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Site last updated on 22nd May, 2007.

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This site contains information about Brian Long and the training courses and consultancy services he offers around the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.

As well as the information about his normal day job, you can also find full details of all the talks Brian has made at User Group meetings and at conferences around the world (Brian was named Best Speaker at BorCon 2002), as well as all the seminars/Masterclasses he has held.

Additionally, you can find references to articles Brian has written and which can be found on various sites on the web.

You can also find details of Brian's certifications, files available for download, a number of links to other potentially useful Web sites, and some of the books on Brian's bookshelf .

News

As Group Leader for the Developers Group, I will be hosting the forthcoming meeting on July 17th at POSK in Hammersmith.

In 2006 I spoke at these conferences:

• In November at Microsoft TechEd '06 in Barcelona, Spain. The subject is Alternative .NET Debugging Facilities.
  
• In May at SDC 2006 in Arnhem, NL. The talks are The .NET Profiling API, .NET Debugging Facilities, .NET Interoperability 101 (C#) and .NET Interoperability 101 (Delphi).

In 2005 I spoke at these conferences:

• On October 22nd I presented a session on Reverse Engineering To Know .NET Better at DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper 2 at Microsoft's Reading office.
• At the end of May at SDC 2005 in Arnhem, NL. The talks were The .NET Profiling API, .NET Debugging Facilities and .NET Interoperability 101.
• On May 15th I spoke at Microsoft's DeveloperDeveloperDeveloper event on the subject of .NET Debugging Facilities

What's New On The Site?

Added details of Tour de Value charity bike ride.

Removed details of EKON and added details of acceptance to TechEd

Updated Tour de Vale details.

Added EKON 10 conference details.

Updated talk lists and added details of Tour de Value charity bike ride.

Minor tidying and shedding of out of date information

Updated home page to include links for 24 Hours of DeXter downloads.

Uploaded my updated .NET reverse engineering paper.

Added details of some books that I find useful, as well as Google site search functionality.

Added details on new conferences I am speaking at.

Reposted my C++Builder hack locally on this site.

Added information about 24 Hours of Delphi, and added a new C++Builder 5 Easter Egg.

Added news about collaborating with Bob Swart on training and consultancy.

Updated my list of user group talks.

Added a bunch of new Easter Eggs, primarily covering Delphi 8 and Delphi 2005. Impetus to do this at last was induced mostly by Allen Bauer's blog entry pointing to my Easter Egg collection.

Long overdue it may be, but I have updated my IDE plug-in Archaeopteryx to support Delphi 6 (and presumably C++Builder 6) and Delphi 7 for those still using those Delphi versions. Also made Various miscellaneous minor updates around the site.

Various miscellaneous minor updates around the site.

Added details of the SDC 2005 conference I have been invited to speak at.

Updated details of pending Masterclasses and User Group meetings, and tidied up a few things that were out of date (links and such like).

Uploaded details of the Debugging Masterclass being held at Microsoft on 31st January, as well mention of the January and February User Group meetings.

Uploaded details of the upcoming Best of Delphi 2005 mini-conference.

Uploaded details of my malware removal service.

Also added some links to PDF versions of parts of my Kylix tutorial series, laid out as they were in the original Linux Format magazine series.

Uploaded new versions of my .NET Interop papers that were used at BorCon 2004 and cover Delphi "Diamondback".

Also added details of recent conference sessions on my Conferences page 30th July 2004

At last updated my Delphi for .NET Interoperability papers to cover the capabilities of the shipping version of Delphi 8 for .NET. Click here to have a look .

Added links to the first instalments of the Dutch translation of my Kylix tutorial series.

Miscellaneous housekeeping and updating. Added details of new C#, Delphi and Delphi for .NET training courses. Added details of a new Delphi 8 Migration MasterClass to the MasterClasses/Seminars page. Fixed some errors in the Easter Eggs collection and also added a whole mess heap of Quattro Pro for Windows eggs.

Fixed an error with the undocumented registry entry to show the macro toolbar in Delphi 7.

Added a new undocumented registry entry for Delphi 7. This enables a hidden toolbar in the code editor's status bar with buttons for keystroke macro operations. This toolbar is present by default in Delphi 8 for .NET

Updated information about user group talks and conference talks and added the first French translation of part of my Kylix tutorial series.

I'm down to do another session (last minute) at BorCon 2003. This new session: .NET and COM Interoperability, complements the other .NET Interoperability session I am already doing: .NET Interoperability With Win32

Uploaded the new version of my Actions and ActionBands article, which is a CD only paper I submitted for BorCon 2003. This update includes coverage of the changes included in Delphi 7.

Uploaded the missing Kylix 3 review, which was meant to be available but turned out to be absent. Also fixed a few dozen stale/broken links, thanks to a handy tool called Xenu.

Added details of another conference I am to speak at this year, which is BorCon Europe 2003. Also added links to Spanish translations of two more parts of my Kylix tutorial series. Finally added a link to an interview with me by Clay Shannon.

Made available all three of my DCon 2003 conference papers: .NET Interoperability With Win32, Reverse Engineering To Learn .NET Better and .NET Internals: The Profiling API. Also uploaded a review of Kylix 3 from the November 2002 issue of Linux Format.

Added more links and tidied up a few loose ends.

Added the last four parts of my Kylix tutorial series (Parts 12-15); these cover OOP syntax (Part 12 & 13), Linux API programming (Part 14) and console applications (Part 15). Also added new certification details and added some new links.

Details of my next User Group talks have been added, as well as new .NET related links and other miscellaneous updates, including the addition of the Paradox 5.0 for Windows Easter Eggs.

Details of my next User Group Meeting (on April 15th) have been added, as well as new .NET related links.

Details of my C# Introductory training day for the DDG have been added.

Two new C++Builder 6 articles and a Kylix 3 article have been made available through my articles page. They discuss issues using Qt in C++Builder 6 CLX apps, printing from C++Builder 6 CLX apps and using Qt in Kylix 3 C++ apps. Also, details of the conferences I have been invited to speak at this year (DCon 2003 and BorCon 2003) have been added.

Uploaded Part 11 of my Kylix tutorial series. This instalment looks at simple animation.

Uploaded Part 10 of my Kylix tutorial series. This instalment looks at simple graphics with TCanvas.

The list of undocumented Delphi IDE features has been updated and various other minor fixes have been made.

A new in depth article is now available that looks at the role and usage of destructors (or equivalent) in the managed world of .NET. It examines in detail the areas of garbage collection, finalizers, the dispose pattern and language specific, using both C# and Delphi for .NET.

A new Delphi Easter Egg (Delphi 7) and some new C++Builder Easter Eggs (mostly in C++Builder 6, but also in previous versions) have also been documented.

Updated my article on writing shared modules for Apache for Windows to include a link to some unofficial patch information for Apache 2.0.40. Also updated my certifications and CV (achievements).

Various minor fixes have been made to conference papers and articles and a new C++Builder Easter Egg has been documented (Keeka the cat). This is present in C++Builder 5 and C++Builder 6. Also, I have added some links.

I have updated my article on writing shared modules for Apache for Windows to take account of a potential issue with the default state of the Apache configuration file (search the article for a reference to ClearModuleList). Also, I have updated some links.

I have at last translated my lengthy article on speech synthesis and speech recognition into HTML and uploaded it to the site.

There are also some new Delphi tool links.

Updloaded my BorCon UK 2002 .NET Interoperability papers (.NET< > Win32 and COM Interop) and included links to them from the Articles page.

Uploaded Part 8 and Part 9 of my Kylix tutorial series. These instalments look at exception handling.

Also added some new .NET links to the Links page.

Updated my BorCon Europe talks on the Conferences page and added a bunch of new links.

Added a bunch of new links.

Also updated the files from my BUG talk on Speech in Delphi apps. There was a grammar file missing and the files didn't compile in Delphi 5.

Updated my article on using the Windows version of the Apache Web server to include issues arising with Apache 2.x, and added a reference to the README for my Delphi for .NET implementation of Digger (uploaded to Borland's Delphi for .NET Preview Web site).

Uploaded the files from my Speech talk for the UK Borland User Group to my Downloads page and added a few new links.

Also uploaded both the sixth and seventh instalments of my Kylix tutorial series, which look at dynamic object creation and building a nice GUI application that reads CSV files.

Added the fifth instalment of the Kylix tutorial series, which looks at using forms in Kylix applications.

Added details of the talks I will be presenting at the European Borland Conference in October.

Added a link to a new online article on the new ActionBands support in Delphi 6, originally published in The Delphi Magazine.

Also added details of an upcoming user group conference in the Netherlands (CttP Sep '02) where I will be presenting two talks.

Added details of my next talk at a UK BUG meeting, on speech synthesis and speech recognition and updates for this year's conferences.

Added the fourth instalment of the Kylix tutorial series, where we look at how action components can simplify User Interface (UI) development.

The three papers I presented at BorCon 2002 (one on Actions, Action Lists and Action Managers, one on non obvious debugging techniques and one on IDE tips and techniques) have now been uploaded onto the Articles page.

Added the third instalment of the Kylix tutorial series, where we add some polish to our text processing application and get some tips on improving your use of Kylix.

Added details of the Easter Eggs in JBuilder 4 and JBuilder 5 to my Easter Egg collection (part of the Undocumented section of this site).

Added details of the JBuilder 6 Easter Egg to my Easter Egg collection (part of the Undocumented section of this site).

Added the second instalment of the Kylix tutorial series, where we look at building a text editor application.

Added details of training courses specific to Delphi 6 and C++Builder 6.

The first instalment of my Kylix tutorial series is now available. I have also uploaded details of the Easter Eggs that can be found in C++Builder 6.

On the Articles page I've set up the framework for my Kylix tutorial series . The first instalment will be available in March, but you can see the instalments that are written (and published) and which will be available online in the coming months (each one six months after publication).

I have also added details of conferences I will be speaking at this year, updated some links , fixed some broken links and corrected a couple of typos reported in some articles.

I have uploaded my DCon 2001VCL vs. CLX paper, which compares certain aspects of the two component frameworks. I have also added details on how to display some more otherwise hidden IDE features (menu items ) in Delphi.

I have at last uploaded my DCon 2001 paper on how to use Actions, Action Lists and Action Managers.

I have added some small tidbits to my VCL Sourcery article and added a couple of tips to the Kylix Tips page.

There is also a new undocumented menu item available in Delphi 6. A variety of new screenshots have been added to the undocumented features pages to illustrate the effects of the settings and a few corrections have also been made.

After a busy period, a small amount of maintenance has at last been done to the site, removing out-of-date information. I have also fixed a couple of errors in my Apache for Windows article. More updates will follow including information about this year's conferences.

Added a new article to my Articles page. This article, from the Borland Community Web Site, shows how to enable a great new (but broken) feature of Code Completion in Delphi 6. I've also added a brief description of each article.

Also updated the Kylix Tips & Techniques page by adding a few new questions and answers.

Also uploaded a new article that discusses setting up Apache on Windows operating systems.

Updated list of product certifications after taking and passing both the C++Builder 5 and Delphi 6 Certification exams.

Also updated my list of online articles to include my conference papers from this year's European BorCon and added details of my next User Group talk.

Made available a correction for a typo in a file that accompanies the first instalment of my Kylix Open Edition tutorial in the October issue (Issue 19) of Linux Format magazine.

Also added a section dedicated to Kylix articles on my Articles page.

You can now download updated Delphi 6 help filesfrom Borland's Web site. These include the missing WebSnap documentation, in the case of the Enterprise Edition update.

Added a link on the Articles page to my Delphi 6 review, which was published in Issue 71 of The Delphi Magazine. Also added several new Kylix programming tips and a new undocumented feature for C++Builder 5

Uploaded my Delphi 6 Masterclass files, which might be useful for those who attended.

Updated my conference materials and tidied up the home page. All my BorCon papers are now available online.

Uploaded a bunch of Kylix tips and techniques, which I will be adding to as time goes by. Also added a new link to my article on writing Apache Shared Modules in Kylix to my articles page.

Updated my list of BUG talks on this page and made minor fixes here and there.

Uploaded details of my Delphi 6 Masterclass, The Joy Of 6. Also updated my list of User Group talks to include my next scheduled talk which will be a collection of Hints and Tips on using Delphi (and will be largely applicable to Kylix and C++Builder as well).

Uploaded details of Kylix's Easter Eggs and updated the coverage of undocumented stuff, notably the command line switches and IDE settings.

Added details of the latest conference I have been invited to speak at (the European Borland Conference in September).

Updated my articles list and a few other pages and added details of my pending talk on Apache shared modules.

There is also a new eBook, designed for helping you get up to speed with the Linux Operating System, called Swing With Linux.

Added details of my review of C++Builder 5 Developer's Guide and removed remaining links to Developers Review magazine web site (the magazine is no longer published).

Also added details of my eBooks.

Added details of my next Borland User Group talk and also about my acceptance as a speaker for DCon 2001.

A bunch of new C++Builder links have been added, along with details of a couple of Linux exams I recently passed.

I am proud to have been invited to speak at the 12th Annual Borland Conference in Long Beach, California this year. Details of the papers I will be presenting have been added to the site.

Details of my next UK-BUG talk, on exception handling, have been added. Also added are some more Easter Eggs, details of new certifications and some nice comments about me.

Files for my Lists talk for the UK-BUG have been uploaded.

Added new Linux links and updated various pages around the site. Also uploaded the files for my Best of The Delphi Clinic talk.

Added new links for the new Informal ADO Express Update for Delphi and C++Builder, which fixes an error that occurs with the new MDAC 2.6, and also for the new BDE 5.11 Merge Module, which allows the BDE to be installed by the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI).

I have also updated my Brainbench certification information.

Files from my Drag & Dock talk have been uploaded as well as information on my next UK-BUG talk.

I now have a link on my articles page to my Multi Threading and COM article, which was published in Issue 60 of The Delphi Magazine.

Some additional links have also been added (notably some Linux pages I found useful).

I have finished updating all my articles to have consistent look and feel, as well as tables of contents.

You can now download a free copy of Turbo Debugger from Borland's Web site.

