installation - How to install a Delphi component package from the command line?

Question

I am preparing an installer (Inno Setup) to install my component package into Delphi XE without having to manually fiddle in the IDE.

How do I install a Delphi component package (for example, MyComponent.bpl) into Delphi without having to manually do it via the 'Install Packages' menu item? Is it a registry key?

Answer 1

Yep, registry is your friend.

Packages:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware<Borcadero>BDS<version>Known IDE Packages
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware<Borcadero>BDS<version>Known Packages

IIRC Known IDE Packages is for IDE extensions, and Known Packages for components (on the Tool Palette)

Library paths are in:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware<Borcadero>BDS<version>Library

Note:

• <Borcadero> stands for Borland, CodeGear or Embarcadero, depending on your Delphi version.
• <version> is the IDE version, ie 7.0 for Delphi 2010.