We have a number of delphi plugins that use the COM interface in FB5.

Having upgraded to FB6 the COM support seems to have changed. COM is listed as an option for plugins both on your web site and in ActionStudio.

How do you use COM for plugins in FB6?

Dave Craggs

PS - I did post something in the FinalBuilder forum, but have not had a response.

 

 

Ok - I now have all my plugins working in FB6.

Fortunately I have Matthew Jones as a contact (on cix) who pointed me to the updated interface. Once I had that is was simple to do the updates.

What I would like to know is why this feature was deprecated? It seems to work just as well in FB6 as it did in FB5. And more importantly will it still be there in FB7?

Dave Craggs

Hi David

My apologies for the delay in replying, it's a long weekend here.

The feature was deprecated because we had a large amount of support related to the feature, most of which resulted from the users lack of understanding and knowledge of COM. There are generations of developers who have never used and know nothing about com (we have 2 developers here who fit that description).

As you have discovered, the feature is still there and still works. We don't have plans to remove it in FB7, we still use it internally for some actions (they are on our todo list to be converted to script or .net).

 I understand (sort of) your argument. BUT COM as an option for plugins is important as it allows plugins to be written in other development tools, in particular, Delphi!

Could you not reinstate this facility, maybe with the caveat that the only support will be peer support?

I would hate for this to disappear in future versions of FinalBuilder.