Is there an ANSI version for Copy?
Altar the Copy function in Delphi is a intrinsic function this means which is handled by the compiler rather than the run-time library. depending of the parameters passed this function call the LStrCopy
or a UStrCopy
internal functions
check this sample :
{$APPTYPE CONSOLE}
uses
SysUtils;
Var
s : AnsiString;
u : string;
begin
try
s:='this is a ansi string';
s:= Copy(s,1,5);
Writeln(s);
u:='this is a unicode string';
u:= Copy(u,1,5);
Writeln(u);
except
on E: Exception do
Writeln(E.ClassName, ': ', E.Message);
end;
Readln;
end.
Now check the assembly code
Project91.dpr.12: s:='this is a ansi string';
004111DC B8787E4100 mov eax,$00417e78
004111E1 BA04134100 mov edx,$00411304
004111E6 E8314FFFFF call @LStrAsg
Project91.dpr.13: s:= Copy(s,1,5);
004111EB 68787E4100 push $00417e78
004111F0 B905000000 mov ecx,$00000005
004111F5 BA01000000 mov edx,$00000001
004111FA A1787E4100 mov eax,[$00417e78]
004111FF E8A050FFFF call @LStrCopy //call the ansi version of copy
Project91.dpr.14: Writeln(s);
00411204 A1EC2C4100 mov eax,[$00412cec]
00411209 8B15787E4100 mov edx,[$00417e78]
0041120F E84033FFFF call @Write0LString
00411214 E8DF33FFFF call @WriteLn
00411219 E8D22AFFFF call @_IOTest
Project91.dpr.15: u:='this is a unicode string';
0041121E B87C7E4100 mov eax,$00417e7c
00411223 BA28134100 mov edx,$00411328
00411228 E8534EFFFF call @UStrAsg
Project91.dpr.16: u:= Copy(u,1,5);
0041122D 687C7E4100 push $00417e7c
00411232 B905000000 mov ecx,$00000005
00411237 BA01000000 mov edx,$00000001
0041123C A17C7E4100 mov eax,[$00417e7c]
00411241 E8C654FFFF call @UStrCopy //call the unicode version of copy
Project91.dpr.17: Writeln(u);
00411246 A1EC2C4100 mov eax,[$00412cec]
Copy is a "compiler magic" routine, it is handled intrinsically by the compiler depending on what parameters you pass it (ANSI string, string, or dynamic array). You can just use Copy; it will work correctly with ANSI strings.