t pszPwd[CREDUI_MAX_PASSWORD_LENGTH+1] = L"password";
BSTR strNetworkResource;
//To use a WMI remote connection set localconn to false and configure the values of the pszName, pszPwd and the name of the remote machine in strNetworkResource
bool localconn = true;
strNetworkResource = localconn ? L"\\\\.\\root\\CIMV2" : L"\\\\remote--machine\\root\\CIMV2";
COAUTHIDENTITY *userAcct = NULL ;
COAUTHIDENTITY authIdent;
HRESULT hres;
// Initialize COM. ------------------------------------------
hres = CoInitializeEx(0, COINIT_MULTITHREADED);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Failed to initialize COM library. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Set general COM security levels --------------------------
if (localconn)
hres = CoInitializeSecurity(
NULL,
-1, // COM authentication
NULL, // Authentication services
NULL, // Reserved
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_DEFAULT, // Default authentication
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // Default Impersonation
NULL, // Authentication info
EOAC_NONE, // Additional capabilities
NULL // Reserved
);
else
hres = CoInitializeSecurity(
NULL,
-1, // COM authentication
NULL, // Authentication services
NULL, // Reserved
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_DEFAULT, // Default authentication
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IDENTIFY, // Default Impersonation
NULL, // Authentication info
EOAC_NONE, // Additional capabilities
NULL // Reserved
);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Failed to initialize security. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Obtain the initial locator to WMI -------------------------
IWbemLocator *pLoc = NULL;
hres = CoCreateInstance(CLSID_WbemLocator, 0, CLSCTX_INPROC_SERVER, IID_IWbemLocator, (LPVOID *) &pLoc);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Failed to create IWbemLocator object. " << "Err code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Connect to WMI through the IWbemLocator::ConnectServer method
IWbemServices *pSvc = NULL;
// Connect to the root\\CIMV2 namespace
// and obtain pointer pSvc to make IWbemServices calls.
if (localconn)
hres = pLoc->ConnectServer(
strNetworkResource, // Object path of WMI namespace
NULL, // User name. NULL = current user
NULL, // User password. NULL = current
0, // Locale. NULL indicates current
NULL, // Security flags.
0, // Authority (e.g. Kerberos)
0, // Context object
&pSvc // pointer to IWbemServices proxy
);
else
hres = pLoc->ConnectServer(
strNetworkResource, // Object path of WMI namespace
pszName, // User name
pszPwd, // User password
NULL, // Locale
NULL, // Security flags
NULL, // Authority
NULL, // Context object
&pSvc // IWbemServices proxy
);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Could not connect. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
cout << "Connected to root\\CIMV2 WMI namespace" << endl;
// Set security levels on the proxy -------------------------
if (localconn)
hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(
pSvc, // Indicates the proxy to set
RPC_C_AUTHN_WINNT, // RPC_C_AUTHN_xxx
RPC_C_AUTHZ_NONE, // RPC_C_AUTHZ_xxx
NULL, // Server principal name
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CALL, // RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_xxx
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_xxx
NULL, // client identity
EOAC_NONE // proxy capabilities
);
else
{
// Create COAUTHIDENTITY that can be used for setting security on proxy
memset(&authIdent, 0, sizeof(COAUTHIDENTITY));
authIdent.PasswordLength = wcslen (pszPwd);
authIdent.Password = (USHORT*)pszPwd;
authIdent.User = (USHORT*)pszName;
authIdent.UserLength = wcslen(pszName);
authIdent.Domain = 0;
authIdent.DomainLength = 0;
authIdent.Flags = SEC_WINNT_AUTH_IDENTITY_UNICODE;
userAcct = &authIdent;
hres = CoSetProxyBlanket(
pSvc, // Indicates the proxy to set
RPC_C_AUTHN_DEFAULT, // RPC_C_AUTHN_xxx
RPC_C_AUTHZ_DEFAULT, // RPC_C_AUTHZ_xxx
COLE_DEFAULT_PRINCIPAL, // Server principal name
RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_PRIVACY, // RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_xxx
RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_IMPERSONATE, // RPC_C_IMP_LEVEL_xxx
userAcct, // client identity
EOAC_NONE // proxy capabilities
);
}
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Could not set proxy blanket. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
pSvc->Release();
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
// Use the IWbemServices pointer to make requests of WMI ----
BSTR MethodName = SysAllocString(L"Create");
BSTR ClassName = SysAllocString(L"Win32_Process");
IWbemClassObject* pClass = NULL;
hres = pSvc->GetObject(ClassName, 0, NULL, &pClass, NULL);
IWbemClassObject* pInParamsDefinition = NULL;
hres = pClass->GetMethod(MethodName, 0, &pInParamsDefinition, NULL);
IWbemClassObject* pClassInstance = NULL;
hres = pInParamsDefinition->SpawnInstance(0, &pClassInstance);
VARIANT varCommand;
varCommand.vt = VT_BSTR;
varCommand.bstrVal = L"cmd.exe";
hres = pClassInstance->Put(L"CommandLine", 0, &varCommand, 0);
VariantClear(&varCommand);
// Execute Method
IWbemClassObject* pOutParams = NULL;
hres = pSvc->ExecMethod(ClassName, MethodName, 0,
NULL, pClassInstance, &pOutParams, NULL);
if (FAILED(hres))
{
cout << "Could not execute method. Error code = 0x" << hex << hres << endl;
cout << _com_error(hres).ErrorMessage() << endl;
SysFreeString(ClassName);
SysFreeString(MethodName);
if (pClass)
pClass->Release();
if (pInParamsDefinition)
pInParamsDefinition->Release();
if (pOutParams)
pOutParams->Release();
if (pSvc)
pSvc->Release();
if (pLoc)
pLoc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 1; // Program has failed.
}
VARIANT varReturnValue;
hres = pOutParams->Get(L"ProcessId", 0, &varReturnValue, NULL, 0);
if (!FAILED(hres))
{
if ((varReturnValue.vt==VT_NULL) || (varReturnValue.vt==VT_EMPTY))
wcout << "ProcessId : " << ((varReturnValue.vt==VT_NULL) ? "NULL" : "EMPTY") << endl;
else
if ((varReturnValue.vt & VT_ARRAY))
wcout << "ProcessId : " << "Array types not supported (yet)" << endl;
else
wcout << "ProcessId : " << varReturnValue.uintVal << endl;
}
VariantClear(&varReturnValue);
hres = pOutParams->Get(L"ReturnValue", 0, &varReturnValue, NULL, 0);
if (!FAILED(hres))
{
if ((varReturnValue.vt==VT_NULL) || (varReturnValue.vt==VT_EMPTY))
wcout << "ReturnValue : " << ((varReturnValue.vt==VT_NULL) ? "NULL" : "EMPTY") << endl;
else
if ((varReturnValue.vt & VT_ARRAY))
wcout << "ReturnValue : " << "Array types not supported (yet)" << endl;
else
wcout << "ReturnValue : " << varReturnValue.uintVal << endl;
}
VariantClear(&varReturnValue);
// Clean up
SysFreeString(ClassName);
SysFreeString(MethodName);
pClass->Release();
pInParamsDefinition->Release();
pOutParams->Release();
pLoc->Release();
pSvc->Release();
CoUninitialize();
cout << "press enter to exit" << endl;
cin.get();
return 0;
}
The Delphi IDE Theme Editor now supports the Lazarus IDE , so you can use any of the themes included in the installer or make your own theme. you can add the themes to the Lazarus IDE coping the generated themes (check the Themes Lazarus folder in the installation path or download the included Lazarus themes from here) to the primary_conf_path/userschemes/ folder (example in windows vista the folder is C:\Users\<Windows User>\AppData\Local\lazarus\userschemes) or let to the tool apply the current theme to Lazarus IDE.
For more information about the Lazarus color schemes check these articles
A few hours ago I published in the google code site the code of the Delphi Preview Handler project, under the Mozilla Public License 1.1 , now you can browse in the code and make your suggestions and report bugs using the issue page of the project. I also want to thank to Uwe Raabe by allow me use part of his work in this article to rewrite some parts of the preview handler.
In the last months I’ been working in a new version of the WMI Delphi Code Creator, porting the original code from Delphi 2007 to XE, adding new features like support for Delphi Prism and Free Pascal, and improving the source code generated by the tool. Now is time to show the results, so the new version is here with many new features, also the full source code is now available in the google code project hosting site under the Mozilla Public License 1.1
Check the list of features of the current version
To download the last version of the delphi preview handler check the new page of the project.
The current beta version of the preview handler (DelphiPreviewHandler.dll) is 1.0.1.168 please check the version installed before you report bugs.Some weeks ago I began a parallel project to the Delphi IDE Theme Editor, I name this project Delphi Preview Handler, which basically is a preview handler for windows vista and 7 which allow you read your object pascal, C++ and Assembly code with Syntax highlighting without open in a editor, this preview handler can render these file extensions .pp, .lpr, .lfm, .lpk, .inc, .pas, .dpr,.dfm, .dpk,.dproj, .bdsproj,.c, .cpp,. cc,.h, .hpp,.hh, .cxx, .hxx, . cu, .asm.
Soon, very soon.
Follow these steps to register the preview handler
1. Choose Start > All Programs > Accessories.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt, Select Run As Administrator, and Authenticate.
3. Go to Delphi Preview Hander folder in Command Prompt.
4. Run “Register.bat”
5. Enjoy
You can change the theme used in the Preview Handler editing the Settings.ini file, but before to do this you must unregister the preview handler and close all the explorer windows. to avoid problems. please follow these steps :
1. unregister the dll
2.close all the windows explorer
3.edit the Settings.ini file
4.save the changes
5.register the dll
6.enjoy
In order to avoid problems you must follow these steps when you install or register a new version of the preview handler.
1. close all the windows explorer windows which have the preview handler active or the preview handler was used (remember the dll remains in memory until the windows explorer was closed)
2. unregister the previous version executing the uninstaller located in C:\Program Files (x86)\TheRoadToDelphi\DelphiPreviewHandler or C:\Program Files\TheRoadToDelphi\DelphiPreviewHandler
3. If you install the preview handler manually you must unregister using the UnRegister.bat running as admin.
4.Now proceed with the installation of the new version.
New features was added to the Delphi IDE Theme Editor.
Added Color dialog with color picker.
Added option to report bugs and suggestions directly
The themes included with the tool were improved.
Some Minor bugs fixed
Check the screenshots
To download the last version go to the main page of the project.
Remember. to make your suggestions or report bugs use the Issue page of the project.
Some fellows coders ask me (and request) about add support to the delphi 5 and delphi 6 IDEs. these versions was not originally supported by the Delphi IDE Theme Editor because these IDEs gives you a 16 fixed colors palette. So this causes limitations to manage the themes.
Check this image for the IDE editor options in Delphi 5 which shows the 16 colors available
the option to assign any color to the Highlight elements was added in the Delphi 7 version
The first thing I thought to manage the 16 palette colors was use specific themes with contains combinations of colors using these 16 colors. But quickly discarded this solution because would be necessary handle specific themes for specific versions of the delphi IDEs. So finally I decide convert the colors themes to the 16 color palette using some algorithm to find the closest color to the palette. the algorithm chosen was the Euclidean distance where closest color is determined by the distance between the two corresponding points in three-dimensional space. for example to find the distance of two colors (r1,g1,b1) and (r2,g2,b2) the formula look like this
Now the dephi implementation of the algorithm to find the “straight-line distance” or “nearest color” using the Euclidean distance:
const
DelphiOldColorsCount =16;
//this is the 16 colors palette used by delphi 5 and delphi 6 IDEs (BGR format)
DelphiOldColorsList: array[0..DelphiOldColorsCount-1] of TColor =
(
$000000,$000080,$008000,$008080,
$800000,$800080,$808000,$C0C0C0,
$808080,$0000FF,$00FF00,$00FFFF,
$FF0000,$FF00FF,$FFFF00,$FFFFFF
)
function GetIndexClosestColor(AColor:TColor) : Integer;
var
SqrDist,SmallSqrDist : Double;
i,R1,G1,B1,R2,G2,B2 : Integer;
begin
Result:=0;
//set the max distance possible
SmallSqrDist := Sqrt(SQR(255)*3);
//get the RGB components of the original color
R1 := GetRValue(AColor);
G1 := GetGValue(AColor);
B1 := GetBValue(AColor);
for i := 0 to DelphiOldColorsCount-1 do
begin
//get the RGB components of the palette color
R2 := GetRValue(DelphiOldColorsList[i]);
G2 := GetGValue(DelphiOldColorsList[i]);
B2 := GetBValue(DelphiOldColorsList[i]);
//calculate the euclidean distance
SqrDist := Sqrt(SQR(R1 - R2) + SQR(G1 - G2) + SQR(B1 - B2));
if SqrDist < SmallSqrDist then
begin
Result := i;
SmallSqrDist := SqrDist;
end
end
end;
Applying the above function the results are
Aqua Theme Original (Delphi 7 and Above)
Aqua Theme Modified (Delphi 5 and Delphi 6)
NightFall Theme Original (Delphi 7 and Above)
NightFall Theme Modified (Delphi 5 and Delphi 6)
I think which the final result is acceptable (remember the palette is 16 colors only) . Now you can download the updated version of the Delphi IDE Theme Editor from here.
New features was added to the Delphi IDE Theme Editor
And remember your suggestions and comments are very important to improve the application.
UPDATE : Visit the new page of the project to check the new features.
The last weekend I was working in a new project called Delphi IDE Theme Editor. this tool allow to change the Delphi (Rad studio) color settings.
the application was written using Delphi XE and the Unicode SynEdit components.
Here some features
Screenshot of the application
Look the dephi IDE
check this video to see how the application set a new theme to Delphi IDE
See how the tool can import a Visual Studio Theme (.vssettings) and apply this style to Delphi IDE.
some tips
In the next days I will publish the full the source code and the technical details of the tool, so stay tuned.
Let me know If you have any suggestion or comments to improve the application.
The Road to Delphi 