IDE can not create ancestor TFrame

[John Kouraklis 94]

Hi,

all of the sudden, my IDE throws an error that it can not create the ancestor form (frame).

 

I've got a base frame TBaseFrame and another frame inherits from it. When I try to open the frame in the IDE, I get the error message but the application runs and fine.

 

I tried to remove and readd the frame but still the problem exists.

 

Any suggestions?

 

[Attila Kovacs 629]

I'm wondering if I'm the only one who gave up many years ago using frames because of the buggy IDE.

[Der schöne Günther 316]

Can you still open the ancestor frame in the form designer?

 

Several times a week, my IDE somehow corrupts itself so that the form designer does no longer work for inherited frames. I then load a backup of my registry for HKCU\Software\Embarcadero\BDS\17.0 and everything is fine again for the next few days. I'm on 10 Seattle.

 

Apart from that, it sometimes also just corrupts the DFM files for a frame. Your version control should be able to show you what happened.

[Uwe Raabe 2057]

Can you upload the dproj file of that project?

[John Kouraklis 94]

No, I was not able to open the ancestor frame. I could see the code but not the design.

 

So, I totally removed the frame, created a new one and added the code again.

 

Very annoying and I don';t feel very confident tbh but I use frames all the time. They are very convenient no matter what

 

@Uwe Raabe Sorry, that's difficult. Thanks anyway

 

@Der schöne Günther How do you keep backups of the registry? Manually or you use some kind of script/app?

[Uwe Raabe 2057]

In that case, can you check if the dproj files contains the FormType and DesignClass entries for those frames?

[FredS 138]

5 hours ago, Der schöne Günther said:

then load a backup of my registry

 

Might be a good idea to run Beyond Compare to see the difference between the key and reg file before you do that the next time.

[Der schöne Günther 316]

I have never done that but thank you for encouraging me!

I just found out that, at least in my special case, the IDE runs into this error when you

1. Are using the form designer
2. Edit -> Hide non-visual components (Ctrl+H)
3. Close the project

After that, the registry path

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Embarcadero\BDS\17.0\Form Design

has

"Show NonVisual Components"="False"

 

This appears to be deadly. Just setting this value back to "True" makes my RAD Studio work again. I am on Delphi 10.0 Seattle. Not sure if it also affects other versions.

 

Edited June 7, 2019 by Der schöne Günther

[FredS 138]

6 hours ago, Der schöne Günther said:

Delphi 10.0 Seattle

Funny I still have a reg file from when I used Seattle:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Embarcadero\BDS\17.0\Form Design]
"Show NonVisual Components"="True"

Since it was never changed to include Berlin that must have been fixed.

[John Kouraklis 94]

Thanks for the help. I will keep the Show NonVisual flag in mind