indrayn

Auto Increment Version Information Pre-build tool for Delphi XE2 using VerInfo

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indrayn

In Delphi XE2, the “Auto Increment build number” of Version Information is changed to Auto generate build number, replace Release and Build part with random numbers which is actually a time stamp of the time it’s generated.

I coded this little utility for my purpose, because I need/like an auto increment build number as a simple mean to track the build number, not some numbers that “look” random.

VerInfo is trying to help to do Auto Increment build number in Delphi XE2.

First download and copy “verinfo.exe” to your path, find download link below, for easy access to VerInfo it’s good idea to add it to IDE Tools:

Create Version Information Resource script either using text editor, or better yet, launch VerInfo and fill the form:

Then save the RC file to your project folder, the same folder as .dpr file, with an easy to recognize name, I usually name it <ProjectName>Ver.rc, eg: SLauncherVer.rc for my SLauncher program. For this example, here on, we use SLauncher project.

VerInfo uses and produces minimal Version Info RC file, eg:

// verinfo100-indrayn.com
// autoincbuild: 1
// autoincrelease: 0
 
VS_VERSION_INFO VERSIONINFO
FILEVERSION 1,0,0,108
PRODUCTVERSION 1,0,0,1
FILEFLAGSMASK 0x3fL
#ifdef _DEBUG
FILEFLAGS 0x9L
#else
FILEFLAGS 0x8L
#endif
FILEOS 0x4L
FILETYPE 0x1L
FILESUBTYPE 0x0L
BEGIN
  BLOCK "StringFileInfo"
  BEGIN
    BLOCK "040904b0"
    BEGIN
      VALUE "CompanyName", "indrayn.com\000"
      VALUE "FileDescription", "File macem-macem\000"
      VALUE "FileVersion", "1.0.0.108\000"
      VALUE "InternalName", "macem2.exe\000"
      VALUE "LegalCopyright", "Copyright 2012 dewa indrayana\000"
      VALUE "LegalTrademark", "\000"
      VALUE "OriginalFilename", "macem2.exe\000"
      VALUE "ProductName", "macem2\000"
      VALUE "ProductVersion", "1.0.0.1\000"
      VALUE "Comments", "good good\000"
    END
  END
  BLOCK "VarFileInfo"
  BEGIN
    VALUE "Translation", 0x409, 1200
  END
END

After we have SLauncherVer.rc, we need to add this file to our project:

  • Right-Click on SLauncher project, choose [Add], [Resource file (*.rc)] file type, select SLauncherVer.rc
  • SLauncherVer.rc will be added to project
  • and Delphi will edit Project source and add the needed line.

Next, we need to update the Project Option:

  • Uncheck the “Include version information in project”
  • Add command “verinfo” to “Pre-build events”, to increment File Version build number in SLauncherVer.rc
    • we will add “verinfo $(INPUTDIR)SLauncherVer.rc /update”

  • First public release

Comments

13 responses to “Auto Increment Version Information Pre-build tool for Delphi XE2 using VerInfo”

  1. Ninow1987 Avatar
    Ninow1987

    Hello,

    there is a problem with your tool. On building the project the IDE shows a message that “verinfo D:verinfoNExAutoStarter.rc /update is closed with code 9009”.
    I have Delphi XE2 Update 4

    Do you have an idea?

    Best Regards

    Reply
  2. dewa Avatar
    dewa

    Hi, I created it for XE2 and then for Update 4 too, and so far found no problem.
    but let me check it

    Regards/

    Reply
  3. Ninow1987 Avatar
    Ninow1987

    Hello dewa,

    I found the error
    The exe was not in the project folder. Sorry for this.

    Have now added the entire path f.e.: “D:verinfoverinfo.exe” “D:verinfoNExAutoStarter.rc” /update

    Best Regards

    Reply
  5. Bononi Avatar
    Bononi

    Hi,

    I think your tool is the best solution. I tried the DDev Extension expert but it doesn’t seem to auto increment the build, I had to do it manually all the time.

    Thanks a lot !

    Reply
    1. dewa Avatar
      dewa

      Hi Bononi,
      I tried DDev Extension, but do not use it either, reduce addons usage.
      Happy coding 🙂

      Reply
  6. Hans Avatar
    Hans

    Hello,

    I try to use this Auto Increment Version Information Pre-build tool.
    I have have installed it in Delphi XE2 Starter.
    I can’t ‘Uncheck the “Include version information in project”’, when I uncheck and click the OK button, it looks it is ok.
    But when open “Version info” again it is checked.

    When I compile or build the project Delphi is hanging at the stage: “Checking Kloktester.rc”

    What I am doing wrong?

    Best regards,

    Hans

    Reply
    1. dewa Avatar
      dewa

      Hi Hans,
      I have not tried it on XE2 Starter, but usually it just uncheck “Include version information in project” of “Project Options”, click OK and Save project, and upon compilation Delphi will launch it.
      Is the path to verinfo.exe already set correctly? or put it in path environment?

      Reply
  7. Paul Holland Avatar
    Paul Holland

    G’day Dewa,

    I’ve been looking for a tool like yours for a while, so was quite excited to finally install it.

    I think I followed your simple and clear instructions correctly.

    But when I go to build my application, I get an error:

    [Exec Error] The command “verinfo N:DelphiProjectsObject General LedgerGLOW renewedGLOWrenew.rc /update” exited with code 9009.

    I couldn’t find reference to “Code 9009” anywhere.

    Have I missed something obvious?

    Cheers, Paul

    Reply
    1. dewa Avatar
      dewa

      Hi Paul,
      it seemed “verinfo” could not be accessed.
      Try to add complete path to “verinfo”, eg:

      C:verinfo_pathverinfo N:DelphiProjectsObject General LedgerGLOW renewedGLOWrenew.rc /update”

      or put “verinfo” in PATH accessible folder

      Reply
      1. Paul Holland Avatar
        Paul Holland

        Thanks a lot Dewa.

        Fixing the path has advanced things, but still having problems. RAD Studio XE2 IDE now freezes on the BRCC32 compile of the *.rc file. Killing Verinfo.exe (in Task Manager) allows compilation to complete.

        I’ve tested the Pre-build event string in a command-line window and it increments the build number OK.

        Cheers, Paul

        Reply
        1. Paul Holland Avatar
          Paul Holland

          OK solved it myself.

          Problem was fully qualified path to *.dr file contained spaces. Just changed Pre-build event string so filename wrapped in double-quotes:

          verinfo “$(INPUTDIR)GLOWrenew Verinfo.rc” /update

          $(INPUTDIR) is N:DelphiProjectsObject General LedgerGLOW renewed

          Cheers, Paul

          Reply

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