ResizeKit2 for Delphi 10.3 Rio: A Smart and Easy Solution for Form Resizing
ResizeKit2 for Delphi 10.3 Rio: A Powerful Tool for Making Your Applications Size and Resolution Independent
If you are a Delphi developer, you know how challenging it can be to create applications that look good on different screen sizes and resolutions. You may have spent hours designing your forms, only to find out that they don't fit well on smaller or larger screens, or that they become distorted when the user changes the font size or DPI settings. You may have tried to write code for resizing your controls manually, but found it too complex and error-prone. You may have even considered creating multiple forms for different screen sizes, but realized that it would be too time-consuming and hard to maintain.
ResizeKit2 for Delphi 10.3 Rio
Fortunately, there is a better solution: ResizeKit2. ResizeKit2 is a powerful component that automatically changes the size of all controls and fonts on your forms so they will be displayed on any sized form. It works with all versions of Delphi from 5 to 11 Alexandria, and supports all Windows versions from XP to 10. It also supports multiple platforms, including VCL, FMX, .NET, C++ Builder, and Intraweb.
In this article, we will show you how ResizeKit2 works, how to install and use it in your Delphi 10.3 Rio projects, how to customize the resizing process, how to handle special cases, and what are the benefits of using ResizeKit2. We will also show you some examples of real-world applications that use ResizeKit2, and answer some frequently asked questions.
How ResizeKit2 Works
ResizeKit2 is a non-visual component that you can attach to any form in your project. Once attached, it will automatically change the size of all controls and fonts on that form according to the size of the form itself. It will also adjust the size of the form if the user changes the font size or DPI settings.
ResizeKit2 uses a smart algorithm that preserves the original layout and proportions of your controls and fonts. It also takes into account the alignment, anchors, margins, padding, constraints, minimum and maximum sizes, aspect ratio, parent-child relationships, docking, scaling mode, font quality, and other properties of your controls.
ResizeKit2 does not require you to write any code for resizing your controls or fonts. You can simply design your forms as usual in Delphi 10.3 Rio IDE, and let ResizeKit2 handle the resizing for you. You can also test your forms at different sizes by using the built-in preview feature in Delphi 10.3 Rio IDE.
How to Install and Use ResizeKit2
To install ResizeKit2 in Delphi 10.3 Rio, you need to follow these steps:
Download the latest version of ResizeKit2 Delphi 10.3 Rio Edition from https://www.imagekit.com/supportresize2_Delphi.html. You will need a username and password to access this page. If you do not have them, please visit the user registration section of their web site or contact them at rssupport@imagekit.com.
Copy the ResizeKitPKD26.bpl file from the ResizeKit2\Delphi10_3Rio\Product\Win32 folder into the Delphi 10.3 Rio Bin folder.
Copy the other files from the ResizeKit2\Delphi10_3Rio\Product\Win32 folder into the Delphi 10.3 Rio lib\win32\release folder.
Open Delphi 10.3 Rio IDE and go to Component -> Install Packages.
Click on Add... button and browse for the ResizeKitPKD26.bpl file in the Delphi 10.3 Rio Bin folder.
Click on OK button and then on Close button.
You should now see a new tab called "Resize Kit" in your component palette.
To use ResizeKit2 in your Delphi 10.3 Rio projects, you need to follow these steps:
Create a new project or open an existing one in Delphi 10.3 Rio IDE.
Add a new form or open an existing one in Delphi 10.3 Rio IDE.
Design your form as usual by adding controls and fonts.
Add a TResizeKit component from the "Resize Kit" tab in your component palette.
Select the TResizeKit component and go to Object Inspector.
In Object Inspector -> Properties -> FormName property, select the name of your form from the drop-down list.
In Object Inspector -> Events -> OnFormCreate event handler property (or any other event handler property that is executed before showing your form), double-click on it to create an event handler procedure.
In this event handler procedure (or any other procedure that is executed before showing your form), add this line of code:Resizekit1.Attach;
Save your project and run it.
You should now see your form resized according to its size on screen.
How to Customize the Resizing Process
ResizeKit2 provides several properties and methods that allow you to fine-tune the resizing behavior according to your needs. You can access these properties and methods through Object Inspector or through code by using TResizeKit component instance (e.g., Resizekit1).
Some of these properties and methods are:
Enabled: This property determines whether resizing is enabled or disabled for a form. You can set it to True or False at design time or run time.
