OpenTemplot2024 -- files ex-Delphi5

[Martin Wynne]

This topic is about the internal programming of Templot. If you are interested only in using Templot, this topic can be ignored.

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Here are the first 8 Delphi5 files open-sourced on 25th May 2024 from Templot2 version 244d.

licence.txt contains the open-source licence.​

​

OpenTemplot2024.dpr is the main program wrapper, containing a list of all the unit files and the startup code.​

​

control_room.pas is the program panel. This is the program's main form -- closing this form (window) quits the program.​

control_room.dfm​

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bgnd_unit.pas contains the background shapes functions, including the timbering brick assemblers, and BGS3 file functions.​

bgnd_unit.dfm​

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keep_select.pas is the storage box and includes the BOX file functions. edit see later: ​

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?posts/11471​

keep_select.dfm​

​

The origins of some of the file names are lost in the mists of time, and ceased to be entirely meaningful as the program developed over the years. Originally a background template was called a "keep", and this term is still used in many places in the code.

A note about identifiers. Pascal is case-insensitive, but for Delphi's own identifiers I normally use CamelCase. For Templot's identifiers I use lower_case_with_underscores. e,g.

Pen.Width:=pen_width;
counter_str:=IntToStr(counter);

declarations for pen_width and counter_str would be found in the Templot units.
declarations for Pen and IntToStr() will be found in the Delphi library units.

These are all text-based files. Your browser may open them directly. To prevent that, right-click on them and click Save target as...

More soon, there are a lot more yet.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea

Next up is

bgkeeps_unit.pas
bgkeeps_unit.dfm

The DFM is:

The PAS file includes declarations of the storage box content for each template. It is too long to copy here, see lines 112-1099.

Not all the content is included in a BOX file -- stored templates are re-generated on loading.

When saved in a BOX file it is re-arranged in Told_keep_data like this (from keep_select.pas line 642):

  Tkeep_dims1=record      // first part of Tkeep_dims

                box_dims1:Tbox_dims1;

              end;//record Tkeep_dims1


  Tkeep_dims2=record

                turnout_info2:Tturnout_info2;

              end;//record Tkeep_dims2


  Told_keep_data=record    // this matches the old Tkeep_data record pre 071 including the timber shove data.
                           // used on loading files.

                   old_keep_dims1:Tkeep_dims1;
                   old_keep_shoves:T048_shoves;
                   old_keep_dims2:Tkeep_dims2;

                 end;//record.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty

Now the big one -- 41,218 lines.

math_unit.pas

This contains most of the calculations for generating a template. Plus the code for drawing the control template on the screen.

And also the 2D part of the experimental chairing for the chair base outlines and the plug and socket sizing (begins at line 30097).

If you need a text editor to look at these files, I suggest Notepad++ (free): https://notepad-plus-plus.org

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math_unit.dfm is a simple dialog utility:

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

'
Next is:

pad_unit.pas (30,621 lines): This contains most of the UI code for the trackpad.

pad_unit.dfm (12,912 lines):

This the Delphi5 pad_form design-time, with the menu structure, etc.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme

Next:

chair_frame_unit.pas
chair_frame_init.dfm

chairs_unit.pas: (1,856 lines) declarations and dimensioning for the chairs -- still experimental and subject to change.

chairs_unit.dfm:

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme

A couple more while it is still raining.

heave_chairs.pas (unfinished)
heave_chairs.dfm:

intersect_unit.pas
intersect_unit.dfm:

Still a long way to go. I will do dxf_unit next, but it's very messy and will need a lot of tidying up.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme

Next is:

dxf_unit.pas: (14,840 lines) This contains all the recent experimental stuff to generate the chairs and export the DXF and STL files. It had got into quite a mess with all the crossings out. I hope I haven't broken anything in cleaning it up. It seems to be ok. It is likely to get in a mess again as I progress the plug track chairs, so this is just a snapshot in time.

It's a strange mix of code I wrote 30 years ago, using Autodesk DXF docs from the 1980s, and stuff I wrote last week. When we are all set and done, if ever, I will split it up into more sensible chunks.

dxf_unit.dfm:

Martin.

