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TMS VCL UI Pack is here, the next generation of TMS Component Pack
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Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Since we launched TMS Component Pack back in 1998, it has been our flagship product for user interface controls for VCL based Windows application development with Delphi & C++Builder. In the past 21 years, a lot happened. Unicode support was introduced, Win64 support added and more recently, VCL got support for (per monitor) high DPI and VCL Styles (including extra VCL styles from the DelphiStyles company). Embarcadero started offering in 2011 the FMX framework for cross platform development for which we meanwhile also developed a large number of cross platform user interface components and it became crucial to differentiate products by technology, like TMS FMX components, TMS FNC components, ... and more recently also TMS WEB components...After 21 years, we thought it was time to better align the VCL user interface components with our other product ranges and naming convention and therefore proudly introduce its successor product TMS VCL UI Pack v10.0. But there is much more to it than a name change for aligning it with other product lines. Internally we also completely moved the TMS Component Pack to a new build process that was already in use for our cross-platform FMX & FNC products.
The benefits are:
- Moved to a new build & installer generation process allowing more frequent releases, faster rollout of improvements and fixes and also beta builds
- Builds of full trial versions for all supported Delphi & C++Builder versions
- In short term we will also submit a version for GetIt to facilitate download & install from the IDE itself
- Faster migration & support to upcoming new Delphi & C++Builder versions
- Better install/uninstall experience
- Consistent & clear product naming
- Focus on improvements for high DPI and VCL styles support across the entire TMS VCL UI Pack components
- New components: Kanban board UI VCL control and TableView UI VCL control
- Updated PDF generation library with new features
- Keep components backwards compatible with TMS Component Pack v9.x components
A glimpse at what is new:
In TMS VCL UI Pack v10.0, we have not only 2 new VCL components but also several improvements to existing components:
- TAdvKanbanBoard component, a highly configurable workflow visualization component
- TAdvTableView component, a versatile & modern supercharged list control
- PDF generation library improvements such as the capability to add rotated text
- Support for VCL Styles
What does it practically mean?
Let there be no misunderstanding. We paid the utmost importance to make the step for you as easy as possible while moving the TMS Component Pack to our new build platform. Normally, it should be as simple as uninstalling TMS Component Pack + download and install TMS VCL UI Pack and recompile your applications with the new version. Some notes though:
- If you use runtime packages, you will need to change the package name dependencies
- If you use TAdvTreeView, we moved this component from using TCanvas to TAdvGraphics. When opening form files using TAdvTreeView, ignore possible property errors, save the form file and recompile.
- If you use C++Builder, you will need to change the linked library name references in your project
Moving to TMS VCL UI Pack
TMS VCL UI Pack v10.0 is the new product name for TMS Component Pack v10.0. This means all users entitled to get TMS Component Pack v10.0 automatically receive TMS VCL UI Pack v10.0. Also, users with an active subscription to TMS ALL-ACCESS, TMS VCL Subscription or TMS Component Studio receive TMS VCL UI Pack v10.0 automatically.
For your convenience, for a while we will simultaneously keep offering access to TMS Component Pack v9.x. So, users with an active TMS Component Pack license will get both TMS Component Pack v9.x and TMS VCL UI Pack v10.x and users purchasing a TMS VCL UI Pack license or upgrading to TMS VCL UI Pack will also still get access to TMS Component Pack v9.x. Of course, as it concerns mostly the same components, these cannot be simultaneously installed in the IDE. But if, for one of the reasons above, a migration would require some work on your side to change package name references for example, you can freely chose when to plan this change and continue to use TMS Component Pack v9.x till you have time and are ready to switch to TMS VCL UI Pack.
What's next
First of all, with our processes streamlined here, we will be even more efficient & productive to roll out new TMS VCL UI Pack versions with new features, new components and improvements more frequently and faster. The new naming convention should bring more clarity as to what technology the product can be used with. Similar work has been started here already for other TMS VCL products and all will get the TMS VCL xxx productname nomenclature in the coming months.
Feedback
Still having questions, comments or feedback? Don't hesitate to leave a comment here on the blog or contact support for all questions and suggestions or sales for questions related to upgrading to TMS VCL UI Pack from older TMS Component Pack licenses or smaller VCL component bundles. We look forward to hear from you!
Bruno Fierens
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This blog post has received 22 comments.
2. Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 4:52:41 PM
Hi Peter, for most of the components the upgrade should be seamless. TAdvTreeView however, has been redesigned and could potentially throw problems. If you are using this component, and having issues, please send us an email with the errors you have so we can help out with that.
Pieter Scheldeman
3. Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 6:41:43 PM
Hi,We have a script which periodically check if the Last-Modified header of the version history file of the TMS Component Pack changed (https://www.tmssoftware.com/doc/tmspck.txt).
