Unit 2: Borland C Builder Environment

1
Unit 2 Borland CBuilder Environment

• Explain the concept of "project"
• Discuss how to manage a project in BCB using the
  views
• Explain the concept of "class" in terms of
  object-oriented programming
• Identify the files involved in a BCB project
• Describe the BCB compilation process

2
Topics

• Defining Projects
• Defining Units
• Working with Classes
• Looking at Project Files
• Compiling a Project
• Customizing the Environment

3
Defining BCB Projects

• BCB Project
• Collection of units (modules) that comprises the
  software application
• Information about the project is stored in
  projectname.bpr

4
Defining Units

• A BCB unit has a cpp file (.cpp) and a header
  file (.h or .hpp)
• A unit (module) can become an executable file
  (exe), library (LIB) or DLL
• After each unit is created, you can add to the
  project

5
Project Manager View

• View -gt Project Manager
• Show files needed to build each project

6
Saving a Project

• Create you own directory first
• Make sure you save to your new directory
• Warning Do not make your unit name the same as
  your project name. Sharing names will overwrite
  the cpp files
• Reference SaveFileNames hand-out

7
Project files to copy between home and school

• .BPR Project files
• .CPP C source files
• .H C header files
• .RES Resource files (icons, etc)
• .DFM Form file (describes form)

8
Other project files generated

• No need to keep a copy of these files
• . temp or backup files
• .OBJ Object code
• .TDS Temporary Link File (large!)
• .DSK Desktop Files (appearance)
• .DDP (for Delphi)

9
Utility Cleanup.exe
http//www.conestogac.on.ca/mtanuan/ProgOop/demos
/CleanUp.zip
10
Startup options

• Tools -gt Env. Options -gt
• CB Direct -gt Poll Network (Off)
• Preferences -gt Autosave (On)
• Designer -gt Module creation option -gt Auto-create
  forms (Off)
• Tools -gt Editor options
• Code insight -gt Automatic features (All Off)
• Display -gt Create Backup file (Off)

11
Customizing the IDE

• View -gt Toolbars -gt Customize

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Review Class

• A description of a group of objects sharing
  common properties and methods
• A class is defined by
• Properties
• Methods

13
Class Notation

• Properties are implemented as data members
• Methods are implemented as member functions

14
Abstraction

• Ability to use an object without needing to
  understand its implementation

Information hiding
Private and Protected members Published (for
Borland Properties)
Public members
15
Class Example
16
Object TreeView
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Projects, Forms, Units

• Created automatically when you create an
  Application
• File -gt New -gt Application
• WinMain called from the projects source (.cpp)
  file.

18
Working with Classes

• Information describing a form is stored in
  formname.dfm
• XML format
• Information describing events and event handlers
  (to be discussed later) are stored in
  classname.cpp

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BCB Compile/Link Process
Main.cpp
Unit.cpp
Source files
Compilation
Main.obj
Unit.obj
Main.res
Binary code/ Binary resource files
Linking
Unit.dfm
generates TDS link file!
Main.exe
Executable
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Summary

• A project consists of one or more units / forms.
• A project is an EXE, a LIB, or a DLL.
• A class is a description of a group of objects
  sharing common properties and methods.
• With the Project Manager View and Object
  TreeView, you can manage the current project.

21
Summary (2)

• C files are automatically generated when an
  application is created.
• The C source files are compiled and linked
  together to produce a executable file or library.
• Using the Toolbars Customize dialog box, you can
  select which buttons appear in the toolbar.

22
Unit Exercise

• Using the views to become familiar with the files
  generated by Borland C Builder.