Visually edit a custom component

[dormky 1]

Hello,

 

I have a series of 4 numbers describing current atmospheric conditions, currently shown in a TGroupBox with each number in a TEdit.

I'd like to encapsulate the behavior related to these numbers (color changes) into a component so I can re-use it in multiple places.

I've created a new component based on TGroupBox, but when opening it there's no Design tab, and I don't want to use code to describe the UI as this runs opposite to what is generally done in Delphi (where you use a graphic UI editor). How can I get my custom TGroupBox component in a Design tab so I can edit it (with a .dfm) ?

Edited March 8 by dormky

[Tom Chamberlain 45]

You may want to look at frames.  https://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RADStudio/Alexandria/en/Working_with_Frames

Different functionality and usage than creating a real component but may be what you are looking for.  I have never used frames myself, but have several custom components to combine TEdit's, TComboBox's and TButton's into a TPanel that are added to a TScrollbox on the fly with different data in each.

[PeterBelow 224]

You cannot, subcomponents in a custom component are created in an overridden constructor. But there is an alternative: Create a new frame in the designer and place groupbox and edits on it. Save the frame unit (after changing the Name property of the frame to something descriptive), best into a folder where you stash code units you want to reuse in other projects. To use the frame in another project just add its unit to the project.

A frame behaves much like a component, you can drop multiple instances of it on forms, panels or other containers. But it can also hold code like a form, in event handlers or methods, and this code is shared between all frame instances. You can modify properties of the controls on the frame in the designer for each instance separately.

[dormky 1]

Frames look great, thank you for sharing !

[dummzeuch 1393]

There is also Delphi Custom Containers Pack. For some types of components I prefer that over frames.

[Stano 140]

Or SubForm.