Cross Ref > Tool Basics

C++/CLI projects require the .Net framework and any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports.

In Visual Studio.Net, you can create a Setup and Deployment project by using any of the templates available on the New Project dialog (Other Project Types).

To create a ClickOnce deploy package, search the internet for mage.exe and mageui.exe.

In addition, you can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

Prism projects require the .Net framework and any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports.

In Visual Studio.Net, you can create a Setup and Deployment project by using any of the templates available on the New Project dialog (Other Project Types).

Prism doesn't directly support ClickOnce. At least not yet. In other words, there isn't a Security tab on the solution properties dialog. To create a ClickOnce deploy package, search the internet for mage.exe and mageui.exe.

In addition, you can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

 Delphi Prism Deployment Overview

The only development tool I know that supports C++/CLI at this time is Visual Studio.Net. C++/CLI was introduced in VS.Net 2005 and continued in VS.Net 2008.

Delphi.Net first shipped as a compiler only with Delphi 7. Delphi 8 is a .Net dedicated solution (no Win32) but was not clearly better than VS.Net so more developers moved to VS.Net and bypassed Delphi 8. Delphi for .Net shipped with Delphi 2005, 2006, and 2007 but languished because of a lack of development and VS.Net clearly implemented more .Net CLS features than Delphi for .Net. Delphi Prism (Oxygene) strives to keep pace and in some cases out pace C# and VB.Net using the Object Pascal language.

The C++/CLI standard file extensions are the same as standard C++. Important C++ file extensions:

• .CPP = C++ Source file. Your startup source file will have a main() routine.
• .C = C source file (sometimes used for C++ source files too).
• .H = Header include file.

Some important Visual C++ file extensions:

• .SLN = Visual Studio.Net solution
• .VCPRJ = The Visual C++ project file. See Project Files and Makefiles for more information.

 Ref: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3awe4781(VS.80).aspx

Delphi Prism common source code file extensions include:

• .SLN - Solution File. Contains solution specific information such as links to the projects within this solution.
• .Oxygene - Project File. Contains project specific information but this is not the Delphi-like project file Delphi developers are used to. This is the VS.Net project file.
  
• Program.pas - This is the Delphi-like .dpr project-equivalent file and contains the Main method which is the entry point for the executable. All .NET projects except for DLLs needs one.
  
• .pas - Delphi Prism source file (same extension as Delphi for Win32).
• .Designer.pas - Prism form file (a text resource file).

Language Overview: Microsoft's C++ language for .Net Framework development. Was called Managed C++ but the name changed after a major overhaul of the language. C++/CLI is a hybrid language that allows you to use standard C++ (callled native objects) as well as managed C++/CLI objects. Whether a type is native or managed within the same appliction depends on whether you use standard C++ syntax or the new C++/CLI managed code syntax.

Language History: C++/CLI was introducted with VS.Net 2005 and replaced Managed C++ (introduced with VS.Net 2002). C++/CLI was standardized by ECMA-372.

Target Platforms: C++/CLI is suitable for creating .Net Framework applications.

Language Overview: Prism is a type safe language and a fully OOP language (no global functions or variables except for a very special __Global class). You code using a fully OOP approach (everything is in a class) but you have the additional benefit of a hybrid language using a special __Global class. Prism targets the .Net CLR and Mono. Based on Borland's original work with Delphi.Net and then continued by RemObjects as Oxygene, and now co-developed by CodeGear and RemObjects.

Target Platforms: Delphi Prism is most suitable for creating .Net Framework applications. This includes desktop business application using WinForms and websites using WebForms.

Use any report writer you are comfortable with but Crystal Reports remains popular for Visual C++ and C++/CLI. For C++Builder, Nevrona Rave Reports remains popular and all editions of C++Builder 2009 come bundled with Rave Reports 7.6 (CodeGear Bundled Edition).

For WebForm applications the client target is the browser (a document interfaced GUI), a common solution is to simply output an HTML formatted page with black text and a white background (not much control but it does work for some situations).

For WinForm applications Rave Reports and Crystal Reports are very popular with Delphi Prism and Delphi for .Net developers.