mseide-msegui
MSEide is a Rapid Application Development IDE for platform independent rich GUI applications in the Pascal language. It comes with its own GUI toolkit called MSEgui. Binaries: https://github.com/mse-org/mseide-msegui/releases
GPL-2.0 License
MSEide+MSEgui Pascal Cross Platform GUI Development System.
2024-04-13 MSEgui Version 5.10.4. Copyright (c) 1999-2024 by Martin Schreiber and friends.
- Compiles with FPC 2.6.4, 3.0.0, 3.0.2, 3.2.0, 3.2.2 or 3.3.1.
- Compiles with FPC-LLVM 3.3.1.
- For FreeBSD-x86_64, FreeBSD-i386,
Linux-x86_64, Linux-i386,
Linux-Rpi-arm32, Linux-Rpi-aarch64,
NetBSD-x86_64, NetBSD-i386,
OpenBSD x86_64, OpenBSD-i386,
Darwin-MacOs-x86_64, Darwin-MacOs-aarch64,
Windows-i386, Windows-x86_64. - Links to xlib and gdi32, no external widget library needed.
- Internal character encoding is utf-16.
- Uses anti aliased fonts on Linux (Xft).
- All screen drawing is double buffered.
- Has docking forms and MDI.
- Has embedded forms (similar to TFrame).
- Has sophisticated database access components and data edit widgets.
- Internationalization functionality with resource modules.
- Report generator.
- BGRABitmap graphic library compatible.
IDE:
- Integrated debugging.
- Source code highlighting.
- Source code navigation with support for include files.
- Code completion for classes.
- Procedures list.
- Integrated visual form designer with source code update for components and
events. - Flexible and handy build system with switchable macros.
- Visual form inheritance.
- Integrated report designer.
License: IDE and tools are under GPL, library under modified LGPL like FPC-RTL. Package maintainers may delete the files "apps/ide/COPYING.GPL", "lib/common/COPYING.LGPL" and "lib/common/COPYING.MSE".
Installation:
- Download and install FPC, you can get it from
http://www.freepascal.org/download.var - Download mseide_msegui from
https://github.com/mse-org/mseide-msegui/archive/master.zip - Extract them to a directory of your choice ('yourdirectory') .
- Run 'yourdirectory/bin/mseide' on Linux and FreeBSD or
'yourdirectory\bin\mseide.exe' on windows. - In 'Settings'-'Configure MSEide'-'${MSEDIR}' select 'yourdirectory/msegui'.
- In 'Project'-'Open' select 'yourdirectory/msegui/apps/demo/demo.prj'.
- 'Target'-'Continue'.
If you get the error "/usr/bin/ld: cannot find -lX11" install the libX11-devel or libX11-dev package or make a symbolic link /usr/lib/libX11.so -> /usr/lib/libX11.so.6 see https://bugs.freepascal.org/view.php?id=32367
If you wish to to compile the IDE:
- In 'Project'-'Open' select 'yourdirectory/msegui/apps/ide/mseide.prj'.
- 'Target'-'Continue'.
Compiling MSEide from commandline on Linux and FreeBSD: fpc -Fulib/common/* -Fulib/common/kernel/linux apps/ide/mseide.pas On Windows: fpc -Fulib\common* -Fulib\common\kernel\windows apps\ide\mseide.pas
If FPC crashes while compiling try on Linux and FreeBSD: fpc -B -Fulib/common/* -Fulib/common/kernel/linux apps/ide/mseide.pas On Windows: fpc -B -Fulib\common* -Fulib\common\kernel\windows apps\ide\mseide.pas
Creating a new GUI project
'Project'-'New'-'From Template', select "default.prj"
Creating a new console project
'Project'-'New'-'From Template', select "console.prj"
MSEgui command line parameters
--FONTALIAS=,[,[,[,[,] [,]]]] Change the used fonts. Example for a 16 pixel height default font: --FONTALIAS=stf_default,,16
--NOZEROLINES Use 1-width lines instead of 0-width lines. X11 only. Workaround for buggy HW-accelerated X-servers which don't draw lineends exactly. Can degrade performance, see https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1021803
--NOZORDERHANDLING Do not touch Z-order of the windows.
--NORESTACKWINDOW Do not use the NET_RESTACK_WINDOW protocol.
--RESTACKWINDOW Use the NET_RESTACK_WINDOW protocol.
--NORECONFIGUREWMWINDOW Do not use xreconfigurewmwindow() for window stacking operation.
--RECONFIGUREWMWINDOW Use xreconfigurewmwindow() for window stacking operation.
--STACKMODEBELOWWORKAROUND Necessary for windowmanagers with buggy xreconfigurewmwindow() handling.
--NOSTACKMODEBELOWWORKAROUND No workaround.
--TOPLEVELRAISE Use the top level frame window id instead of the application client window id for window raise operation. Implies --NORESTACKWINDOW and --NORECONFIGUREWMWINDOW.
--NOSTATICGRAVITY Simulates staticgravity for buggy window managers.
MSEide command line parameters
-np Do not load a project.
-ns Do not use a skin, no fades.
