What is Delphi?

Embarcadero® Delphi® XE2 is the fastest way to deliver ultra-rich native applications for Windows, Mac and mobile, allowing developers to dramatically reduce coding time and build applications 5x faster. Delphi XE2 provides component-based visual development and a fully visual two-way RAD IDE with high performance access to popular databases. Use Delphi with the FireMonkey™ application platform to build 100% CPU and GPU native, visually engaging, multi-platform applications with 2D and 3D interfaces, effects, and animation. Used by millions of developers worldwide, Delphi combines a leading-edge object-oriented language with a rich component-based development framework supported by a large ecosystem of third party components and tools.

Which editions are available and what are the differences between the editions?

Delphi XE2 is available in five editions – Starter, Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate and Architect. See the Delphi XE2 product editions page and feature matrix for details on the differences between the editions.

What's new in Delphi XE2?

Delphi XE2 is filled with hundreds of new features and enhancements to help you build ultra-rich Windows Mac and mobile applications ultra-fast.

Faster coding and performance with new coding tools and an expanded developer toolbox

• Deliver applications across Windows, Mac and mobile
• Create visually stunning and interactive applications using the FireMonkey application platform and new VCL styles
• Build both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows applications
• Connect everywhere with new DataSnap mobile connectors for Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7 as well as dbExpress support for additional databases including InterBase XE, FireBird 2.5, SQL Anywhere 12 and ODBC
• New LiveBindings let you connect any data source to any VCL or FireMonkey user interface or graphic element.
• Cloud computing support in Delphi XE2 now gives you the ability to work with both Amazon and Windows Azure cloud data and deploy your applications to both Amazon EC2 and Windows Azure
• Work smarter with an expanded developer toolbox including the new FastReport reporting solution, Documentation Insight doc tool, and new versions of your other favorite tools like TeeChart, InstallAware, IP*Works, AQtime, FinalBuilder (in Ent/Arch only), IntraWeb and Indy.

For more detailed information on what's new in Delphi XE2, see the What's New in Delphi XE2 page.

What does Delphi include?

Delphi XE2 – Delphi XE2 is the fastest way to deliver ultra-rich native applications for Windows, Mac and mobile, allowing developers to dramatically reduce coding time and build applications 5x faster.

DB PowerStudio XE2 Dev (in Ultimate edition only) – DB PowerStudio provides fast SQL database development, database change management, SQL profiling, and SQL tuning

ER/Studio 9 Developer Edition (in Architect edition only) – ER/Studio helps data architects discover, document, and re-use data assets and gives you the power to easily reverse-engineer, analyze, and optimize existing databases.

InterBase XE Developer Edition– InterBase XE Developer Edition provides developers with the best cross-platform database to build and test database applications for embedded and SME applications.

Additional Tools – Delphi includes a comprehensive set of additional tools to help you do more than ever before. These are generally special editions of the tools created to be bundled with Delphi and the feature sets may differ from the full commercial versions.

• FastReport VCL 4 RAD edition from Fast Reports so you can quickly design and generate reports
• Documentation Insight from DevJET Software helps you visually read and write XML documentation in the Delphi IDE
• InstallAware Express provides an unsurpassed feature set, enabling you to build sophisticated installations in record time without any programming or scripting skills.
• Rave Reports from Nevrona provides a wide variety of reporting solutions
• TeeChart Standard from Steema provides quick and easy-to-use charting components
• FinalBuilder Embarcadero Edition helps you automate your build process
• CodeSite Express logging tools for building quality applications
• AQtime Standard from SmartBear for performance profiling
• Beyond Compare Text Compare lets you view differences between source files
• IntraWeb from Atozed for building web applications in the same way you build Delphi applications

Partner Software – Delphi users have access to a variety of free and trial editions of tools and components from Embarcadero Technology Partners accessible from the product launcher as either a partner DVD ISO or online from the Embarcadero developer network.

Are earlier version licenses included with Delphi XE2?

Yes. With Delphi XE2, you also get access to licenses for earlier versions – Delphi XE, Delphi 2010, Delphi 2009, Delphi 2007, and Delphi 7. See the Delphi Previous Versions web page for further details.

Can I give away or sell my older version licenses?

No. They are considered part of your XE2 license and are tied to your user account. They cannot be given away or sold.

If I already had an earlier version and requested my free earlier version license, why do you send my same earlier version serial number again instead of a second one?

Your earlier version license, and the XE2 version you upgrade to, are considered one named user license that covers both versions. If you already own an earlier version and go to the web page and request the same version license, you will just get a re-send of your existing serial number.

If I buy an Architect edition, why do I only get Enterprise editions of some of the older licenses?

Some of those earlier products are only available as Professional and Enterprise editions.

Why can't I get version 2006 or the much older versions?

Version 2006 included some third party licensed code that we are no longer able to ship. Delphi 6 and earlier were discontinued years ago and we don't have plans to bring them back.

Why can't I manage Delphi 7 licenses via my license manager and AppWave?

