README

JDLib

JD Library of Custom Components and Controls, written by Jerry Dodge.

NOTE:

This library is under active development, and is in no way complete until further notice. Some things are fully functional, while other things are completely unmaintained prototypes.

Prerequisites

JDLib is optimized for VCL in Delphi 10.4, and uses / requires the following:

• GDI+ (Built into Delphi)
• Indy (Built into Delphi)

Custom Color System

It's important to note that various components / controls across JDLib make use of a centralized color management mechanism. This includes a set of standardized color values which can be customized in the different light/dark color modes. For example, when in light mode, fcYellow would be a darker yellow, whereas in dark mode, it would be a lighter yellow. What's important is to maintain a contrast of colors depending on the current base color.

Please refer to TJDColorManager for more information.

Documentation

New documentation being written here

JDLib Contents

Status Labels

Note how each item listed below has a [BOLD STATUS] by it. The meanings are:

• [FULLY FUNCTIONAL] - Tested and used in production projects. Does not mean bug-free or complete, however.
• [MOSTLY FUNCTIONAL] - Functional for the most part, but not suitable for any production use yet.
• [ACTIVE PROJECT] - Currently in active development, and not suitable for production.
• [PROTOTYPE] - A concept which has been started but put on the side, and is far from production.

Font Button Control

TJDFontButton [MOSTLY FUNCTIONAL]

A button which supports a font glyph instead of a graphic image, among other unique features.

• Completely custom, not inheriting from any existing button control.
• Options for where and how to display the glyph, if at all.
• Transparent background options.
• Optional overlay glyph.
• Optional sub-caption.
• Supports VCL styles.

Plot Chart Control

TJDPlotChart [ACTIVE PROJECT]

A custom control allowing users to create and manage plot points to generate data.

• Run-time UI control of plot points by dragging plot points.
• Uses GDI+ for smooth graphics.
• Several UI/UX options to control behavior.
• Ultimately calculate Y-axis value based on any given X-axis value.
• Used for variable control, such as fan speed, volume, etc.
• Not necessarily intended for general display of data - instead geared towards user data input.

Gauge Control

TJDGauge [ACTIVE PROJECT]

A dynamic and customizable gauge control.

• Variety of gauge types to choose from for different appearances. For example, Horizontal Bar, Vertical Bar, Arc...
• Uses GDI+ for smooth graphics.
• Supports importing third-party gauge implementations on the same backbone.
• Supports more than 1 value, with options for how to combine values together.
• Several options to control UI/UX.
• Used to provide enhanced UI display of one or a few data points.
• One big goal is to also treat it as a track bar of sorts.

Smooth Move Component

TJDSmoothMove [FULLY FUNCTIONAL]

Event-driven component to manage the movement of controls or values in general. Comparable to the "Float Animations" available in Firemonkey.

• Entirely stand-alone - is not linked with any components or properties.
• Background thread to perform calculations and trigger events.
• Options for smooth "snap" movements.

Font Glyphs Component

TJDFontGlyphs [FULLY FUNCTIONAL]

Collection of glyphs to be rendered into a collection of image lists.

• Attaches to one or more TImageList components.
• Generate collection of TJDGlyphRefs with font and color controls.
• Attached image lists automatically synchronized with registered glyphs.
• Same glyphs easily replicated among different size image lists.

Page Menu Control

TJDPageMenu [PROTOTYPE]

A custom control to switch between pages.

• Similar to, but far different from, a THeaderControl.
• Inspired by the TChromeTabs control, but intended to be much more light-weight.

Image Grid Control

TJDImageGrid [PROTOTYPE]

A custom control to display a list of custom-drawn images.

Side Menu Control

TJDSideMenu [PROTOTYPE]

A custom control to display a main menu on the left side.

System Monitor Component

TJDSystemMonitor [MOSTLY FUNCTIONAL]

Detects and reports system information such as CPU, RAM, and Storage.

Volume Controls Component

TJDVolumeControls [MOSTLY FUNCTIONAL]

Provides direct access to system Volume and Mute controls.

• Directly read and write system volume and mute state.
• Events instantly triggered upon system volume or mute state changes.
• Allows you to implement third-party system volume and mute control.

Font Glyph Property

TJDFontGlyph [FULLY FUNCTIONAL]

A character representing a glyph in a specific font.

• Used as property on components to devine a font glyph.
• Integrates custom property editor to browse glyphs in a given font.

Color Manager

TJDColorManager [MOSTLY FUNCTIONAL]

A central class to manage colors in light and dark modes application-wide.

• Detects dark/light color mode based on current VCL style.
• Implements several standardized colors which vary depending on color mode.
• Broadcasts color and style changes to any registered components or controls.
• NOTE: New concept started to change colors to dynamic string-name based instead of fixed enums.

Color Record

TJDColor [FULLY FUNCTIONAL]

A flexible record type with class operators to cast between RGB, HSV, CMYK, and custom color management.

• Implicitly cast to and from TColor.
• Direct RGB value support.
• Direct HSV value support.
• Direct CMYK value support.
• Alpha transparency support. [IN DEVELOPMENT]
• JD standard color support.

Color Reference

TJDColorRef [FULLY FUNCTIONAL]

A TPersistent to be a published property of a component, and managed through the IDE's object inspector.

• Uses TJDColor behind the scenes
• Direct RGB value support.
• Direct HSV value support.
• Direct CMYK value support.
• Alpha transparency support. [IN DEVELOPMENT]
• JD standard color support.

Point and Rect Records

TJDPoint and TJDRect [FULLY FUNCTIONAL]

Flexible record types with class operators to cast between TPoint/TRect, TPointF/TRectF, and TGPPoint/TGPRect.

• TJDPoint and TJDRect naturally use Single for X/Y values.
• Implicitly cast TJDPoint to and from TPoint, TPointF, and TGPPoint.
• Implicitly cast TJDRect to and from TRect, TRectF, and TGPRect.
• Helpful control methods such as Move, Inflate, Deflate.
• Helpful referemce methods such as TJDRect.TopRight point.