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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

New PB Developer Centre

** Hot News **
SAP PowerBuilder Developer Centre 


 
  This is the phase 1 (or "pre-launch") version of the new SAP PowerBuilder Development Centre. For now, the PB Development Centre will give PB developers a first point of reference for anything related to PowerBuilder. SAP in the meantime are working on migrating all the content and material from Sybase's website to SCN to achieve a seamless learning and download experience. Please bear with SAP until then and excuse the additional registration or contact information forms that you will have to fill-in to access certain pieces. The final version of the PowerBuilder Developer Center will include all the SCN content features (blogs, discussions, etc.) that you know from SAP's other developer center spaces.

  Please be patient for a little while longer and you will be able to  hear about great stories from your PB developer peers or make the SAP experts sweat with tricky questions. 




Stay tuned for more Developer Center updates!




Regards ... Chris

Thursday, July 26, 2012

PowerBuilder Videos

** Hot News **
Free PowerBuilder Tutorials on YouTube!

   SAP / Sybase's PowerBuilder Technical Evangelist John Strano has created a new YouTube area called SAPPowerBuilder where John has played a key role in defining and building content for this new "how to" series of PowerBuilder video education series vignettes!


   The new YouTube area already boasts various videos like ...

  • How to use DataWindow expressions to dynamically manipulate DataWindow property values at run-time
  • How to have multiple DataWindows share a single set of data buffers", "An overview of the three child DataWindow utilizations; Composite DataWindows, Nested Reports and DropDownDataWindows (DDDWs)
  • A demonstration and discussion of Data Intelligence in DataWindow technology within PowerBuilder
  • How to create your first DataWindow Object.
   If you are new to the PowerBuilder world or an experienced PB developer that wants to refresh your knowledge or learn about features that have changed in recent PowerBuilder releases - this free video area might just be the ticket! John also plans to release more videos soon - so make sure that you revisit the area often to see what's new.

   For more information or to watch the videos - please follow this link to SAPPowerBuilder!

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Bio: John Strano is a Sybase Technology Evangelist and a charter member of TeamSybase. He has been using PowerBuilder since 1991 and has authored articles for multiple industry periodicals. John has presented Sybase tools on an international basis since 1997. Over the last 15 years John has developed a variety of PowerBuilder applications from single-user scaling up to enterprise-class, web-based projects.


Regards ... Chris

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Advanced PowerBuilder

** Hot News **

Advanced PowerBuilder for Professionals - Part I
(available in August 2012 through ISUG)

     eLearnIT LLC, global independent provider of SAP Sybase PowerBuilder developer eTraining, Seminars and Workshops, in cooperation with the International Sybase User Group (ISUG), a trade association representing more than eight thousand members in more than sixty countries around the globe, is pleased to announce the general availability of its Advanced PowerBuilder for Professionals eTraining series.

   The Advanced PowerBuilder for Professionals, Part 1 course picks up where eLearnIT’s PowerBuilder Essentials course left off, going beyond the core concepts introduced in the earlier course. It provides ten, in-depth topics, that span the full breadth and scope of the PowerBuilder Classic platform. Each topic contains in-depth audio and text descriptions and video presentations accompanied by supporting hands-on lab exercises.
The new course topics are:
  1. Custom Class User Objects: Future-proofing your logic for maintainability, reuse and portability
  2. User Objects: Building reusable and dynamic GUI and framework code elements
  3. Object Orientation: Coding for reuse, efficiency and maintainability
  4. Error and Exceptions: Writing robust handlers using built-in platform APIs
  5. MDI Presentation Style: Enhancing the user experience through effective, consistent user interfaces
  6. Stored Procedure DataWindow Objects: Accessing and updating the database in a secure, high performance way
  7. DataWindow Buffer Access APIs: Acquiring an arsenal of tools for interacting with client-side data sets
  8. DataWindow Object Expression Language: Creating dynamic, informative and responsive data presentations
  9. Dynamic DataWindow Expression API: Adding runtime modifiable behaviors to DataWindow presentations
  10. Child DataWindow Objects: Achieving enhanced DataWindow data entry and providing effective data presentations

   For more information on this great new course, please follow this link to the ISUG website.


Regards ... Chris

PowerBuilder Virtual User Group

** Hot News **

North American - PowerBuilder Virtual User Group

    Come join ISUG on Tuesday July 31, 2012 for the next meeting of the North American PowerBuilder Virtual User Group.  This month, PowerBuilder Guru Yakov Werde will be answering your questions in our "Ask the Expert" session.  You will be able to submit your question(s) when you register and Yakov will try to answer as many as he can in the time permitted.


