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

Copyright, 2007-2008 BrandsPatch LLC
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 %d, %f etc in pattern are replaced by values in args.
TLevels = array[-3..3] of Integer; FormatDateTime(ptrn,datetime) returns datetime as
for all other variables. e.g. intRate.
TLetters = array['a'..'z'] of Char; string formatted using ptrn. If ptrn is empty uses short
Names are not case sensitive. date format.
TInfo = array[Boolean,0..9] of PChar; 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. caseList2:code;
System.ChDir(dir) changes current directory. ddd Short day names
CreateDir(dir) creates directory. false on error. dddd Long day names ...
SysUtils.DirectoryExists(dir) true if dir exists. caseListn:code;
SysUtils.DiskFree(drive) free bytes on drive. 0 =
m, mm, mmm, mmmm Month names, as above.
yy - two digit year [else code;]
current, 1 = A etc.
ExtractFileExt(AFile) returns .ext. end;
yyyy four digit year.
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.
halt immediate termination of program begin
'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
high(arg) high bound of arg type.
The number of decimals + the E in real numbers in of code. repeat loops execute at least once. Use break,
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;