[SOLVED] Custom form

[pcurtis]

Project templates would solve everything, but as normal it doesn't work correctly. IMHO development of Lazarus should pause a few cycles and work should taken out to iron out issues, not add more. But I'm just a user.

[JuhaManninen]

Can I make a project template and add it there? (don't mention Tools => Project Templates. That completely sucks)

The ProjTemplates package got improved in trunk recently. It should do the job for you.
As Jamie mentioned, Tools menu only has "Project templates options ..." with one path setting. You must place the template files under that path.
I don't know why you think it sucks, but the options entry is in a wrong place. The package should register its own pane in the global Options window just like other packages do.

[Edit]

Project templates would solve everything, but as normal it doesn't work correctly.

Please test with the development version.
See: https://gitlab.com/freepascal.org/lazarus/lazarus/-/issues/38244

[pcurtis]

It sucks because it doesn't work as expected.

Try the attached template. When creating a project don't fill in anything just push OK, OK and kaboom.

If nothing is filled in defaults should be used as in new project.

Not rocket science.

Even if the fields are filled in it complains about other things.

[JuhaManninen]

It sucks because it doesn't work as expected.
Try the attached template. When creating a project don't fill in anything just push OK, OK and kaboom.

In your project.ini file the Variables section is empty. I added this and it works:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. [Variables]
2. MAINUNIT=New filename for the Unit1.pas file
3. TITLE=Form Caption
4. BTNCAPTION=Button Caption

If nothing is filled in defaults should be used as in new project.

True. It could be improved. Any non-defined variable should get a sensible value, for example the variable name itself. Thus variable MAINUNIT would have value MAINUNIT. It would work and prevent crashes.
Also the initial dialog asking for project name and directory should have OK button disabled as long as the necessary info is not given.
See also the example template in the issue I linked earlier.
Patches are still welcome...

[pcurtis]

For me it complains the lpi file is not a lpi file

[pcurtis]

Do you know where the relevant code is in the ide?

[JuhaManninen]

For me it complains the lpi file is not a lpi file

Strange. For me it compiles and runs fine. The attached screenshot shows your form in both design time and runtime. I filled the variable names when creating the project.
What is your Lazarus version?

Do you know where the relevant code is in the ide?

Code for reading the .lpi project info file? It is somewhere in the project.pp file. You can search with the error message you got.

[pcurtis]

2.0.12

See tag line

[jamie]

2.0.12

See tag line

I see you have a space in the file path, I try to avoid those at all cost because I've seen strange things happen..

could you rename the path without the SPACE in it?

[JuhaManninen]

2.0.12

I asked you to test with the latest development version. It has an improved Project Templates package.
In 734cf1a136 I disabled the OK button while necessary information is not given.
This and the earlier important change will be merged to 2.2.

[pcurtis]

@jamie now i get a file not found. the directory is empty

[jamie]

@jamie now i get a file not found. the directory is empty

Did you update the Template path too ?

I don't know, you may need to restart laz after those changes, they could be cached.

[pcurtis]

@juham IMHO that logic is only half right. the filename should be the default project output directory, the project name should default to project1. that way you dont force a user to enter anything, just like when you create a new project. latter the user can save project as

[pcurtis]

@jamie after restart the files are created but i go back to the strange lpi error.

i wonder if this has ever been tested? many people on this forum have issues with templates

[JuhaManninen]

after restart the files are created but i go back to the strange lpi error.

Are you now testing with the latest development version?

[Edit]  In 7e1fcc4033 I gave variables default values. Please test.