Sexy Delphi Applications Advice...?!!

[kaywarner]

Hi All,

Thanks for taking the time to read my Post.

In short I’m looking for some recommendations to update the look of my (very basic) Delphi applications to something a bit more iPod-ish?

I was thinking things like cool gradients for TImage's,'shiney' TButtons, fill colours that are translucent - that kind of thing. A bit like Java interfaces.

Is there a 'bolt on' package that I can get to enrich the standard components?

Any recommendations/advice would be excellent.

thanks, Kay

 

[sggaunt]

I came across the 'Fancy Button' component years ago, lets you do most of that stuff.

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

 

[kaywarner]

Thanks ssgaunt, at least there is something out there!!

Any clue as to where I might find it?

cheers, Kay

 

[sggaunt]

I think it is the same one on this page, says D3,4,5 but will probably work at least up to 7. It might need modifying beyond that, but I think the main point here, is that you can look at the source and find out how to create your own versions of standard components with custom properties.

http://www.torry.net/pages.php?id=80

Torrys is good source for 3rd party components of all kinds.


Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

 

[whosrdaddy]

if you want nice looking apps, look at TMS components or DevExpress. Both suites are not freeware but the are worth every penny.

/Daddy

-----------------------------------------------------
What You See Is What You Get
Never underestimate tha powah of tha google!

 

[kaywarner]

Great call whosrdaddy, this is exactly what I was looking for.
If I have to pay for them thats fine.

Thanks to each for your help.

 

[smays]

RAD Studio 2009 and 2010 both shipped with the bare bones TMS component suite. I do not know about RAD Studio XE. The TMS components will make your application huge. That said, TMS markets their components as being similar to iPod controls.

Many of the visual VCL (redundant) RAD Studio 2007 and beyond were updated and look much nicer than anything Borland offered before. Rounded TButtons, TGroupBoxes, etc...

Steve.

 

[sggaunt]

VCL (redundant)

A matter of opinion surely?

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

 

[djjd47130]

I've done tons of skin customization, but I use all the VCL components. There's packages out there that you can build your application on, but some of the good ones would require you to rebuild everything on a new type of form. Never tried any of that but I'm sure it's worth it. I like taking advantage of Delphi's alpha blend and transparent properties and make my own style.

JD Solutions

 

[smays]

sggaunt, by "redundant" I meant:

"visual VCL (reduntant)" = "visual Visual Component Library (redundant)"

I suppose I could have referred to them as a "library of visual VCL components" (ha-ha).


I would not refer to my programs as sexy. Given the environment where my programs are used, relatively high contrast and fairly large text are key. I use standard VCL and turn off most of the borders, I set Ctrl3d = false, the color of most of the components I use, including the TForm color are set to white. I use very few TButtons. I make a great deal of use of TImage (dummy me, I finally figured out how to use resources, so I will be embedding a lot of images). I also make a great deal of use of TGroupBox.


Steve.