User interface > Translation options > Type options > Meta capabilities
Create meta classes
If the option Create meta classes is enabled at the type options, Delphi2Cpp creates for each class an additional meta class (= class reference type).These class reference instances can be used for factory functions, to create different class types in dependence of the class reference parameters. These class reference instances also are needed if overridden virtual class methods have to be used.
To enable this option has drawbacks however. More manual post-processing will be necessary. One reason for that is, that
a creation of class instances from class references is possible only, if the class has a standard constructor.
Declare classes as dynamic
This feature from the first version of Delphi2Cpp hasn't been re-implemented in Delphi2Cpp 2 yet. If you need this feature please contact me.
Alternatively you can use MFC-like macros. In the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) the macros DECLARE_DYNAMIC and IMPLEMENT_DYNAMIC give access to runtime class information, similar to the runtime information that is provided in the VCL by the accordingly overwritten functions of TObject.
The macros can be renamed by means of the substitution table of the translator. An obvious alternative would be to use the macros "DECLARE_DYNCREATE" and "IMPLEMENT_DYNCREATE" also defined for the MFC in the file "afx.h".
The following table compares the class names and functions of the MFC and Delphi:
class CObject |
class TObject |
struct CRuntimeClass |
class TMetaClass |
CObject::GetRuntimeClass |
TObject::ClassType |
CRuntimeClass::IsDerivedFrom |
TMetaClass::InheritsFrom |
CObject::IsKindOf |
TObject::InheritsFrom |
CRuntimeClass::CreateObject |
TMetaClass::Create |
CObject::CreateObject |
TObject::Create |