Question

There are some program tools such as WinSpy++ which will allow you to hover over the Handle of any Control/Component and return the Class Name of that Handle. So for example, if I dropped a TMemo on a Delphi Form and compiled the Application, if I used WinSpy++ and hovered over the Application (above the Memo), it will reveal the Class Name of the Editor as TMemo.

Now, suppose I dont want anybody using such a program to determine the Components I am using in my Application, how would I prevent Class Names from showing up in a tool, such as WinSpy++?

I ask because I dont want anyone to easily create clones of any Applications I may create and release, if the Class Names of the Components I am using are discovered it would make their task easier because then they know what to use.

Simply put, how can I hide the Class Names of the VCL I use in my Delphi Application from external viewer tools like WinSpy++.

WinSpy++ can be found here: http://www.catch22.net/software/winspy

To add, I know I can custom derive these components to change the Class Names to my own, but their must be an easier way.

Answer 1

You could override CreateParams and put your own class name into Params.WinClassName. The default behaviour is implemented in TWinControl.CreateParams:

with Params do
  ...
  StrPCopy(WinClassName, ClassName);