Those versions used an earlier version of our licensing technology. We are looking at offering those older versions as apps in a future version of AppWave

Why do I have to request the older serial numbers and downloads separately? Why don't you just send them all at once when I buy XE2?

It could be a little confusing for some customers when they purchase RAD Studio XE2 and receive twelve different serial numbers and download links. We tried to keep it simple by just delivering the XE2 license and allowing them to request the other licenses as needed.

Why is there a limit of 180 days to request my earlier version licenses?

The real limit is 180 days after the XE2 version is no longer available to purchase. We aren't enforcing it at 180 days from the purchase date for each individual user.

Which localized languages are the older versions available in?

The earlier versions are available in English, French, German and Japanese. For versions 2007 and later, there is a single download and you choose the language at install time. For version 7, there is a separate download for each localized version.

What is Embarcadero® RAD Studio XE2?

Embarcadero RAD Studio XE2 is the ultimate application development suite and the fastest way to build data-rich, visually engaging applications for Windows, Mac, mobile, .NET, PHP and the Web. RAD Studio includes Delphi®, C++Builder and RadPHP™, enabling developers to deliver applications up to 5x faster across multiple desktop, mobile, Web, and database platforms.

What is Embarcadero All-Access?

If you're interested in Delphi XE2, in combination with development tools for C++, .NET, Java, PHP, Ruby on Rails; plus a complete range of database design, management and performance tools, Embarcadero All-Access is the solution for you. Embarcadero All-Access XE provides all the application development and database tools you need – when you need them. It's the easiest to use 'toolbox' solution for any size team of developers, architects, performance testers, and DBAs. All-Access is ideal for both large enterprise teams working on a wide range of technologies; and for smaller teams, consultants, and individuals who find their time split across the software development life cycle.

Where can I purchase Delphi XE2? How much does it cost?

You can view pricing and purchase Delphi from BSC Polska - Embarcadero partner. Delphi price list is here. More info on how to buy at BSC Polska you can find here.

What is Support and Maintenance for Delphi?

Support and Maintenance can be purchased at the time you purchase your Delphi product or upgrade. The support and maintenance agreement gives you a year of upgrades (including major and minor upgrades) and a specified number of support incidents. See the Support dropdown menu item of our web site for additional information.

Where can I get the latest updates for Delphi?

Updates and additional software for Delphi users are available on the registered users download page at http://cc.embarcadero.com/reg/delphi. More major new feature upgrades are available only to users with current Maintenance agreements. Notifications for those upgrades are delivered via email and the upgrades can be downloaded via the Maintenance Portal web site by following the instructions in the email.

Is Delphi available in languages other than English?

Delphi is available in English, French, German and Japanese. The installer lets you choose any combination of languages and it's easy to switch between languages in the IDE.

Which types of licenses are available?

Delphi XE2 is available with multiple licensing options including:

• Individual named user licenses delivered via electronic software delivery (ESD) as a download an serial number. Discounted 5-packs and 10-packs are also available.
• Network Named and Concurrent user licenses managed using Embarcadero AppWave and provide the additional flexibility of managing licenses on a license server plus software provisioning
• Network licenses managed by Flexera FlexNet are available on a special request basis
• Academic individual licenses for students and educators as well as volume licenses for classroom use

What are the limitations of the Academic editions?

The Academic edition can be used only for learning in an academic or classroom environment. Educational institutions cannot use the academic version to produce software for use within their institution to commercial licenses.

Who qualifies for the upgrade pricing on Delphi XE2?

• Professional upgrade eligibility – Upgrade pricing is available to registered owners of 2009-XE versions of RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder. For a limited time through December 31, 2011, registered owners of 2007 versions of Delphi, C++Builder, RAD Studio products (Professional, Enterprise or Architect editions) and Turbo Professional products also qualify for upgrade pricing.
• Enterprise upgrade eligibility – Upgrade pricing is available to registered owners of 2009-XE versions of RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder; Professional, Enterprise or Architect editions. For a limited time through December 31, 2011, registered owners of 2007 versions of Delphi, C++Builder, and RAD Studio; Professional, Enterprise or Architect editions; also qualify for upgrade pricing.
• Architect upgrade eligibility – Upgrade pricing is available to registered owners of 2009-XE versions of RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder; Enterprise or Architect editions. For a limited time through December 31, 2011, registered owners of 2007 versions of Delphi, C++Builder, and RAD Studio; Enterprise or Architect editions; also qualify for upgrade pricing.

Upgrade pricing is not available from Academic editions.

Is Blackfish SQL still included with Delphi?

Blackfish SQL is no longer included with Delphi as of the XE version. We recommend InterBase which is available in multiple configurations is a great choice as an embedded database.

How is InterBase licensed in Delphi?

InterBase XE Developer Edition is InterBase XE Server licensed for up to 20 users and 80 logical connections. You can install InterBase Developer Edition on a server for testing purposes using the serial number included in the Delphi XE2 readme file or you can download and request a serial number from the InterBase download page at https://downloads.embarcadero.com/free/interbase.

