DFAbout

A drop-in replacement for the DataFlex About dialog, for Windows desktop applications.

Instead of a static box you maintain by hand, DFAbout fills itself in: the application name and version come from the program's own settings, the build date comes from the compiled .exe, and a second panel reports the machine the program is actually running on — which is usually the first thing you need when a user reports a problem.

What the dialog shows

• Application name, version, copyright and author — name and version are read from the application's own settings when you leave them blank
• Compile date and time, taken from the executable itself, so it is always the build in front of you rather than a constant somebody forgot to update
• A system information panel — computer name, network user, installed and available memory, and the SQL client version when one is in use
• Code-signing details for the running executable, when a signed build is in use
• A copy button, so a user can paste the whole report into an email or a support ticket
• Your own logo, or the supplied Powered by DataFlex image

Installing

DataFlex 26 and later — add it as a package:

https://github.com/NilsSve/Library-DFAbout.git/DFAbout26.0.sws

DataFlex 25 — add DFAbout25.0.sws as a library in your workspace.

Using it

Use the package and override Activate_About in your application:

Use StdAbout.pkg

Procedure Activate_About
    Send DoAbout "My Application" "" "Copyright 2026, My Company" "Written by A. Developer" "MyLogo.bmp"
End_Procedure

Every argument is optional. Leave the title or version blank and DFAbout takes them from the application settings; leave the bitmap blank and it uses the supplied DataFlex image:

Procedure Activate_About
    Send DoAbout "" "" ("Copyright 2026" * psCompany(ghoApplication)) "" ""
End_Procedure

DoAbout accepts up to ten arguments; the later ones add extra lines such as an internet address or a support contact.

Compile date on its own

The build timestamp is also available without the dialog:

DateTime dtBuilt
Move (ProgramCompileDate(psProgramName(ghoApplication))) to dtBuilt

Code-signing details

To show certificate information for the running program, place Microsoft's signtool.exe in the application's Programs folder. Without it the rest of the dialog works normally and the signing section is simply absent.

Requirements

DataFlex 25 or 26, Windows desktop. DFAbout has no dependencies on other libraries.

Licence

MIT — see LICENSE.