Borland Chat FAQ

This is a quick wrap up of questions and answers being asked on the Borland Chat forum.

Topics covered are these:
    Who-is-Who
    Special chat commands
    Questions and Answers
    Direct Trial downloads

More information will follow. Mail me (see address at the end of the page) 
if you have suggestions or comments.
DO NOT SEND QUESTIONS ABOUT BORLAND PRODUCTS TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS

Who-is-Who

If you wonder about some people that visit the chat frequently, then check out the Who-is-Who list at whoiswho.

Special Chat Commands

There are some special chat commands listed here: http://chatjet.borland.com/kylix/help/help2.html

Questions and Answers

-3.Q. How should I ask a question?
A. Read How To Ask Questions The Smart Way by Eric Steven Raymond.

-2.Q. I see all my chat text being repeated twice in the chat-window. What is wrong?
A. You probably run a version of Internet Explorer that has trouble sending the chat messages to the server.
The version number of Internet Explorer can be found in the Aboux Box that you can access through Help | About.
Check which version of Internet Explorer you have here: http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q164/5/39.ASP
We suspect at least this version to cause trouble:
5.50.3825.1300 Internet Explorer 5.5 Developer Preview (Beta)
5.50.4308.2900 Internet Explorer 5.5 Advanced Security Privacy Beta

Since this version of Internet Explorer is really really old, please upgrade to a newer version
http://www.microsoft.com/ie
If you want to perform a download-only of Internet Explorer, then follow these steps:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q257249

-1.Q. I am a student, and I want help with an assignment, or I am a beginner. Where should I go?
-1.A. The moderators are not here to help students with assignments.
You are far better off visiting one of the students newsgroups, for example:
borland.public.cppbuilder.students html-access news-reader access
borland.public.delphi.students html-access news-reader access

0. Q. I have a question and I need an immediate answer.
A. Like all users, moderators are here on a voluntary basis.
We might be out at the moment, stretching our legs!
If you need product support, please visit the newsgroups here:
with a web-browser - http://newsgroups.borland.com/
with a news reader - news://newsgroups.borland.com
Consider that the Borland newsgroups are read by thousands of users.
The Borland newsgroups are the place to ask questions.
You can search Borland newsgroups archives at http://www.tamaracka.com
If you need a guaranteed answer, your best bet is to try the Borland support program here:
http://www.borland.com/devsupport/
If you are outside the USA, try one of the local CodeGear partners
< href="http://www.codegear.com/HowtoBuy/WorldwidePartners/tabid/187/Default.aspx">List of CodeGear Worldwide Partners
or one of the local Borland offices.
List of Borland worldwide offices

1. Q. Where is the chat?
1. A. http://chatjet.borland.com/borland/

2. Q. I cannot edit forms or code with the free download C++ compiler.
2. A. The C++ compiler is only the compiler.
For editing code you need a code editor (like notepad).
For editing forms, you need C++Builder. (for trial, see 3.)

3. Q. Where can I download trials?
3. A. You can find an overview of the trials here: Trial and Free Downloads
Note: It seems they also took the Delphi trial off-line.
You can get the Delphi 5 trial password here: http://www.borland.com/cgi-bin/webreg/delphi5regkey.pl
Note: JBuilder trial used to be here: http://www.borland.com/jbuilder/offers/
It seems Borland have removed the JBuilder trial download from the web-site, and the ftp-site.
You can download the JBuilder foundation in stead (see question 4).
You can also order a trial CD ($6.95) here: http://shop.borland.com/Product/0,1057,3-15-CQ100144,00.html
This leaves customers outside the USA in the dark, as they can not order the trial CD from the web-site
Note: C++Builder trial used to be here: http://www.borland.com/bcppbuilder/trial5/
It seems Borland have removed the C++Builder trial download from the web-site, and the ftp-site.
You can only order a trial CD ($6.95) here: http://shop.borland.com/Product/0,1057,3-15-CQ100144,00.html
This leaves customers outside the USA in the dark, as they can not order the trial CD from the web-site
If you have the trial CD, you need to run the install.exe on it, that will generate a machine ID.
You fill in the machine ID on the trial page questionare, then you will be e-mailed the registration info.
There seems also to be a trial registration here: http://www.borland.com/cgi-bin/webreg/bcppb5tregkey.pl

