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

Delphi 2009 sets the default file fo开发者_开发技巧rmat 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?

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.

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

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.)

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.

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