ZylGPSSimulator (former ZylNMEAGenerator) is a Delphi & C++ Builder component that transforms position data in NMEA 0183 format. NMEA 0183 is a standard protocol, used by GPS receivers to transmit position data.

NMEA 0183 (or NMEA for short) is a combined electrical and data specification for communication between marine electronic devices such as echo sounder, sonars, Anemometer (winds speed and direction), gyrocompass, autopilot, GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers and many other types of instruments. It has been defined by, and is controlled by, the US-based National Marine Electronics Association.

You can generate complex NMEA sentences from simple data inputs. The sentences are recognized by any NMEA compatible mapping software. In this way with this component you can simulate a GPS receiver. You just write the generated NMEA sentences on a virtual serial port or an internet socket connected to mapping software.

You can use this component as a GPS simulator using a null-modem cable which interconnects two physical serial or USB ports, or you can interconnect two bluetooth or Irda ports, or you can use one of the virtual serial port software from the market, which emulates two interconnected serial ports like: Free Virtual Serial Ports Emulator by ETERLOGIC, Null-modem emulator (com0com), Virtual Serial Port Kit, Virtual Serial Port Driver and others.

Supported NMEA sentences: GPGLL, GPGGA, GPVTG, GPRMC, GPGSA, GPGSV, GPZDA, GPWPL, GPRTE, GPAAM.

The demo version is fully functional in Delphi and C++Builder IDE, but it displays a nag dialog (the licensed version will, of course, not have a nag dialog and will not be limited to the IDE). The package includes demo programs for Delphi and C++Builder and a help file with the description of the component.

Supported Operating Systems:
Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Server2003/Vista/Server2008/7/8/Server2012/10
Available for: Delphi 10.2 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi 10.1 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi 10 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE8 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE7 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE6 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE5 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE4 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE3 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE2 (Win32 & Win64), Delphi XE, Delphi 2010, Delphi 2009, Delphi 2007, Delphi 2006, Delphi 2005, Delphi 7, Delphi 6, Delphi 5, Delphi 4, C++Builder 10.2 (Win32 & Win64), C++Builder 10.1 (Win32 & Win64), C++Builder 10 (Win32 & Win64), C++Builder XE8 (Win32 & Win64), C++Builder XE7, C++Builder XE6, C++Builder XE5, C++Builder XE4, C++Builder XE3, C++Builder XE2, C++Builder XE, C++Builder 2010, C++Builder 2009, C++Builder 2007, C++Builder 2006, C++Builder 6, C++Builder 5, Turbo Delphi, Turbo C++

Remarks:
- The Delphi 2006 version is fully compatible with Turbo Delphi
- The C++Builder 2006 version is fully compatible with Turbo C++
- Delphi for .NET support was abandoned.

Installation:
If you have a previous version of the component installed, you must remove it completely before installing this version. To remove a previous installation, proceed as follows:
-Start the IDE, open the packages page by selecting Component - Install Packages
-Select ZylGPSSimPack package in the list and click the Remove button
-Open Tools - Environment Options - Library and remove the library path pointing to ZylGPSSimulator folder
-Close the IDE
-Browse to the folder where your bpl and dcp files are located (default is $(DELPHI)\Projects\Bpl for Delphi, $(BCB)\Projects\Bpl for C++ Builder). -Delete all of the files related to ZylGPSSimulator
-Delete or rename the top folder where ZylGPSSimulator is installed
-Start regedit (click Start - Run, type "regedit.exe" and hit Enter). Open the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Borland\\\Palette and delete all name/value items in the list related to ZylGPSSimulator. ( is either "Delphi" or "C++Builder", is the IDE version you have installed)

-Unzip the zip file and open the ZylGPSSimPack.dpk file in Delphi (ZylGPSSimPack.bpk or ZylGPSSimPack.cbproj file in C++Builder), compile and install it
and add to Tools/Environment Options/Library (in older Delphi/C++Builder menu) or Tools/Options/Delphi Options/Library/Library Path (in newer Delphi menu) or Tools/Options/C++ Options/Paths and Directories/Library Path & Include Path (in newer C++Builder menu, in C++Builder 10 or later, set them also for the classic compiler) the path of the installation (where the ZylGPSSimulator.dcu file is located). The component will be added to the "Zyl Soft" tab of the component palette. After you have the component on your component palette, you can drag and drop it to any form, where you can set its properties by the Object Inspector and you can write event handlers selecting the Events tab of the Object Inspector and double clicking the preferred event.
If you still have problems in C++Builder, running an application, which contains the component, then open the project and in C++Builder menu, Project/Options/Packages and uncheck "Build with runtime packages".
C++BuilderXE2: If you get access violation, running an application with this component, then comment out in the project's main form's cpp file the following: //#pragma link "ZylGPSSimulator".

-It is indicated to use this component with "Stop on Delphi exception" option deactivated. You can do this from Delphi / C++Builder menu, "Tools/Debugger Options/Language Exceptions/Stop on Delphi exceptions" in older versions or Tools/Options/Debugger Options/Embarcadero Debuggers/Language Exceptions/Notify on language exceptions in newer versions, otherwise you will have a break at all the handled exceptions.

64-bit platform:
Delphi/C++Builder 64-bit support is only for runtime, so you have to use it in the folllwing way:
Install the 32-bit version of the component as it described above and add to Tools/Options/Delphi Options/Library/Library Path, selected platform: 64-bit Windows the path of the Win64 subfolder of the component.
Before compiling the host application for 64-bit Windows, right click on Target Platforms, Add Platform and add 64-bit Windows (Make the selected platform active). If you compile the application in this way, it will be a native 64-bit application.

Help file:
If you can't open the help file:
-right-click on the help.chm file to get the properties
-on the bottom it says: “This file came form another computer....”
-push “Unblock” next to this text
-now the help.chm files opens as all other help files

Only for V.I.P