Connecting the SDK to a Delphi project using the build system

Objectives

• Create the simplest and functional extension on Delphi;
• Connecting the SDK to a Delphi project using the build system.

Practical part

Order of actions:

• Open the repository in our GitHub account and clone it.
• Find the directory ExtensionEmptyDelphi - this is what you will base your new extension on.
• Pay attention to:
  • ExtensionEmptyDelphi/.stbuild/build/stbuild.csproj - the version of the build system is specified in this file. Over time, you might need to update it to access new features of the build system.
  • ExtensionEmptyDelphi/.stbuild/build/build.cs:
    • properties of RestorerNugetProps, where version of EncySoftware.CAMAPI.SDK.bpl.x64 is specified;
    • properties of BuilderMsDelphiProps, where path to MSBuild.exe is specified (the version from Microsoft Framework is used, not the SDK);
• Modify src/Extension.pas (optional). You can write your own code using the API - there are no restrictions. The example is kept as simple as possible to demonstrate the overall process of creating an extension. Pay attention to:
  • Option unit scope names, because there should be mandatory IDL item;
• To execute your code, the project must contain the exported function CreateInstanceOfExtension. It expects the id value from ExtensionEmptyDelphi.settings.json as input and returns a reference to the created object.
• Compile to check functionality.
• Run special utility to create injectable file: ExtensionEmptyDelphi/commands/pack.cmd;
• If successful, you should have a file named ExtensionEmptyDelphi/project/main/Win64/Release/ExtensionEmptyDelphi.dext. This file can be injected into ENCY both on this computer and on any other computer with the current version of ENCY.
• Double click on it in order to inject.
• Run ENCY, open utilities menu and press "Empty extension on Delphi" (name should accord with "caption" value in JSON).
• Make sure that Notepad with the project information is open.