If this is the case, it downloads the Component Pack in our archive and send an email to us with the version changes so we could install and test it for any breaking changes.
Will such file be made available or will the history be only available through https://tmssoftware.com/site/tmsvcluipack.asp?s=history ? This web page is a tad harder to parse and I''m uncertain about the validity of Last-Modified Header.
If not, is there an other recommended way for such workflow to work?
Thanks.
Raphael Sylvain
4. Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 10:50:20 PM
Have you considered using what is described at:https://www.tmssoftware.com/site/blog.asp?post=147
Bruno Fierens
5. Friday, July 26, 2019 at 9:14:46 AM
Alternatively you can also install subscription manager to see when an update is available without going to the website.
Pieter Scheldeman
6. Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 6:25:17 PM
I re-purchased TMS Component Pack at v9.2 a few months ago. Up to which UI pack version would my current registration stay valid?
Menges Friedrich
7. Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at 6:29:34 PM
Till TMS VCL UI Pack 10.2
Bruno Fierens
8. Sunday, August 4, 2019 at 12:18:37 AM
Then it doesn''t make sense for me to switch over from 9.2 to 10.0. For my current product TMS Component Pack, I will have a complete release cycle with 9.2, 9.3, and so until 9.9, 10.0, 10.1 When switching to VCL UI pack, I would start at 10.0 and have to re-purchase already after 10.2? Plus the need to re-evaluate all functionality. Puuuh...
Menges Friedrich
9. Sunday, August 4, 2019 at 6:08:53 PM
TMS VCL UI Pack is designed to be compatible with TMS Component Pack. TMS VCL UI Pack got several new components and got VCL styles support added in several components + several other improvements.There shouldn''t be a need to "re-evaluate".
Bruno Fierens
10. Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 6:39:49 PM
In message 5 "Alternatively you can also install subscription manager to see when an update is available without going to the website."I have the subscription manager installed for the Business Subscription. Do I understand from your reply in 5 that I can add checks for my other products to the subscription manager? I browsed through the settings but can''t find any way to do this.
Dave White
11. Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 12:47:57 AM
At this moment, all bundles we provide are accessible via TMS Subscription Manager.https://www.tmssoftware.com/site/blog.asp?post=421
Bruno Fierens
12. Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 11:35:27 PM
Hello,I''m at the same situation like Bruno Fierens from posts 6-9.
It looks like I lost all life cycle from version 9.2.xx to 10.1.xx ?
I want to receive TMS component pack for the next 2-yeras as it was in the past. Since 2007 the life cycle takes about 2-yeras.
Lis Michal
13. Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at 11:48:38 PM
Update:I''m at the same situation like Menges Friedrich from posts 6-9.
The next problem is
"For your convenience, for a while we will simultaneously keep offering access to TMS Component Pack v9.x"
What does mean " ... for a while ..." ?
Lis Michal
14. Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 7:03:37 AM
We have answered your email with these concerns.
Bruno Fierens
15. Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 9:08:44 PM
I''m a me-too for posts 6-9, I purchased the Component pack at 9.0. Does this mean I will only get UI Pack 10.0, and no longer get 2yrs of updates for the Component Pack, which would have taken me to 10.0 of that Pack?Nigel
Thomas Nigel
16. Monday, August 19, 2019 at 9:15:36 AM
You purchased TMS Component Pack with a full version cycle of updates & support. Version increments are related to the amount of new components, new features, new capabilities added to the product, i.e. amount of work that went into a new version. Future version number changes will continue to be based on added features & components.
Bruno Fierens
17. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 3:55:46 PM
I have an active TMS VCL Subscription but in the Subscription Manager I don''t see the VCL UI Pack, only the Component Pack.Is there a new version of the subscription Manager? I have version 2.0.1.1.
It is a bit awkward to have to install the UI Pack separately from the products in the subscription manager.
Costas Droussiotis
18. Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 4:49:28 PM
Now you should be able to see both products in the subscription manager.
Masiha Zemarai
19. Monday, November 4, 2019 at 4:14:18 AM
My TMS Component pack license is "Registration valid until version 9.9".I''d like to buy a TMS VCL UI Pack license.
There was a discount so far.
Is there a discount?
When there is a discount, until when is it effective?
?? ??
20. Monday, November 4, 2019 at 12:50:21 PM
Your questions have been answered by e-mail.
Masiha Zemarai
21. Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 9:56:50 PM
Seen this answer:" TAdvTreeView however, has been redesigned and could potentially throw problems. If you are using this component, and having issues, please send us an email with the errors you have so we can help out with that. "
I have a question: I using THTMLTreeView and THTMLTreeList, are they affected the same way as TAdvTreeView?
Baconnet Jean-Francois
22. Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 10:02:00 PM
THTMLTreeView & THTMLTreeList are NOT affected
Bruno Fierens
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