WSSG

** Hot News **

Web Service Structure Generator

    Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are pleased to announce a new free utility for automatically generating PowerBuilder structures for use when building .Net based web services. The Web Service Structure Generator (WSSG) utility is designed to compliment the STD Web Service Foundation Classes (framework) specifically work with PowerBuilder Classic. 

    The generator starts by introspecting any PBL (PowerBuilder Library) to see a list of DataWindow objects contained within. The WS 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 an XML based result set. 

WSSG utility in action!

  For .Net based web services you need to build two structures. One that maps any DWO's primary buffer and a second structure that houses the first. The WSSG can build both structures by selecting the "generate parent structure" option on the lower left hand side of the "Structure Builder" screen. Once the DWO and parent structure option are selected, the "Generate" command button will allow the developer to select the target folder where the WSSG will build actual PowerBuilder object source code for the desired structure(s).

  For the Login DWO shown above, lets enter the structure name "login" when we select the "generate" command button. This will build two stuctures: "login" and "logins". The first login structure is the DWO primary buffer mapping and the next "logins" structure will house the first structure conforming to the XML standards required to define a Web Services result set.

  Once the two structures are built by the WSSG utility, all the PB developer needs to do to ready the structures for "action" is to use the RHMB on any PBL and select the "Import" menu option. This will now transfer the structures into working PB objects for use with the WS Foundation Class framework.

Actual WSSG generated structure

   I have now uploaded the new WSSG utility to the SourceForge website where you can download the utility for free use. I have also updated my latest "Web Services Test" application located in the Appeon Mobile beta framework area. Don't let the location fool you as this example Web Service client application can demonstrate a standard PB Client native windows application consuming the WS NVUO built from the WS framework. It can also build and deploy an Appeon Web and Appeon Mobile test client application that will test the WS NVUO as well.

   For the free WSSG utility and WS framework, please follow this link (click here). I hope all PB developers world wide can benefit from the WSSG utility and WS framework!

Enjoy ... Chris