PRACTICAL LESSON: WORKING WITH

COMPONENTS IN C++ BUILDER

PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO VCL COMPONENTS
What are VCL Components?

VCL (Visual Component Library) is a framework of visual and non-visual components for
building Windows applications in C++ Builder. Components are reusable objects that provide
specific functionality.

Component Categories:

1.​ Standard Components: Button, Label, Edit, Memo, CheckBox, RadioButton

2.​ Additional Components: BitBtn, SpeedButton, MaskEdit, StringGrid
3.​ Win32 Components: TreeView, ListView, ProgressBar, TrackBar
4.​ System Components: Timer, MediaPlayer, FileListBox
5.​ Data Controls: DBGrid, DBEdit, DBNavigator
6.​ Dialogs: OpenDialog, SaveDialog, ColorDialog, FontDialog

PART 2: STANDARD COMPONENTS

Example 1: Label and Edit Components

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>
#include <[Link]>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TLabel *Label1;

TLabel *Label2;

TLabel *lblOutput;

TEdit *edtFirstName;

TEdit *edtLastName;

TButton *btnDisplay;

TButton *btnClear;

void __fastcall btnDisplayClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnClearClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall edtFirstNameChange(TObject *Sender);

private:​ // User declarations

public:​ ​ // User declarations

__fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif
cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop

#include "Unit1.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)

#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

// Setting component properties programmatically

Form1->Caption = "Label and Edit Example";

Form1->Width = 500;

Form1->Height = 300;

// Label properties
Label1->Caption = "First Name:";

Label1->Font->Size = 10;

Label1->Font->Style = TFontStyles() << fsBold;

Label2->Caption = "Last Name:";

Label2->Font->Size = 10;

Label2->Font->Style = TFontStyles() << fsBold;

lblOutput->Caption = "";

lblOutput->Font->Size = 12;

lblOutput->Font->Color = clBlue;

// Edit properties

edtFirstName->Text = "";

edtFirstName->MaxLength = 50;

edtFirstName->CharCase = ecUpperCase; // Auto uppercase

edtLastName->Text = "";

edtLastName->MaxLength = 50;

// Button properties

btnDisplay->Caption = "Display Full Name";

btnDisplay->Width = 150;

btnClear->Caption = "Clear";

btnClear->Width = 100;
}

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnDisplayClick(TObject *Sender)

String firstName = edtFirstName->[Link]();

String lastName = edtLastName->[Link]();

if([Link]() || [Link]()) {

ShowMessage("Please enter both first and last name!");

return;

String fullName = firstName + " " + lastName;

lblOutput->Caption = "Full Name: " + fullName;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnClearClick(TObject *Sender)

edtFirstName->Clear();

edtLastName->Clear();

lblOutput->Caption = "";

edtFirstName->SetFocus();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
void __fastcall TForm1::edtFirstNameChange(TObject *Sender)

// Real-time character count

Form1->Caption = "Characters: " + IntToStr(edtFirstName->[Link]());

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 2: Memo Component

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TMemo *Memo1;

TButton *btnAddLine;

TButton *btnClear;
 TButton *btnCount;

TButton *btnSave;

TEdit *edtInput;

TLabel *Label1;

TLabel *lblInfo;

void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnAddLineClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnClearClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnCountClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnSaveClick(TObject *Sender);

private:​ // User declarations

public:​ ​ // User declarations

__fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop
#include "Unit1.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)

#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

Form1->Caption = "Memo Component Example";

// Memo properties

Memo1->Lines->Clear();

Memo1->ScrollBars = ssVertical;

Memo1->WordWrap = true;

Memo1->Font->Name = "Courier New";

Memo1->Font->Size = 10;

// Add initial text

Memo1->Lines->Add("Welcome to Memo Component!");

Memo1->Lines->Add("This is line 2");

 Memo1->Lines->Add("You can add multiple lines here");

Label1->Caption = "Enter text:";

lblInfo->Caption = "";

btnAddLine->Caption = "Add Line";

btnClear->Caption = "Clear All";

btnCount->Caption = "Count Lines/Words";

btnSave->Caption = "Save to File";

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnAddLineClick(TObject *Sender)

if(!edtInput->[Link]()) {

Memo1->Lines->Add(edtInput->Text);

edtInput->Clear();

edtInput->SetFocus();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnClearClick(TObject *Sender)

if(MessageDlg("Clear all text?", mtConfirmation,

TMsgDlgButtons() << mbYes << mbNo, 0) == mrYes)

