Delphi Quick Reference Card1.

01

Variable Types1 := i:=2 Assignment

Type Size Range = 3=3 true
Boolean 1 false or true 2=3 false

Byte 1 0..255 < 3<4 true

Cardinal 4 0..4294967295 <= 2 <= 3 true

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Char 1 Extended ASCII > 'explain' > 'Explain' true
http://www.explainth.at
Color key overleaf Currency 8 ±9.22E14 >= 5 >= 4 true
Unit Structure Double 8 5E-324..1.7E308 <> 2 <> 3 true
'explain' <> 'explain' false
unit unitName;
Extended 10 3.6E-4951..1.1E4932
interface shl 1 shl 2 4
Integer 4 -2147483648..2147483647
[uses UnitA,UnitB...; shr 2 shr 1 1
class declarations1 Int64 8 -263..263 - 1
i:=2;j:=7
exports routineA,routineB...;2 PChar 4+2 pointer to array of char
and (i < 3) AND (j >= 5) true
var Variables]3
Pointer 4 Generic Pointer i AND j 2
implementation
P# 4 # is Integer, Double, etc or (i < 3) or (j > 7) false
[{$R *.dfm}1
i OR j 7
{$R WindowsXP.res}4 PWideChar 4+3 pointer to arry of widechar
xor (i < 3) XOR (j = 5) true
{$R resourceName.res}5 Set 32 See below4 (i < 3) XOR (j = 7) false
exports routineA,routineB...;2 (i > 2) XOR (j < 7) false
String 4+2 string of char
uses UnitAA,UnitBB...; i XOR j 5
TDateTime 8 See below5
var Variables;5] not (i < 3) AND NOT(j > 7) true
Code... WideChar 2 Unicode Character not(i) -3
[initialization Initialization Code;] WideString 4+6 string of Unicode characters s1:=[1..3];s2:=[3..7]
[ initialization Initialization Code;
Word 2 0..65535 + s1 + s2 [1..7]
finalization Finalization Code;6]
1. Other types exist. - s1 – s2 [1,2]
end. 2. 4 + length of string + 1 s2 - s1 [4..7]
1. In a form this includes one form and the $R *.dfm 3. 4 + 2 bytes per stored widechar
statement below is obligatory. 4. To store bytes, chars, enumerations with < 256 * s1*s2 [3]
members etc.
2. To export routines from a library with unit in its uses 5. 0 is 12:00 am, 12/30/1899. No values between -1 & 0. s1:=[1..3];s2:=[1,2,3];s3:=[1..7]
clause. Fraction represents time of day, e.g. 0.25 = 6:00 am. <= s1 <= s3 true
3. Visible in all units that use the present unit For dates prior to 12/30/1899, add time of day to
4. For WindowsXP style UI effects. absolute value of day, e.g. -1.25 for 6:00 am >= s3 >= s2 true
12/29/1899.
5. Any custom resources used. 6. 4+ twice length of string + 1 = s1 = s2 true
6. Visible within the unit Special Constants <> s1 <> s2 false
7. Initialization/finalization code can be a procedure call. false, true, nil, MAXWORD, MAXINT, MAXDOUBLE,
No finalization without initialization but just a blank MINDOUBLE etc. in 4 in s1 false
initialization statement is enough. 5 in s3 true
Names & Notation Enumerations
exclude exclude(s1,3) [1,2]
e.g. type TDelphiVersion = (dv5[ = 5],dv6,dv7,dv8)
As a general rule all identifier names – i.e. names for
include include(s1,9) [1,2,9]
units, controls, objects, variables... - must be Enumerations can be manipulated using inc, dec, pred
