AlphaControls v14.32 Stable (D5-D10.3 BCB6-BCB10.3) Retail: Features, Benefits, and Comparison
AlphaControls v14.32 Stable (D5-D10.3 BCB6-BCB10.3) Retail: A Comprehensive Review
If you are a developer who works with Delphi or C++ Builder, you might have heard of AlphaControls, a set of common and some unique components that support skins (AlphaSkins), as well as having some additional features. In this article, we will review one of the latest versions of this product, AlphaControls v14.32 Stable (D5-D10.3 BCB6-BCB10.3) Retail, and see what it has to offer for developers who want to create high-quality and attractive software applications.
AlphaControls v14.32 Stable (D5-D10.3 BCB6-BCB10.3) Retail
Features of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is a powerful and versatile product that provides a lot of features for developers who want to enhance their software projects with skins support and other functionalities.
Some of the main features of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable are:
Skins support: All skin elements can have their own properties for advanced drawing the gradient, realistic framework, semi-transparent and blurry shadows.
Graphics functions: Graphics functions produce all the calculations and drawing in real-time.
Bound label property: Added a bound label property to most of the standard and additional controls, allowing to link any label control to the edit control.
Mouse events handling: Added some types of mouse events, such as multipoint clicking, scrolling, and dragging.
Manager prompts controls: Allows to easily set application-wide hints for all controls in one place.
Analogs of standard components: Added more than 80 analogs of standard components with improved functionality and skins support.
These are just some of the features of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can find more details and examples on the official website or in the documentation that comes with the product.
Benefits of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is not just a collection of components, but a complete solution for developers who want to create software applications that stand out from the crowd.
Some of the benefits of using AlphaControls v14.32 Stable are:
Improved software quality and appearance: By using AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you can make your software look more professional, modern, and user-friendly. You can choose from a variety of skins and themes, or create your own custom ones. You can also use graphics functions to add effects and animations to your interface.
Unique solutions: AlphaControls v14.32 Stable offers some unique solutions that are not available in other similar products, such as the ability to create transparent forms, skinned menus, PNG-buttons, wallpapers, splash screens, and more.
Easy to use and customize: AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is designed to be easy to use and customize for developers of any level of experience. You can use the components as they are, or modify their properties and events according to your needs. You can also use the manager prompts controls to set global hints for all controls in your application.
Compatible with other products: AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is compatible with other products that you might use in your development process, such as FastReport, ReportBuilder, QuickReport, DevExpress, EhLib, IBX, FireDAC, and more.
These are just some of the benefits of using AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can find more testimonials and reviews from satisfied customers on the official website or on the online forums.
Requirements and Compatibility of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
Before you decide to buy or download AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you should check if your system meets the minimum requirements and if your version of Delphi or C++ Builder is supported by the product.
The minimum requirements for AlphaControls v14.32 Stable are:
Operating system: Windows XP or higher (32-bit or 64-bit)
RAM: 256 MB or higher
Disk space: 50 MB or higher
Screen resolution: 1024x768 or higher
Internet connection: Required for downloading, installing, and activating the product
The supported versions of Delphi and C++ Builder for AlphaControls v14.32 Stable are:
Delphi 5-XE3 (VCL)
C++ Builder 6-XE3 (VCL)
Delphi XE4-XE7 (VCL/FMX)
C++ Builder XE4-XE7 (VCL/FMX)
Delphi 10 Seattle-10.3 Rio (VCL/FMX)
C++ Builder 10 Seattle-10.3 Rio (VCL/FMX)
If you have an older or newer version of Delphi or C++ Builder, you might need to contact the developer for compatibility issues or updates.
Installation and Activation of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
If you have met the requirements and compatibility criteria, you can proceed to install and activate AlphaControls v14.32 Stable on your system.
The installation and activation process is simple and straightforward:
Download the product: You can download the product from the official website or from the link that you received after purchasing it. The file size is about 40 MB and it is a ZIP archive.
Extract the product: You can use any ZIP extractor software to extract the product to a folder of your choice. You will see several subfolders and files inside the main folder.
