New Integrated Foundation Classes (2018R3) Released!

** Hot News **

  New Integrated Foundation Classes (2018R3) Released!

 "THE" Framework for Appeon PowerBuilder & PowerServer!

(v2018.3.0.101 - May 6, 2018)

Make your PB App's exciting to your MS-Window users!

  

        Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released a new version 2018R3 (build 2018.3.0.101) of their Integrated Foundation Class library framework for PowerBuilder 2017R2 build 1769, PowerServer 2017 Web and PowerServer 2017 Mobile build 1756!

  

     STD are also very excited as this release represents another significant enhancement to the Integrated framework that really further exemplifies the power of Appeon PowerBuilder 2017R2 development environment! The new framework combined with PowerBuilder and/or PowerServer products really positions developers to take advantage of today's Agile and DevOps methodologies. Plus it puts a complete 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, please follow these links - 2018R1 and 2018R2.
  

   The following are some of the highlights of the new R3 Integrated framework and Appeon PowerBuilder 2017R2 versions at work, as follows:

Auto-Zoom Drop Down DataWindows

Native Windows Auto-Zoom DDDW's

Web Application Auto-Zoom DDDW's

  

Mobile application Auto-Zoom DDDW's

    The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with MS-Windows 10 O/S (Creator Edition), PB 2017R2 build #1769 and the PowerServer 2017 (build 1756). 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 2018.3.0.101 - Major Release (2018R3) - change highlights ...

• Added  PRINTER functions and GetTickCount [32/64] & LocalFree API definitions in "nc_app_controller_master"
• Corrected platform code for Web or IWA based Applications in "nc_app_controller_master"
• Renamed "of_set_appeon_environment_info" to "of_set_powerserver_environment_info" in "nc_app_controller_master"
• Added code to zoom the DDDW to the same % as the parent DWO    in "vs_dc_master"
• Notification message only displayed if not in "silent" mode in "wn_controller_master"
• Added code to change the background colour if in a Web/ Mobile env in "wn_master"
• Added code to check if graphic object pointer is valid in "wn_master"
• Renamed "STD_FC_Appeon.pbl" library to "STD_FC_PowerServer.pbl"
• Added new global function "fn_add_numbers_in_string"
• Added new global function "fn_compute_elapsed_date_period"
• Added new global function "fn_compute_elapsed_minutes"
• Added new global function "fn_compute_week_no"
• Added new global function "fn_get_string_segment"
• Added new global function "fn_get_windows_registry_no"
• Added new global function "fn_get_windows_registry_string"
• Added new global function "fn_ltrimx"
• Added new global function "fn_object_last_modified"
• Added new global function "fn_positive_match"
• Added new global function "fn_remove_character_from_string"
• Added new global function "fn_replace_character_in_string"
• Added new global function "fn_remove_character_from_string"
• Removed old WPF code in "mu_application_master"
• Added new function "of_set_notification_message" in "wn_controller_master"

  

    The OrderEntry example application has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 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!  

Regards ... Chris

STD FrameWork - New for Appeon InfoMaker!

** Hot News **

New InfoMaker Framework

Part I - Reusable Functions

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are pleased to announce today a new extension of their Integrated Framework that has been developed for the latest Appeon InfoMaker 2017R2 release (build 1769). The first phase of the new STD InfoMaker Framework is a set of reusable functions that can be used in any Report or Form object where expressions are used to obtain, format, validate, derive, compute, etc various datum values.

New STD InfoMaker Framework - Function list

         The initial InfoMaker framework includes a library of reusable functions. These functions can perform a variety of value-added services to any InfoMaker set of Report or Form objects. The Functions are well documented internally. You can add these to your InfoMaker product by amending the IM libray list to include the "STD_FC_IM_Functions.pbl". This will immediately give you access to these global functions.

Step#1 - Select the Library List in the InfoMaker IDE

Step#2 - Add the STD InfoMaker Framework's library to your project

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

 In the near future, Software Tool & Die will also be adding more functions and another new area called Style Sheet Ancestors to this framework.

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

PowerBuilder Presentations

** Hot News Item **

PowerBuilder Presentations Online!

    Over the years, I have amassed and presented on a various plethora of PowerBuilder related topics to various PowerBuilder User Groups and Conference attendees. I still receive many requests for copies of these presentations. Thus, I have decided to create an area on the Software Tool & Die (STD) Framework project area of the Source Forge website that will represent a collection of these presentations on various topics for the PB Community to peruse and download for free.

    The new presentation area on the STD Framework Source Forge website can be accessed here!