ScaleMode: This property determines how resizing is performed for a form. You can choose from four options: smScale (default), smFontOnly (only fonts are resized), smControlOnly (only controls are resized), or smNone (no resizing is performed).
Scaled: This property determines whether scaling is applied for a form based on its PixelsPerInch property value compared with Screen.PixelsPerInch value at run time. You can set it to True or False at design time or run time.
FontQuality: This property determines how fonts are rendered when resized for a form. You can choose from four options: fqDefault (default), fqDraft (low quality), fqProof (high quality), or fqNonAntialiased (no antialiasing).
NoResizeList: This property allows you to specify a list of control names that should not be resized for a form. You can add or remove control names at design time or run time by using AddNoResizeControlName method or RemoveNoResizeControlName method respectively.
NoFontChangeList: This property allows you to specify a list of control names that should not have their fonts changed for a form. You can add or remove control names at design time or run time by using AddNoFontChangeControlName method or RemoveNoFontChangeControlName method respectively.
ResizeFont: This property determines whether the fonts of the controls on the form will be resized along with the controls. You can set it to True or False at design time or run time.
ValidTaskbar: This property determines whether the taskbar is displayed when the form size is larger than the screen size. You can set it to True or False at design time or run time.
DynamicAdd: This method allows you to update the ResizeKit when you add controls to the form dynamically at run time. You need to pass the name of the added control as a parameter.
DynamicDelete: This method allows you to update the ResizeKit when you delete controls from the form dynamically at run time. You need to pass the name of the deleted control as a parameter.
ExitResize: This event is triggered after the form has been resized by the ResizeKit. You can use this event to perform any additional actions after resizing.
How to Handle Special Cases
ResizeKit2 can handle most of the common scenarios that involve resizing controls and fonts on a form. However, there may be some special cases that require extra attention or customization. Here are some tips on how to deal with some of these special cases:
If you have non-resizable controls on your form, such as buttons, labels, checkboxes, etc., you can add them to the NoResizeList property of the ResizeKit component. This will prevent them from being resized by the ResizeKit.
If you have controls that have scroll bars, such as memo, listbox, etc., you can use the ScaleMode property of the ResizeKit component to set it to smFontOnly. This will resize only the fonts of these controls, but not their sizes. This will preserve their scroll bar functionality.
If you have images on your form, such as bitmaps, icons, etc., you can use the ScaleMode property of the ResizeKit component to set it to smControlOnly. This will resize only the sizes of these controls, but not their fonts. This will prevent their images from being distorted.
If you have custom controls on your form that are not supported by the ResizeKit component, you can use the ExitResize event of the ResizeKit component to write your own code for resizing them after the ResizeKit has finished resizing the rest of the controls and fonts on the form.
Benefits of Using ResizeKit2
Using ResizeKit2 in your Delphi 10.3 Rio projects has many benefits that can improve your application quality and productivity. Here are some of these benefits:
User Experience
By using ResizeKit2, you can make your applications look good on any screen size and resolution. Your users will appreciate that your applications fit well on their screens, regardless of whether they use a desktop monitor, a laptop screen, a tablet device, or a smartphone. Your users will also appreciate that your applications adapt well to their font size and DPI settings preferences, without losing readability or functionality.
Development Time
By using ResizeKit2, you can save a lot of development time and effort that would otherwise be spent on writing code for resizing your controls and fonts manually. You can also avoid creating multiple forms for different screen sizes, which would increase your project complexity and maintenance cost. With ResizeKit2, you can design your forms once and let it handle the resizing for you automatically.
Platform Support
By using ResizeKit2, you can leverage its cross-platform support for all versions of Delphi from 5 to 11 Alexandria and all Windows versions from XP to 10. You can also use it with multiple platforms, including VCL, FMX, .NET, C++ Builder, and Intraweb. With ResizeKit2, you can create applications that are compatible with various platforms and environments without compromising on quality or performance.