You can download Update Pack 1 for C++Builder 5 from Borland's Web site.

This is the first update to this site since my son Reuben was born. He was born on 2nd August, 2000 and is making myself and Victoria very happy.

Have uploaded my ICon UK conference papers.

Have also added details of upcoming BUG talks, including The Delphi Clinic and docking .

13th July, 2000

Added new Delphi Automation article and made a few of the conference papers look more consistent.

Added details of my Spirit of Delphi 2000 nomination to my achievements page.

Added new Articles page, along with information on undocumented registry entries and command line switches. Also added a contents list to my VCL Sourcery, CORBA and Delphi and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) papers from DCon '99 and uploaded this year's DCon 2000 papers (Deep sea fishing in Delphi (VCL secrets and the practical use of the Win32 API), Debugging With More Than Watches And Breakpoints and IDE/RTL/VCL/ObjectPascal Tips).

Tidied up a few out of date things. Added some new items to the links page

More JBuilder Easter Eggs and C++Builder Easter Eggs have been added.

Details for this year's European Borland conference have been added.

Borland UK have just announced pricing for a MIDAS 3 Server License with Unlimited Client Access (£199.99 + VAT). In their own words:

Borland MIDAS (Multi-tier Distributed Application Services Suite) provides data remoting and synchronization solutions for distributed applications. MIDAS gives you access to Any Data, Any Time, Anywhere with support for any distributed computing standard and platform.

The MIDAS 3 Server License with Unlimited Client Access allows you to deploy MIDAS on a single server to be accessed by unlimited users. The package includes a paper license for unlimited users and instructions for deploying MIDAS.

23rd March, 2000

I have started to document the undocumented features of the recent Borland development tools. I will be focusing on Delphi and C++Builder as I know these best.

I've started with the Delphi and C++Builder Easter Eggs, and will add in those for other products as I get time. Additionally, I'll cover undocumented registry switches and command-line options after meeting a few deadlines that are looming.

Updated the DCon 2000 conference paper descriptions and fixed some links. There is now an update to the free Borland C++ compiler.

Updated the downloads page and removed the Drag & Drop talk details from this page. Also uploaded the files from that Drag & Drop talk

I have put some thoughts about a possible book version of The Delphi Clinic on this page. Please read them and, if you have something to say on the matter, please email me.

My review of Borland C++Builder 4 from Developers Review is available to read online. This is in addition to my other Delphi/C++Builder product reviews which are listed on my online articles page.

Some of the URLs to the Delphi 5 & BDE 5.1 Update Packs below (21st Feb entry) have been fixed.

Borland has released the Delphi 5.01 Update, which fixes a number of problems. An update to the BDE (version 5.1.1) is also available.

Borland has also made their Borland C++ compiler freely available. This is in addition to having previously made the older Turbo Pascal 5.5, Turbo Pascal 3.02 and Turbo Pascal 1 all available.

On this site itself, the DCon 2000 details are complete, and all the links to external sites now pop up in a separate window.

The Delphi Developers Conference 2000 talks have now been settled on. One of my talks will be on advanced debugging techniques, looking at the CPU window. The other talk will run through a large number of language & environment tips & tricks that you often learn only by listening to experienced Delphi programmers.

Something else you ought to know about is the pending merger of Borland and Corel (later cancelled). Let's hope this doesn't have an adverse affect on Delphi or C++Builder...

Details of another upcoming talk for the UK Borland User Group have been added.

Borland has announced Borland C++Builder 5 with a press release. To support this great new version of C++Builder, I have finalised courseware for C++Builder 5 training courses.

A link to all my talks at User Group meetings, conferences and also including seminars has been added back to the Contents frame.

Details have also added about an upcoming drag & drop talk for the UK Borland User Group, and the VCL Sourcery Masterclass details have been expanded.

The Links page has been updated to include access to Borland's own IDL2PAS tool. This is included in the new VisiBroker for Delphi product, which is free for download to anyone who owns Delphi 5 Enterprise. The download includes a development license. To deploy VisiBroker applications, you must still purchase deployment licenses.

Other changes include adding more logos for conferences, adding more details about books and general shuffling around of information.

You can now find fuller details of conference talks (including abstracts of those talks), as well as a history of the seminars/Masterclasses that Brian has run for various companies, and talks made at UK Borland User Groupmeetings.

Currently, the whole site is pretty new, having only been uploaded two weeks ago. The content and layout are being finalised. Things have changed around a bit, but are settling down.

When I am satisfied with the shape of the thing, I will be adding regular tips, as well as QAs from my monthly Delphi Clinic problem-solving column in The Delphi Magazine.

The site now has this home page, along with other responses to some comments made by visitors.

Details of all the conference talks I have made over the years have been added, as well as a list of certifications and information about my VCL Sourcery Masterclass.

Prototype site uploaded for the first time.

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