Enjoy!   

Regards ... Chris

Elevate 2018 Conference

** Hot News **

Appeon Elevate 2018 Conference

  

      Appeon will be holding their annual conference this year in November, 2018. The conference will be located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA on November 5th through to 7th, 2018 inclusive. Appeon is now extending a call for presentations and presenters. For more information on the 2018 Conference, how to present, etc - please visit the Elevate 2018 website.

Regards ... Chris

New Integrated Foundation Classes (2018R2) Released!

** Hot News **

  New Integrated Foundation Classes (2018R2) Released!

 "THE" Framework for Appeon PowerBuilder & PowerServer!

(v2018.2.0.97 - March 29, 2018)

Make your PB App's exciting to your MS-Window users!

  

        Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released a new version 2018R2 (build 2018.2.0.97) of their Integrated Foundation Class library framework for PowerBuilder 2017R2 build 1769, PowerServer 2017 Web and PowerServer 2017 Mobile build 1756!

  

     STD are also very excited as this release represents another significant enhancement to the Integrated framework that really further exemplifies the power of Appeon PowerBuilder 2017R2 development environment! The new framework combined with PB2017R2 (Revision #2 - build 1769) really positions developers to take advantage of today's Agile and DevOps methodologies. Plus it puts a complete 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 set, please follow this link - 2018R1.
  

   The following are some of the highlights of the new Integrated framework and Appeon PowerBuilder 2017R2 versions at work, as follows:
 

RESTFul Client Base Class 

RESTFul ancestor logs DWO, URL, performance & memory stats for Retrieve() method.

JSON Generator Base Class

JSON Generator can build JSON data stream from any DW Object and also records sats!

PowerServer Check on Web & Mobile

PowerServer version validation at start-up (for Web & Mobile Apps)

   The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with MS-Windows 10 O/S (Creator Edition), PB 2017R2 build #1756 and the PowerServer 2017 (build 1689). 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 2018.2.0.96 - Major Release (2018R2) - change highlights ...

• Migration of entire framework from PB2017R2 Build 1756 to PB2017R2 Build 1769
• Optimized all the frameworks PBL's
• Created POSTGreSQL Transaction object ancestor "ns_sqlca_progresql_master"
• Added code to Clicked event of "vs_dc_list_master" to speed up sorting
• Revised "wn_main_master" object's Open event code to account for running within a Dockable App
• Revised "wn_main_master" object's "oe_PostOpen" event to reset visibility when used in an MDI or MDI Dockable App

         Note: Improves overall instantiation performance by 2-3x!

• Revised "of_send_mail" method in "nc_app_controller_master" to check if running within a Mobile App
• Revised "of_check_exe_version" method in "nc_app_controller_master" to set the PB IDE Active switch ON if running under IDE
• Added "of_is_pb_ide_active" method to "nc_app_controller_master" object
• Added "of_check_ps_version" method to "nc_app_controller_master" object
• Added code the "nc_app_controller_master" object's Constructor event to log whether App is running M-code or P-code   
• Added code the "nc_app_controller_master" object's Constructor event to to check for PowerServer version at start-up
• Revised the Destructor event in "vs_dc_master" to check if the Object's Classification is valid before save
• Revised the "oe_postopen" event in "wn_messagebox_master" to adjust image path if running under PB IDE vs from an EXE
• Created ns_json_generator_master JSON Generator object ancestor.

        Note: Created new "of_generate_dw_json" function to build JSON data stream 

                  from any DW object!

• Created ns_json_parsor_master JSON Parsor object ancestor.
• Created ns_restful_client_master RESTful Client object ancestor.
• Created ns_http_client_master HTTP Client object ancestor.

         Note: Created of_Retrieve() method to simplify & extend DW handling

    The OrderEntry example application has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 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!  

Regards ... Chris

Appeon InfoMaker - Advanced Training Video Released!

** Hot News **

InfoMaker 2017 - Advanced Training Video

       Appeon University has just released a new training video in the InfoMaker product series. The video is called "InfoMaker Training for Advanced Users" * . You can check out the InfoMaker video or the many other product learning videos at the Appeon-U website.

Enjoy!

Note: * - You will need an Appeon Website login to view the video. You can create a free login when you arrive at the Appeon website if you do not already have one.

Regards ... Chris

Appeon Infomaker - Training Video Released!

** Hot News **

InfoMaker 2017 - Beginner Training Video

     Appeon University has just released a new training video in the InfoMaker product series. The video is called "InfoMaker Training for Beginner Users" * . You can check out the InfoMaker video or the many other product learning videos at the Appeon-U website.

Enjoy!

Note: * - You will need an Appeon Website login to view the video. You can create a free login when you arrive at the Appeon website if you do not already have one.

Regards ... Chris

PowerBuilder Chronology

PowerBuilder Chronology

An Historical Perspective!

PowerBuilder Release History

 Owner, Release Number, Date, Key New Feature Highlights ....

    

• 1.0    July 1991 .... Beginning of a historic run
• 2.0    June 1992 .... OO support, Painter Improvements
• 3.0    May 1993 .... Bundled DB (Watcom), Version Control
• 4.0    November 1995 .... Reporting, Data Pipeline, OLE 2.0
• 5.0    July 1996 .... Machine code compilation, Distributed PowerBuilder, three-tier support
• 6.0    December 1997 .... Window ActiveX, CORBA, DataWindow HTML generation, DataWindow synchronization
• 6.5    August 1998 .... COM and Java component generators, separate Unix, Macintosh, and Unicode SKUs, internationalization via Translation Toolkit 

   

• 7.0    October 1999 .... New IDE, new layouts and look/feel, Jaguar integration (aka EAServer) — build, create, and deploy COM and MTS components (Component Theme)
• 8.0    June 2001 .... Web Targets, Web DataWindow (integration of PowerSite functionality into PowerBuilder) (Web Development Theme)
• 9.0    February 2003 .... .NET phase 1: Web Services, XML, Java Server Pages
• 10.0    July 2004 .... .NET phase 2: DataWindow .NET, Fully Unicode
• 10.5    March 2006 .... .NET-based Web Services engine (Visual Enhancements Theme); large and small UI and core client/server enhancements, including TreeView DataWindow, RichText Edit Control (Unicode)
• 11.0    July 2007 .... .NET phase 3: NVOs as .NET assemblies, ASP.NET Web Forms, Windows Forms (.NET Theme, Web Services Theme)
• 11.5    September 2008 .... DataWindow enhancements, Oracle 11g and SQL Server 2008 support, improved graphing (Visual Enhancements Theme)
• 12.0    April 2010 .... .NET phase 4: WPF applications, WPF DataWindow, improved DataWindow graphing, Visual Studio isolated shell
• 12.5    November 2013 .... Window transparency, DW Table Blob feature, User drawn controls DW, Rich Text expressions in DW, Share Data Sources with .NET
• 12.6    June 2014 .... oData support, 64bit Applications, Oracle 12C support and Dockable Windows 

  

• 2017    June 2017 .... Windows 10 compliance, Cloud Licensing, Standalone Compiler, Native PDF support, and PowerServer Mobile (Universal Edition) included.
• 2017R2    January 2018 .... Native Git/SVN Source Code interface, RESTful Web Service Client, HTTP Client, JSON Parser and JSON Generator.   (All Editions)
• 2017R3    July 2018 (Planned) .... JSON Update, RESTFul Synchronization, Cryptography Functions, oAuth2 support, SQL Server 2017 support, and PowerServer Web* (included in Universal Edition).

          * - PowerServer license purchase required for production use

I hope that you enjoyed the history lesson!

Regards ... Chris
 

New Integrated Foundation Classes (2018R1) Released!

** Hot News **

  New Integrated Foundation Classes (2018R1) Released!

 "THE" Framework for Appeon PowerBuilder & PowerServer!

(v2018.1.0.95 - February 14, 2018)

Integrated logging

        Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released a new version 2018R1 (build 2018.1.0.95) of their Integrated Foundation Class library framework for PowerBuilder 2017R2, PowerServer 2017 Web and PowerServer 2017 Mobile!

  

     STD are also super excited as this release represents one of most significant enhancements to the Integrated framework that really exposes the power of Appeon PowerBuilder 2017R2! The new framework combined with PB2017R2 (Revision #2) really positions developers to take advantage of today's Agile and DevOps methodologies plus put a complete 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 set, please follow this link - 2017R3.
  

   The following are some of the highlights of the new combined framework and Appeon PowerBuilder 2017R2 versions at work, as follows:
  

Floating Toolbars

 

New MDI Child & Dockable window floating Toolbars

Database Heartbeat

New Transaction Object Heartbeat feature!

Tracked Windows

New Tracked Dockable Child Windows

   The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with MS-Windows 10 O/S (Creator Edition), PB 2017R2 build #1756 and the PowerServer 2017 (build 1689). 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 2018.1.0.95 - Major Release (2018R1) - change highlights ...

• Migration of entire framework from PB2017MR01 to PB2017R2.
• Added code to "fn_open_sheet_window" to track Dockable sheets
• Added code to "fn_open_sheet_window_withparm" to track Dockable sheets
• Moved SHBrowseForFolder 64bit API in "nc_app_controller_master" to nc_app_controller64_master object
• Added new variable to indicate the App is an IWA application in "nc_app_controller_master".  
• Revised code to set IWA switch & log status if in DEBUG mode in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new public function "of_is_iwa_app" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new public function "of_set_dockable_mode" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new public function "of_is_dockable_app" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added code to the RetrieveEnd event of "vs_dc_graph_master" to handle graph creates in PowerServer Web & Mobile.
• Added new public function "of_get_document_windows" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new public function "of_get_tabgroup_windows" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new public function "of_get_docked_windows" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new public function "of_get_sheet_windows" in "nc_app_controller_master".
• Removed all extraneous code. Added instance Window PTR in "wn_debug_list_master".
• Changed code to use save Instance Window PTR in "wn_debug_list_master".
• Added code to resize the mle_windows control in "wn_debug_list_master".
• Added code to Loop through the tracked windows & list them in the MLE in "wn_debug_list_master".
• Added Trace Model tab page to "wn_debug_list_master".
• Revised the code to fix the report type if Sheet is also dockable in "wn_main_master" of_get_window_open_type method.
• Added boolean indicator for tracking being the current Active window in "wn_main_master".
• Added new public function "of_get_sheet_windows" in "wn_master".
• Added code to the Activate Event to Set Active Window indicator on focus in "wn_master".
• Added code to the DeActivate Event to  Set the Active Window boolean to false when losing focus in "wn_master".
• Added code to Fix for PowerServer Web bug SelectText in "wn_messagebox_master".
• Revised GUI to present better on W10 & newer O/S versions in "wn_zoom_master".
• Added code to mark the open state as SHEET for MAIN window types being opened in "fn_open_sheet_as_document".
• Added code to mark the open state as SHEET for MAIN window types being opened in "fn_open_sheet_docked".
• Added code to mark the open state as SHEET for MAIN window types being opened in "fn_open_sheet_in_tabggroup".
• Added code to mark the open state as SHEET for MAIN window types being opened in "fn_open_sheet_withparm_as_document".
• Added code to mark the open state as SHEET for MAIN window types being opened in "fn_open_sheet_withparm_docked".
• Added code to mark the open state as SHEET for MAIN window types being opened in "fn_open_sheet_withparm_in_tabggroup".
• Moved 64bit code to the 64bit App Controller object class "nc_app_controller64_master" from "nc_app_controller_master".
• Added new "ns_http_client_master" base class for the new HTTPCLIENT object class.
• Added new "ns_json_generator_master" base class for the new JSON Generator object class.
• Added new "ns_json_parsor_master" base class for the new JSON Parsor object class.
• Added new "ns_restful_client_master" base class for the new RESTFul Client object class.
• Added new "of_set_transobject" method to the "ns_ds_master" object class.
• Added new "of_get_transobject" method to the "ns_ds_master" object class.
• Added new variables to support "heart beat" feature    in the "ns_sqlca_master" object class.
• Added new "oe_heart_beat" event to the "ns_sqlca_master" object class.
• Revised the "of_Connect" and "of_disconnect" methods in "ns_sqlca_master" class for the new Heartbeat feature.
• Added new "of_set_heartbeat_time" method to the "ns_sqlca_master" object class.
• Added new "of_set_heartbeat" method to the "ns_sqlca_master" object class.
• Added code to control the HeartBeat feature if active SQL is found in the SQLPreview event of "ns_sqlca_master".
• Added Transaction Object pointer and Get/SetTransObject methods to support Parent class pointer.    
• Revised the "oe_resize" event code in "vs_tc_master" to fix resizing issue.
• Revised the "resize" event code in "wn_log_viewer_master" to fix resizing for Dockable windowed App .

    The OrderEntry example application has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 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!  

Regards ... Chris

Visual Expert for SQL Server

** Hot News **

Visual Expert for SQL Server

   The official release of Visual Expert for SQL Server is now available.  It includes the same features as Visual Expert for Oracle and PowerBuilder.

• Explore Transact SQL Code and SQL Server Schemas.
• Run Impact Analysis and check Cross-references
• Generate a CRUD matrix to find which code is using your SQL Server data, and how.
• Source Code documentation
• Code Review
• Code Comparison
• etc.

 

For more information - click here!

To try Visual Expert for SQL Server - click here!


Regards ... Chris