I then created a Template Project for the Scripting Engine Package.  So I can pop out a scripting engine now faster then you can say “Delphi Rocks”.

I thought I would share my Scripting Engine Unit Template.  You will probably want to make your own Scripting Engine Package Template Project, but if there is enough interest I will share mine out.  You will most likely want to modify this template to suite your own framework.

[Scripting Engine Unit Template]

Note: This references my general scripting engine to create a new GUID.  You will need to do that manually until I dress up my general scripting engine for public consumption.

As a note, you do not need to deploy any of these files, or the files in the SDK with your application. You just need to ensure that the Background Transfer Service is running on the target machine.

For more information, I have created a hub page on Advanced Downloads with Delphi that I will update with more information as I gather it.

Enjoy!

[Download C, TBL, H, PAS archive]

Technorati Tags: BITS, Downloads, Service, SDK, Library, Delphi programming

You will also want to write a utility to clear your Queue of dead jobs that will get left behind as you are developing.  Trust me, you will need it.

The introduction states:

This guide is intended for anyone who is interested in improving performance and responsiveness in their Delphi applications by using threads. It covers a range of topics from absolute beginner to intermediate level, and some of the real world examples raise issues bordering on the advanced. It assumes that the reader has a reasonable knowledge of Object Pascal programming, including simple object orientation, and a working understanding of event based programming.

A lot of really good information on threading there, and Chapter 11 even covers MREWS. Despite being last updated in 2000, I would say it is still a good reference.

It would appear that Martin Harvey originally published his paper elsewhere, but then the original site went down. Now it is mirrored on another server.

It allows the retrieval of any part of a file via FTP. The FTP server must support the REST command, which most do.

Uses Indy 9 – Written and tested on Delphi 2007.

ftpChunk.zip

Alternatively you can use the JEDI Win32 API Library available on Sourceforge. It has the Bits interface (version 1.5) split into a few different files (JwaBits1_5.pas, JwaBits.pas, JwaBitscfg.pas, and JwaBitsMsg.pas [although they reference other included files]) and cleaned up a little bit. In addition it includes a number of other useful Delphi wrappers for Win32 API’s. I recommend this library over the raw TLB import. My demo will work with either one.

UPDATE: I recreated the demo and added it to the archive!

Contents of the BITS-README.txt included in the zip

Microsoft BITS – Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Delphi Type Library wrapper

The only real file you need is BackgroundCopyManager_TLB.pas. The other files are intermediary files created in the generation process and are only included in case you want to regenerated the TLB wrapper.

The Windows XP SP2 Platform SDK includes the BITS.IDL. To get the TLB file (which I have included for you) you must use the MIDL compiler. I have also included the BackgroundCopyManager_TLB.pas file which Delphi generates. You DO NOT need the IDL or the Platform SDK installed to develop with the Background Copy Manager. All you need is the Background Intelligent Transfer Service version 1.5 or greater installed and running. This comes pre-installed on Windows XP SP2 and Vista. I believe you can also get it for Windows 2000, but I wouldn’t guarantee that.

I did not include any of the files that are included in the Platform SDK, only files that are generated from those. Therefor this should not be in violation of and copyrights.

Files:

Generated by the MIDL from the BITS.IDL file
Bits.tlb    <-- If you want to regenerate BackgroundCopyManager_TLB.pas
Bits.h      <-- C header file
Bits_i.c    <--
Bits_p.c    <----- Other C related files - Not needed for Delphi.
dlldata.c   <--/Generated by Delphi from the TLB file
BackgroundCopyManager_TLB.pas  <-- This is the only one Delphi needs

UPDATE: Get the BITS 3.0 header files.