   Please note that this meeting is for ISUG members only. Non-members must join ISUG before registering. Associate Members will be assessed a $30 fee to attend the session, but will also be upgraded to Basic Membership as part of their registration unless a different membership option is selected during the registration process. There is no charge to attend for existing Basic, Green and Gold members.

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Location: Your Computer!
When:  Tuesday, July 31st, Noon-1pm EDT.
To Register: click here

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About the Speaker:  Yakov Werde, a 25 year IT industry veteran, is a member of TeamSybase and a Sybase MVP. Yakov is a recognized consultant, author, speaker and trainer who has been designing and delivering PowerBuilder, .NET, EaServer, Web App Development, and Java training for over 15 years to corporate, military and government developers. Prior to discovering his aptitude as an educator, Yakov worked as an architect, project manager, application coder in the trenches of application software developmentand managing partner of eLearnIT LLC (www.elearnitonline.com), specializes in PowerBuilder .NET migration.  He also authors and delivers workshops and web based eLearning tutorials to guide professional developers toward PowerBuilder Classic and .NET mastery. Follow Yakov on Twitter as @eLearnPB

Regards ... Chris

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

SQL Power Tools

** Hot News **

New ISUG Partner!

Cheyenne, Wyoming – Sql Power Tools (SPT), the industry leader in Zero Impact database monitoring, today announced the release of: 

Stealth Bottleneck (wait type) and End-user Experience Database Monitor 

PRESS RELEASE May 17, 2012:
Stealth Bottleneck (wait type) and End-user Experience Database Monitor:
TheServer Bottleneck and End-user Experience Database Monitor performs agentless monitoring of wait types, wait times, I/O bottlenecks, end-user response time, SQL performance, performance counters, blocking and SQL jobs. The wait types (600+ that a database server posts) causing SQL statements and stored procedures to not complete on a timely basis due to resource contention or being queued due to a lack of available resources are monitored. Wait type wait times are tracked by SQL statement, stored procedure, wait type, database and the end-user client. Reducing SQL wait time -> reduces end-user response time -> improves server throughput. In most cases this can eliminate an expensive and unnecessary hardware upgrade. In two mouse clicks the resource that SQL is waiting on can be viewed.

Zero Impact Sql Capture Agent (free):
Each Server Bottleneck and End-user Experience Database Monitor license includes a free Zero Impact Sql Capture Agent license. It non-intrusively sniffs the SQL packet flow. 100% of the SQL activity is captured with the complete SQL text, bind parameters and end-user response time. It has a low 1% overhead and does not connect to the monitored server. It is similar to a ZERO impact SQL profiler or trace facility. In 24 hours it can pinpoint every poor performing SQL request with 100% accuracy. Agent usage is optional, install the agent at any time. It allows any form of production server change to be precisely measured since the end-user response time before and after a change can be accurately measured. For example hardware upgrades, configuration changes, index changes, SQL code changes, implementation of new software releases, etc.

For more information, follow this link: SQL Power Tools

Regards ... Chris
 

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Classic or DotNet

** Hot News **
PowerBuilder Survey

      Come vote on the current PowerBuilder survey as to whether you like the Classic or .NET version of PowerBuilder best. However, I must say ... currently, PB Classic is "running away" with most of the votes!


Check out Prashant's survey on LinkedIn - Vote here!

Regards ... Chris

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Foundation Classes

** Hot News **
Foundation Classes for PowerBuilder

(for PowerBuilder (Classic and .Net), EAServer & Appeon)


   Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) is very pleased to announce that they have just released an updated version of their Foundation Class library for both PowerBuilder and Appeon. The latest version contains the following updates and has been tested with Appeon 6.5.1 using PB 11.5.1, 12.1 and 12.5.1 official MR (maintenance) releases including PB's "Classic" and .NET versions! Testing inside of PB also included WebForm, Winform, Win32 and Smart Client deployments.

   The FC's are *free* and can be downloaded (along with an Order Entry sample application) from the SourceForge website: 


The changes to the FC's are as follows .....

Release 12.5.1 Changes ... June  11, 2012)
1) Migrated and fully unit tested the framework from PB 12.1 to 12.5.1.

