Multiple Delphi versions on the same machine

Question

What we would like to do is install multiple Delphi versions on the same machine, those versions are D7, D2010 and DXE.

We had previously D7 and D2010, worked OK together(had to duplicate components for D7 and D2010 because of special conditions for various versions), however, I'm not sure about XE, hence the question.

Of course we could experiment, but that means wasting quite a few hours, so if someone already had made a similar setup or actively have, can you please share you experience?

EDIT1:

The D7-D2010 install was performed in chronological version order:

• D7 + updates
• D2010 + updates

Answer 1

I've had no trouble ever installing many different versions of Delphi on the same machine. It's a well supported configuration because, for example, component vendors need to be able to test all versions that they support.

You can use one VM per Delphi, but you can equally well put all the versions of Delphi on the same machine.

When I put multiple Delphi versions onto a single machine I make sure that no version of Delphi is in the system PATH. Then when I do automated command line builds I add to the PATH at the start of the build script. That way I am sure I always get the desired version.

Answer 2

It should work fine. I haven't tried your exact combination, but I'm running 7 and XE at home, and 2007 and XE2 at work. No problems.

However, you might think about putting the different versions on virtual machines, so you keep them (and all their components) separated, not risking to kill the configuration for one project when you change another.

You should be careful and always install Delphis in the chronological order, older releases first.

Answer 3

You can run every version of Delphi from 7 to XE2 side-by-side without any problems. I'm doing this on my main dev machine here, as well as my clean dev VM.

Just be sure that you install last the Delphi version that you wish to be the default when the shell opens a Delphi project or Pascal unit.

Answer 4

Specific different folders for all paths in all installations and it should work.

For example \Delphi XE1 \Delphi XE2

or simply use Rad Studio 14.0\ and so forth.

Just make sure common files and documents and stuff like that goes into Rad Studio 14.0 as well.

So have one main folder for each delphi version and make sure the installer installs everything into that main version folder.

Answer 5

Since I have started using XE3, I have had a nuisance problem where sporadically while compile and linking, an error would occur stating that the EXE could not be written because it already existed (i.e. it could not overwrite the existing EXE). I always ran Delphi7 and XE3 at the same time since I have large projects I maintain for both. One day I was really having the problem often and it was driving me crazy so I started trying things. One of those was to not run Delphi7 when running XE3 which turned out to be the culprit. I was also getting random breakpoints when loading projects with XE3, and that problem was solved as well.