What is the best way to create a HMI display panel (user interface) in Delphi

Question

I need to improve the screen in our application, which represents the HMI ( Human Machine Interface ) built into our Delphi code. This screen provides our customers with the ability to perform a number of actions (run a test, report on products, etc.), and also open and view key data values. This setting is necessary because our application controls machines that can be controlled using several skill levels from a simple operator (they may not speak English and should have very limited control) before an experienced user who wants to “see everything” and has maximum control.

A few years ago I created a solution based on the built-in HTML viewer (Turbopower, as it was then) and TPageProducer to dynamically customize the HTML template (which the user could customize) and which would display a simple set of controls and data tables. it works, but it is slowly editing (you need to configure the template and see - see the effect), and I'm sure there are better ways now.

What I need is similar to the Delphi form, which can be customized at runtime. I need: buttons, tags and edits. Editable shapes and arrows are desirable, as well as fixed images over which you can stack controls and text. The layout must be saved (for example, a DFM file), and text labels must be of two types: fixed text and those that are updated to display the key values ​​in the update notification (for example, database management). The final layout should scale to a suitable size.

This question is about the best tool to work with, and I don’t get it completely cold, I experimented with Greatis Form Designer and got a working solution, but before I complete it, I would like to receive comments on whether the report tool will with a built-in report editor) possible / useful / better, since the print dump function will also be useful. (Quick report? Quick report, etc.?). Please note that this is primarily a display requirement. In addition, new embedded HTML solutions will be welcome, as well as all, to provide the maximum future verification of the layout format.

Any solution should be used in Dephi 7 (for now!) And it does not have to be unicode if there is a migration path to it for new Delphi.

Any other comments or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Did you first look at the free JVCL stuff? There JvInspector (RTTI component property inspector, as well as Delphi property inspector), and form constructor, and so on. You can roll your own solution based on this data and even use JvInterpreter for some scripting capabilities.

Secondly, if you can support any control you have in your designer and you need some specific HMI materials, check out IOCOMP: http://www.iocomp.com/

Answer 2

TMS Scripter Studio Pro provides a Delphi-like IDE and scripted form designer, but it can be overwhelmed for your requirements.