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

PowerServer Console - 2025R1 Released!

 Hot News!

Updated PowerServer Console Application!

Built using the STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce an updated  version of the PowerServer Console (2025 R1) application for use with the new PowerServer 2025 GA Web API application server! This latest release of the PowerServer Console application is all written in PowerBuilder 2025 GA and uses the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025R1 as well!

    In the original release, the PS Console App could only monitor and if need be kill a PS App's "Session". Changes in this new release though now include:

• Migrated the App code from PB 2022 R3 build 3356 to PB 2025 GA  build 3683.
  
• Updated STD Integrated Framework from version 2204.2.0.395 to 2025.1.0.436
• Incorporated updated PB 2025R1 MS-Windows notification utility
• Updated the Theme files to PB2025 build 3683
• Tested the Console code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the Console code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4061
• Added console support for the new C# Net DataStore server feature in PB 2025!
• Added support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
• Can switch between Menu / Toolbar and Ribbon Bar mode in the INI (RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N)
• Can switch between Tabbed View mode or regular sheet mode in the INI file... 
• [TabbedView]
  Mode=Y/N

 

New Ribbon Bar look and C# .Net DataStore server support!

Customizable connection settings (DNS / IP Address) + Port

 

PS Console App monitoring PowerServer "Sessions".

 

    One of the new features in this PS Console release now allows you to see all the Web API's within the 2025 GA PS server itself by using the API tab page. Note that the PS Console's functionality is governed by the built-in exposed "internal" RESTFul web services within the PS 2025 server itself. Check this API documentation feature and also then be able to execute them from inside t2he PS Console application itself, as well as follows:

Console displaying WEB APIs currently available in the PS Server

Example of the Console executing any Web API it sees!

Console showing a called Web API's return JSON data.

   The next newer feature in the latest version of the PS Console is the ability to check the PowerServer's actual Heath. You can do this by selecting the new Health Tab in the PS Console application, as follows: 

New PowerServer Health check feature at work!

    Software Tool & Dies have also recently updated the STD Integrated framework to handle PS Server outages without crashing the running PB App when connected to PowerServer. This allows the App User and/or the Support team to see exactly what happened during a PB=>PS App failure. This could be for example: network outage, server not started, killed session, PS processing error, etc) by the type of failure reported and now logged as well! The newer framework also allows PS Apps to perform a PS server Fail Over as well that can now be handled by the PS App when one instance of a PS Server is not available!

 You can download the PS2025R1 Console and latest OrderEntry Demo App for PB/PS2025 GA, as follows:

PS Console:  Download     OrderEntry:  Download 

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

Regards ... Chris

Windows Explorer Utility - 2025 R1 Released!

 ** Hot News **

PowerBuilder - MS-Windows O/S Explorer

Updated for PB 2025 GA (latest release)!

Build 2025.1.0.62

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce the release of its updated MS-Windows O/S System Explorer utility all written in PowerBuilder 2025 GA build 3683! This utility demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus MS-Windows SDK calls to locate every running process or service (visible or invisible) in the entire operating system! Plus now introspecting O/S features like drivers, input devices, environment settings, desktop use, etc! The latest release contains the following upgrades ...

• Migrated the code base from PB2022 R2 build 3289 to PowerBuilder 2025 GA build 3683!
  
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release (2025.1.0.436)
• Updated MS-Window "Notification" support for PB2025 GA compliance
  
• Added "Marquee" support via the update STD Framework.
  
• Tested on MS-Windows 10 version 22H2 build 19045.4474
• Tested on MS-Windows 11 version 24H2 build 26100.4061
• Added support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
  
• Can run RibbonBar or Menu / Toolbar mode using INI setting "RibbonBar_Mode=Y/N"
• Can run in TabbedView mode or regular sheet mode using INI setting ...
• [TabbedView]
  Mode=Y/N

Examples ...

 

New Ribbon Bar Menu Mode

 

Marquee running when long requests are in progress!

Process Explorer Example!

 

 

WMI Explorer With Tabbed View UI!

     This release includes Project Objects ready for 32 or 64 bit App deployment to Native (P-Code or M-Code), or PowerClient based applications. With the combination of the STD Integrated  Framework the MS-Windows Explorer application will now function in either native or Cloud deployment modes!

 

Explorer updated Help dialogue

  

     Unlock the "Power" in your PowerBuilder and download this free PB2025 utility application. Check out the prowess of the free & open source Integrated framework as well assisting the Windows Explorer application at work - click here to download! Then find see how this utility can find every visible and invisible object in all tasks, processes and services running on the MS-Windows O/S machine!

Note: Older versions of the Windows Explorer utility can be found in the "Archive" sub-folder.

Enjoy ... Chris

Admin INI Utility - 2025 R1 Released!

  ** Hot News **

Updated Admin INI Utility Application released!

     Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce an updated Admin INI utility application version 2025 R1 for Appeon PowerBuilder that was built from the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025 R1 and the new Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 GA Release. The highlights in this release are:

• Migrated the code to PB2025 GA build 3683.
• Updated "Theme" support for PB2025 GA.
• Updated the STD Framework to version 2025 R1 build 2025.1.0.011
• Encrypt / Decrypt DB Connection settings stored in an Application INI file.
• Can now display the main menu as either a Toolbar or Ribbon Bar based on INI setting.
• Tested the Base64 code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.5856
• Tested the Base64 code on W11 version 24H2 build 26100.4061

Example INI file with encrypted values

     Application INI encoding and decoding is a critical  feature when protecting "actors" from garnering access to your system databases! Most PB applications use INI file settings to load their  Transaction Objects (ie SQLCA) with connection information. This DB connection information usually contains sensitive User Identification, Server, Password, Connection Security settings, etc. This information is key to protecting unauthorized data access.

 

    The great news though is that the new Admin INI utility application can totally secure this DB Client connection information. Also, the STD Framework knows how to decrypt this information when loading your application's Transaction Object(s). Once connected to the DBMS, the STD framework will then re-encrypt that information in memory using different random keys so that even memory scrapers cannot decipher it!

 

Select INI. Section Name, Transaction value, & then decrypt it!

Edit Required Value, then Encrypt it, & then save it back to INI

    The Admin INI utility application utilizes standard methods supplied by the STD Framework. These API's are now embedded in the framework so that can be easily used by Client Server, PowerClient or PowerServer based applications as well. You can see the PB Application use of this encrypted DB Client information in the STD Framework's OrderEntry Demo Application (download here)!

    You can download the Admin INI utility application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here! You can also download either of the free open source STD framework for PowerBuilder version 2025 GA by clicking here! Note that previous versions of the framework in the Archive sub-folder.

 

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

Marquee Utility - 2025 R1 Released!

  Hot News!

Updated PowerBuilder Marquee Application!

Can be used with or without the STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce a brand new version of the PowerBuilder Marquee (version 2025R1 build 2025.1.0.4) application for use with any PowerBuilder, PowerClient or PowerServer application! This application will super impose an animated Marquee on top of any PB based open Window to show the application user that the application is still processing in the background even though it might look disabled!

Animated "Arrow" Marquee

    This update version has been built using PB 2025 GA build 3683 and is designed to be run in its own process. Thus, allowing the animation to continue while the PB Application is in a "wait state" within a long running process (ie: a long - loop, database activity, file I/O, etc. operations).

• Built using PB2025 GA build 3683.
  
• Integrated into the updated STD Integrated Framework version 2025 R1.
• Can be configured by its INI to display any one of 5 built-in animations.
• Can be recompiled to add any animations that the PB developer wants to use.
• Can be called from any PB App without having to use the STD Framework!
  
• Automatically centers itself & on top of, the calling Window class
  
• Can be called via PB Send() command to terminate the animation at anytime.
• Supported in the STD Framework version 2025 GA build 2025.1.0.436 via the new "of_start_marquee" and "of_stop_marquee" methods within the ancestor Application Controller NVUO (nc_app_controller_master).
  
• .Will run the animated marquee semi-transparently to allow the calling window to be fully viewed while the animation is in progress.
  

Example: "Radar" Marquee

Built in animated GIF's ...

• 1 = Arrows.gif
• 2 = Balls.gif
• 3 = Blocks.gif
• 4 = Radar.gif
• 5 = Velocity.gif

    Software Tool & Die have also recently updated the STD Integrated framework to handle Marquee Application automatically. You can download both the Marquee and OrderEntry Demo App for PB 2022 R3 build 3356, as follows:

Marquee:  Download  (Release Candidate)   OrderEntry:  Download  

 

Example: Marquee in the OrderEntry Demo App!

    Enjoy ... please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions for features that you might like in future versions!

Regards ... Chris

Windows Notification Utility - 2025 R1 Released!

  ** Hot News **

Updated MS-Windows Notification Utility

For PowerBuilder version 2025 GA build 3683!

     Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce an updated MS-Windows Notification application (build 2025.1.0.51) from the latest free open source STD Integrated Foundation Classes (version 2025 R1 build 2025.1.0.436) and specially designed for the latest Appeon PowerBuilder version PB2025 GA build 3683! The Foundation Classes provide most of the Notification Utility's functionality. The Windows Notification feature works for any Native, PowerClient or PowerServer based PB Application!

         The notification utility application takes the notification information as a command line argument when called from your PB App. This release supports both a 64 bit P-Code, 32 bit P-Code &  32 bit M-Code compilation. To use this from your current PB App, you can just call one of the EXE's as follows (for example):

 

• pbnotify32M.exe Time=5,Name=STD Framework,Msg=This is a test message from the calling application!
  

• pbnotify32P.exe Time=5,Name=STD Framework,Msg=This is a test message from the calling application!

• pbnotify64p.exe Time=5,Name=STD Framework,Msg=This is a test message from the calling application!
  

Where ...

