Structure Generator - 2025R1 Released!

** Hot News **

Structure Generator Utility

    Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are pleased to announce a new free & open source utility for automatically generating PowerBuilder structures from any DataWindow. This comes in handy when building Web Service, .NET Assembly, User Object, etc interfaces for encapsulated data interaction. The Structure Generator utility is designed using the latest STD Foundation Class framework version 2025R1 and specifically works with the new PowerBuilder 2025 release. It works with the WorkSpace application type! 

    The generator starts by introspecting any PBL (PowerBuilder Library) to build a list of DataWindow objects contained within that library. The PB developer can point the utility to any MS-Windows folder that may contain a PBL. From there, the generator displays a list of DataWindow Objects (DWO) contained in the selected PBL. Any SQL or External based DWO can be used to build a set of structures for to use in constructing a data equivalent structure object source. 

  

Structure Generator in action!

    For .Net based interfaces you need to build two structures. One that maps any DWO's primary buffer and a second structure that houses the first. The SG can build both structures by selecting the "generate parent structure" option on the lower left hand side of the "Structure Builder" screen. You can also request that the SG prefix your Structure Item names (ie:  "si_"). Once the DWO and structure options are selected, the "Generate" command button will allow the developer to select the target folder and Structure name where the SG will build then actual PB structure object source code.

 

Selecting the location and name to build the structure!

  For the "Tracing Options" DWO shown above, lets enter the structure name "sr_trace_options" when we select the "generate" command button. The SG will complete the building of the resulting structure(s) based on the DWO's definition. 

  

Resulting PowerBuilder Structure source code!

    Once your structure(s) source are built by the SG utility, all the PB developer needs to do to ready the structures for use is to use the RMB on any PBL and then select the "Import" popup menu option. This will now import both the source code & compile the P-Code of the imported structure into working object for use in your PB application(s)!

   

Importing the new Structure into a PBL

 

Viewing the new Structure in the Structure Painter!

    Now to complete the structure, you can edit the Structure Item "description(s)" as required to complete the object's documentation. Then save the edited Structure for your use or share the structure PBL with your fellow PB developers for their productivity.

    To download the free & open source SG 2025R1 utility - click here!

    To download the free & open source STD 2025R1 Framework - click here! 

Enjoy ... Chris

Multimedia Player - 2025 R1 Released!

**  Hot news **

Multi-Media App updated for PB2025!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce the release of its updated all PowerBuilder built MS-Window's Multi-Media Player version 2025R1 build 2025.1.0.40 example application that is all written in PowerBuilder 2025 build 3683! This application demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus its new "vs_ole_media_player_master" object class. The latest application release was designed with the following in mind:

• Updated from PB version 2022 build 1892 to PB version 2025 build 3683!
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release (2025 R1 build 2025.1.0.436)
• Updated use the latest MS-Window's O/S "Notification" feature (STD framework coded)
  
• Updated to use the latest PB2025's Theme features.
• Can run in the O/S System Tray!
• Provides 32 & 64 bit, M-Code and P-Code compiled EXE's (and their related projects).
• Tested the Base64 code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.2788
• Tested the Base64 code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4349
• Updated all Project Objects to use the latest C/S and PowerClient deployment features.
  

Media Player in action on an MP3 music stream

Media Player in action on an MP4 movie stream

     The Multimedia Player will allow local files to be played & viewed from your local machine. It is also designed to allow media data streams to be played and viewed from any valid URL across the internet. The MultiMedia Player supports the following formats: .MOV, .MP3, .MP4, .AVI, .WTV, .MID, .MKA, .MKV, .MV4, .WAV, .WMV, just to mention the main types. More music and video formats are also supported as well.

 

Use various media sources from your PC or across the internet!

 

 

    Your MultiMedia play list is also always at your finger tips using the STD Frameworks ability to add a User Object(s) to the main Menu Toolbar on an Main or MDI Frame.

   Unlock the "Power" in PowerBuilder applications by using the STD Integrated framework! The MultiMedia Player is just one example of building a PB application from this powerful all free & open source Framework! Click here to download the Multi-Media Player example application!

 

Tip: Use the "vs_ole_media_player_master" object class from the framework to add live application "how to" videos to your PB business applications! 

Enjoy ... Chris

Compact Disc Player - 2025 R1 Released!

 ** Hot News **

New version of the PowerBuilder CD player released!

Built from the STD Integrated framework!  

    Software Tool & Die Inc.are please to announce the release of an updated Compact Disc Player (version 2025.1.65) application all written in PowerBuilder 2025 GS build 3683! This application demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus the all the Unicode based MCI (Multimedia Command Interface) API's now residing in the base classes. The updated application can be deployed as either a Win32 / Win64  native application or a PowerClient application and allows the user to control music from any CD/DVD player attached to their PC.

 

    The amazing changes to this release were the refactoring of the previous code to dovetail into the latest STD Integrated Framework for PB release 2025 R1! New features include: a) can now reside in the O/S's System Tray; b) can be compiled for the first time into a 64 bit EXE; c) can be compiled into either a 32 or 64 bit  application; d) complied into M-Code or P-Code,  e) W11 ready and; f) Theme ready!

 

 

Not only is this a "kool" application to run - it demonstrates important low-level control of the O/S that you can easily achieve using the framework's extensive external API's and support for PB 2025 GA's latest features. When you add the STD framework to the PB development mix - a whole new horizon of application possibilities emerges! 

 

 

     If you would like to enjoy the Native M-Code or P-Code versions of the above CD Player application, please visit the SourceForge website download the CD Player from this link. Note that all the applications and the framework itself  in the SourceForge project are free & open source!

 
    

  

 To commemorate the release of the various Star Wars movies, the CD Player has now been enhanced with various sound effects that salute this great story-line & movie franchise. 

 

I hope that you enjoy the updated Star-wars CD Player edition!

 

 

  You seek a PowerBuilder Master.
Know him I do,
Find him I will!
Hmmm .. you seek Chris Pollach

Integrated Framework Documentation - 2025 R1 Released!

 ** Hot News **

STD Integrated Framework

Documentation Updated for the 2025R1 Release!

    

        Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released an updated version of the new 2025 R1 build 2025.1.0.436 of the STD Integrated Foundation Class framework documentation! The documentation has been produced using the latest Visual Expert 2025 software tool from Novalys.

   

  

STD Framework documentation main web page!

 

Visual Expert session engaged with the Integrated Framework

    Note: All the STD frameworks are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes SourceForge project website. You can download the new updated STD Integrated Framework documentation from here.

   STD would like to thank Novalys Corporation for their support of the Foundation Classes by supplying the Visual Expert product for the framework's automated documentation generation!

Regards ... Chris

Drag External Files Example - 2025 R1 Released!

 * Hot News Item **

Updated - External Files Drag & Drop Example!

    

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce the new release of an STD Integrated Framework example application that utilizes the framework to implement External File Drag & Drop! The ability to drag & drop into a PowerBuilder application via the STD Framework has been feature for almost a decade. However, there was not a detailed example on how to perform this action except in the OrderEntry example application. The STD framework implements this by allowing the PB Developer to just set one property, coding one event and then directing the file name data to any standard native PB control!

 

 New features in this release...

Built using the new PB2025 GA build 3683 release

Uses the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025.1.0.436

Updated to support the latest PB2025 GA Theme features

Incorporates MS-Windows notification utility built in PB 2025 GA

Incorporates MS-Windows Marquee utility built in PB 2025 GA 

Includes deployment examples for 32 & 64bit M-Code / P-Code

Tested the DDE code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529

Tested the DDE code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4351

PowerClient or PowerServer 2025 GA deployment ready as well!

Supports the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature found in PB 2025

Can toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF in the App's INI file as follows ...

RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N

Added support for the new TabbedView MDI Sheet look & feel

Can toggle the TabbedView ON/OFF and also change its Look & Feel in the INI file as follows...

  [TabbedView]
Mode=Y/N
FaceName = "Tahoma"
ShowCloseButton =Y
ShowContextMenu=Y
ShowIcon=Y
ShowSeparator=Y
ShowPowerTips=Y
ShowText=Y
TextSize=-8  

 

New GUI Look & Feel automatic Ribbon Bar!