 {

Memo1->Clear();

lblInfo->Caption = "";

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnCountClick(TObject *Sender)

int lineCount = Memo1->Lines->Count;

// Count words

String allText = Memo1->Text;

int wordCount = 0;

bool inWord = false;

for(int i = 1; i <= [Link](); i++) {

if(allText[i] == ' ' || allText[i] == '\n' || allText[i] == '\r') {

inWord = false;

else if(!inWord) {

wordCount++;

inWord = true;

}
 lblInfo->Caption = "Lines: " + IntToStr(lineCount) +

", Words: " + IntToStr(wordCount);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnSaveClick(TObject *Sender)

try {

Memo1->Lines->SaveToFile("[Link]");

ShowMessage("Text saved to [Link] successfully!");

catch(Exception &e) {

ShowMessage("Error saving file: " + [Link]);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 3: CheckBox and RadioButton Components

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>
#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TCheckBox *chkBold;

TCheckBox *chkItalic;

TCheckBox *chkUnderline;

TRadioButton *rbRed;

TRadioButton *rbGreen;

TRadioButton *rbBlue;

TLabel *lblSample;

TButton *btnApply;

TGroupBox *GroupBox1;

TGroupBox *GroupBox2;

void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnApplyClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall chkBoldClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall rbRedClick(TObject *Sender);

private:​ // User declarations

void applyFormatting();

public:​ ​ // User declarations

 __fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop

#include "Unit1.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)

#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

{
 Form1->Caption = "CheckBox and RadioButton Example";

// GroupBox captions

GroupBox1->Caption = "Text Style";

GroupBox2->Caption = "Text Color";

// CheckBox captions

chkBold->Caption = "Bold";

chkItalic->Caption = "Italic";

chkUnderline->Caption = "Underline";

// RadioButton captions

rbRed->Caption = "Red";

rbGreen->Caption = "Green";

rbBlue->Caption = "Blue";

// Set default selection

rbRed->Checked = true;

// Sample label

lblSample->Caption = "Sample Text";

lblSample->Font->Size = 16;

btnApply->Caption = "Apply Formatting";

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
void TForm1::applyFormatting()

// Apply font styles

TFontStyles styles;

if(chkBold->Checked) {

styles = styles << fsBold;

if(chkItalic->Checked) {

styles = styles << fsItalic;

if(chkUnderline->Checked) {

styles = styles << fsUnderline;

lblSample->Font->Style = styles;

// Apply color

if(rbRed->Checked) {

lblSample->Font->Color = clRed;

else if(rbGreen->Checked) {

lblSample->Font->Color = clGreen;

else if(rbBlue->Checked) {
 lblSample->Font->Color = clBlue;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnApplyClick(TObject *Sender)

applyFormatting();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::chkBoldClick(TObject *Sender)

// Apply formatting in real-time

applyFormatting();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::rbRedClick(TObject *Sender)

// Apply formatting in real-time

applyFormatting();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 4: ListBox and ComboBox Components

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TListBox *lstItems;

TComboBox *cmbCategories;

TEdit *edtItem;

TButton *btnAdd;

TButton *btnRemove;

TButton *btnClear;

TButton *btnMoveUp;

TButton *btnMoveDown;

TLabel *Label1;

TLabel *Label2;

TLabel *lblSelected;
 void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnAddClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnRemoveClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnClearClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnMoveUpClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnMoveDownClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall lstItemsClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall cmbCategoriesChange(TObject *Sender);

private:​ // User declarations

public:​ ​ // User declarations

__fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop

#include "Unit1.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)
#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

Form1->Caption = "ListBox and ComboBox Example";

Label1->Caption = "Enter Item:";

Label2->Caption = "Category:";

// Setup ComboBox

cmbCategories->Style = csDropDownList; // Dropdown only, no edit

cmbCategories->Items->Clear();

cmbCategories->Items->Add("Fruits");

cmbCategories->Items->Add("Vegetables");

cmbCategories->Items->Add("Dairy");

cmbCategories->Items->Add("Beverages");

cmbCategories->ItemIndex = 0; // Select first item

// Setup ListBox
 lstItems->Clear();

// Button captions

btnAdd->Caption = "Add Item";

btnRemove->Caption = "Remove Selected";

btnClear->Caption = "Clear All";

btnMoveUp->Caption = "Move Up";

btnMoveDown->Caption = "Move Down";

lblSelected->Caption = "No item selected";

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnAddClick(TObject *Sender)

if(edtItem->[Link]()) {

ShowMessage("Please enter an item name!");

return;

String category = cmbCategories->Text;

String item = "[" + category + "] " + edtItem->Text;

lstItems->Items->Add(item);

edtItem->Clear();

edtItem->SetFocus();
}

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnRemoveClick(TObject *Sender)

int index = lstItems->ItemIndex;

if(index == -1) {

ShowMessage("Please select an item to remove!");

return;

lstItems->Items->Delete(index);

lblSelected->Caption = "No item selected";

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnClearClick(TObject *Sender)

if(MessageDlg("Clear all items?", mtConfirmation,

TMsgDlgButtons() << mbYes << mbNo, 0) == mrYes)

lstItems->Clear();

lblSelected->Caption = "No item selected";

}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnMoveUpClick(TObject *Sender)

int index = lstItems->ItemIndex;

if(index <= 0) {

return; // Already at top or nothing selected

String temp = lstItems->Items->Strings[index];

lstItems->Items->Strings[index] = lstItems->Items->Strings[index - 1];

lstItems->Items->Strings[index - 1] = temp;

lstItems->ItemIndex = index - 1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnMoveDownClick(TObject *Sender)

int index = lstItems->ItemIndex;

if(index == -1 || index >= lstItems->Items->Count - 1) {

return; // Already at bottom or nothing selected

String temp = lstItems->Items->Strings[index];

 lstItems->Items->Strings[index] = lstItems->Items->Strings[index + 1];

lstItems->Items->Strings[index + 1] = temp;

lstItems->ItemIndex = index + 1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::lstItemsClick(TObject *Sender)

int index = lstItems->ItemIndex;

if(index != -1) {

lblSelected->Caption = "Selected: " + lstItems->Items->Strings[index];

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::cmbCategoriesChange(TObject *Sender)

Form1->Caption = "Category: " + cmbCategories->Text;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 3: ADVANCED COMPONENTS

Example 5: StringGrid Component

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TStringGrid *sgProducts;

TEdit *edtProduct;

TEdit *edtPrice;

TEdit *edtQuantity;

TButton *btnAdd;

TButton *btnDelete;

TButton *btnCalculate;

TLabel *Label1;

TLabel *Label2;

TLabel *Label3;

TLabel *lblTotal;

void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

 void __fastcall btnAddClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnDeleteClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnCalculateClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall sgProductsClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall sgProductsDrawCell(TObject *Sender, int ACol, int ARow,

TRect &Rect, TGridDrawState State);

private:​ // User declarations

void setupGrid();

void clearFields();

double calculateTotal();

public:​ ​ // User declarations

__fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop

#include "Unit1.h"
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)

#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void TForm1::setupGrid()

// Grid setup

sgProducts->ColCount = 4;

sgProducts->RowCount = 2; // Header + 1 data row

sgProducts->FixedRows = 1;

sgProducts->FixedCols = 0;

// Column headers

sgProducts->Cells[0][0] = "Product Name";

sgProducts->Cells[1][0] = "Price";

sgProducts->Cells[2][0] = "Quantity";

sgProducts->Cells[3][0] = "Total";

// Column widths
 sgProducts->ColWidths[0] = 150;

sgProducts->ColWidths[1] = 80;

sgProducts->ColWidths[2] = 80;

sgProducts->ColWidths[3] = 100;

// Grid options

sgProducts->Options = sgProducts->Options << goRowSelect;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

Form1->Caption = "StringGrid Product Manager";

Label1->Caption = "Product:";

Label2->Caption = "Price:";

Label3->Caption = "Quantity:";

btnAdd->Caption = "Add Product";

btnDelete->Caption = "Delete Selected";

btnCalculate->Caption = "Calculate Total";

lblTotal->Caption = "Total: $0.00";

lblTotal->Font->Size = 12;

lblTotal->Font->Style = TFontStyles() << fsBold;

 setupGrid();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void TForm1::clearFields()

edtProduct->Clear();

edtPrice->Clear();

edtQuantity->Clear();

edtProduct->SetFocus();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnAddClick(TObject *Sender)

// Validation

if(edtProduct->[Link]()) {

ShowMessage("Please enter product name!");

return;

double price, quantity;

try {

price = StrToFloat(edtPrice->Text);

quantity = StrToFloat(edtQuantity->Text);