 

[nickom]

Thanks Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Next:

grid_unit.pas: (6,067 lines) This unit draws the background templates on the screen, and also handles the utils functions (ruler, spacing-ring, dummy vehicle). Some of this code is very old and hasn't changed for years, as you can see from some of the comments.

grid_unit.dfm:

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Next:

math2_unit.pas: (3,767 lines) This unit contains some additional maths code. There is no corresponding DFM.

info_unit.pas: The information panel on the trackpad.
info_unit.dfm:

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

These two haven't changed much since the beginning of time, which will be evident from some of the comments.

switch_select.pas
switch_select.dfm

xing_select.pas
xing_select.dfm

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Another two which haven't changed much in recent years.

alert_unit.pas
alert_unit.dfm:

help_sheet.pas
help_sheet.dfm:

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

4 more units, mostly unchanged from the beginning of time:

chat_unit.pas
chat_unit.dfm

entry_sheet.pas
entry_sheet.dfm

metric_unit.pas
metric_unit.dfm

colour_unit.pas
colour_unit.dfm


chat_unit includes the help > print F key chart function.

entry_sheet is the 8-line data-entry form. Copied originally from the same thing on the Atari circa.1990, pre porting Templot to Windows.

metric_unit is the utils > metric calculator utility.

colour_unit is used globally to show the Windows colour selection dialog.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

preview_unit.pas : (2,372 lines) preview the print paper output.
preview_unit.dfm

print_unit.pas : (6,552 lines) output the printed paper templates. This unit is still waiting for me to add the chair outlines. So much still to do.

print_unit.dfm :

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

This file is not mine:

dtpNativeXml.pas : This is Nils Haeck's open-source XML engine, used to save some Templot files. I have made a couple of changes in it, identified as 85A in the comments.

There are later versions and release notes (including a note about FreePascal) at:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/simdesign/files/trunk/nativexml/

However, the version attached here has not been upgraded to the later versions. Because it is working fine and I haven't found time to thoroughly test the upgrades for compatibility with Delphi5.

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Author: Nils Haeck M.Sc. (n.haeck@simdesign.nl)
Copyright (c) 2003 - 2010 Simdesign BV
Version: 2.28
Original date: 01-Apr-2003
Last Modified: 05-Dec-2006

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
conditions and the following disclaimer.

2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list
of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials
provided with the distribution.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY SIMDESIGN BV "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL SIMDESIGN BV OR
CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

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p.s. Sadly, Nils suffered a serious head injury in a horse-riding accident and was unable to continue with his software projects. This includes the DTP engine used for the Templot sketchboard. His SimDesign web site is now closed.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford


startup_unit.pas : shows the splash screen (briefly) and does the program size scaling.
startup_unit.dfm


gauge_unit.pas : creates the gauge/scale pre-sets.
gauge_unit.dfm :

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

5 more units:

date_unit.pas
date_unit.dfm

export_preview_unit.pas
export_preview_unit.dfm

mw_unit.pas
mw_unit.dfm

search_unit.pas
search_unit.dfm

slider_unit.pas
slider_unit.dfm

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Next lot:

brick_unit.pas : 3D utils
brick_unit.dfm

jigs_unit.pas : rail filing jigs -- and tweezer tips (needs update)
jigs_unit.dfm

map_clarity_unit.pas : map functions
map_clarity_unit.dfm

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resample.pas : this file is not mine:

// Project: bitmap resampler
// Module: resample
// Description: Interpolated Bitmap Resampling using filters.
// Version: 01.02
// Release: 3
// Date: 15-MAR-1998
// Target: Win32, Delphi 2 & 3
// Author(s): anme: Anders Melander, anders@melander.dk
// Copyright (c) 1997,98 by Anders Melander
// Formatting: 2 space indent, 8 space tabs, 80 columns.
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// This software is copyrighted as noted above. It may be freely copied,
// modified, and redistributed, provided that the copyright notice(s) is
// preserved on all copies.

My changes in above commented 85A.

---

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

More files.

create_y_turnout.pas : tools > make Y turnout
create_y_turnout.dfm :

lib_unit.pas : library viewer
lib_unit.dfm :

gaps_unit.pas : template symbols
gaps_unit.dfm :

calibration_unit.pas : printer calibration function
calibration_unit.dfm

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Another 4.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Next 6.

About 20 more after this. Then I will post them all again in a Zip.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

This file dtp_unit.pas has been about 90% redacted because it contained functions for the non-open-source sketchboard.

It is still needed because it includes the sb_draw function which draws templates on metafiles and exported images.

At present I can't test it in this redacted form, it is likely to need some extra uses links.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

A slight diversion.

In a lot of places Templot requires David Baldwin's HTMLViewer component to show HTML-formatted help notes, and links.

The ZIP file below includes HTMLViewer as purchased by me from David Baldwin 20 years ago. The files include some changes by me, generally identified with "85A" in the comments.

They also include David Baldwin's copyright notices. Since then he has made HTMLViewer open-source, so I believe it is permissible to post the original files here.

However, although this version still works fine in Delphi5 with Templot2, it is likely to need some changes for later versions of Delphi and other compilers.

In 2018 I posted a guide to installing the then-current version of HTMLViewer in Lazarus. See this topic:

https://85a.uk/templot/archive/topics/topic_3283.php

But since then Lazarus has upgraded several times and the process is probably changed.

Also below is the original CHM help file for HTMLViewer which will be helpful in getting it working in OpenTemplot2024.