alphanumeric or the _ character. The first character and succ. ord can be used to get their ordinal value. Conversion from Stringsii
cannot be a number. Prepend enumeration members with two or more StrToCurDef(s,def) – s to currency. def on error.
lowercase letters identifying their parent enumeration. StrToInt[64]Def(s,def) – s to integer. def on error.
There is no single accepted notation standard. We
suggest the following Enumerated values require one or more depending on StrToFloatDef(s,def) – s to real. def on error.
StrToDateTimeDef(s,def) – s to datetime. def on error.
• Hungarian style notation for control/component & the number of members in the parent enumeration. val(S,V,Code) – s converted to number & stored in V.
interface identifiers. e.g. btnName for a TButton control Array Types Code > 0 indicates position in s of first error.
with Name describing its function. Any ordinal type can be used to define an array type. Conversions to Stringsii
• i,j,k... for generic integer variables used as loop e.g. FloatToStr(value) – value as a string.
counters etc. •TVersions = array[TDelphiVersions] of String; Format(ptrn,[arg1,arg2...])* - uses ptrn to build a string.
• Javascript style descriptive camel capitalized names •TLevels = array[-3..3] of Integer; %d, %f etc in pattern are replaced by values in args.
for all other variables. e.g. intRate. FormatDateTime(ptrn,datetime) – returns datetime as
•TLetters = array['a'..'z'] of Char; string formatted using ptrn. If ptrn is empty uses short
Names are not case sensitive. •TInfo = array[Boolean,0..9] of PChar; date format.
FormatFloat(ptrn,value) – returns value as string
Visibility, Scope & Garbage Collection Operators formatted using ptrn.
Variables declared inside a routine are only visible Operator Example Result IntToHex(value,N) – value in hexadecimal with N digits
within the routine – and to nested routines. IntToStr(value) – value as a string.
+ 3+2 5 Date & Time Routinesii
Declarations using the var keyword in the interface 'explain' + 'that' explainthat
section of a unit are visible within the unit and wherever Date – current date, time fraction set to zero.
the unit is present in a uses clause. - 3-2 -1 DateTimeToStr(d) – d to string using locale.
DecodeDate(Date,Y,M,D) – year, month & day to YMD
Declarations using the var keyword in the * 3*2 6 DecodeTime(Date,H,M,S,N) – hrs, mins, s & ms to
implementation section of a unit are visible within the HMSN
unit. / 3/2 1.5 EncodeDate(Y,M,D) – returns datetime value.
Objects implementing interfaces are reference counted. div 3 div 2 1 EncodeTime(H,M,S,N) – returns time fraction of
They are destroyed when their reference count reaches datetime.
zero. All other objects and any allocated memory must mod 3 div 2 3 – (3 div 2)*2 FormatDateTime(Format,Date) – returns formatted date
be explicitly destroyed/released after use. string
 Delphi Quick Reference Card1.01

