The Prefix Registry

Each Delphi component that is created must have a unique name. For instance, there cannot be two components called TEdit on the component Palette at one time.

The commonly used solution to this problem is to prepend your initials, or the initials of your company, to each component you make. For instance, using this scheme a component might be called AATEdit, rather than just plain TEdit.

Of course, a problem can occur if two people choose to use AA as the preface their component names with the letters AA. Certainly it is less likely that two people with the initials AA will chose the same name for their components, but conflicts could still occur.

One solution to this problem is to start a registry where you can reserver a set of initials for your own name. This registry actually exists at this time, under the name The Prefix Registry, at the following URL: https://developers.href.com/dpr.

I want to emphasize that this is not an official Borland site, and I have not yet garned a promise from the developers at Borland that they will in fact respect the prefixs registered at this site. However, if you use this site, you will considerably lower the chances of ever running into a conflict that would prevent people from using your components.

If you have questions about this matter, send me a message: Charlie Calvert . I realize that this is a subject that can cause considerable anger and confusion, but I ask you to consider that I am writing this column, and hence stepping into the midst of this controversy, in an attempt to save people trouble! I want to work with the Delphi and CBuilder community, and Delphi and CBuilder R&D, to find the best possible solution to this problem.