Time=nn          // Time to display (seconds)
Name=xxxx    // Application Name
Msg=xxxx      // User message to display

The resulting W10 / W11 notification would appear like so        ==>

 The notification application has the following uses ...

• The application returns an O/S return code. +1 for OK and -1 for fail. Tip: You can check this RC if you use the STD Frameworks "Run & Wait" feature.
  
• The application will only work when run in Windows 10 and higher versions of the MS-Windows O/S.
  
• It can be called from any Application EXE type (not just PB), Batch command file, PowerShell or Windows scheduler script (just to name a few options)!
• Simultaneous messages can appear if the Application Name or message text are different.
• Compatible with both PowerClient and PowerServer deployed Apps as well!
  

    Due to the fact that the Notification application is built from the STD framework, logging is also automatically performed so that you can check the status of the notification processing, as follows:

Updated Notification Log uses latest STD Framework!

    The updated Notification application for Appeon PB2025 build 3683 can be downloaded and used for free from the SourceForge web site ... just click here! It is also comes ready to work in an already compiled 32 bit or 64 bit EXE's as well!

   Check out how it can be called and how it actually works when called from any Application (PB or other platform). Try the STD Framework example OrderEntry application to see this App in action and also how to call it from any PB App to display Windows Notification messages.  

Note: this utility has now been tested with the latest W10 and W11 (24H2) builds of the MS-Window's O/S as well!
 

Enjoy!

PB 2025 GA - Release to Production!

 ** Hot News **

 PowerBuilder 2025 Released!

Revamped Development Process 

 

    PowerBuilder 2025 redefines application development with a new-generation code editor, ultra-fast compiler, automatic REST API creation, and code-less UI modernization. Elevate your development productivity.

 What the video .. click here!

Improvements

PowerBuilder

• Brand-new ultra-fast compiler (alongside the standard PBL compiler)
• Compilation time drastically reduced - Leverages Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), multi-threading, and concurrent processing to speed up full builds by 2–3x or more; incremental builds are even faster.
• Eliminates code corruption – Separated source code storage from the P-code to prevent corruption caused by unexpected errors during compilation.
• Automatic project conversion - Projects in the workspace format that utilize the standard PBL compiler can be automatically converted to the new solution format that utilizes the ultra-fast compiler.
• Built-in CI/CD support - Now supports CI/CD workflows directly, making it easier to automate build, test, and deploy steps.
• New solution format – PBSLN
• Ultra-fast compilation - Applications using the new solution format will automatically benefit from the ultra-fast compiler.
• PBL-free architecture - Source code is stored individually in plain text format instead of stored in PBL together with Pcode to facilitate version control and be more compatible with modern version control systems like Git/SVN.
• Faster SCM-related processes - Source code is stored as plain text and no need to build PBLs anymore when retrieving code from the SCM server.
• Optimized workflow with scripts – More flexible script editing with the ability to build without closing the Script painter, save changes even if compilation fails, and navigate errors in real time.
• Updated system support and enhanced software security
• Supports Windows Server 2025 for both applications deployed from PowerBuilder and PowerServer Web APIs.
• Supports new database versions including PostgreSQL 17 and Informix 15.
• Supports Extended Validation (EV) Code Signing Certificates to enhance software trust and integrity.
• Comprehensive upgrade for a modern UI experience
• Modern RibbonBar menu with zero code changes – Instantly convert traditional menus into a modern ribbon bar style while preserving structure, behavior, and functionality—no code changes required.
• Supports high DPI - Automatically adapts UI elements with Per-Monitor (V2) DPI Awareness for sharper display and consistent scaling across different screen settings.
• Improved multi-monitor experience - PowerBuilder IDE and apps now remember window positions and behave consistently across multi-monitor setups, improving usability and productivity.

Explore more of what’s new in PowerBuilder—see here for details.

PowerServer

• Significant build speed improvement
• The ultra-fast compiler for PowerServer solutions boosts build speeds by 2–3x or more, with no need for the "Cursory (Ultra-fast) build" option.
• Enhanced security
• New Cloud App Launcher V3 ensures only authorized applications are launched, with added protection against malicious software.
• Disables PowerServer Management APIs by default whilst provides user-specific access controls.
• Added HMAC-based client message authentication to ensure request data integrity and prevent data tampering.
• Flexible configuration and customization
• Full support for DataWindow SQLPreview events, with the ability to enable/disable for optimal performance.
• Supports post-deployment configuration to ignore server certificate through CustomizeDeploy.dll.
• Supports customizing desktop shortcut names via apprun.json.
• Supports specifying HTTP request headers for optimal large data transfer (application/json or multipart/form-data).
• Supports deploying PowerServer project to a folder and provides the ability to select NuGet package version.

 

 

Limited-Time Offer

Get a free upgrade from the Standard Edition to the Professional Edition before September 30, 2025 and enjoy full access to advanced features like the ultra-fast compiler and automatic REST API creation. For more information, click here!

Enjoy .. Chris