Delphi Quick Syntax Reference : A Pocket Guide to the Delphi and Object Pascal Language

The Delphi Quick Syntax Reference is a succinct code and syntax reference guide to Delphi. It presents the fundamental knowledge to get newcomers started with the language and provides a refresher to seasoned or returning Delphi developers. It covers all the new features added by Embarcadero during the last few years. Delphi celebrates 25 years in 2020 and, alongside the free community version that was introduced a couple of years ago, this syntax guide is a great way to get into the language. What You Will Learn Quickly use and learn Delphi Compile, build and run a Delphi program Master Delphi strings, variables, constants, and operators and how to apply them Use conditions, loops, procedures, and functions in Delphi Apply object-oriented programming in Delphi Who This Book Is For Returning or current Delphi developers: The book is a resource for reference for this group of developers especially for the new features that were introduced in the language over the last couple of years. Newcomers to the language: These developers will learn the fundamentals of the language in a very condensed and effective text that accelerates learning. Table of Contents 4 About the Author 8 About the Technical Reviewer 9 Introduction 10 Chapter 1: Delphi Pascal 14 Delphi As a Programming Language 14 Syntax 14 Programming Paradigms 15 Compilation to Native Code 16 Visual Applications 16 One Code Base for Multiple Platforms 16 Anatomy of a Delphi Program 17 Project Files 17 Units 18 Forms and Frames 19 Delphi As Integrated Development Environment (IDE) 20 A Simple Application (Console) 22 A Simple Application (Graphical) 24 Alternative IDEs 27 Delphi Style Guide 28 Summary 28 References 28 Chapter 2: Basics 30 Variables 30 Data Types 33 Integer 33 Char 34 Boolean 35 Enumerated Types 35 Subrange 36 Real 36 Strings 38 Sets 40 Arrays 41 Records 44 Pointers 48 Variant 49 Generics 50 Constants 53 Comments 54 Summary 55 References 55 Chapter 3: Looping, Conditional and Jump Statements 56 Loops 56 While Statement 56 Repeat Statement 58 For Statement 59 Conditional Statements 61 If Statement 61 Case Statement 63 Jump Statements 64 Exit Statement 64 Break Statement 65 Continue Statement 65 Goto Statement 66 Summary 67 Chapter 4: Procedures and Functions 68 Declaration 68 Parameters 70 The Nature of Parameters 72 Classic Parameters 72 Constant Parameters 73 Variable Parameters 74 Out Parameters 74 Default Values of Parameters 75 Interrupting the Normal Execution 77 Nested Methods 77 Typed Methods 78 Anonymous Methods 81 Method Overloading 84 Summary 85 References 85 Chapter 5: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) 86 Declaration 86 Object State (Fields) 88 Object Functionality (Methods) 91 Object State (Properties) 95 Class Members and Methods 99 Inheritance 100 Interfaces 106 Cross-Platform Memory Management 110 Summary 114 References 115 Index 116