Drive/File/Folder Manipulationii •d – day, no leading zero. case selector of

ChangeFileExt(AFile,AExt) – returns filename with new •dd – day, leading zero if necessary caseList1:code;
extension. AExt must include the . character.
System.ChDir(dir) – changes current directory. • ddd – Short day names caseList2:code;
CreateDir(dir) – creates directory. false on error. • dddd – Long day names ...
SysUtils.DirectoryExists(dir) – true if dir exists. •m, mm, mmm, mmmm – Month names, as above. caseListn:code;
SysUtils.DiskFree(drive) – free bytes on drive. 0 =
•yy - two digit year [else code;]
current, 1 = A etc.
ExtractFileExt(AFile) – returns .ext. •yyyy – four digit year. end;
ExtractFileName(AFile) – returns filename.ext. selector can be any ordinal type. code can be a
ExtractFilePath(AFile) – returns everything before
•h, n, s – hour, minute & second. No leading zero.
function/procedure call.
filename.ext. •hh, nn,ss- hour, minute & second with leading zero Looping
ForceDirectories(path) – creates all directories in path. •t – ShortTimeFormat
false on error. for i:=LowBound to HighBound do
System.GetDir – current directory. •tt – LongTimeFormat begin
RemoveDir(dir) – removes dir. •am/pm – Use 12h clock. Follow h|hh by am or pm Code;
Execution/Flow Control •ampm – use 12h clock. Follow h|hh by TimeAM|
SysUitls.abort – raise silent exception end;
PMString global variables.
break - break from loop ( for, repeat or while)
continue – continue to next iteration of loop
•/ date separator as in DateSeparator global variable
for i:=HighBound downto LowBound do
exit – exit from current procedure •: time separator as in TimeSeparator global variable.
begin
halt – immediate termination of program •'xx' or “xx” - literal characters
Number Manipulationiii Code;
abs - returns absolute value Format function specifiers end;
Math.ceil(arg) – lowest integer >= arg
Format strings consist of one or more specifiers bearing
exp(N) – returns eN
the form %[-][w].[d]L where repeat
Math.floor(arg) – highest integer <= arg
frac(N) – fractional part of N •- indicates left justification. (The default is right) Code;
int(N) - integer part of real number N •w indicates the total character width of the output until Condition;
Math.log10(N) – log to the base 10 of N value. If necessary this is padded out with spaces –
Math.log2(N) – log to the base 2 of N right or left depending on the justification specifier.
Random – random number in the range 0..1 while Codition
Randomize – initialize random number generator •d is the precision specifier. The meaning of this
RandSeed – Seed value for random number generator. depends on the nature of the quantity being formatted. begin
Round(N) – round N to nearest whole number. Midway ➢The number of characters in integers & Code;
values rounded to even number. hexadecimal integers. end;
Math.RoundTo(N,d) – round N to 10d ➢The number of decimals in real numbers in general
Ordinal Manipulation , f, format.
dec(arg,N) – decrements ordinal arg by N Dispense with the begin & end to execute a single line
➢The number of decimals + the E in real numbers in of code. repeat loops execute at least once. Use break,
high(arg) – high bound of arg type.
inc(arg,N) – increments ordinal arg by N scientific format. continue or exit to modify/terminate loop execution.
low(arg) – low bound of arg type. ➢The number of characters in a string. Notes
ord(arg) – ordinal value of boolean, char or enumerated •L indicates that nature. d for integer, f for real, e for i – MAXDOUBLE etc are defined in Math.
arg. scientific, n real but with thousands separators, s for ii – Unless preceded by Unit., the routine is in SysUtils
pred(arg) – predecessor of ordinal type arg. string and x for hexadecimal integer.
succ(arg) – subsequent value of ordinal type arg. iii – Unless preceded by Unit., the routine is in System
iii Example Function
String Manipulation iv – Unless preceded by Unit., the routine is in Variants
chr(arg) – ASCII character at arg. %d Simple Integer formatting *
For widestrings use the same function but preceeded
SysUtils.CompareStr(s1,s2)* – case sensitive
comparison. s1 < s2 returns -1;s1 = s2 returns 0 & s1 > %0.nd Integer with n digits – padded if by Wide, e.g. WideFormat.
s2 returns 1. shorter
SysUtils.CompareText(s1,s2)* – case insensitive
%m.nd Integer with n digits in a width of m. Color Codes
comparision. Returns as above.
m is ignored if insufficient.
Copy(s,Index,Count) – Count characters in s starting
from Index. %m.nf Floating point number, width m with blue – Delphi keyword
Delete(s,Index,Count) – deletes Count characters in s n decimal digits. green – Delphi routine (function or procedure)
starting at Index.
StrUtils.LeftStr(s,Count) – Count characters in s %-m.nf As above but left justified. [option] - optional
starting from the left. RightStr is similar. Math. - unit to be specified in uses clause. Does not
%m.ns String formatted to a width of m apply to System.
StrUtils.MidStr(s,Index,Count) – Count characters in s
characters and containing n
starting from Index.
characters. Truncated if n is less
Length(s) – number of characters in s.
than string length. n is ignored if An extensive range of free quick reference cards is
SysUtils.LowerCase(s)* – s in lower case. UpperCase available at http://www.explainth.at
greater than string length.
is similar.
SysUtils.SameText(s1,s2)* – returns true if s1 = s2, not %m.nx Integer in hexadecimal format. Rest
case sensitive. Returns true or false. as for %d, above.
SetLength(s,len) – sets length of string s to len.
StringOfChar(Char,Count) - returns string containing
Other options exist.
Count Chars.
UpCase(c) – character c in uppercase. Conditional Execution/Brancing
Variant Manipulationiv Multiline if..then..else
VarFromDateTime(date) – date as a variant.
VarToDateTime(V) – V as TDateTime. if Condition then
VarAsType(V,AType) – V converted to variant of type begin
AType. Code
VarToStr(V) – V as a string. end[ else
VarToWideStr(V) – V as a widestring. begin
VarType(V) – variant type of V. Code
Format Specifiers end];
DateTime Formats Single line if..then..else
•c – ShortDateFormat if Condition then Code else Code;