eTools

eTools is a multi-document, modular development platform based on DLL dynamic library forms

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1. Development Philosophy

Adhering to the principle of minimizing or avoiding modifications to the original project (EXE) source code (Delphi, VC, QT);
Supports Delphi DLL form, VC DLL form (Dialog/MFC), and QT DLL form.

2. Development Platform

Developed under Delphi 12.3 and WIN10 X64;
Tested on WIN10 X64; supports both X86 and X64;
Email: dbyoung@sina.com;
QQ Group: 101611228;

3. Features

Supports Delphi form DLLs;
Supports VC Window32 form DLLs;
Supports VC MFC form DLLs;
Supports QT form DLLs;
Supports displaying an EXE form program within our form;
Supports EXE and DLL form programs with dynamically changing form class names; supports multi-document forms;
Supports X86 EXE calling X64 EXE and X64 EXE calling X86 EXE;
Dark-themed interface to protect eyesight;

4. Usage Instructions

Delphi:

• Modify the original Delphi EXE project file into a DLL project. Simply export the required functions without any changes to the existing code;
• Place the compiled DLL file in the plugins directory;
• Example: module\Delphi;
• Delphi function declaration:

type TLangStyle = (lsDelphi, lsVCDLG, lsVCMFC, lsQT, lsEXE);
procedure db_ShowDllForm_Plugins(var ls: TLangStyle; var frm: TFormClass; var strModuleName: PAnsiChar); stdcall;

VC2022

• Convert VC form EXE into a DLL for use by other languages: [https://blog.csdn.net/dbyoung/article/details/103987103]
• For VC dialog-based EXEs, no modifications are needed. Compile to obtain LIB, RES, and OBJ files. Create a new Dll.cpp file, export the required functions, link, and generate the DLL module file;
• For VC MFC-based EXEs, modify the EXE project into a DLL project with minor adjustments; compile to obtain the DLL module file;
• Place the compiled DLL file in the plugins directory;
• Example: module\vc;
• VC2022 function declaration:

enum TLangStyle {lsDelphi, lsVCDLG, lsVCMFC, lsQT, lsEXE};
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) void db_ShowDllForm_Plugins(TLangStyle* lsFileType, char** strModuleName, char** strClassName, char** strWindowName, const bool show = false)

QT

• For the original QT EXE, no modifications are needed. Compile to obtain LIB, RES, and OBJ files;
• Create a new Dll.cpp file, export the required functions, compile, link, and generate the DLL file;
• Place the compiled DLL file in the plugins directory;
• The process is identical to VC Dialog DLL, including encapsulation and invocation;
• Example: module\qt;
• Function declaration:

enum TLangStyle {lsDelphi, lsVCDLG, lsVCMFC, lsQT, lsEXE};
extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) void db_ShowDllForm_Plugins(TLangStyle* lsFileType, char** strModuleName, char** strClassName, char** strWindowName, const bool show = false)

5. DLL Export Function Parameter Descriptions

• Delphi:

  procedure db_ShowDllForm_Plugins(var ls: TLangStyle; var frm: TFormClass; var strModuleName: PAnsiChar); stdcall;
 ls                  : DLL form type;
 frm                 : Main form class name in Delphi DLL;
 strModuleName       : Module name;

• VC2022/QT:

extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) void db_ShowDllForm_Plugins(TLangStyle* lsFileType, char** strModuleName, char** strClassName, char** strWindowName, const bool show = false)

 lsFileType        : DLL form type; whether it is a Dialog-based DLL form, an MFC-based DLL form, or a QT-based DLL form;
 strModuleName     : Submodule name;
 strClassName      : Main form class name in the DLL;
 strWindowName     : Main form title in the DLL;
 show              : Show/hide the form;

6. Known Bugs:

1. File drag-and-drop can only be performed on the main form, not directly on submodule DLL windows; this is due to permission issues (the file explorer runs with normal permissions, while eTools runs with administrator permissions);

7. Future Work:

Add database support (development is slow due to limited familiarity with databases and being a side project);

8. effect picture: