MNCadBuilder - "BeforeSetup" Notes
The best way to
install the MNCadBuilder component collection is with the setup program.
This MNCadBuilder release is a built for Borland's Delphi 5/6/7/8 and Delphi2005
(Win32, VCL.NET, dotNET). Please read the license informations (MNCBEula.rtf)
carefully.
The delivered samples are setup to have the SearchPath in the installation folder. By default, the installation program copies the needed "compiled MNCadBuilder files" of Delphi 2005/Win32 and Delphi 2005/dotNET to the installation folder. If you want to run the samples in a different Delphi version, please be sure to change the SearchPath or to copy the appropriate files from Lib5, Lib6, Lib7, Lib8 folder to the root of the installation folder. You find some batch files in the installation folder (ToD5Libs.bat, ToD6Libs.bat, a.s.o), which automatically set up the MNCadBuilder needed files.
So - running the "Demos samples", you have to place the appropriate dcu/dcuil files and/or the package library (MNLib.bpl/MNLib.dll) in the installation folder. The current documentation of the MNCadBuilder is published. Please check our internet site for updates.
Note:
The packages
are NOT installed automatically, you have to do this manually. See the Delphi
documentation on "how to install a package".
Running the
samples on Delphi 2005/Win32
Choose menu item "Delphi 2005 Win32" from the "Switch Libraries to" submenu
in the MNCadBuilder program group, or start the batch ToD9W32Libs.bat in the
installation folder. This batch copies the dcu files and the MNLibW32.bpl from
the Lib9W32 subfolder to the installation folder. Start Delphi 2005 and install
the MNLibW32.bpl package by choosing "Component" - "Install package". Now open
a sample (all Delphi 2005/Win32 project files do end with *_W32) from the Demos
folder and let it run.
Running the
samples on Delphi 2005/dotNET
Choose menu item "Delphi 2005" from the "Switch Libraries to" submenu in the
MNCadBuilder program group, or start the batch ToD9Libs.bat in the installation
folder. This batch copies the dcuil files and the MNLib.dll from the Lib9 subfolder
to the installation folder. Start Delphi 2005 and install the MNLib.dll assembly.
Now open a sample from the Demos folder and let it run.
MNCadBuilder - "AfterSetup" Notes
After the installation is done, the dcu and dcuil files in the installation folder belong to "Delphi 2005/dotNET" and "Delphi 2005/Win32". The MNLib.dll is the assembly for dotNET/VCL and the MNLibW32.bpl is the package for Win32.
First we try the delivered demos for Win32:
Start Delphi 2005 - Select "Component" - "Install package" and select the MNLibW32.bpl from your installation folder - Click Ok. Open the Demo "_MNSolids\Mesh_W32.bdsproj" and say "Run". Please note, that all bdsproj files for Win32 are named *_W32.bdsproj". Choose another one, e.g. "Robot\Robot_W32.bdsproj" and say "Run". Very interesting ones are "DisplayLists\DLEntity_W32.bdsproj", "Device\Linestyle_W32.bdsproj", ...
Now we try the delivered demos for dotNET/VCL:
Start Delphi 2005 - Select "Component" - "Install .NET Components ...", activate page ".NET VCL components", click on "Add..." and select the MNLib.dll from your installation folder - Click Ok. Open the Demo "_MNSolids\Mesh.bdsproj" and say "Run". Please note, that all bdsproj files for dotNET/VCL are named without a "_W32". Choose another one, e.g. "Robot\Robot.bdsproj" and say "Run".
Now to the product
The MNCadBuilder is shipped with quite a lot of samples, structured help files (also as pdf files), and compiled pas files (dcu and dcuil) for Delphi 2005, Delphi 8, 7, 6 and 5. There is also a package with DesignComponents included, already for Delphi 2005, but the real power of the MNCadBuilder is not included in the Design-Components. Take a look at the samples (the ones, which do not use DesignComponents). There you will see the techniques and developer-friendly kind of managing the cad components.
Note:
The demos for Delphi2005/Win32 are named *_W32.dpr Please also note, that the
samples from the Demos folder are designed to work with Delphi 5/6/7/8 and Delphi
2005 - due to a problem of Delphi 5 with "dsk files from Delphi 8" the Demos
samples only work when the dsk files are removed before opening a sample in
D5 (or the Demos were NOT opened with Delphi 8 or Delphi 2005).
And now - we wish you a lot of great adventures