Delphi: Record constructor vs factory function

Question

So what will be the preferred way of initializing records?

With a \'factory function\':

TMyRecord = record
  valueX: integer;
  valueY: integer;
end;

fu         


        

Answer 1

I prefer classes, but if I have to use records, I like to treat them as similar as classes as possible. So I use the record constructor.

But there is an annoying bug with records and units. If a function returns a record (with methods), it produces an internal error if you want to access these methods. You can circumvent this by assigning it to another variable:

type 
  TMyRec = record
    ..
    procedure X;
  end;


function GetRec: TMyRec;



procedure Test;
var
  r1, r2 : TMyRec;
begin
  r1 := GetRec;
  r1.X; // internal error
  r2 := r1;
  r2.X; // No internal error;