Great White North Technical Evangelist: August 2020

Thursday, August 20, 2020

STD Web Service Framework - 2020R1 released!

** Hot News **

"THE" Appeon PowerBuilder Web Service Framework!

(v2020.1.0.95 - August 20, 2020)

Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are please to announce a new the release of their Web Service STD Foundation Classes for .Net/IIS (STD FC WS). The updated Web Service framework version 2020.1.0.95 (2020R1) is solely targeted to helping Appeon PowerBuilder developers, develop .Net based Web Services deployed to MS-IIS application servers. The Web Service based framework takes advantage of RAD techniques - employs an MVC (Model, View, Controller) architecture for superior performance, flexibility and extend-ability.

Note: All the STD frameworks are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes SourceForge project website. Just click on the WebService link located in the project's main webpage.

The Web Service framework - while greatly improving the PB & Appeon developer's productivity - also includes these types of features to help with RAD based projects:

Helps the PB developer to Implement "stateless" programming
Manages DataStores for you automatically
Manages DB updates for you automatically
Facilitates MVC design & programming
Provides Encryption / Decryption servicesProvides extended numerical services (ie: And / Or / Xor / Xand / etc features to PowerScript
Provides Result Set generation for any data
Provides HTML generation for any data
Allows STMP eMail generation
Facilitates the consumption of .NET classes
and much more!

This version of the Web Service framework has been fully tested with PB2019R2 build 2353 and MS-Windows 10 build 18362. The main updates to the 2019R2 build 2020.1.0.95 for the STD Web Service FC's for IIS include...

Synchronized API declarations from the Integrated framework (2020.2.0.160) into "nc_master"
Revised framework version to 2020.1.0.95 in "nc_ws_master"
Added INI file "version signature" check.
Created new Global Function "fn_is_decimal" - Validates if the number passed in is actually a Decimal
Created new Global Function "fn_is_integer" - Validates if the number passed in is actually an Integer

See the OrderEntry App's use of the WS framework use examples

Click the following link for more information on the previous 2018R1 or 2019R2 WS framework releases!

The Framework documentation is completely updated using the new VisualExpert 2019 product!

VE2019 generated Web Service Framework Documentation

STD would like to thank Novalys Corporation for their support of the Foundation Classes by supplying the VisualExpert product for the framework's documentation.

Note: All new development from this point onward will be completed using PB2019 Rx and higher releases. However, older versions are kept in the SourceForge's Archive sub-folder.

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

STD Integrated Framework - 2020R2 released!

** Hot News **

Integrated Foundation Classes (2020R2) Released!

"THE" Framework for Appeon PowerBuilder & PowerServer!

(v2020.2.0.160 - August 8, 2020)

Actual application built from the Integrated framework!

Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released a new version of their Integrated Foundation Class library framework 2020R2 (build 2020.2.0.160) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2019R2, PowerServer 2019 Web and PowerServer 2020 (Mobile & Web), and InfoMaker 2019 with new features, enhancements and upgrades!

STD are also very excited as this release represents another significant enhancement to the Integrated framework that really further exemplifies the power of the Appeon PowerBuilder 2019 R2 MR2353 development environment! The new framework combined with the current PowerBuilder and/or PowerServer products, positions developers to take advantage of today's Agile and DevOps methodologies. Plus it further enhances a new GUI "punch" in your Native, Web and Mobile Apps without buying expensive add-on products.

For a summary of the previous framework version's feature sets for 2019, please follow these links - 2019R2, 2019R2-1, 2019R3-2, 2019R4 and 2020R1. Note that STD has now released 2 new versions of the framework in 2020 with more planned this year.

The following are some of the key highlights of the new 2020R2 Integrated Foundation Class library and Appeon PowerBuilder 2019 R2 MR2353 versions at work, as follows:

Process Resource Tracking

Note: Includes GDI resources as well.

Real Time Profile Model Display


New Build Model feature

Display Model Example

Create HEAP Dump

Break into IDE Debugger

Interactive break into IDE debugger at anytime!

Enhanced Logging

Machine and DataWindow resource tracking

R2 Theme Ready

PB2019 Theme (Dark)

The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with the latest MS-Windows 10 O/S (Build 19041), PB 2019 MR2353 and the PowerServer 2019 build #2170. Testing inside of PB included Win32 (both P-code & M-code) and Win64 (P-code) deployments. Testing inside of PowerServer Web & Mobile included latest Web Browsers, latest Apple Tablet / Smart Phone and Android Tablet / Smart Phone deployments.

Note: All the STD frameworks are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes SourceForge project website..

Release 2020.2.0.160 - Major Release (2020R2) - change highlights ...

Migrated framework from PB2019 build 2170 to PB2019 R2 build 2353
Created new Global Function "fn_is_decimal" - Validates if the number passed in is actually a Decimal
Created new Global Function "fn_is_integer" - Validates if the number passed in is actually an Integer
Revised "mu_application_master" - Changed icon mappings to use PB2019R2's new icons (where applicable)
Revised "nc_app_controller_master" - Added "oe_free_memory_warning" event (Fires when free memory % drops below threshold
Revised "nc_app_controller_master" - "of_set_theme" method to log ApplyTheme RC
Revised "wn_master" to comply with PB2019 R2 Theme activation
Revised "wn_profile_master" to Added visual indicator for when this feature ON or OFF
Revised "wn_zoom_master" to fix improper focusing on DC while Zooming!
Revised "nc_app_controller_master" - Added "sr_memory_counters" structure for the "GetProcessMemoryInfo" API
Revised "nc_app_controller_master" - Updated the "GetModuleFileName" API declaration
Revised "nc_app_controller_master" - Added GetProcessMemoiry Info API and associated structure
Revised "wn_debug_list_master" - Added code to check memory & log it after a Garbage Collection request
Revised "wn_debug_list_master" - Added MSG to Log for tracability
Created "vs_ribbon_master" class as an Ancestor for all Ribbon Bar Objects.
Created "vs_web_browser_master" class as an Ancestor for all Web Browser Objects.
Created "vs_ole_media_master" class as an Ancestor for all Windows Media Player OCX based objects
Revised "vs_htb_master" class to add "oe_sbnthumbposition" event to Map the mouse wheel
Revised "vs_vtb_master" class to add "oe_sbnthumbposition" event to Map the mouse wheel
Revised "wn_controller_master" class to ensure Controller Window was still instantiated before close All
Revised "wn_profile_master" class to Add visual indicator for when this feature ON or OFF
Created "vc_tp_about_process" tab page class to display Process and GUI resources used
Revised "wn_debug_list_master" class to Add new CB_Model, pb_dump, pb_garbage and pb_break buttons
Created "wn_profile_model_master_e" window class to display Process Model information

The OrderEntry example application and the Integrated Framework's Documentation has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 2020R2 framework version. You can download the example application from here. Also, check out the online "getting started" video series to accelerate your assimilation of the best framework for PowerBuilder & PowerServer!

STD would also like to thank Novalys Corporation for their support of the Foundation Classes by supplying the VisualExpert product for the framework's documentation.

Enjoy!