--globstatfile= Use instead the default global MSEide status file.
--macrogroup= Use 'Project'-'Options'-'Macros'-'Active group' number , = 1..6.
--macrodef=,{,,} Macro definition, will be overridden by 'Project'-'Options'-'Macros'. Example: --macrodef=MAC1,abc,MAC2,def defines ${MAC1} with value 'abc' and ${MAC2} with value 'def'. --storeglobalmacros Store --macrodef defines as global 'Settings'-'Configure MSEide' macros and terminate MSEide.
MSEide environment variables
Macros in 'Settings'-'Configure MSEide' can be overridden by environment variables. They will be overriden by --macrodef and 'Project'-'Options'-'Macros'. Possible names: FPCDIR, FPCLIBDIR, MSEDIR, MSELIBDIR, SYNTAXDEFDIR, TEMPLATEDIR, COMPSTOREDIR, COMPILER, DEBUGGER, EXEEXT, TARGET, TARGETOSDIR.
MSEide project macros
Predefined project macros: PROJECTNAME, PROJECTDIR, MAINFILE, TARGETFILE, TARGETENV (in format for "env" unix command), TARGETPARAMS, they can be overridden by 'Project'-'Options'-'Macros'.
MSEide macro functions
${MAC_IFDEF(macroname)} returns the macro value if defined. ${MAC_IFDEF(macroname,notdefinedvalue)} returns the macro value if defined, notdefinedvalue otherwise. ${MAC_IFDEF(macroname,notdefinedvalue,definedvalue)} returns definedvalue if macroname is defined, notdefinedvalue otherwise.
MSEide environment macros
${ENV_VAR(variablename)} returns the variable value if defined. ${ENV_VAR(variablename,notdefinedvalue)} returns the variable value if defined, notdefinedvalue otherwise. ${ENV_VAR(variablename,notdefinedvalue,definedvalue)} returns definedvalue if variablename is defined, notdefinedvalue otherwise.
MSEide string macros
Macro format is ${STR_*(text)}. STR_TRIM Trim whitespace from the ends of text. STR_TRIMLEFT Trim whitespace from the beginning of text. STR_TRIMRIGHT Trim whitespace from the end of text.
STR_COALESCE Return first not empty value. Format is ${STR_COALESCE(text[,text...])} or ${STR_COALESCE("text"[,"text"...])}
MSEide file macros
Macro format is ${FILE_(fileparameter)} or ${FILE_("fileparameter")}. FILE_MSE convert to MSE format. FILE_SYS convert to sys format. FILE_PATH absolute path. FILE_FILE no trailing path delimiter. FILE_DIR trailing path delimiter. FILE_NAME no directory part. FILE_NAMEBASE no directory and no name extension part. FILE_EXT file name extension. FILE_NONAME directory part only. FILE_NOEXT no file name extension.
MSEide exec macros
${EXEC_OUT(commandline[,timeoutms])} Executes commandline, returns the process output. Timeout in milli seconds, default = 1000, -1 = infinite.
MSEide macros in 'Project'-'Options'-'Debugger'-'xterm Command'
${PTS} expands to tty pts path. ${PTSN} expands to tty pts number. ${PTSH} expands to tty pts handle. Entering an empty string restores the default.
MSEide external tools parameters macros
Predefined macros in 'Project'-'Options'-'Tools'-'Parameters': CURSOURCEFILE current source file. CURMODULEFILE current *.mfm file. CURSSELECTION selected text in source editor. CURSWORD word at cursor in source editor CURSDEFINITION} definition of the current token at cursor (Ctrl+LClick destination), needs activated P-column (Parse source before call) to be current. CURCOMPONENTCLASS current selected component class in form editor. CURPROPERTY current selected property in object inspector.
Antialiased text with MSEgui 32 bit on 64 bit Linux
MSEgui uses Xft for antialiased fonts on Linux. Please install lib32-libxft package if necessary.
Popup widgets behind the forms
If the popup widgets are showed behind the forms, try to start the MSEgui program with the option '--TOPLEVELRAISE'. Do not use this option if is not necessary (KDE, Gnome... work well without).
Display problems with Linux radeon and other EXA drivers
If the display is distorted or slow add Option "EXAPixmaps" "off" to Section "Device" of xorg.conf, see https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=69543 https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=84253 or use the proprietary video driver for your video chip.
Flashing taskbar widgets in IceWM
Newer revisions of IceWM let the taskbar icons of MSEgui applications flash. Start the MSEgui application with the option '--TOPLEVELRAISE'.