}
 catch(...) {

ShowMessage("Please enter valid numbers for price and quantity!");

return;

// Add new row

int newRow = sgProducts->RowCount;

sgProducts->RowCount = newRow + 1;

// Fill cells

sgProducts->Cells[0][newRow] = edtProduct->Text;

sgProducts->Cells[1][newRow] = FormatFloat("0.00", price);

sgProducts->Cells[2][newRow] = IntToStr((int)quantity);

sgProducts->Cells[3][newRow] = FormatFloat("0.00", price * quantity);

clearFields();

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnDeleteClick(TObject *Sender)

int currentRow = sgProducts->Row;

if(currentRow <= 0) {

ShowMessage("Please select a row to delete!");

return;
 }

// Shift rows up

for(int i = currentRow; i < sgProducts->RowCount - 1; i++) {

for(int j = 0; j < sgProducts->ColCount; j++) {

sgProducts->Cells[j][i] = sgProducts->Cells[j][i + 1];

sgProducts->RowCount = sgProducts->RowCount - 1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

double TForm1::calculateTotal()

double total = 0;

for(int i = 1; i < sgProducts->RowCount; i++) {

try {

double rowTotal = StrToFloat(sgProducts->Cells[3][i]);

total += rowTotal;

catch(...) {

// Skip invalid rows

}
 return total;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnCalculateClick(TObject *Sender)

double total = calculateTotal();

lblTotal->Caption = "Total: $" + FormatFloat("0.00", total);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::sgProductsClick(TObject *Sender)

int row = sgProducts->Row;

if(row > 0) {

edtProduct->Text = sgProducts->Cells[0][row];

edtPrice->Text = sgProducts->Cells[1][row];

edtQuantity->Text = sgProducts->Cells[2][row];

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::sgProductsDrawCell(TObject *Sender, int ACol,

int ARow, TRect &Rect,

 TGridDrawState State)

// Custom cell drawing for header

if(ARow == 0) {

sgProducts->Canvas->Brush->Color = clNavy;

sgProducts->Canvas->Font->Color = clWhite;

sgProducts->Canvas->Font->Style = TFontStyles() << fsBold;

sgProducts->Canvas->FillRect(Rect);

sgProducts->Canvas->TextOut([Link] + 2, [Link] + 2,

sgProducts->Cells[ACol][ARow]);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Example 6: Timer Component

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TTimer *Timer1;

TLabel *lblClock;

TLabel *lblCounter;

TButton *btnStart;

TButton *btnStop;

TButton *btnReset;

TProgressBar *ProgressBar1;

void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall Timer1Timer(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnStartClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnStopClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnResetClick(TObject *Sender);

private:​ // User declarations

int counter;

public:​ ​ // User declarations

__fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop

#include "Unit1.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)

#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

Form1->Caption = "Timer Component Example";

// Timer setup

Timer1->Interval = 1000; // 1 second

 Timer1->Enabled = false;

// Labels

lblClock->Font->Size = 16;

lblClock->Font->Style = TFontStyles() << fsBold;

lblClock->Caption = TimeToStr(Time());

lblCounter->Font->Size = 20;

lblCounter->Font->Style = TFontStyles() << fsBold;

lblCounter->Font->Color = clBlue;

// Buttons

btnStart->Caption = "Start";

btnStop->Caption = "Stop";

btnReset->Caption = "Reset";

// ProgressBar

ProgressBar1->Min = 0;

ProgressBar1->Max = 60;

ProgressBar1->Position = 0;

counter = 0;

lblCounter->Caption = IntToStr(counter);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
void __fastcall TForm1::Timer1Timer(TObject *Sender)

// Update clock

lblClock->Caption = TimeToStr(Time());

// Update counter

counter++;

lblCounter->Caption = IntToStr(counter);

// Update progress bar

if(counter <= 60) {

ProgressBar1->Position = counter;

else {

ProgressBar1->Position = counter % 60;

// Change color based on counter

if(counter % 2 == 0) {

lblCounter->Font->Color = clBlue;

else {

lblCounter->Font->Color = clRed;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
void __fastcall TForm1::btnStartClick(TObject *Sender)

Timer1->Enabled = true;

btnStart->Enabled = false;

btnStop->Enabled = true;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnStopClick(TObject *Sender)

