Delphi in a Nutshell

Name

InitProc Variable

Syntax

var InitProc: Pointer;

procedure MyInitProc;
begin ... end;
InitProc := @MyInitProc;

Description

The InitProc pointer points to a parameterless procedure that performs secondary initialization. The TApplication.Initialize method calls the InitProc procedure, for example.

If your unit needs to perform additional initialization, but it must wait until all units have been initialized, you can define a secondary initialization procedure.

Tips and Tricks

• Save the previous value of InitProc, and call that procedure when your initialization procedure is finished.

• Unlike an initialization section, Delphi does not guarantee that the InitProc procedure will be called. You are counting on the good graces of the other code. The VCL is well-behaved, and all of Delphi’s GUI and server applications call InitProc. If you write your own application framework, be sure to call InitProc, because some units in Delphi’s VCL depend on the secondary initialization.

• Use an initialization section whenever possible. Resort to InitProc only when you truly have no other way to perform the initialization.

• Take care of finalization in the unit’s finalization section.

Example

...
procedure LocalInitProc;
begin
  SetUpUnit;                // Take care of unit's initialization.
  TProcedure(SaveInitProc); // Call the next InitProc in the chain.
end;

var
  SaveInitProc: Pointer;
initialization
  SaveInitProc := InitProc;
  InitProc := @LocalInitProc;
finalization
  CleanUpUnit;
end.

See Also

ExitProc Variable, Finalization ...