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delphidelphi-xe2

why i can't declare a generic form

what im trying to do is basically declare a form like this:

TFormCRUDBase<T : class> = class(TFormLayoutBase, MVP.Intf.CRUD.ICRUDView<T>)
{ ... }
end;

the compiler doesn't accuse any error or warning messages if this feature is allowed or not, anyway but when i try to add some controls in the designer i get this message

Declaration of class TFormCRUDBase is missing or incorrect.

so the question is why the syntax allow me to use and the IDE simply kicks me away.

thx in advance

Solution

  • Simply put, the form designer does not support generic types.

    The compiler is fine with generic types. You can build the UI, add controls etc. with run time code. But the form designer does not support generic types.