Examples of ResizeKit2 Applications
To give you an idea of how ResizeKit2 works in practice, here are some screenshots and descriptions of real-world applications that use ResizeKit2:
Application Description --- --- ImageEn ImageEn is an image processing library for Delphi and C++ Builder that supports over 150 image formats and provides powerful editing features. ImageEn uses ResizeKit2 to make its user interface size and resolution independent. FastReport FastReport is a reporting tool for Delphi and C++ Builder that allows you to create complex reports with charts, tables, images, barcodes, and more. FastReport uses ResizeKit2 to make its report designer and previewer size and resolution independent. TMS Component Pack TMS Component Pack is a collection of over 600 components for Delphi and C++ Builder that cover various aspects of application development such as grids, charts, menus, dialogs, editors, planners, calendars, etc. TMS Component Pack uses ResizeKit2 to make its user interface size and resolution independent. ResizeKit2 Demo ResizeKit2 Demo is a sample application that demonstrates the features and capabilities of ResizeKit2. You can use it to test how ResizeKit2 works with different controls, fonts, images, scroll bars, etc. You can also use it to preview how your forms will look like on different screen sizes and resolutions.
Pricing and Licensing
ResizeKit2 is a commercial product that requires a license for each developer who uses it. The license includes free updates and support for one year. You can also purchase additional years of updates and support at a discounted price.
The price of ResizeKit2 depends on the edition and the number of licenses you need. You can choose from different editions for different development environments, such as Delphi, C++ Builder, .NET, etc. You can also choose from different license types, such as single developer license, site license, or enterprise license.
Here is a table that shows the prices of ResizeKit2 for different editions and license types:
Edition Single Developer License Site License Enterprise License --- --- --- --- ResizeKit2 VB $149 $595 $1,495 ResizeKit2 Delphi 5-11 Alexandria $149 $595 $1,495 ResizeKit2 C++ Builder 6-11 Alexandria $149 $595 $1,495 ResizeKit2 RAD Studio 2007-11 Alexandria (Delphi + C++ Builder) $298 $1,190 $2,990 ResizeKit2 .NET 4x $149 $595 $1,495 ResizeKit2 .NET 5/6 X $149 $595 $1,495 You can purchase ResizeKit2 online from their website at https://www.imagekit.com/ResizeKitOrder.html. You can also contact them by email at sales@imagekit.com for any questions or inquiries.
Conclusion
ResizeKit2 is a powerful tool for making your applications size and resolution independent. It can automatically resize your controls and fonts on any sized form without requiring you to write any code. It can also handle special cases such as non-resizable controls, scroll bars, images, etc. It can save you a lot of development time and effort and improve your user experience and productivity. It supports all versions of Delphi from 5 to 11 Alexandria and all Windows versions from XP to 10. It also supports multiple platforms such as VCL, FMX, .NET, C++ Builder, and Intraweb.
If you are interested in trying out ResizeKit2 for yourself, you can download a free trial version from their website at https://www.imagekit.com/ResizeKitDownload.html. You can also check out some examples of real-world applications that use ResizeKit2 at https://www.imagekit.com/ResizeKitExamples.html.
If you are ready to purchase ResizeKit2 for your projects, you can order it online from their website at https://www.imagekit.com/ResizeKitOrder.html. You can also contact them by email at sales@imagekit.com for any questions or inquiries.
We hope this article has given you a good overview of what ResizeKit2 can do for you and how to use it in your Delphi 10.3 Rio projects. We encourage you to give it a try and see for yourself how it can make your applications size and resolution independent.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about ResizeKit2:
Q: Does ResizeKit2 work with third-party controls?A: Yes, ResizeKit2 can work with most third-party controls that have accessible left, top, height, and width properties. However, some third-party controls may have their own resizing mechanisms or properties that may interfere with ResizeKit2. In such cases, you may need to disable or customize those properties or mechanisms to make them compatible with ResizeKit2.
Q: Does ResizeKit2 work with frames?A: Yes, ResizeKit2 can work with frames as long as they are placed on a form that has a TResizeKit component attached to it. You do not need to place another TResizeKit component on the frame itself.
Q: Does ResizeKit2 work with modal forms?A: Yes, ResizeKit2 can work with modal forms as long as they are created by using the ShowModal method of the form class. You do not need to use any special code or settings for modal forms.
Q: Does ResizeKit2 work with MDI forms?A: Yes, ResizeKit2 can work with MDI forms as long as they are created by using the CreateMDIChild method of the form class. You do not need to use any special code or settings for MDI forms.
Q: Does ResizeKit2 work with Intraweb?A: Yes, ResizeKit2 can work with Intraweb as long as you use the IWForm component instead of the TForm component for your forms. You also need to set the IWForm.UseHTML5 property to True and the IWForm.UseHTML5Div property to False.