Resolution Problems

 
The listed problems are NOT problems with Inprise's Delphi, they are the challenges of programming for a wide range of monitor resolutions for shrink wrapped applications.
 

General Resolution Tips:

I had a frustrating time to have my applications appear more or less like I had designed them on the various monitor resolutions that are on the market.
Some of the things that did not display properly were;
Labels had text cut of at the bottom or at the end. Grids showed white space between the last column and the vertical scroll bar. Other times I used more real estate then was available on the customers computer.

The list below shows what works well for me.

1. Program in the lowest resolution users might use
2. Set monitor to use large fonts
3. Set the forms scaled property to FALSE
4. Set the Auto Size property for Edits and Labels to FALSE
5. Use Basic fonts like MS Sans Serif for Labels and Edits (Avoid True Type Fonts) unless you know they exist on the destination Computer
6. Make all Edits, Labels etc. 25% wider then needed
7. Make all Labels 30% higher then needed
8. Place groups of components on Panels (Helps to get things aligned quickly when)
9. Use TSpliter componts so user can re-size panels

Problem experienced with Grids:

String Grids and DBGrids show a white border between the last column and the vertical scroll bar.

Solution Code: (D2, D3, for D4 see special note)

Call this procedure on the forms Create or Activate Event.

procedure SizeGrid;
Var
GridTotalWidth :Integer; //Holds the total width of the columns plus the separator line
ColumnIndex :Byte; //Holds the Column Index
begin
 GridTotalWidth :=12; // The  DBGrids indicator is 12 pixels in width (can also use API call to get the indicators width)

 //Iterate through all the columns of the Grid
  For ColumnIndex := 0 to DBGrid1.Columns.Count -1do
  begin
  //Add the current columns width to the GridTotalWidth variable, add 1 for the thickness of the
   divider line
   GridTotalWidth := GridTotalWidth + DBGrid1.Columns[ColumnIndex].Width +1;
  end; //Assign the GridTotalWidth Variable to the Grids Client Width
   DBGrid1.ClientWidth := GridTotalWidth;
end;

In D2 and D3 the Grid automatically adds the width of the vertical scroll bar.

D4 Special Note:

In Delphi 4 the Grid wont automatically be correctly sized by assigning the GridTotalWidth variable to its client width. I don't know if this is a feature or a bug :) ?
D4 also has a line thickness property that you need to use instead of just adding 1 to the width for each column.

To figure out the vertical scroll bars thickness, use the GetSystemMetrics API Call.

Initially assign 0 to the GridTotalWidth Variable, at the location in the code  where I assigned 12.
Replacing the last line of code from the procedure above with the one here.
DBGrid1.Width := GridTotalWidth + GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXVSCROLL);

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