Invalid inputmanager for Ubuntu
The utf-8 setup in Ubuntu seems to be incomplete. If you get the exception "egui : Invalid inputmanager tinternalapplication ." at program start, try to replace your language locale in /usr/share/X11/locale/locale.dir by en_US as a workaround. Example for ru_RU.UTF-8: replace ru_RU.UTF-8/XLC_LOCALE ru_RU.UTF-8 by en_US.UTF-8/XLC_LOCALE ru_RU.UTF-8
Wrong window positions for Ubuntu 14.04
Window positions in Unity are wrong because the Ubuntu windowmanager does not support static_gravity: http://askubuntu.com/questions/451903/wingravity-static-gravity-not-suppo https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/1312044 http://askubuntu.com/questions/457456/wingravity-static-gravity-not-supported-in-14-04
How to add custom components to MSEide
There is a project 'apps/myide/mymseide.prj' as a demo. Start MSEide, open project 'apps/myide/mymseide.prj', 'Project'-'Build', 'Target'-'Continue', the IDE with the new component 'tmybutton' will be compiled and started in the the debugger. Binary name is 'mymseide' (linux) or 'mymseide.exe' (win32).
If you wish to do it from scratch:
- Create a register unit for your components
(see 'apps/myide/regmycomps.pas' for an example). - Enter the unitname followed by a comma
('myregunit,' if your regunitfile is 'myregunit.pas') in
a file named 'regcomponents.inc'. - Build the IDE with -dmorecomponents as option.
Component units integrated by this mechanism don't need to be GPL, see apps/ide/COPYING.IDE
If you want to add custom icons to your components:
- Convert 2424 pixel BMP or PNG files with tools/bmp2pas to
an icon unit ('_bmp.pas'). - Add the name of the icon unit to 'uses' in your register unit.
How to run i18ndemo
- Start MSEide.
- 'Project'-'Open'-'yourdirectory/msegui/apps/i18ndemo/i18ndemo.prj'.
- 'Project'-'Make' to create the rsj files.
- 'Project'-'Open'-'yourdirectory/msegui/tools/i18n/msei18n.prj'.
- 'Target'-'Continue'.
In MSEi18n: - Adjust 'Settings'-'Configure MSEi18n'-'${MSEDIR}' and ${COMPILER}.
- 'Open'-'yourdirectory/msegui/apps/i18ndemo/i18ndemo.trp'
- 'Make'.
- Close message window.
- Close MSEi18n.
- 'Project'-'Open'-'yourdirectory/msegui/apps/i18ndemo/i18ndemo.prj'.
- 'Target'-'Continue'.
SQLite
tsqlite3connection field type mapping:
Type name SQLite storage class Field type Data type
+--------------------+---------------------+-------------+-------------+ | INTEGER or INT | INTEGER 4 | ftinteger | integer | | LARGEINT | INTEGER 8 | ftlargeint | largeint | | BIGINT | INTEGER 8 | ftlargeint | largeint | | WORD | INTEGER 2 | ftword | word | | SMALLINT | INTEGER 2 | ftsmallint | smallint | | BOOLEAN | INTEGER 2 | ftboolean | wordbool | | FLOAT[...] or REAL | REAL | ftfloat | double | | or DOUBLE[...] | | | | | CURRENCY | REAL | ftcurrency | double! | | DATETIME or | REAL | ftdatetime | tdatetime | | TIMESTAMP | | | | | DATE | REAL | ftdate | tdatetime | | TIME | REAL | fttime | tdatetime | | NUMERIC[...] | INTEGER 8 (*10'000) | ftbcd | currency | | VARCHAR[(n)] | TEXT | ftstring | msestring | | TEXT | TEXT | ftmemo | utf8 string | | TEXT | TEXT dso_stringmemo | ftstring | msestring | | BLOB | BLOB | ftblob | string | +--------------------+---------------------+-------------+-------------+
ZeosLib
In order to install the Zeos components add the path to the Zeos source to 'Project'-'Options'-'Make'-'Directories' and compile the IDE with -dmse_with_zeoslib -dMSEgui. There is a predefined IDE project apps/ide/mseide_zeos.prj, update 'Project'- 'Options'-'Macros' according to your installation.
Crosscompiling and remote debugging i386/x84_64-linux -> arm-linux
For Raspberry Pi:
- Establish a ssh login without password (public key authentication).
On the i386/x84_64-linux host:
-
install the scp program
-
download and extract https://sourceforge.net/projects/mseide-msegui/files/fpcrossarm/crossfpc-i386_linux_eabihf_3_0_5.tar.gz (or crossfpc-x86_64_linux_eabihf_3_0_5.tar.gz) to .
-
Start MSEide, in 'Settings'-'Configure MSEide'-'Global Macros' add:
Name Value
CROSSMSEDIR <MSEide+MSEgui directory> CROSSFPCDIR CROSSFPCVERSION 3.0.5 HOSTIP REMOTEIP REMOTEPORT <the remote port, ex: 2345> REMOTEUSER pi
- 'Project'-'New'-'From Template', select "crossarmdefault.prj" or
"crossarmconsole.prj". - Create the new project.
- 'Project'-'Options'-'Macros', set the TARGETPROJECTDIR value to the project
path in remote target, ex: "/home/pi/proj/testcase". - Check the TARGETENV macro.
- If your application needs additional libraries copy them from Raspberry Pi
/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf or /usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf to
/eabihf/lib
Press F9 and hope the best. ;-)
If there is a debugger timeout at startup enlarge the 'Project'-'Options'-'Debugger'-'Target'-'Wait before connect' value.
Have a lot of fun!
Martin