How can I set the default file format in the Delphi IDE to UTF8?

Question

Delphi 2009 sets the default file format for new source code files to ANSI, this makes the source code platform-dependent.

Even for a new XSD file created in the IDE, which by default starts with this line

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

Delphi sets the file format to ANSI (this looks like a bug, for new XML and XSLT documents UTF8 is selected by default).

Is there a hidden option to set the default file format for source code files?

score 10 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 14 '17 at 12:49

In fact this blog post from 2004 mentions a hidden IDE option. It states that you can set a default file filter in the registry to make UTF-8 the default encoding in Delphi 8. This still works under Tokyo! Clearly, you have to adapt the path of the registry key to recent versions like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Embarcadero\BDS\19.0\Editor]
"DefaultFileFilter"="Borland.FileFilter.UTF8ToUTF8"

After setting this value Delphi will encode new units in UTF-8 with BOM.

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 15 '09 at 00:42

7

Right-click on your source code in the Delphi 2009 IDE, and select File Format. Then choose UTF-8. Hope that helps.

answered Nov 15 '09 at 00:42

Rohit Agarwal

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I think the question was about doing that by default, so a new file starts off being set to UTF8. – David Nov 15 '09 at 05:36
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This does not change the default file format for new files to UTF8, it has an effect only for the current file. – mjn Nov 15 '09 at 10:04
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Not the original question but did help me :-) – Leonardo Herrera Jul 18 '16 at 20:23

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 28 '21 at 13:25

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Although the answer from MBulli should be still relevant, since version 10.4 of Delphi (as far as I remember) it is possible to change the default encoding within the IDE.

Go to Tools > Options and choose User interface > Editor from the navigation area.

You will find the Default file encoding setting down below.

answered Jan 28 '21 at 13:25

Jacek Krawczyk

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You're right it's just from 10.4 version, I checked in 10.3.2 and the option doesn't exist. – Darkendorf Mar 04 '21 at 13:38
@Darkendorf: It is still okay though I think, since you can set the option manually in the Windows Registry... – Jacek Krawczyk Mar 04 '21 at 20:30

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 08 '15 at 14:14

If you install UTF8ize Plugin (english translation of his page & latest version) to your IDE, when you edit any file within the IDE, the plugin set the file's codepage to UTF8 automatically.

(FYI: The author creates many useful plugins. I posted some of his plugins with image here, but my post was deleted by the modelator. I just wanted to know his useful plugins, but yes, it's off topic here. sorry.)

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 18 '09 at 21:56

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AFAIK, there is no IDE-wide setting for specifying the default file format.

answered Nov 18 '09 at 21:56

Remy Lebeau

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However the IDE does prompt you, when you enter a unicode character into the editor buffer, and then click Save. – Warren P Jun 08 '11 at 07:15
Rob kennedy suggested that you can in fact, add a new Unit that is saved in UTF8 format to the Object Repository, and then use that from the File -> New menu. I found that it has to contain a high unicode character codepoint in order to keep the UTF8 encoding in new units though. – Warren P Feb 16 '12 at 23:13
There's a setting as explained in [this](https://stackoverflow.com/a/47813818/243614) answer. – Sertac Akyuz Dec 14 '17 at 20:51
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With 10.4 there is now an option in the IDE. – MBulli May 27 '20 at 06:26

How can I set the default file format in the Delphi IDE to UTF8?

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