[Delphi7] Questions about the Library Path

[chronozphere]

Hey guys

Every time I install a library, I need to add several directories to my library path. The bad thing is that any subdirectories will be ignored while searching, so you have to add them yourself.

I'm installing VampyreImaging now, and each time i hit F9, I discover a new unit in a new directory that needs to be added.

I've now added the following directories:

imaginglib0262\Imaging\Source
imaginglib0262\Imaging\Extras\Extensions\LibTiff\L ibTiffDelphi
imaginglib0262\Imaging\Source\JPEGLib
imaginglib0262\Imaging\Source\Extensions
imaginglib0262\Imaging\Source\Zlib

And I still seem to have missed units/DCU's.

Moreover, I keep seeing my added path's turn gray (which probably means they're invalid). Is that because I seperate my path's using a semilicon ( ; )??

In the past, I just dumped entire libraries into the "Lib" directory, so everything could be found. I know that that's not the way to go if you want to keep things organized, but It's very tempting as the alternatives can be frustrating aswell.

What I need is a crash course delphi file management. Can someone elaborate on how he/she is managing Delphi project/library files?

Thanks a lot.

[AthenaOfDelphi]

I manage files in an organized manner as you are doing with the library path.

Because I have Delphi 5 and BDS 2006, I have three seperate library directories. One for D5, one for BDS2006 and one for components that can share a common source:-

BDS 2006 Specific

C:\Components\BDS2006\Imaging

Common

C:\Components\Common\ASqlite3Components
C:\Components\Common\DCPCrypt
C:\Components\Common\DWSI
C:\Components\Common\Indy 9
C:\Components\Common\JvUIB
C:\Components\Common\Library
C:\Components\Common\MD5
C:\Components\Common\MyComponents
C:\Components\Common\SynEdit
C:\Components\Common\TPAbbrevia

Delphi 5 Specific

C:\Components\D5\CoolTrayIcon
C:\Components\D5\DWSII-1.0
C:\Components\D5\Indy 9
C:\Components\D5\Library

My library path for BDS 2006 looks something like this (obviously this is straightened out):-

$(BDS)\lib;
$(BDS)\Imports;
C:\BDS2006\RaveReports\Lib;
c:\documents and settings\<USERNAME>\my documents\borland studio projects\bpl;
C:\Program Files\madCollection\madBasic\DeXter;
C:\Program Files\madCollection\madDisAsm\DeXter;
C:\Program Files\madCollection\madExcept\DeXter;
C:\Program Files\madCollection\madKernel\DeXter;
C:\Program Files\madCollection\madSecurity\DeXter;
C:\Program Files\madCollection\madShell\DeXter;
c:\components\common\library;
C:\Components\Common\DCPCrypt;
C:\Components\Common\DWSI;
C:\Components\Common\MD5;
C:\Components\Common\MyComponents\D2006;
C:\Components\Common\MyComponents\Source;
C:\Components\Common\SynEdit\Source;
C:\Components\Common\TPAbbrevia\source;
C:\Components\Common\JvUIB\source;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressCore Library\Sources;
C:\Components\Common\Indy 9\Source;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressNavBar 2\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressSideBar\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressBars 6\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressQuantumTreeList 4\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressDocking Library\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressSkins Library\Sources;
C:\Program Files\Addict3\Source\d10;
C:\Components\BDS2006\Imaging\Source;
C:\Components\BDS2006\Imaging\Source\Extensions;
C:\Components\BDS2006\Imaging\Source\JpegLib;
C:\Components\BDS2006\Imaging\Source\ZLib;
C:\Components\BDS2006\Imaging\Extras\Extensions;
$(DXVCL)\Library\Delphi10;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressCommon Library\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\XP Theme Manager\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressGDI+ Library\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressLibrary\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressDataController\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressEditors Library 5\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressPageControl 2\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressExport Library\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressQuantumGrid 6\Sources;
$(DXVCL)\ExpressMemData\Sources

It used to be a problem to have such big library paths, but these days it doesn't seem to matter much. Certainly when I was using Delphi 7 at a previous job, the library path was huge.

Of course the other thing to do, is only install what you need. This reduces load time, and makes the IDE less bloaty.

[ize]

I used to be the same - just dump it ALL into the lib folder ... until i didn't want a library anymore and it took me ages getting all the files out

Now i'm much more organised. Yeah it's a pain (the paths for GLScene and the afore mentioned VampyreLibrary are mad!) but worth it in the long run.

I don't know why they keep greying out though semi-colon is a valid separator for file paths

[AthenaOfDelphi]

The grey is definitely an invalid path. For maintaining your library path, you would be better off using the dialog that is displayed when you click the elipsis button next to the path edit box. If you've never used it, it breaks the path up into individual elements and displays them in a list box, allowing you to add/remove items.