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Installation

Prerequisites

  • Delphi 11.3, 12.3, or 13
  • Database: SQLite (easiest), SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Firebird, MariaDB/MySQL, or Oracle
  • Git (for cloning the repository)

Installing with a Package Manager (Recommended)

Both package managers download Bold's source, build the design-time package dclBold for your Delphi version and register it, so Steps 1 and 2 below are not needed. Bold is available for Delphi 11, 12 and 13, Win32.

TMS Smart Setup

  1. Get Smart Setup (free) from doc.tmssoftware.com/smartsetup/download: unzip the portable tmssmartsetup.zip or run the installer; both give you tms.exe and the GUI tmsgui.exe.

  2. Run:

    tms install bero.boldfordelphi

    Smart Setup clones the latest release tag, builds dclBold for every installed Delphi it supports, registers the package in the IDE and puts Bold's compiled units on the library path (the sources go on the browsing path). Later tms update moves to newer releases; tms install bero.boldfordelphi:26.9.0 pins a version.

DPM

  1. Get DPM (free) from github.com/DelphiPackageManager/DPM/releases. The installer adds dpm.exe to the PATH and an IDE plugin.

  2. DPM installs per project. In the IDE, right-click the project in the Projects pane and choose Manage DPM Packages, then install bero.BoldForDelphi; or from the command line:

    dpm install bero.BoldForDelphi C:\path\to\YourProject.dproj -compiler=13.0 -platforms=Win32

    DPM builds the design package into its package cache once, loads it in the IDE while the project is open, and adds Bold's compiled units to that project's search path ($(DPMSearch)). Nothing is registered IDE-wide. The package is published on the public feed at delphi.dev, so no source configuration is needed.

Step 1: Get the Source

git clone https://github.com/bero/BoldForDelphi.git

Or download and extract to a folder like C:\BoldForDelphi.

Step 2: Install the Packages

Option A: Download Pre-built Binaries

  1. Download the binary package for your Delphi version from: https://github.com/bero/BoldForDelphi/releases/

  2. Extract to packages\Bin\

  3. In Delphi: Component → Install Packages...

  4. Click Add and select the BPL file for your Delphi version

Option B: Build from Source

Building from source gives you the latest version or lets you use Bold with unsupported Delphi versions.

  1. Open the package file for your Delphi version:
Delphi Version Package Path
Delphi 11.3 Alexandria packages\Delphi11.3\dclBold.dpk
Delphi 12.3 Athens packages\Delphi12.3\dclBold.dpk
Delphi 13 Florence packages\Delphi13\dclBold.dpk

  1. Build the package (Shift+F9)

  2. Right-click the BPL file in the Projects pane (Project Manager) and choose Install

  3. Verify via Component → Install Packages...

Using an Unsupported Delphi Version

If your Delphi version is not listed:

  1. Copy the folder of the closest supported version (e.g., copy packages\Delphi13 for Delphi 14)
  2. Rename the folder after the Delphi version (e.g., packages\Delphi14)
  3. Build and install; the package uses LIBSUFFIX AUTO, so the produced file is named after the compiler automatically (dclBold380.bpl for Delphi 14) and no version setting needs editing

!!! tip When you verify everything works, please submit a pull request to include the new package in the repository!

Verify Installation

After installation, you should see Bold components in the Delphi Tool Palette:

  • Bold Handles - TBoldSystemHandle, TBoldListHandle, TBoldExpressionHandle
  • Bold Controls - TBoldGrid, TBoldEdit, TBoldComboBox, TBoldNavigator
  • Bold Persistence - TBoldPersistenceHandleDB, TBoldDatabaseAdapterFireDAC
  • Bold Actions - TBoldActivateSystemAction, TBoldUpdateDBAction

Troubleshooting

"Bold.inc not found"

Add Source\Common\Include to your project's search path.

Components not showing in palette

  • Verify the BPL is installed: Component → Install Packages...
  • Check that all dependent packages are loaded

Package won't compile

  • Ensure you're using the correct package for your Delphi version
  • Check that no older Bold packages are installed