New in version 5
◦ It is now possible to design forms (TCustomForm descendants) in the
TLMDDesignPanel. This allows to develop BDS like IDE user interface.
◦ New designer ShowRootResizers property allows to show mouse handles to resize
the root inside design panel.
◦ New global components modification notifications feature allows to synchronize
shown in Design Pack controls content without any links between controls. Useful
e.g. if for example you move some Vcl control by the designer, the Left and Top
property values will be automatically updated in the property inspector. Or: if
you rename some Vcl component in property inspector, the object combo box will
automatically update shown component name.
◦ The global components modification notifications allow to detect when
components located inside module root are modified. New
TLMDModule.OnCompsModified event can be easily used to detect such
modifications, instead of several old events of designer or property inspector.
◦ The global components modification notifications allows to provide more
correct notifications, finding correct module for the modified component.
Imagine that you edit by the property inspector the TClientDataSet component
from one module that refers to the TDataSource component from another module.
Since the property inspector can edit linked data source component properties
(by expanding DataSource property) it is important that as a result of such
modification a second module will receive the notification, but not the first
one.
◦ All design pack controls are now closely oriented to work with designer. So,
EditorWindows has been removed from all controls except the TLMDDesigner. All
other controls will automatically search for the appropriate designer in cases
when the editor window manager is required. There are no connection to service
provider required, because it is always possible to map editing control to its
module (designer).
◦ New TLMDModule.OnGetLoadingCompRef event added to allow to dynamically load
modules in the presence of inter module component links. The Vcl allows to do
this only starting from Delphi 2005, so this event is not available in Delphi 7.
Features
◦ 9 components for adding design features to your applications;
◦ Provides object inspector like component, form designer and diagram based
controls;
◦ TLMDDesignManager control: Connect designer control(s) with object combobox/property
inspector to set up designable forms with almost no code;
◦ TLMDObjectComboBox control: Delphi object inspector like object combo box;
◦ Support of ASCII/binary DFM format for saving/restoring form data;
◦ Full sourcecode of library;
◦ Extensive demo projects demonstrating advanced features - even a report
designer is basically included;
◦ Free updates via Internet (Version 5.X);
◦ A Site License covers unlimited number of developers in same organization at
one location
◦ Free technical support via newsgroup (news.lmdtools.com), e-mail, fax or mail;
◦ Also available as part of LMD IDE-Tools or LMD VCL Complete.