JEDI Code Library FAQ

Question: How do I install the JEDI Code Library?

The JEDI Code Library doesn't have to be installed. You just unzip the sources into a folder of your liking, add this folder to your library path and include the desired units in your applications uses clause.

Note that the current JCL release does include design time packages for both Delphi 4 and Delphi 5 which can be installed in Delphi. Generally this is not necessary but if you use the JCL in components or perhaps an application build with packages then you may prefer to do this. To install the package: The package will now be build and installed. Note that you will still have to update the libary path in order to use the JCL units (see above).

Question: Where's the helpfile?

The helpfile is a separate download. You can find it on the same page from where you downloaded the source code. Browse to JCL Homepage go to the downloads page and select the "Download Helpfile" link. This will give you a file named JCL-Help.zip. Unzip it into a folder of your liking and double-click the JCL.chm file.

Question: What's a .CHM and how do I open it?

A .chm is a Microsoft Compiled HTML help-file. It's the standard for new helpfiles for Windows 98 and Windows 2000. A .chm is basically a replacement for the old WinHelp style helpfiles and instead of being based on RTF it is based on HTML (and as such you can do anything in the helpfile you can do with standard HTML). To view a .chm file you will need to have HTML Help installed on your system. HTML Help is installed by default by Windows 98 and Window 2000 and most recent Microsoft applications (IE5, Office 2000 etc) will install it if it's not there already. If however you don't have HTML Help installed you can download it from the Microsoft HTML Help homepage. After installing you should be able to view the JCL helpfile by double clicking it in explorer.
Tip: Add the helpfile to Delphi's Tools menu.

Question: What about context sensitive help?

Unfortunately it is not possible (yet) to press F1 on an identifier declared in the JCL and go directly to the help topic for that identifier. This is not a limitation of Compiled HTML Help but rather a consequence of Borland not supporting HTML Help in the IDE yet. A Delphi expert to intercept context sensitive help requests for the JCL is being worked on and will be made available when it's ready. Keep an out for it on the downloads page.