Navigate to Embarcadero’s Registered Users Downloads page (or your IDE license portal). Look for:
“BDE Installer for RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo”
Note: Do not use a BDE installer from Delphi 7 or older—it will not register the components correctly with the 10.2 Tool Palette.
RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo (released in March 2017) was a landmark release. It brought 64-bit compiler enhancements, a modern look-and-feel, and high-DPI support. However, Microsoft also changed the rules for legacy components.
The original BDE installer from the 1990s fails on modern Windows for three reasons:
This is precisely why a dedicated BDE Installer for RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo is essential. It bypasses the legacy pitfalls and properly registers the engine with the 10.2 Tokyo IDE.
RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo was a major milestone release by Embarcadero (the current owners of Delphi).
Once you have the BDE installed on your development machine, remember that end-users' computers also need the BDE runtime. Your deployment strategy should include:
The text is "interesting" because it is a monument to technical debt. It proves that in the world of software, nothing ever truly dies—it just requires a new installer to keep running on the latest operating system.
The Borland Database Engine (BDE), while officially deprecated for decades, remains a critical requirement for maintaining legacy Delphi and C++Builder applications. For users of RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo, the BDE is no longer included in the standard installation and must be added as a separate component. Downloading the BDE Installer for 10.2 Tokyo BDE Installer For RAD Studio- Delphi- C Builder 10.2 Tokyo
The BDE installer is only available to registered users of RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo. You can find the specific download through the following official channels:
Embarcadero Customer Portal: Log in to my.embarcadero.com to find the BDE installer listed under your registered downloads.
CodeCentral: Historically, the BDE for 10.2 Tokyo was identified as Item 30752 on Embarcadero CodeCentral.
GetIt Package Manager: You may also check the Tools > GetIt Package Manager within the IDE for "BDE" or "Legacy" components. How to Install and Configure the BDE
Installing the BDE in 10.2 Tokyo is a two-step process: installing the engine files and then registering the visual components in the IDE. 1. Run the External Installer
Execute the downloaded BDE installer (typically a .exe or .msi file). This will install the necessary drivers and the IDAPI32.DLL engine files to your system. It is recommended to install to a root directory like C:\Borland\BDE to avoid modern Windows Permission (UAC) issues.
BDE Enterprise installer and Windows 10 - Delphi-PRAXiS [en]
The Borland Database Engine (BDE) has been officially deprecated and is no longer included in the standard RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo installation. To use BDE components in Delphi or C++Builder 10.2 Tokyo, you must use a separate standalone installer. How to Obtain the BDE Installer
Embarcadero provides the BDE installer as a separate download for registered users. “BDE Installer for RAD Studio 10
Official Download: Log in to the Embarcadero Registered Users Portal or CodeCentral.
File Details: Look for Item 30752, specifically labeled "BDE Installer for RAD Studio, Delphi, C++Builder 10.2 Tokyo". Installation & Setup Instructions
After downloading the installer, follow these steps to integrate BDE into your IDE:
Run the Installer: Execute the standalone BDE setup file to install the core engine files.
Enable Design-Time Components: To see BDE components (like TTable or TQuery) in the Tool Palette, you must manually install the design package: Open RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo.
For developers maintaining legacy systems, the Borland Database Engine (BDE)
remains a critical bridge for older Paradox and dBase applications. Although BDE is deprecated and not included in the standard installation of RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo, Embarcadero provides a dedicated standalone installer for registered users to ensure continued support for these vital datasets. How to Install BDE for RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo
The process involves two main phases: installing the runtime files and then enabling the components within the IDE. BDE Support for Delphi 10.4.2 - General Help
The Borland Database Engine (BDE) is a legacy database technology that is no longer included by default in RAD Studio 10.2 Tokyo. Because the BDE is deprecated, Embarcadero provides it as a separate, optional add-on for registered users who must maintain older applications. Key Installation Information Note: Do not use a BDE installer from
Availability: The BDE installer is an external download for registered users of RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder 10.2 Tokyo.
Official Download: It is typically found in the "My Downloads" section of the Embarcadero Portal.
Specific Version ID: For 10.2 Tokyo, the BDE installer was historically identified as Item 30752 on Embarcadero’s CodeCentral. How to Install BDE Components in the IDE
Simply running the installer places the BDE files on your system, but you must manually enable the components in the RAD Studio 10.2 IDE to see them in the Tool Palette: Run the Installer: Complete the external BDE setup process.
Use the BDEINST.EXE you downloaded as a prerequisite in your InnoSetup or InstallShield. Run it silently:
bdeinst.exe /SILENT /DIR="C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Borland Shared\BDE"
Before running the installer, purge old BDE remnants to avoid DLL hell.
Despite its age, the BDE installer provides measurable benefits:
Moreover, BDE’s local SQL support (Local SQL) still functions effectively for joins across different tablesets in Paradox or dBASE.