Install the product: You can install the product by running the setup.exe file in the main folder. You will see a welcome screen and a license agreement. You need to accept the terms and conditions and click Next. Then, you will see a screen where you can choose the destination folder and the components that you want to install. You can leave the default settings or change them according to your preferences. Click Next and then Install to start the installation process. It will take a few minutes to complete.
Activate the product: After the installation is finished, you will see a screen where you can activate the product. You need to enter your name, email, and serial number that you received after purchasing the product. Click Activate and wait for the confirmation message. If everything is correct, you will see a message that says "Activation successful". Click Finish to exit the setup.
Restart your IDE: You need to restart your Delphi or C++ Builder IDE for the changes to take effect. You will see a new tab in your component palette called "AlphaControls". You can use the components from this tab in your projects.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed and activated AlphaControls v14.32 Stable on your system. You are now ready to use it in your development projects.
How to Use AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
Now that you have installed and activated AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you might be wondering how to use it in your projects. In this section, we will show you some examples of how to use some of the components and features of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable in different scenarios.
How to Apply a Skin to Your Application
One of the most common and basic uses of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is to apply a skin to your application. A skin is a graphical theme that changes the appearance of your application's interface, such as the colors, fonts, shapes, icons, buttons, menus, etc.
To apply a skin to your application, you need to use two components: TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider. TsSkinManager is a component that manages all the skins and their properties. TsSkinProvider is a component that applies a skin to a form or a control.
Here are the steps to apply a skin to your application:
Add TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider components to your main form: You can find these components in the AlphaControls tab of your component palette. Drag and drop them to your main form.
Select a skin from TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinManager component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinName and click on the drop-down list. You will see a list of available skins that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can choose any skin that you like from this list.
Link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinProvider component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinData and click on the drop-down list. You will see TsSkinManager as an option. Select it to link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager.
Run your application: Run your application and see how it looks with the selected skin applied.
You can change the skin at any time by changing the SkinName property of TsSkinManager or by using code.
How to Create a Transparent Form with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
Another interesting and unique feature of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is the ability to create transparent forms with skins support. A transparent form is a form that has no background color or border, and only shows its controls and contents.
To create a transparent form with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you need to use three components: TsSkinManager, TsSkinProvider, and TsAlphaForm. TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider are the same components that we used in the previous example. TsAlphaForm is a component that makes a form transparent and allows it to have skins support.
Here are the steps to to create a skinned menu with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable:
Add TsSkinManager, TsSkinProvider, TsMainMenu, and TsMenuItem components to your form: You can find these components in the AlphaControls tab of your component palette. Drag and drop them to your form.
Select a skin from TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinManager component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinName and click on the drop-down list. You will see a list of available skins that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can choose any skin that you like from this list.
Link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinProvider component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinData and click on the drop-down list. You will see TsSkinManager as an option. Select it to link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager.
Link TsMainMenu to TsSkinProvider: Click on TsMainMenu component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinData and click on the drop-down list. You will see TsSkinProvider as an option. Select it to link TsMainMenu to TsSkinProvider.
Add menu items to TsMainMenu: Click on TsMainMenu component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called Items and click on the ellipsis button (...). You will see a menu editor where you can add, edit, delete, or rearrange menu items. You can use the standard TMenuItem component or the TsMenuItem component for your menu items. To use the TsMenuItem component, right-click on the menu editor and select New Submenu or New Item, then select AlphaControls from the drop-down list and choose TsMenuItem.
Customize your menu items with TsMenuItem: If you use the TsMenuItem component for your menu items, you can customize them with some additional properties that are not available in the standard TMenuItem component. For example, you can use the properties called Glyph, ImageIndex, SkinSection, UseFirstAlphaChannel, UseSecondAlphaChannel, etc. to change the appearance of your menu items.
Run your application: Run your application and see how it looks with a skinned menu with skins support.
You can change the skin or the menu items at any time by changing the properties of TsSkinManager, TsMainMenu, or TsMenuItem or by using code.
Tips and Tricks for AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
AlphaControls v14.32 Stable is a very flexible and customizable product that allows you to create various effects and solutions for your software projects. In this section, we will share some tips and tricks that can help you optimize and enhance your use of AlphaControls v14.32 Stable.