Release 12.1.0 Changes ... May 22, 2012)
1)    Added new INI parameters to control DW buffer Debugging and Memory tracking
2)    Added new code the VS_DC_MASTER user object to allow data buffer introspection
3)    Added new KEY event to the VS_DC_MASTER user object to support Ctrl+Shift+F1 information screen.
4)    Added new WN_INFO_MASTER window to display run time application diagnostics.
5)    Modified the ns_APPL_CONTROLLER_MASTER to support DW buffer introspection and run time information.
6)    Added new KEY event to the WN_MASTER window object to support Ctrl+Shift+F1 information screen.

Release 12.1.0 Changes ... April 10, 2011)
1)    Changed SA database version check to work with SA12.0 as the default.
2)    Extended the "Timing" object base ancestor "ns_timing_master" to
    a) Allow an object to register itself as the Timing object's parent
    b) Fire any event of the parent objects choosing on the timer interval
3)    Added a new global function "fn_encrypt_simple" that supports basic encryption (all written in PowerScript).
4)    Added a new global function ""fn_decrypt_simple that supports basic decryption (all written in PowerScript).
5)    Revised the "fn_open_sheet_window" global function to allow an arrangement type option parameter.
6)    Revised the "fn_open_sheet_window_withParm" global function to allow an arrangement type option parameter.
7)    Added a new global function "fn_convert_packed_decimal" that supports the handling of IBM DB/2 numeric data.
8)    Added a new global function "fn_copy_transaction" that allows a new Transaction Object to be created from an active one!
9)    Added a new global function "fn_dbms_get_sysdate" that allows you to get the System date of the DBMS server.
10)    Added a new global function "fn_lookup_display_value" that gets you the displayed value from any DDDW.
11)    Added a new global function "fn_print_screen" that allows you to print any current dialog.
12)    Added a new global function "fn_remove_spaces" that allows you to remove ALL spaces from any String variable.
13)    Added a new global function "fn_validate_phone_no" that allows you validate any standard phone number.
14)    The global function "nc_crypto" was renamed to "nc_crypto_master" to be inline with FC's naming conventions
15)    A new Object "nc_cypher_master" was created that taps into the C++ Cypher and De-cypher features
16)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to check for NULL Context values from the OS.
17)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to only log the details of all errors.
    a) user now receives a simple alert with the option to continue.
    b) user no longer sees the actual error (unless the open the log in the Log Viewer).
17)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to only log the details of all errors.
18)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to support Processor Affinity.
    a) a New setting Àffinity= setting to the INI file support
    b) New method sets the CPU affinity if the new parameter in the INI file is > 0
19)    The DataWindow control base ancestor "vs_dc_master" was changed to disable moving the control when the Title bar is present.
    Note1: For some reason, this does not work in Winforms.
    Note2: The title bar is not supported in WPF.
20)     The StaticText extension object "vs_st_transparent_master" was changed to support the PB 12.x implementation of
    a transparent background colour.
21)    A new Window ancestor was added (wn_animated_save_master) that supports the new Animated Save feature!
22)    The "wn_master" base ancestor window was changed to implement the Animated Save feature.
    a) New "of_animation_required" method was added to the Base window class (wn_master) to support Animated saves.
23)    The "wn_master" base ancestor class was changed to change the way duplicate instantiated dialog's were discovered.
    a) This fixes a problem where the Win32 applications tool-bars and sheet would seem to "bounce" in the MDI frame.
    b) Corrects a Winform application where the lower tool-bars would disappear all together until a close/open.
24)    The "wn_master" base ancestor was changed to allow any Window to have a Min or Max size.
25)    The "wn_controller_master" base ancestor was changed to support a "Close All" open sheet/child window option.
26)    The base ancestor menu "mu_master" was changed to implement a new Close All menu under the "Window" pull-down menu item.
27)    The "vs_dc_list_master" DW Control extension ancestor was changed to implement a sortation icon on the heading
    a) uses a triangle drawn on to the heading text.
    b) Triangle direction show the sortation order
    c) If the heading text will interfere with the triangle, it is shifted over slightly.
    d) The shifted heading text is restored upon moving to a new column.
28)    Changed the "wn_popup_master" to centre itself to the current controller window.
    a) Allows better GUI
    b) Supports dual monitors better
29)    Changed the "wn_main_master" to centre itself to the current controller window.
    a) Allows better GUI interface
    b) Better supports a dual monitor PC
    c) Ignores this behaviour of the Controller is an MDI type window
30)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to capture the WebForm (IIs) Session ID
    a) New *private* session ID instance variable added (is_session_id)
    b) Session ID is written to the Application's LOG file at start-up
    c) A new "of_Get_Session_Id" method was added to expose the private variable to the application
31)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to capture the WebForm (IIs) Browser signature!
    a) New *private* instance variable added (is_browser)
    b) The Browser signature written to the Application's LOG file at start-up
    c) A new "of_get_browser" method was added to expose the current Browser's signature at any time.
32)    The Application Controller object "nc_app_controller_master" was changed to verify that the WebForm browser.
    a) If the Browser is not IE an error message appears in any browser.
    b) The application will stop on any Web browser other than IE.
33)     A new global function "fn_build_number" was added to automatically track application builds.
    a) A new INI file was added to support this functionality (STD_FC.ini).
    b) Note: currently code commented out as this crashes the PB 11.5.1 and higher IDE
        Problem reported to Sybase Engineering.
34)    The Order Entry application was changed to
    a) Use the new FlashWindow feature of Response dialogs to alert users visually (Login Dialog)
    b) The Login dialog uses the new simple encryption to save the last good password to the Application's INI file.
    c) The Employee dialog was changed to demonstrate the new fixed DW Control when a title bar is active.
    d) The Employee, Customer and Product list dialogs were changed to demonstrate the new Sort Icon.
35)    Changed SA database version check to work with SA11.0.1.2044
36)     Updated the core Message DataWindow with new message ID's
37)    Updated the French and Spanish message DW objects for new message transactions.
38)    Extended ancestor "vs_st_transparent_master" changed to support native transparency in PBNative mode.