When you're ready to deploy applications using InterBase, Embarcadero offers a variety of editions (Desktop, Server and To-Go) and a variety of licensing options (flexible server licensing, multi-packs and OEM licensing). Contact Embarcadero Sales or partners for more information. See the license terms in the Delphi license.rtf file for additional licensing details.

Where can I find the open source project for the Subversion integration in Delphi XE2 and C++Builder XE2?

The open source project is http://sourceforge.net/projects/radstu dioverins/. The repository for the open source code is available from the "Code" tab when you're logged in to SourceForge web site or at https://rads tudioverins.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/radstudioverins/trunk/.

What is the support status for different versions of Delphi?

See the Supported Versions List for the latest information by version.

Can I develop applications on one version of Windows and deploy to others?

Yes. You develop applications on the Windows OS that is most productive for you, so you can develop applications on your choice of operating systems (Windows 7, Windows Vista, XP, Server 2008 or Server 2003). Applications built with Delphi will run on all of those Windows versions plus Windows 2000.

Can I write a single application to deploy to Windows, Mac and iOS using Delphi and FireMonkey?

You can create a single application and deploy to 32-bit Windows, 64-bit Windows and Mac OS X. To create an iOS application, you create a separate project type that is exported and built with Xcode.

How to the DataSnap Mobile Connectors work? Do I build the full mobile application with Delphi?

The DataSnap Mobile Connector feature generates connectivity code that you can incorporate into mobile applications for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone 7. You develop your mobile applications using the standard development tools and languages for each platform such as Objective C with the Xcode IDE for iOS, Java for Android and Blackberry, or Silverlight for Windows Phone 7. You then use the DataSnap Mobile Connector code to provide connectivity to your native C++Builder or Delphi DataSnap server.

Which languages, platforms and devices are supported with the DataSnap Mobile Connectors?

Will applications built with Delphi XE2 run on older versions of Windows including Windows 2000, 95, 98 and Me?

Because of the use of Unicode as the default string type, Windows 98, 95, and ME will not run applications produced with Delphi 2009 or later. These operating systems do not support Unicode strings, and Microsoft has dropped support for them. Applications built with Delphi XE2, XE, 2010 and 2009 and VCL will run on Windows 2000 or later. Applications built with Delphi XE2 and FireMonkey will run on Windows XP and later.

What are the pre-requisites for installing Delphi?

To install, you will need to have installed on your system:

• The Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or higher
• The Microsoft Visual J# 2.0 Redistributable Package
• Windows Internet Explorer® 6.0 or higher
• MSXML 6

The installer will install the prerequisite software if you don't already have it installed.

I'm wondering about moving my existing code to Unicode. What do I need to do?

Most existing code will work fine using the new default UnicodeString. Code that does byte level manipulation of string data, or that carries data in string variables probably needs to be examined and perhaps updated to account for the new character sizes inherent in Unicode string data. For more information, see the documentation and Embarcadero Developer Network for information about moving existing code to Unicode.

Do I have to register my copy of Delphi?

Yes. When you first run the product, a small application will open and ask you to register the product. Once that is done, and your product key is validated, then your product will be registered and installed.

Can I open my projects created with earlier versions of Delphi?

Yes, you should be able to do so, depending on the installed components required by your projects. Delphi XE2 uses the MSBuild system for the build engine, and thus requires a new project file if you are upgrading from version 2007 or earlier. However, the IDE will seamlessly update your projects to the new format.

Can I develop .NET applications with Delphi XE2?

No. Delphi XE2 produces native Windows, Mac and iOS binaries. You can import .NET assemblies as COM objects, but the code produced by Delphi XE2 is strictly native code. Embarcadero offers Embarcadero Prism for .NET development with a Delphi-based language. Prism is available standalone or combined with Delphi XE2 in Embarcadero RAD Studio XE2.

Why do I need to install the Microsoft .NET runtimes and SDK with Delphi?

Some of the functionality of the IDE requires these software packages.

Will my users / customers need the .NET runtimes / SDK in order to run my apps built with Delphi?

No. Applications produced with Delphi do not require any .NET runtime support. The product produces pure native Windows applications.

What are the differences between the ER/Studio Developer Edition data modeling capabilities in Delphi Architect and the standard ER/Studio product?

The ER/Studio Developer Edition data modeling and visualization in Delphi Architect is a subset of the full ER/Studio. Delphi Architect doesn't include metadata import/export capabilities or access to ER/Studio team repository servers. It includes limited reporting functionality (HTML only). The ER/Studio functionality in Delphi Architect supports a specific set of databases in line with those supported by dbExpress, while the full ER/Studio products offer flexible configurations for those databases and more.

Can I install Delphi XE2 on a machine with previous versions of RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder on it?

Yes, Delphi XE2 coexists nicely with earlier versions of RAD Studio, C++Builder and Delphi.

Are there new COMPILERVERSION and RTLVERSION values defined for Delphi XE?

Yes. For Delphi XE, COMPILERVERSION is set to 23.0, and RTLVERSION is set to 23.0.

Can I get certified as a Delphi developer?

Yes. See the Embarcadero Certification Center web page at http://www.embarcadero.com/certification for information on the Delphi developer certification program.