Timer1->Enabled = false;

btnStart->Enabled = true;

btnStop->Enabled = false;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnResetClick(TObject *Sender)

Timer1->Enabled = false;

counter = 0;

lblCounter->Caption = IntToStr(counter);

ProgressBar1->Position = 0;

btnStart->Enabled = true;

btnStop->Enabled = false;

}
//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 4: DIALOG COMPONENTS

Example 7: File Dialogs

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// Unit1.h

#ifndef Unit1H

#define Unit1H

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

#include <[Link]>

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

class TForm1 : public TForm

__published:​ // IDE-managed Components

TMemo *Memo1;

TButton *btnOpen;

TButton *btnSave;

TButton *btnColor;

TButton *btnFont;

TOpenDialog *OpenDialog1;

TSaveDialog *SaveDialog1;
 TColorDialog *ColorDialog1;

TFontDialog *FontDialog1;

TLabel *lblFileName;

void __fastcall FormCreate(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnOpenClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnSaveClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnColorClick(TObject *Sender);

void __fastcall btnFontClick(TObject *Sender);

private:​ // User declarations

String currentFileName;

public:​ ​ // User declarations

__fastcall TForm1(TComponent* Owner);

};

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

extern PACKAGE TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#endif

cpp

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

// [Link]

#include <vcl.h>

#pragma hdrstop
#include "Unit1.h"

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

#pragma package(smart_init)

#pragma resource "*.dfm"

TForm1 *Form1;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

__fastcall TForm1::TForm1(TComponent* Owner)

: TForm(Owner)

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::FormCreate(TObject *Sender)

Form1->Caption = "Dialog Components Example";

// OpenDialog setup

OpenDialog1->Filter = "Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|All Files (*.*)|*.*";

OpenDialog1->DefaultExt = "txt";

// SaveDialog setup

SaveDialog1->Filter = "Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|All Files (*.*)|*.*";

SaveDialog1->DefaultExt = "txt";

// Buttons

btnOpen->Caption = "Open File";

 btnSave->Caption = "Save File";

btnColor->Caption = "Change Color";

btnFont->Caption = "Change Font";

lblFileName->Caption = "No file loaded";

currentFileName = "";

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnOpenClick(TObject *Sender)

if(OpenDialog1->Execute()) {

try {

Memo1->Lines->LoadFromFile(OpenDialog1->FileName);

currentFileName = OpenDialog1->FileName;

lblFileName->Caption = "File: " + currentFileName;

ShowMessage("File opened successfully!");

catch(Exception &e) {

ShowMessage("Error opening file: " + [Link]);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnSaveClick(TObject *Sender)

{

if([Link]()) {

if(SaveDialog1->Execute()) {

currentFileName = SaveDialog1->FileName;

else {

return;

try {

Memo1->Lines->SaveToFile(currentFileName);

lblFileName->Caption = "File: " + currentFileName;

ShowMessage("File saved successfully!");

catch(Exception &e) {

ShowMessage("Error saving file: " + [Link]);

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnColorClick(TObject *Sender)

ColorDialog1->Color = Memo1->Color;

if(ColorDialog1->Execute()) {
 Memo1->Color = ColorDialog1->Color;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

void __fastcall TForm1::btnFontClick(TObject *Sender)

FontDialog1->Font = Memo1->Font;

if(FontDialog1->Execute()) {

Memo1->Font = FontDialog1->Font;

//---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART 5: PRACTICE EXERCISES

Exercise 1: Image Viewer

Create an application using TImage component to:

●​ Load and display images

●​ Zoom in/out
●​ Rotate image
●​ Save modified image

Exercise 2: Music Player Interface

Create a music player UI using:

●​ TrackBar for volume control

●​ ProgressBar for playback progress
●​ Buttons for play/pause/stop
●​ ListBox for playlist
Exercise 3: Contact Manager

Build a contact manager with:

●​ StringGrid to display contacts

●​ Edit fields for name, phone, email
●​ Search functionality with ComboBox
●​ Save/Load from file using dialogs

Exercise 4: Calculator with History

Create a calculator with:

●​ Button components for digits and operations

●​ ListBox to show calculation history
●​ Memory functions (M+, M-, MR, MC)
●​ Clear and backspace functionality

Exercise 5: Countdown Timer

Build a countdown timer using:

●​ Timer component
●​ SpinEdit or TrackBar for time setting
●​ ProgressBar for visual countdown
●​ Alert message when time's up