Difference between revisions of "Install Packages"

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{{Install Packages}}
 
{{Install Packages}}
  
== Overview ==
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== Adding packages using the IDE ==
 +
=== Adding known packages ===
 +
Open "Package -> Install/Uninstall Packages".
 +
The list on the left shows already installed packages or packages marked for installation (which have a green plus sign in their icon). The list to the right shows packages that you can install.
 +
Simply double-click on a package in either list to move them to the other - and mark them for installation/uninstall.
  
Due to popular demand here is a first attempt to create a small "Install package HOW-TO".
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Finally, click "Save and Rebuild" to rebuild the IDE and the packages.
  
 +
You can also compile and install packages the IDE knows nothing about. See below.
  
After installation of Lazarus a lot of newcomers wonder where the components for database manipulation are. You can see a datasource and some data aware components, but where are the components to connect to a database (server) and to retrieve data from this database?
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=== Adding new packages ===
 +
The package should have come with a number of source files, especially one with a .lpk extension.  To install this package one goes to "Package -> Open Package File (.lpk)".
 +
Navigate to the folder containing the .lpk file and open it.  If everything works out as planned you will see the Package Manager. The Package Manager shows a treeview with the files in the package and the required packages.
  
Well, let's have a look to see if we can find some of this stuff.
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If you don't want to install the component into the IDE, e.g. because it is a non graphical component, press '''Compile'''.
 +
Otherwise you should press '''Use >>''' and then choose '''Install'''. Next we get a warning about Lazarus only supporting static linked libraries and the question if you want to rebuild Lazarus. Just press Yes and sit back. Lazarus will be rebuilt, and depending on your configuration restarted.
  
== Files installed with Lazarus ==
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If the package was a graphical component, and you selected the '''Use >>''' option, you should now have a new tab in your IDE by which you can add that component to your project.
  
Under Linux Lazarus gets installed by default in '''/usr/share/lazarus''', on Mac OS X Lazarus is installed in '''/usr/local/share/lazarus''', and with Windows the installer gives you a choice where to install the files, as long as there are no spaces in its path. On my Windows PC Lazarus got installed in '''G:/Lazarus'''. Whatever the base path of your Lazarus installation is, there you will find some subdirectories. In this case the first (alphabetically) subdirectory looks rather promising as it is called '''components'''.
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=== New versions ===
 +
When receiving a new source version of an already installed package, you must
 +
#overwrite the previous source version with the new version
 +
#either open the new .lpk and press '''Use >>''' and then choose '''Install''' as above,<br>or rebuild the IDE using the menu "Tools" -> "Build Lazarus with Profile [...]" if you want more control on how the package is compiled.
  
As you can see there are a few subdirectories there, which remind us of databases. One sees an '''Interbase''', a '''mysql''', a '''sqlite''' and a '''sqldb''' directory. The first three contain database connection components and TDataset descendants for the respective databases. The last one, '''sqldb''', is more generic, as it consists of TSQLQuery (a TDataset) and TSQLTransaction which are used for all types of databases and a T??Connection to make the connection to the database.
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== Compile an IDE with packages at command line ==
In this article we will install the sqldb package together with the connection for Interbase.
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You can use [[lazbuild]] to compile and install your package, and add --build-ide to rebuild the IDE.
 
 
== The real work ==
 
=== First: the why ===
 
Before we start installing a package I would like to discuss the why of Lazarus not installing database connection components. Database connection components need the client libraries to be available on the PC where the components are used. Because Lazarus does not currently support dynamic linking, all libraries have to be compiled into the IDE. As you cannot expect every developer to have all databases installed it is not possible to install the connection components by default.
 
 
 
=== Second: But Delphi ...? ===
 
Delphi also only installs the database components which are readily available on the computer (ADO components) and components which do not need any client libraries (BDE: Paradox, DBase) to be installed.
 
=== Third: Let's install some stuff ===
 
To install a package one goes to "Components -> Open Package File (.lpk)".
 
