[DUG] Pasting components from code

[John Bird]

I have a source generation program to speed creating of sets of labels and 
edit boxes on a form -  which gives output like examples below.

I paste the code that goes in the DFM onto the form, and it creates all the 
components - a neat Delphi trick for those who might not know.

My problem is that the OnEnter and OnExit events seem to disappear from 
these components and I have to add them back manually, even though the code 
was already in the unit when the paste was done.  My detective work so far 
seems to show that it depends on where the forward (first) declaration of 
the event code is placed whether it is recognised or not - seems it has to 
be above the {private} and {public} sections for the form

What are the rules for where such event code has to be declared? - I am 
vague on this.   I have heard others use generated code too, I am wondering 
if they have tips or pitfalls like this to avoid.

(Aside - Personally I favour source generation like this a lot.   It is cool 
to do, ends up as fast as hand written code, and most importantly saves time 
and introduces standard code structure that is easy to understand.)
(Further aside -  this is code generated by the program for a new part of 
itself.   Its cool when a program can write its own code).

example of output from the code generation....

// Forward declaration
procedure edtSOURCEINPUTEnter(Sender: TObject);
procedure edtSOURCEINPUTExit(Sender: TObject);


//Implementation -------  edit enter and exit events for editing this 
record --------
procedure Tform1.edtSOURCEINPUTEnter(Sender: TObject);
begin
    (some code here)
end;

procedure Tform1.edtSOURCEINPUTExit(Sender: TObject);
begin
    (some code here)
end;

And:

//Paste onto form

  object lblSrcInpPath: TLabel
    Left = 300
    Top = 51
    Width = 142
    Height = 13
    Caption = 'Path'
    Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
    Font.Color = clBlack
    Font.Height = -11
    Font.Name = 'MS Sans Serif'
    Font.Style = []
    ParentFont = False
  end
  object edtSrcInpPath: TEdit
    Left = 420
    Top = 48
    Width = 121
    Height = 21
    Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
    Font.Color = clNavy
    Font.Height = -11
    Font.Name = 'Tahoma'
    Font.Style = [fsBold]
    ParentFont = False
    TabOrder = 1
    Text = ''
    Enabled = True
    OnEnter = edtSOURCEINPUTEnter
    OnExit = edtSOURCEINPUTExit
  end
  object lblSrcInpFileIn: TLabel
    Left = 300
    Top = 75
    Width = 142
    Height = 13
    Caption = 'Filename without path'
    Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
    Font.Color = clBlack
    Font.Height = -11
    Font.Name = 'MS Sans Serif'
    Font.Style = []
    ParentFont = False
  end
  object edtSrcInpFileIn: TEdit
    Left = 420
    Top = 72
    Width = 121
    Height = 21
    Font.Charset = DEFAULT_CHARSET
    Font.Color = clNavy
    Font.Height = -11
    Font.Name = 'Tahoma'
    Font.Style = [fsBold]
    ParentFont = False
    TabOrder = 2
    Text = ''
    Enabled = True
    OnEnter = edtSOURCEINPUTEnter
    OnExit = edtSOURCEINPUTExit
  end

etc....


John