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MRU - Most Recently Used

Delphi does *not* provide any built-in mechanism for managing a MRU list.
Note: ActionBands provide built-in storage making MRU menus very easy to implement - Delphi 6 and later ship with a demo examples that show how you can easily set up an MRU history list for recently opened files

TadpMRU

• MRU menu items are attached to a "ParentMenuItem"
• Dynamic, supports *unlimited* number of MRU items.
• A maximum number of MRU entries can be defined.
• Files can be added or removed from the list.
• The files are listed with the most recently used at the top of the list (from the "most recent" to "least recent.")
• Each file can be displayed using the full path name or just the file name.
• The MRU list is saved to the Registry upon application termination and loaded upon application startup.
• Enables more Registry storage areas by providing the RegistryPath property
• Exposes an OnClick event with the Filename as a parameter.
• and more...

Here's a list of public and published properties and methods:

METHODS
procedure AddItem(const FileName: string);
Adds the Filename to the MRU list, as the first item.

function RemoveItem(const FileName : string) : boolean;
Removes a MRU item provided with a file name. Returns true if an existing item was removed; false otherwise.

PROPERTIES
MaxItems: Cardinal
Gets or sets the maximum number of files in the MRU list.

ShowFullPath : boolean
Gets or sets the value that indicates whether files as menu items are displayed with full file name (or just using the file name).

RegistryPath : string
Gets or sets the string value representing the key in Registry where MRU entries are saved. If omitted the MRU list is NOT saved upon application termination. The root key used is HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

ParentMenuItem : TMenuItem
Determines the menu item that the MRU items will be added to as child menu items.

EVENT
OnClick: TMRUClickEvent; TMRUClickEvent = procedure(Sender: TObject; const FileName: String) of object;
Triggered when a "MRU menu item" is clicked.

Installing into a Component palette
First, download the component. The TadpMRU comes as a single unit file (.pas extension). You'll need to add the component into an existing package. Here's "How to Install Custom Component in Delphi (into Existing Package)"

TadpMRU - example application

and at run-time:

That's it. Don't forget to download the component; and as always if there are any questions or comments please post them on the Delphi Programming Forum.

~ Zarko Gajic