In the following dialog you navigate to '''/usr/share/lazarus/components/sqldb''' or the corresponding directory under OS X or Windows and choose the '''sqldblaz.lpk''' file. If everything works out as planned you will see the Package Manager. The Package Manager is showing a treeview with the files in the package and the required packages. Now press '''Compile''' if you don't want to install the component into the IDE, otherwise you should press '''Install'''. Next we get a warning about Lazarus only supporting static linked libraries and the question if you want to rebuild Lazarus. Just press Yes and sit back. Lazarus will be rebuilt, and depending on your configuration restarted.
 
  
If everything went well you'll see a new tab called '''SQLdb'''. This tab will contain <strike>two components a TSQLConnection and a TSQLQuery. What we need next is a Connection component. Once again go to Components -> Open Package File and navigate to '''/usr/share/lazarus/components/sqldb/interbase'''. Open the ibconnectionlaz.lpk file and again press Compile and Install and Yes. :)
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== Questions ==
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If you have any questions, go to the lazarus [http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=index forum] or post it to the Lazarus mailing list.
  
Next time Lazarus is started the SQLdb tab also contains a component TIBConnection. </strike>
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==See also==
 
 
in the meantime all supported components.
 
 
 
== Anything else? ==
 
Well that is all there is to it. You're now set to make your first program connecting to an Interbase server. See this [http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/lazarus-ccr/IBdemo-20050328.zip?download sources] to download a small example. If you have any questions, go to the lazarus [http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=index forum] or post it to the lazarus mailing list.
 
 
 
== Compile an IDE with packages at command line ==
 
There is no command line tool yet, to configure and setup the IDE config files to add/remove packages. You must setup this with an IDE, copy the configs and adapt the path.
 
See here for details: [[Install IDE packages without the IDE]].
 
But the rest can be done on command line:
 
  
=== First build a normal IDE and LCL ===
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* [[Lazarus Packages]]
  make clean all
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* [[Install IDE packages without the IDE]]
=== Then compile the packages ===
 
The IDE can create a Makefile for a package (package editor -> compiler options -> compilation).
 
The Makefile is updated on every compile of the package.
 
Once you have this Makefile, go to every package directory and type 'make'.
 
  
=== Finally compile the IDE with the packages ===
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[[Category:Lazarus]]
  make idepkg
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[[Category:Tutorials]]

Latest revision as of 17:08, 13 April 2017

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Adding packages using the IDE

Adding known packages

Open "Package -> Install/Uninstall Packages". The list on the left shows already installed packages or packages marked for installation (which have a green plus sign in their icon). The list to the right shows packages that you can install. Simply double-click on a package in either list to move them to the other - and mark them for installation/uninstall.

Finally, click "Save and Rebuild" to rebuild the IDE and the packages.

You can also compile and install packages the IDE knows nothing about. See below.

Adding new packages

The package should have come with a number of source files, especially one with a .lpk extension. To install this package one goes to "Package -> Open Package File (.lpk)". Navigate to the folder containing the .lpk file and open it. If everything works out as planned you will see the Package Manager. The Package Manager shows a treeview with the files in the package and the required packages.

If you don't want to install the component into the IDE, e.g. because it is a non graphical component, press Compile. Otherwise you should press Use >> and then choose Install. Next we get a warning about Lazarus only supporting static linked libraries and the question if you want to rebuild Lazarus. Just press Yes and sit back. Lazarus will be rebuilt, and depending on your configuration restarted.

If the package was a graphical component, and you selected the Use >> option, you should now have a new tab in your IDE by which you can add that component to your project.

New versions

When receiving a new source version of an already installed package, you must

  1. overwrite the previous source version with the new version
  2. either open the new .lpk and press Use >> and then choose Install as above,
    or rebuild the IDE using the menu "Tools" -> "Build Lazarus with Profile [...]" if you want more control on how the package is compiled.

Compile an IDE with packages at command line

You can use lazbuild to compile and install your package, and add --build-ide to rebuild the IDE.

Questions

If you have any questions, go to the lazarus forum or post it to the Lazarus mailing list.

See also