How to Create a PNG-Button with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
A PNG-button is a button that can have a transparent background and a PNG image as its caption. A PNG-button can make your application look more stylish and modern.
To create a PNG-button with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you need to use two components: TsSkinManager and TsButton. TsSkinManager is the same component that we used in the previous examples. TsButton is a component that replaces the standard TButton component and allows it to have skins support and other features.
Here are the steps to create a PNG-button with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable:
Add TsSkinManager and TsButton components to your form: You can find these components in the AlphaControls tab of your component palette. Drag and drop them to your form.
Select a skin from TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinManager component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinName and click on the drop-down list. You will see a list of available skins that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can choose any skin that you like from this list.
Set the properties of TsButton: Click on TsButton component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called Caption and delete its value (leave it blank). Find the property called ImageIndex and set it to -1 (no image). Find the property called GlyphMode and set it to gmImage (use image as caption). Find the property called GlyphKind and set it to gkPNG (use PNG image). Find the property called GlyphAlignHorz and set it to ghaCenter (center the image horizontally). Find the property called GlyphAlignVert and set it to gvaCenter (center the image vertically). Find the property called Glyph and click on the ellipsis button (...). You will see a picture editor where you can load a PNG image from your computer or from the resources that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. Choose a PNG image that you want to use as the caption of your button.
Run your application: Run your application and see how it looks with a PNG-button with skins support.
You can change the skin or the PNG image at any time by changing the properties of TsSkinManager or TsButton or by using code.
How to Create a Wallpaper with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
A wallpaper is a background image that covers the entire form or a part of it. A wallpaper can make your application look more attractive and dynamic.
To create a wallpaper with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you need to use two components: TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider. TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider are the same components that we used in the previous examples.
Here are the steps to create a wallpaper with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable:
Add TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider components to your form: You can find these components in the AlphaControls tab of your component palette. Drag and drop them to your form.
Select a skin from TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinManager component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinName and click on the drop-down list. You will see a list of available skins that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can choose any skin that you like from this list.
Link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinProvider component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinData and click on the drop-down list. You will see TsSkinManager as an option. Select it to link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager.
Set the properties of TsSkinProvider: Click on TsSkinProvider component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called DrawNonClientArea and set it to True (draw non-client area of the form). Find the property called DrawClientArea and set it to True (draw client area of the form). Find the property called BorderForm and click on the ellipsis button (...). You will see a dialog box where you can set some properties of the border form, such as size, color, style, etc. You can leave the default settings or change them according to your preferences.
Set the wallpaper image for TsSkinProvider: Click on TsSkinProvider component on your form and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called WallpaperImage and click on the ellipsis button (...). You will see a picture editor where you can load an image from your computer or from the resources that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. Choose an image that you want to use as the wallpaper for your form.
Run your application: Run your application and see how it looks with a wallpaper with skins support.
You can change the skin or the wallpaper image at any time by changing the properties of TsSkinManager or TsSkinProvider or by using code.
How to Create a Splash Screen with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable
A splash screen is a screen that appears when your application is loading or initializing. A splash screen can make your application look more professional and impressive.
To create a splash screen with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable, you need to use three components: TsSkinManager, TsSkinProvider, and TsSplashForm. TsSkinManager and TsSkinProvider are the same components that we used in the previous examples. TsSplashForm is a component that creates a splash screen with skins support and other features.
Here are the steps to create a splash screen with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable:
Add TsSkinManager, TsSkinProvider, and TsSplashForm components to your project: You can find these components in the AlphaControls tab of your component palette. Drag and drop them to your project.
Select a skin from TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinManager component on your project and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinName and click on the drop-down list. You will see a list of available skins that come with AlphaControls v14.32 Stable. You can choose any skin that you like from this list.
Link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager: Click on TsSkinProvider component on your project and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called SkinData and click on the drop-down list. You will see TsSkinManager as an option. Select it to link TsSkinProvider to TsSkinManager.
Set the properties of TsSplashForm: Click on TsSplashForm component on your project and go to its Object Inspector. Find the property called FormStyle and set it to fsStayOnTop (stay on top of other forms). Find the property called Border