4. Q. Where can I download free products
4. A. Turbo Debugger: http://www.borland.com/bcppbuilder/turbodebugger/
C++ Compiler: http://www.borland.com/bcppbuilder/freecompiler/
Using the C++ Compiler: http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,20997,00.html
VIDE (not from Borland) is a good IDE for the free C++ Compiler:
http://www.objectcentral.com/vide.htm
JBuilder Foundation: http://www.borland.com/jbuilder/foundation/
More downloads: Borland downloads

5. Q. I need an old product.
5. A. Some of the old products can be found at the Borland Museum here:
http://community.borland.com/museum/
Borland Pascal 7 is not yet available in the Borland Museum, but will be in the future.

6. Q. I have a JBuilder question
6. A. There are more JBuilder questions than answers here.
Borland is busy trying to get more people experienced with JBuilder knowledge here.
Post your JBuilder questions here:
http://newsgroups.borland.com

7. Q. I want product specific chats
7. A. They are not here yet. Bug developer relations for this at these e-mail addresses:
John Kaster
Christine Ellis
Note that these two people are very busy, so you'd better wait and relax.

8. Q. Are there IRC-like fancy commands we can use?
8. A. Yes. Things like /msg and /me work. A complete list can be found here:
http://chatjet.borland.com/kylix/help/help2.html

9. Q. Cool! This chat is written in Kylix. How come?
9. A. The Chatjet guys (http://www.chatjet.com/) ported it from Delphi to Kylix in about 2 weeks.
It is a great testimonial how powerful Kylix is. A good reason to try Kylix yourself.
More Kylix information is available here: http://www.borland.com/kylix/

10.Q. I have question about the Windows API
10.A. Go to the MicroSoft Developers Network homepage: http://msdn.microsoft.com

11.Q. Why is there nobody on-line?
A. People might be working, or sleeping. Not everyone is in the same timezone as you are.
Timezone information can be found here: http://www.worldtimezone.com/index24.html

12.Q I need the latest BDE where can I find it?
A You need the BDE-update which you can download here:
http://www.borland.com/devsupport/bde/bdeupdate.html

Direct Trial downloads

Below are direct URLs for some of the downloads mentioned above. You need to get a license key in order to run these trials (see question 3).

Delphi 5 trial

ftp://ftp.borland.com/pub/delphi/trial5/D5TRIAL.EXE

JBuilder 4 Foundation

Windows - English jb4fndwin.zip (37.4MB)
Windows - French  jb4fndwin_fr.zip (39.3MB)
Windows - German  jb4fndwin_de.zip (40.2MB)
Windows - Spanish jb4fndwin_es.zip (39.2MB)
Linux   - English jb4fndlinux.tar.gz (48.1MB)
Linux   - French  jb4fndlinux_fr.tar.gz (50MB)
Linux   - German  jb4fndlinux_de.tar.gz (50.9MB)
Linux   - Spanish jb4fndlinux_es.tar.gz (49.9MB)
Solaris - English jb4fndsolaris.tar.gz (15.1MB)
Solaris - French  jb4fndsolaris_fr.tar.gz (17MB)
Solaris - German  jb4fndsolaris_de.tar.gz (17.9MB)
Solaris - Spanish jb4fndsolaris_es.tar.gz (16.9MB)

Author

This FAQ has been created with input from the chat community by Jeroen Pluimers on a voluntary basis.
Jeroen is not a Borland employee. DO NOT SEND QUESTIONS ABOUT BORLAND PRODUCTS TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS.