Ensuring the compatibility of the DevExpress component 3.2 with Delphi 11

Description

Our client was a provider of software solutions for laboratories. The company has been working in the market since 1994. They had an app built with Delphi 7 that used different components, including DevExpress 3.2 and dxGrid. At the moment, when the customer contacted us, their software was being migrated to Delphi 11. The majority of components were successfully transferred to the newer version of the technology by their in-house team without any serious difficulties. However, they faced some challenges with DevExpress. The company didn’t want to start using a newer version of DevExpress, such as cxGrid. Instead of that, they wanted to modify the existing DevExpress 3.2 components to make them compatible with Delphi 11.

Client`s pain and concern

We need to ensure the compatibility of the old version of 3.2 DevExpress Quantum Grid VCL with UTF-8 and its support in Delphi 11. It is important for us as in our work we need to have access to the capacities of the old version of the component.

Project Team size

Project manager
Delphi architect
Delphi developer

Solutions

Our team got the following request from the customer. We had to ensure the compatibility of the old version of 3.2 DevExpress Quantum Grid VCL with UTF-8 and its support in Delphi 11. For solving the compatibility issues and ensuring the support of UTF-8, we had to fulfill a row of tasks.
We defined several stages of the realization of this project:

Analysis of the existing source code:

We thoroughly analyzed the existing version of 3.2 DevExpress Quantum grid VCL and its integrations with Delphi 11. We also assessed the current compatibility of DevExpress Quantum grid VCL 3.2 with Delphi 11 and paid attention to all possible issues that can be related to UTF-8 support.

Update of DevExpress Quantum Grid VCL 3.2:

We updated all components of DevExpress Quantum Grid VCL 3.2 for its work in Delphi 11.

UTF-8 support:

We developed a project of the solution that would ensure the support of UTF-8 and compatibility of DevExpress Quantum grid VCL 3.2 with Delphi 11.

Thorough testing:

We carefully tested the solution for checking the correctness of its functioning, as well as the desired compatibility and support of UTF-8.

Provision of the required tech support:

We provided support for our customer after the implementation of the solution for addressing the issues that appeared at the initial stages and ensured the seamless functioning of the software.

Technologies

Used in the project

Delphi
VCL
DevExpress

Outcome

After the end of our work, we managed to provide the following results:

Modified DevExpress Quantum grid VCL 3.2 that supports UTF-8 and is fully compatible with Delphi 11.
Support after the implementation of all the solutions for different problems that can appear at initial stages and seamlessly functioning software.
Initial code of all new DevExpress packages for its re-compilation for Delphi 11 and later versions.