It would be nice to have a compile time define that was the time of building, perhaps as a usable value so the integer. Thus one could do:

var
 buildDate : DateTime;
begin
  buildDate := BUILD_DATE;
  ShowMessage(FormatDateTime(buildDate));

I'd almost suggest an incrementing build number, but I compile too often for that to be useful I think.

--

Matthew Jones

On 10/10/17 20:32, Matthew Jones wrote:
> It would be nice to have a compile time define that was the time of building, perhaps as a usable value so the integer. Thus one could do:
>
> var
>    buildDate : DateTime;
> begin
>     buildDate := BUILD_DATE;
>     ShowMessage(FormatDateTime(buildDate));
>
> I'd almost suggest an incrementing build number, but I compile too often for that to be useful I think.
>

I've asked Tim to include version information (including build number)
in the EWB compiled output (similar to Delphi) so that it can be
retrieved at run time (great for an "about" page). Tim said that he
would add this at some stage.

The IDE would need a build option as well as compile so that the build
number isn't incremented constantly as you have indicated.

I have EWB applications deployed to enterprise systems that are intranet
only networks so being able to identify the version in use is critical
for support. Retrievable Version, Release, Modification, Build levels
(or similar) are very useful to me.

--
Rick

Rick wrote:

> I've asked Tim to include version information (including build number) in the EWB compiled output (similar to Delphi) so that it can be retrieved at run time (great for an "about" page). Tim said that he would add this at some stage.
>
> The IDE would need a build option as well as compile so that the build number isn't incremented constantly as you have indicated.
>
> I have EWB applications deployed to enterprise systems that are intranet only networks so being able to identify the version in use is critical for support. Retrievable Version, Release, Modification, Build levels (or similar) are very useful to me.

Useful, thanks. I currently use FinalBuilder and the EWB Command line for my releases, and as part of that it changes the source to put in a formal build number. This is then in the server service, and the WebBuilder code, and the server sends that with other info so I can see at the bottom of the app the build for both server and "client". But having a built-in system for this would be good, and my immediate thinking is just "was this the version I just compiled, or an earlier one and I need to refresh?" and the time would be enough for that.

I have commented previously that it would be good to make slight modifications to the build process to:
a) clear the output at the start of the compile, so you can see a visual change, and
b) include the time in the "compiled successfully" message (preferably as "left" as possible so that another window on top doesn't obscure it).

The obscure thing is because on my big application, it takes about 20-30 seconds to compile, so I switch to Chrome ready to F5, and it can cover part of the output. Indeed, thinking about it, just stick the time (not date too) at the start of the message.

--

Matthew Jones