(To read a CHM file in Windows, right-click on the saved file, click Properties, click Unblock at bottom-right of General tab.)

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Next 6.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

More.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Another 6.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Final 5. Apart from the ones which I'm not able to publish for licensing reasons.

I will now get them all zipped up for easier download.

Martin.

 

[nickom]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Final 5. Apart from the ones which I'm not able to publish for licensing reasons.

I will now get them all zipped up for easier download.

Martin.

Thanks Martin, You have put a huge amount of work into getting these uploaded.

When I convert these to lazarus do I need to import and convert within Lazarus. Or is it a manual process .

 

[Steve_Cornford]

Hi Martin,
I have just tried Lazarus 2.2.6, > Tools > Delphi conversion > Convert Delphi Project.....
and got this message:-

Which I believe is expected , especially the "sketchboard_unit" that you have already mentioned.
I assume the others are also expected to be not found due to 3rd party copyright issues.

I also assume that I should just take the [comment out] option.

I should also upgrade to the latest Lazarus, but could not stop myself experimenting first (as today my eggs were scrambled)
Steve
ps dont waste any time replying, as i am just trying the "automatic conversion".

 

[Martin Wynne]

I also assume that I should just take the [comment out] option.

@Steve_Cornford

Hi Steve,

Yes. Comment them out. It's likely that several other changes will be needed.

• In the full Zip below I have edited the DPR file to remove some of the missing units from the list, so you should see that message less often.

More info about getting started in Lazarus is at (from 2018):

https://85a.uk/templot/archive/topics/topic_3283.php

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

When I convert these to lazarus do I need to import and convert within Lazarus. Or is it a manual process .

@nickom

Hi Nick,

The only thing I can say about these files is that they are exactly as-is from Delphi5. That means the only compiler that I can say will definitely work with them as they stand is Delphi5 (from 1998). Other old versions of Delphi from 1998 until 2009 will very likely work too, or with only minor changes. Lazarus will definitely need some changes, but whether that can be automatic I don't know but very much doubt. Any automatic converter in Lazarus is likely to assume it is converting code from a more modern version of Delphi.

Later versions of Delphi from 2009 need to have the string type changed to AnsiString(1252) to ensure they are always single-byte characters. I got the current Delphi Community Edition to run these files without doing that, but it would take a lot of testing to confirm that every part of Templot is working correctly that way.

There doesn't seem to be a compiler directive for that. It would be necessary to declare a new string type as say:

 twine = type AnsiString(1252);

And then use maybe the file search/replace function in Notepad++ to replace string with twine everywhere in every file.

But not short strings declared as

string[..]

which should remain unchanged.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford

Here at last is all the previous files in a single ZIP.

It contains a nested ZIP file - HTML_VIEWER.zip . If you are unable to install HTMLViewer in your compiler, this will need to be unzipped after unzipping the downloaded file.

There are some minor changes in a few of these files since I posted them earlier, so it would be better to use these for ongoing work. Especially the DPR file.

That completes my main intention, which was to have all the current Templot2 and plug track files open-sourced. So that Templot can continue if I get struck by lightning.

But I don't want to get too involved in what actually happens to these OpenTemplot2024 files just now, because I need to get back to Templot2 plug track. There is too much unfinished stuff, and folks waiting for it.

But I will try to keep this topic updated with developments, so that OpenTemplot2024 can be in sync with Templot2 and not several years behind. Likewise if someone comes up with the code for a great new function in OpenTemplot2024 I shall be grabbing it for Templot2.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[nickom]

Thanks Martin.

Regards
Nick

PS . please try and steer clear of Thunderstorms and Busses

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford @James Walters

I didn't include this one because it is the control panel for the sketchboard, which can't itself be open-sourced.

It's also a large and complex form and file (6,575 lines).

However it is much referenced by other units such as the export_unit, so it is probably easiest to include it. Almost all of it will need to be commented out, but we need some of the controls on the form.

I said I wasn't going to do any more with the files -- but here I am tinkering about in Lazarus. If I don't stop this and get back to plug track I can't see us having the K-crossings in time for Scaleforum. And now the sun has come out for the afternoon, so my lunch is going into my rucksack.

Martin.

 

[Martin Wynne]

@nickom @NoIdea @Rusty @Alistair Ward @graeme @Steve_Cornford @James Walters @Phil G

I have started a separate topic for versions of the above files ready for use in Lazarus, at:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/opentemplot2024-lazarus-files-for-templot5.952/

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Since I started this topic I have made the decision to shift all Templot development to Lazarus and open-source.

I will leave the files in this topic here for anyone wanting to use them in Delphi. But if you will be using Lazarus, please ignore any of these Delphi files which you have downloaded. Don't get them muddled up with the Lazarus files which can be downloaded on the above link.

Martin.