STD Integrated Framework (2023 R2) released!

  ** Hot News **

  Integrated Foundation Classes (2023R2) Released!

 "THE" Framework for PowerBuilder & PowerServer 2022 R2!

(Framework version 2023.2.0.355 - September 26, 2023)  

 

New Framework Encryption features!

        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 2023R2 (build 2023.2.0.355) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2022 R2 and PowerServer 2022 R2 (Cloud), and InfoMaker 2022 R2 (build 2819) - with many new features, enhancements and upgrades!

  

     STD are also very excited as this release represents another significant enhancement milestone to the Integrated framework that really further exemplifies the power of the Appeon PowerBuilder 2022  development environment! The updated 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 newer GUI "punch" in your Native and Cloud based Apps without buying expensive add-on products. Especially, since the framework is free!

     For a summary of the previous framework version's new & revised features for 2021 through 2022, please follow these links - 2021R5, 2022R1  and 2022R2. Note that the Integrated framework had 3 releases in 2022 and 5 releases in 2021 - so that it's always leading edge feature rich! STD also has more features planned for more Integrated framework in 2023 as well!

   

   The following are some of the key highlights of the new 2023R1 Integrated Foundation Class library for Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 R2 build 2819, as follows:

• All obsolete object system classes were removed to align with PB2022 R2
  
• Refactored some external API's to conform to PB 2022 R2's use of the C++ v2022 compiler!
  
• Tested code compliance with W10 / W11 & W2019 / W2022 22H2 builds.
  
• Now encrypts all Transaction object settings for better App security
• Transaction encryption now uses random / unique encryption key per instance.
  
• Now encrypts PowerServer connection & DBParm settings for better N-Tier security
• All DBMS INI connection settings are encrypted better App security
• Created a new ADMIN App to handle INI encryption. 
• Refactored the ns_sqla_master Ancestor object class to handle all DBMS connectivity
• Added new object classes to support the new PDF Builder feature
• Revised the ns_app_controller_master class to handle DPI awareness
• Revised the ns_app_controller_master class to allow each App to have their own encryption key.
  
• Revised the ns_app_controller_master class to fix MS-Word Spell Checking in Office 365
• Revised the OrderEntry Demo App to connect to either SQL Anywhere, SQL Server or PostGres PB2022R2 "Demo DB"!
• Added TabbedView support to the MDI Window ancestor class!
  

INI Encryption Example:

 

 ; SQLAnyWhere (Version 17)
[Database Information SA1]
; The following DB is used for 32bit PB Apps (and PB IDE)!
Database32=£–dŠ×ÎÜ…»±’Á…ƒ……¥…
; The following DB is used for 64 bit PB Apps!
Database64=£–dŠ×ÎÜ…»±’Á…ƒ……¥…
; DB = Dbms version Check ( Y / N )
DB_Check_Version=¬
DB_Expected_Version=„‹rv ’ž“®Ÿ§£
DBMS=¢˜†
UserID=ᦴ
LogId=ᦴ
LogPass=ÆÅ°
Lock=¥¦
ServerName=ŸÃ§§Þ©ÜØë
AutoCommit=Y
DBParm=–ò´×Äá¸ëáÛÙºz—¦¡£•s—¸ÀÂs—•s©…ƒ……¥…
CacheName=¦•£Š×ÎÜ©¹

 

Transaction Object Encryption example:

 

 

MS-Word Spell Checking example:

 

 

New ADMIN App example:

 

 

 

PB 2022R2 Demo Database downloads:

 

 FYI: https://github.com/Appeon/PowerBuilder-Project-Example-Database

Demo App Multiple DB Support example:

 

 

 

 Demo App Tabbed View example:

 

 

     The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with the latest MS-Windows 10 O/S (22H2 build 19045.3516, MS-Windows 11 O/S (22H2 build 22621.2361), PB 2022 R2 build 2819 and the PowerServer 2022 R2 build 2.1.0. Testing within PB Apps included Win32 (both P-code & M-code) and Win64 (P-code) executable deployments. Testing inside of PowerClient and PowerServer included both 32bit and 64bit Apps & PowerServer App/Server (Web API) deployments.

Note: All the STD framework versions are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes project hosted on the SourceForge website. The frameworks, Demo Apps, etc  are licensed under Apache 2.0 open source model.

Release 2023.2.0.3255 - Major Release (2023R2) - change highlights ...   

 

• Migrated the framework from version 2023.1.0.325 to 2023.2.0.355 under PB 2022 R2
• Continued to refactor API's to conform to the new C++ v2022 compiler used in PB 2022 R2 (IDE & Runtime)
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to add "CacheName" to the of_encrypt & of_decrypt methods.
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to add the of_load_connection_info method.
• Modified ns_sqlca_master the of_postconstuctor to decrypt the User_ID value
• Modified ns_app_controller_master to Moved PS Server check to Transaction Object on "of_connect" (ns_sqlca_master).
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to perform a PS Check on a valid OS connection
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to of_check_ps_version method to be public so that other objects can call it
• Modified fn_spell_check method to handle MS-Office 365 speller
• Modified ns_app_controller_master to add of_get_speller() and of_set_speller() methods
• Modified ns_app_controller_master Destructor event to clean-up MS-Word OLE spell checker
• Modified ns_app_controller_master Constructor event to handle setting DPI Awareness
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to grab the PowerServer URL from the App's INI
• Modified vs_dc_master to add of_set_save_required method
• Modified the fn_web_browser_control_settings class to support the new WebView2 web browser engine
• Modified the fn_web_browser_control_settings class to move the is_db_expected_version variable to ns_SQLCA_master
• Modified ns_app_controller_master to add of_get_crypto_key method
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to add is_dbms_expected_version variable now SQLCA's of_connect method
• Modified ns_sqlca_master's of_check_version method to find the DBMS version within the Server's signature
• Modified ns_sqlca_master class to add better PowerServer property settings
• Modified ns_sqlca_master's of_load_connection_info method to use encrypted data from the INI file
• Created a new PB App (STD_FC_Admin) that manages (Encrypt or Decrypt) database connection values in an INI file.

      The OrderEntry example application and the Integrated Framework's Documentation has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 2023R2 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 & free framework for PowerBuilder, PowerClient & PowerServer (Cloud) based applications!

 

Visual Expert's STD Framework Summary Analysis

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

 

 

 Enjoy!