Great White North Technical Evangelist: February 2024

** Hot News **

PSR Viewer Application updated for PB 2022 R3!

Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce a new version of the PowerSoft Report (PSR) Viewer (v2024.1.0.35) application built from the latest free open source STD Integrated Foundation Classes and specially designed for Appeon PowerBuilder version PB2023 R3 build 3289! The Foundation Classes provide most of the PSR functionality natively by having this application wrapped around the framework's DataWindow Control ancestor class! The PSR Viewer allows the user to view DataWindow reports that have been saved in PB's proprietary PSR format from either Appeon PowerBuilder or InfoMaker products. A PSR file is actually the DataWindow Object source along with its Primary data buffer contents.

PSR App example showing Zooming, Rulers & Print Preview

Included in this new release are also the ability to write to the MS-Windows 10/11 "Notification area" and also drag & drop external PSR files into the PSR Viewer for display. A much more intuitive way of working!

MS-Windows 10 Notification


Drag & Drop external PSR report files directly into the PSRViewer!

Supports new PB 2022 R3 themes...

PSR Viewer using the new Orange Theme from PB 2022 R3 release!

The new PSRViewer.exe application is built using the latest version of the STD Integrated Foundation Class library (2024.2.0.380) utilizing PowerBuilder 2023 R3's build 3289 feature set). The revised PSRViewer has also been extensively tested on the newer W11 Operating System as well with no issues. The new PSRViewer now also includes a new PowerClient project object for App deployment via that mechanism as well as compiled EXE. The application can also be run in either M-Code, P-Code compilations and in either 32 or 64 bit mode also.

The updated PSR Viewer application for Appeon PB2023 R3 can be downloaded from the SourceForge web site ... just click here! For older PB versions of the PSR viewer you can download them from here.

Enjoy ... Chris

** Hot News **

Integrated Foundation Classes (2024R1) Released!

"THE" Framework for PowerBuilder & PowerServer 2022 R3!

(Framework version 2024.1.0.374 - February 09, 2024)

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 2024 R1 (build 2024.1.0.374) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2022 R3 and PowerServer 2022 R3 (Cloud), and InfoMaker 2022 R3 (build 3289) - 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 R3 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 2023 through 2024, please follow these links - 20231R1, 2023R2 and 2023R3 (was only in beta - never released as GA). Note that the Integrated framework had 3 releases in 2023 so that it's always leading edge and feature rich! STD also has more features planned for more Integrated framework in 2024 as well!

The following are some of the key highlights of the new 2024 R1 Integrated Foundation Class library for Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 R3 build 3289, as follows:

Debug the WebView2 engine used by the Web Browser control:

Add these settings to your App's INI file

Any App that uses Web Browser control (ie: OrderEntry Demo App)

Run any Web Browser using URL: (ie: http://localhost:6124/json/list)

Tip: This feature also allows you to now debug and drive "use test cases" using the AscentialTest testing software from Zeenyx.

Grid DataWindow Line Colour:

New DWC Property

Grid Line Colour setting example based on new property!

New Themes Colour Support:

Support for new Themes in PB 2022 R3

Example of the new Lime Green theme in use!

Resources Monitoring:

Memory / GDI - alerts App user when in Debug Mode!

Mouse Cursor on All Controls:

New Cursor Property

Mouse Cursor example

Updated MS-Word Spell Checking:

Now detects no errors and no text to spell check!

New ADMIN App example:

Updated for PB 2022 R3 & latest framework release!

PowerServer failover:

New INI settings

Framework detects PS connection failure!

Framework logs PS connection activity

Tabbed View opening direction example:

Tabbed View open Left or Right toggle example!

Enhanced Log Viewer access:

Log Viewer now accessible from any Window type (when in Debug mode)!

The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with the latest MS-Windows 10 O/S (22H2 build 19045.3996, MS-Windows 11 O/S (23H2 build 22631.3085), PB 2022 R3 build 3289 and the PowerServer 2022 R3 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 2024.1.0.374 - Major Release (2024R1) - change highlights ...

Migrated the framework from version 2023.2.0.355 to 2024.1.0.374 under PB 2022 R3
Modified nc_app_controller_master to remove Web App check as product is now deprecated.
Modified nc_app_controller_master to return Primary & secondary "fail-over" URLs
Modified nc_app_controller_master to remove all DBMS variables as they are now handled by Transaction object.
Modified nc_app_controller_master to remove all Dockable variables as this feature is now deprecated.
Modified nc_app_controller_master "of_restart_application" to remove Dockable code as this feature is now deprecated.
Modified nc_app_powershell_master to use the LongPTR datatype for Window pointers
Modified nc_app_powershell_master to Add the "of_run_as_admin" method
Modified nc_system_tray_master "of_load_image" to revise the extraction SDK calls
Modified nc_system_tray_master "of_load_image" to clean up code.
Modified ns_sqlca_master "of_connect" to handle PowerServer session err0r.
Modified vc_tp_about_master to remove path from EXE full names
Removed all global functions for Dockable Window support as it's deprecated.
Modified vs_cb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_chbx_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_dc_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_dc_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_ddlb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_ddplb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_dp_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_em_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_gb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_gr_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_hpb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_hsb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_htb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_inkedit_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_ip_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_lb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_lv_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_mc_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_lv_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_mle_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_ole_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_pb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_pc_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_phl_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_plb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_phl_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_rb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_sle_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_st_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_sthl_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_tc_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_tc_master to revise TP header height adjustment.
Modified vs_tc_master "oe_resize" to revise code to TabbedView feature.
Modified vs_tc_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_tc_master to remove native PB check.
Modified vs_tc_master to remove old Theme height / width adjustment
Modified vs_tv_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_vpb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_vsb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified vs_vtb_master to add Mouse Cursor property & support.
Modified wn_controller_master to remove Dockable support as this feature is deprecated.
Modified wn_log_view_master to remove Dockable support as this feature is deprecated.
Modified wn_logon_master to remove Dockable support as this feature is deprecated.
Modified wn_main_master to remove Dockable support as this feature is deprecated.
Modified wn_ds_master to add support for printer tracing
Modified wn_dc_master to handle spell checking status better
Modified wn_em_master to handle spell checking status better
Modified wn_mle_master to handle spell checking status better
Modified wn_rte_master to handle spell checking status better
Modified wn_sle_master to handle spell checking status better
Modified wn_master to support "NewTabRightMost" porperty & feature
Modified wn_controller_master to adjust for the PB2022 R3 TabbedView feature
Modified wn_master to log activation in debug mode
Modified nc_controller_master to add "of_check_cloud_version" method & supportive code
Modified nc_ds_master to add "of_get_child" method for supporting various DWO types
Modified nc_dc_list_master to add "of_set_line_colour" method & supportive property
Modified nc_dc_master to add "of_get_child" method for supporting various DWO types

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!

Tip: PB 2022R3 Demo Database downloads

Special thank you...

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!