Regards ... Chris
President: STD Inc.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Appeon Mobile Sneak Peek II


 ** Hot News **

 PowerBuilder TV .... Catch-up session


    Did you miss May's Appeon Mobile Sneak Peak (The first-ever mobility solution for the PowerBuilder community!) or have a question you're dying to ask since last session? This session Christophe Dufourmantelle will be accompanied by the CEO of Appeon Corporation Armeen Mazda with an updated PowerPoint slides.

    There is a growing demand for accessibility on-the-go, and PowerBuilder applications need to be ready. In order to meet this challenge, Appeon and Novalys will soon launch Appeon Mobile.

   From the PowerBuilder IDE, Appeon Mobile will automatically generate native mobile applications for iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets. DataWindows, nested reports, and many rich PowerBuilder functionalities previously unimaginable on mobile devices will be at users’ fingertips.

   This webinar will introduce a technology that will revolutionize mobile development for enterprise applications. You will discover Appeon Mobile’s main features, as well as its road map and licensing model. As usual with PowerBuilderTV Webcasts, you will have the possibility to ask questions directly to the presenters.
 

Note:  Looking for the recording of May's session? Due to updated changes to the PPT presentation for June by the Appeon team, at their request we will only be posting the recording of the second session in June in order to avoid confusion between the two presentations.



Regards ... Chris

PowerBuilder Developers Conference

** Hot News **

PowerBuilder Developers Conference @ SAP TechEd
Call for Papers Now Open!
Submit a Proposal to Present at the PowerBuilder Developers Conference

   SAP has  now announced the PowerBuilder Developers Conference! The conference will be held October 15-19, 2012 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, concurrently with SAP TechEd.


   Have you used SAP Sybase PowerBuilder to solve a business challenge, discovered a coding technique over the last year, have a bright new shiny User Experience in your apps, or simply have amassed a boatload of PowerBuilder tips and tricks over the years? If you have an accomplishment and/or a new insight into application development that you would like to share with your friends and colleagues, submit a session proposal for the PowerBuilder Developers Conference.
   
    The deadline to submit a session for consideration is June 22, 2012. Acceptance notifications will be sent out late-July. Sessions need to be educational and technically focused. The average session length will be 60 minutes. Speakers must be available to present during the entire span of the conference (October 15-19, 2012). We offer complimentary registration to the PowerBuilder Developers Conference to approved speakers. If you are selected as a presenter, your final presentation is due August 31, 2012.


Session Proposal Guidelines
  • Title - 75 characters
  • Abstract - 200 words (must be detailed and descriptive enough to catch the interest of attendees)
  • Speaker Bio - 250 characters
Important Dates
  • June 22 - Deadline for session proposal submission
  • August 31 - Final presentation slides due


    The PowerBuilder Developer Conference Team look forward to hearing from you!



Regards .... Chris

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Birthday wishes ...

** Hot News **

Happy Birthday!

Ottawa Sybase User Group - 20th Anniversary 



Founded: May 24, 1992 by Chris Pollach