   

    The External File Drag & Drop example application utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025.1.0.436 release and the latest Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 GA release build 3683 to locate external files dragged into any PB Application. In turn, the framework facilitates identifying external files coming into a PB application. This latest framework now also detects if the PB App is running in "ADMIN Mode" as well. This is important because external file drag & drop cannot be performed while the application is in that mode. 

  

A list of External Files can be directed to any PB control!

    The Integrated framework allows the PB developer to enable the External Files Drag & Drop by just setting one property. The PB developer then just needs to code one event to handle the external file drop, as follows:
   

Three easy steps... a) Property ON, b) Code framework event, c) Use function to get file names!

     The STD External File Drag & Drop PowerBuilder example application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download   

Enjoy!  

Regards ... Chris

DDE Example - 2025 R1 Released!

 Hot News!

Updated PowerBuilder DDE Example Application

Built using the latest STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce an updated example application that demonstrate a fully working Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Client and Server application! This latest release of the DDE Client/Server applications are are all written in the latest PowerBuilder version 2025 and and fully utilize the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025 R1.

    In this updated release, the DDE Demo Applications includes the following changes:

• Built using PB2025 GA build 3683
• Uses the STD Integrated Framework  v2025.1.0.436
• Updated to support the PB2025 GA Theme features
  
• Incorporates MS-Windows notification utility built in PB 2025 GA
• Incorporates MS-Windows Marquee utility built in PB 2025 GA 
• Includes deployment examples for 32 & 64bit M-Code / P-Code
  
• Tested the DDE code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the DDE code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4351
• PowerClient or PowerServer 2025 GA deployment ready as well!
  

Actual DDE Client and DDE Server in action!

 

    The deployed EXE's for the DDE Client and DDE Server are also included in the DDE Example Applications download. You can run either the Client or Server in mixed modes. For example a 32 bit client and a 64 bit server (or vise versa), a P-Code client and an M-Code server (or vise versa), or any combination of the various DDE EXE's built from the STD Framework. The DDE features will work with any combination of the above EXE's. So this feature is just another tool in the PBToolBox that PB Developers can use to accomplish inter-application communication!

  You can download the new STD Framework DDE Demo App for PB2025 GA build 3683, as follows:

DDE Demo App:  Download 

STD Framework:  Download  (latest OrderEntry Demo App that uses the framework!)

Note: Older DDE examples and STD Frameworks are available in their respective "Archive" sub-folders found in the above links.

   Enjoy ... please let me know what you think & if you have any feature suggestions that you might like me to add for future releases! 

Regards ... Chris

Base64 Example - 2025 R1 Released!

 ** Hot News **

STD Foundation Classes

Updated BASE64 Example Application released!

 

     Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce an updated Base64 Encoding / Decoding example application version 2025 R1 for Appeon PowerBuilder that was built from the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025.1.0.436 and the new Appeon PowerBuilder release PB2025 build. 

 

The highlights in this release are:

• Migrated the code from PB2022 R3 build 3356 to PB 2025 build 3683
• Updated "Theme" support to PB2025 GA
• DB Connection settings for SQLAnyWhere v17 now use updated STD Framework encryption
  
• Requires ADMIN INI application to change DB Connection encryption settings (download)
  
• Updated the STD Framework to the latest version2025.1.0.436
• Tested the Base64 code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the Base64 code on W11 version 24H2 build26100.4061
• Updated for PowerClient 2025 GA App deployment
• Updated for PowerServer 2025 GA App deployment
• Added support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
• Can toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF in the App's INI file as follows ...
•  RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N
• Added support for the new TabbedView MDI Sheet look & feel 
• Can toggle the TabbedView ON/OFF and also change its Look & Feel in the INI file as follows...
•  [TabbedView]
  Mode=Y/N
  FaceName = "Tahoma"
  ShowCloseButton =Y
  ShowContextMenu=Y
  ShowIcon=Y
  ShowSeparator=Y
  ShowPowerTips=Y
  ShowText=Y
  TextSize=-8 
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native & PC / PS deployments with both 32 & 64 bit EXE's! 

 

New TabbedView and Ribbon Bar GUI

 

Base64 example from an ANSI text file!

     Base64 encoding and decoding is a critical  feature when processing XML and JSON files that contain binary datum. As well as using PowerBuilder's PBDOM feature, an XML DataWindow or interacting with Web Services that pass binary data back and forth (ie: JSON in a RESTFul web service). The received binary data will be in base64 encoded format - which is unusable to your PB application unless decoded (converted back) to its original binary state. Conversely, binary data that your PB application needs to send to other XML or JSON based applications must be converted (encoded) into the base64 standard.

 

PowerClient based Base64 example using Unicode text file!

 

Error handling for corrupt (incomplete) or wrong encoded Base64 files.

    The Base64 Example application utilizes standard Microsoft Base64 API's supplied by the MS-Windows O/S. These API's are now embedded in the framework's "nc_crypto_master" object class and easily called from your PowerScript code, as follows:

• lo_crypto.of_base64_stringtobinary ( lblb_image , ls_base64 )

Base64 file translation into an image (or any other binary format for that matter)!

 

    The latest Base64 Example - along with the STD Integrated Framework is also able be used with PowerClient and PowerServer (Cloud) PB 2025 applications. Thus, the Base64 Example application can also be deployed to your favourite Web Server for a more convenient deployment approach. 

 
    You can download the Base64 Example application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here! You can also download either of the free open source STD frameworks for PowerBuilder, InfoMaker and PowerServer version 2025 R1 by clicking here!

 

   Note: The Archive folder on SourceForge contains older versions of the PB Base64 application for older versions of PB!

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

AppStats Utility - 2025 R1 Released!

 ** Hot News **

Application Statistics

New AppStats Application for STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce a brand new MS-Windows AppStats 2025 R1 example application built with the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2025 R1). This New release of the AppStats application is also built using the latest Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 build 3683 of the PB IDE. 

 

    The STD Framework automatically keeps internal runtime statistics about your PB Application built from the framework. Every time any framework based application is run, at the end of processing the framework writes a run time statistics file (named "std_fc_memory.csv") to your App EXE's folder, The AppStats application has been designed to read this performance file and render a graphic look on how your app actually performed with the host O/S.

 

New features in this release include:

• App code built from the latest PB 2025 GA build 3683
• App built from the STD Framework 2025 R1
• High performance due to PB now compiled using VC++ 2022. 
• Supports all the themes now included in the PB 2025 GA release!
• Added support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
• Can toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF in the App's INI file as follows ...
•  RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N
• Added support for the new TabbedView MDI Sheet look & feel 
• Can toggle the TabbedView ON/OFF and also change its Look & Feel in the INI file as follows...
•  [TabbedView]
  Mode=Y/N
  FaceName = "Tahoma"
  ShowCloseButton =Y
  ShowContextMenu=Y
  ShowIcon=Y
  ShowSeparator=Y
  ShowPowerTips=Y
  ShowText=Y
  TextSize=-8 
• Tested the AppStats code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the AppStats code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4061
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native & PowerClient deployments with both 32 & 64 bit EXE's!

Customizable Ribbon Bar GUI Look k& Feel

Note: The STD Framework is the only PB framework that is performance tracking ready with no programming required on the PB developers part!  

 

Performance Tabs...

 

Over all Application performance statistics

 

Over all Device performance statistics

Over all Paging performance statistics

     You can download the new AppStats utility application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here to get more productive in analyzing your PowerBuilder App's execution! 

 

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

TCP/IP Socket Example - 2025R1 Released!

** Hot News **

TCP/IP Programming

Updated Socket Application Example for PowerBuilder 2025 GA!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce a brand new MS-Windows Socket (2025 R1) example application built with the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2025 R1). This latest release of the Socket application is also built using the latest Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 build 3683 of the PB IDE.

  

New GUI Look & Feel for PB 2025!

  

   The updated Socket example application now utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2025.1.0.436)!

 

Improvements in this release include:

• Migration App code from PB 2022 R3 build 3356 to PB 2025 GA build 3683
• Migration of the STD Framework from 2024R2 to 2025 R1
• Better performance due to PB now compiled using VC++ 2022. 
• Supports all the themes now included in the PB 2025 GA release!
• Added support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
• Can toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF in the App's INI file as follows ...
•  RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N
• Added support for the new TabbedView MDI Sheet look & feel 
• Can toggle the TabbedView ON/OFF and also change its Look & Feel in the INI file as follows...
•  [TabbedView]
  Mode=Y/N
  FaceName = "Tahoma"
  ShowCloseButton =Y
  ShowContextMenu=Y
  ShowIcon=Y
  ShowSeparator=Y
  ShowPowerTips=Y
  ShowText=Y
  TextSize=-8 
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4061
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native & PowerClient deployments with both 32 & 64 bit EXE's!

Note: The STD Framework is the only PB framework in existence that is TCP/IP Socket ready! 

         The STD Socket example application demonstrates a significant enhancement to the the PB developer's toolbox! The Socket example showcases the TCP/IP features in the STD Integrated Framework and more importantly returns the power of Distributed PowerBuilder back to the application developer. The TCP/IP socket support in the STD Frameworks is based on the work by Tom Cervenka's Sockets objects (written in pure PB, dating back to the PowerSoft days) that utilizes MS-Windows socket API's for FTP'ing text, binary data, files etc. between Apps and/or peer-to-peer communications between PB Apps (clients / servers).

PB Server Application - Receiving DWO and buffers from sender

 

     In addition, the updated STD Socket example will also now work when deployed as either a PowerClient or PowerServer App as well!

 

Socket App talking to counter-part exchanging DataWindow data!

   

Socket App talking to counter-part exchanging Textual data!

Watch the video!

    You can download the updated STD Socket example application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here to get more productive in peer-to-peer communications with PowerBuilder! Note that an"Archive" sub-folder has also been added to this location as well. This folder contains previous versions of the socket example application for older PB releases!

 
Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

Multi-Threading Example - 2025 R1 Released!

** Hot News Item **

PowerBuilder 2025 - Multi-threading Example!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are pleased to announce the release of an updated STD Integrated Framework MultiThread example application that utilizes the framework to implement Application multi-threading! The multi-threading feature inside PowerBuilder has been around since PB version 5.0 when the Distributed PB feature was first introduced. However, it is not a well documented and known feature of the development tool. The STD Multi-threading example goes even further by allowing applications to utilize the vast resources of Integrated framework while taking multi-threading to a much higher functional level. The framework allows the PB developer to easily implement multi-threading and be a lot more productive at the same time!

 

    The updated Multi-threading example application now utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2025.1.0.436) and that supports the new Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 GA release (build 3683).

 

Improvements in this release include:

• Migration App code from PB 2022 R3 build 3356 to PB 2025 GA build 3683
• Migration of the STD Framework from 2024R2 to 2025 R1
• Better performance due to PB now compiled using VC++ 2022. 
• Supports all the themes now included in the PB 2025 GA release!
• Added support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
• Can toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF in the App's INI file as follows ...
•  RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N
• Added support for the new TabbedView MDI Sheet look & feel 
• Can toggle the TabbedView ON/OFF and also change its Look & Feel in the INI file as follows...
•  [TabbedView]
  Mode=Y/N
  FaceName = "Tahoma"
  ShowCloseButton =Y
  ShowContextMenu=Y
  ShowIcon=Y
  ShowSeparator=Y
  ShowPowerTips=Y
  ShowText=Y
  TextSize=-8 
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4061
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native & PowerClient deployments with both 32 & 64 bit EXE's!

Note: The STD Framework is the only PB framework in existence that is both thread aware and multi-thread safe!

  

MultiThread App's new Look & Feel in PB 2025

MultiThread example using frameworks resource tracking!

    The Integrated framework allows each thread to be monitored by the frameworks performance dialogue, write to the O/S Console, log a message in the main tread's application log, share DBMS access, send messages back & forth between threads or between the main thread and its sub-threads, introspect the O/S, etc - just to name a few interesting aspects. Messages may also now be written to the MS-Windows Event Log and MS-Windows Debug logs as well from each sub-thread!

MultiThread example writing to the App's log file

  The latest STD multi-threaded PowerBuilder example application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download!

    For a complete PowerPoint presentation on how Multi-Threading in Appeon PowerBuilder works, please click here to download this PPT presentation.

 

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris