InfoMaker Framework - 2026R3 Released!

 ** Hot News **

Updated InfoMaker Framework

of Reusable Functions

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are pleased to announce today an updated subset of their Integrated Framework that has been developed for the latest Appeon InfoMaker 2025 R2 release build 6430. The updated STD InfoMaker Framework is a set of reusable functions that can be used in any InfoMaker Report or Form object where expressions are used to obtain, format, validate, derive, compute, etc various values. In this release as well, all the functions have been now documented by the Visual Expert 2025 product from Novalys, as follows:

 

Visual Expert generated documentation in HTML format!

         The updated 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 library list to include the "STD_FC_IM_Functions.pbl" library. This will immediately give you access to all 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 to this framework.

 

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

 

Enjoy!
Regards ... Chris

SQL Extract Utility Application - (2026 R3) Released!

 ** Hot News **

Updated SQL Extract version 2026 R3

for Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 R2 

 

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD Inc) have just released a new version of the SQL Extract utility (version 2026.3.48) that can reverse engineer Appeon PowerBuilder's proprietary SQL format known as a PBSELECT into either ANSI, PL/SQL or T-SQL format from within any DataWindow (TM) object. The new version of the SQL Extract utility was designed to allow it to forward & reverse engineer the DataWindow source code from any Unicode based PowerBuilder library. This means that DataWindow source from PowerBuilder version 10 through PB 2017 can be parsed & the SQL run-time generated from a PBSELECT - just like when your DataWindows are actually running under control of your PowerBuilder based production applications! The utility will also identify DataWindows that are not using a PBSELECT format that may be already causing performance, migration or cross-DBMS issues.

 

Main App dialogue with new TabbedView & RibbonView features added!

    The output of SQL Extract is a textual based .SQL file that can be input directly into SQL syntax analysis  products like: SQL Parser; SQL Doctor; Aqua Data Studio; DB Optimizer; etc (to name a few products) for further SQL analysis, formatting, & tuning. STD successfully tested the new version of SQL Extract with SAP's latest SQL Anywhere 17 & ASE 16 as well as the Microsoft SQLServer 2017 DBMS system. SQL Extract can also handle other DB access mechanisms, such as: OLE-DB, ADO.net, JDBC, OData. Support for the ODBC db driver is still standard, but the native db drivers are fully supported as per the Appeon PB 2017R1 product feature set. For older ASE databases, SQL Extract also supports the Open Client (SYC) native DB driver access mechanism.

    The new version of the SQL Extract utility will also work with Appeon's PowerBuilder & InfoMaker 2025 R2 development tools as well, as those products also utilize the same DataWindow object technology. The new features of SQLXTract v2026R3 are as follows:

• Migrated the App code to PB2025 GA to PB2025 R2 version 25.1.0.6430.
• Revised SQL extraction logic to support "on the fly" DataWindow source conversion to PB2025 R2 syntax standard
• Tested SQL Extract with SA 17 and the new "PB Demo DB V2025 R2" database
• Added support for PB 2025's new RibbonView feature
• Added support for PB 2025's new TabbedView feature
• Tested SQL Extract on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278

 

    The SQL Extract utility application is open source and thus royalty free to use. You can download the SQL Extract application source code from its current location on the SourceForge website.

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

Structure Generator - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News **

Updated Structure Generator Utility

    Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are pleased to announce a new free & open source utility for automatically generating PowerBuilder structure classes from any DataWindow. This comes in handy when building Web Service, .NET Assembly, User Object, etc interfaces for encapsulated data interaction. The Structure Generator utility is designed using the latest STD Foundation Class framework version 2026vR3 and specifically works with the new PowerBuilder 2025 R2 release. It works with the WorkSpace application type but cal be migrated to a Solution type in a few minutes.

    The generator starts by introspecting any PBL (PowerBuilder Library) to build a list of DataWindow objects contained within that library. The PB developer can point the utility to any MS-Windows folder that may contain a PBL. From there, the generator displays a list of DataWindow Objects (DWO) contained in the selected PBL. Any SQL or External based DWO can be used to build a set of structures for to use in constructing a data equivalent structure object source. 

 

In this release ...

• Migrated the code from PowerBuilder 2025 GA build 3683 to PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release 2026 R3 build 2026.3.0.481
• Updated MS-Window "Notification" support for PB2025 R2 compliance
  
• Improved "Marquee" support via the update to STD Framework 2026R3
• Tested on MS-Windows 11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278
• The PB 2025 R2 Theme HighDPI feature is now supported.
• Can now modify the RibbonBar mode from the App's "Tools" menu
• Can now modify the TabbedView mode from the App's "Tools" menu 
• Can now swap between the RibbonBar / Menu mode from the App's "Tools" menu.

 

  

Structure Generator in action!

    For .Net based interfaces you need to build two structures. One that maps any DWO's primary buffer and a second structure that houses the first. The SG can build both structures by selecting the "generate parent structure" option on the lower left hand side of the "Structure Builder" screen. You can also request that the SG prefix your Structure Item names (ie:  "si_"). Once the DWO and structure options are selected, the "Generate" command button will allow the developer to select the target folder and Structure name where the SG will build then actual PB structure object source code.

 

Selecting the location and name to build the structure!

  For the "Tracing Options" DWO shown above, lets enter the structure name "sr_trace_options" when we select the "generate" command button. The SG will complete the building of the resulting structure(s) based on the DWO's definition. 

  

Resulting PowerBuilder Structure source code!

    Once your structure(s) source are built by the SG utility, all the PB developer needs to do to ready the structures for use is to use the RMB on any PBL and then select the "Import" popup menu option. This will now import both the source code & compile the P-Code of the imported structure into working object for use in your PB application(s)!

   

Importing the new Structure into a PBL

 

Viewing the new Structure in the Structure Painter!

    Now to complete the structure, you can edit the Structure Item "description(s)" as required to complete the object's documentation. Then save the edited Structure for your use or share the structure PBL with your fellow PB developers for their productivity.

    To download the free & open source SG 2026 R3 utility - click here!

    To download the free & open source STD 2026 R3 Framework - click here! 

Enjoy ... Chris

OCR / Imaging Example - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News Item **

Updated OCR / Imaging Example!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce the updated release of both the STD Integrated Framework (2026 R3) and the the OCR / Imaging example application (version 2026.3.0.5)  that utilizes the STD framework to implement both OCR scanning and Image management! The OCR / Imaging feature inside this application is all driven by DataWindow controls and utilizes the free and open source Tesseract and ImageMagicK products for OCR and Image management!  

 

   The OCR / Imaging application is a working prototype of a real life application that was actually put into production. It emulates a "web" look & feel with controls and menus leveraging DataWindow technology. A great candidate for PowerServer Cloud apps where you want to give the App user a Web App look & feel! It allows language switching, OCR data location, Image redaction and foreground text Escapement to signify a completed redaction of payment card information. The application also demonstrates security, reporting, work queue management and drag & drop data targeting!

 

   The OCR / Imaging application is a;; driven by the STD framework which allows the PB developer to easily build any GUI Application interface that is required (desired). The framework also allows the PB developer to be  exponentially more productive! 

 

In this release ...

• Migrated the code from PowerBuilder 2025 GA build 3683 to PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release 2026 R3 build 2026.3.0.481
• Tested on MS-Windows 11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278

  

Bilingual Welcome Screen

 

Login dialogue utilizes Active Directory services

    Once you are past the the Login dialogue (any password is accepted in this demo app), you are presented with the main working dialogue for the application. Note that the Header band is a DataWindow that allows the application user to a) switch language, b) return to the "home" screen, c) Logout, d) View the App log (if they are an Admin User) and e) enter the App's Help information via an HTML URL. The main working menu on the left is also a DataWindow!
 

Main application working dialogue using DataWindow top & left menus

 

    The next step would be to select the "Administration" section of the left side DataWindow menu. This allows the App user to a)  Manage App users (if they are an App Admin) or b) Reassign work that is "in progress" in the assigned work queue. Note that the latter feature would be used where an App user is on vacation, sick, leaves the department, etc and there is "work in progress" that needs to be reassigned to another valid app user in order for it to be completed.

  

OCR / Image user security rights administration

    The next part could be the reporting section where privileged users and/or App Admin can get information about WIP (work in progress) by various status (completed, redacted, or reviewed). These areas (as well as the above mentioned Administration section), are just a standard PB Tab Control plus Tab Page that includes standard PB DataWindow controls to drive the show!

  

Example of Tab Page user object with DataWindow reports

    The "meat and potatoes" though of the application  is within the "Redaction" side of the left menu DataWindow. This brings into play a User Object Tab Control plus Tab Page that contains three DW's a) top main processing menu, b) right side image handling menu DW and c) a center DW that is used for displaying images, OCR, targeting, image manipulation, redaction and task completion, as follows:

   

Main image handling tab page with surrounding menu DW's!

 

    From here the App user can rotate the images, use the "Find" on the top tool bar to OCR the image to locate possible credit card information, use the right DW menu to manually target credit card information, redact and then complete & save the image back to the DBMS (of course all the time, using PB's BLOB handling commands). Note that because all the dialogues are DataWindow control based, the entire App then becomes Zoomable!

  

Image flip & rotation handling

Using OCR to locate possible credit card data within a form

  

Redacted credit card information on the image within the DW!

 

Final image redacted & saved back the the DB BLOB table.

     The STD OCR / Image PowerBuilder example application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download & enjoy the APP and the code behind that demonstrates that with PB, you can build any type of App GUI & functionality that you need! 

 

    
Enjoy ... Chris

Explorer Utility Application - (2026 R3) Released!

 ** Hot News **

PowerBuilder - MS-Windows O/S Explorer

Updated for PB 2025 R2 (latest release)!

Build 2025.1.0.62

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce the release of its updated MS-Windows O/S System Explorer utility all written in PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430! This utility demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus MS-Windows SDK calls to locate every running process or service (visible or invisible) in the entire operating system! Plus now introspecting O/S features like drivers, input devices, environment settings, desktop use, etc! The latest release contains the following upgrades ...

• Migrated the code from PowerBuilder 2025 GA build 3683 to PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release 2026 R3 build 2026.3.0.481
• Updated MS-Window "Notification" support for PB2025 R2 compliance
  
• Improved "Marquee" support via the update to STD Framework 2026R3
• Tested on MS-Windows 11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278
• The PB 2025 R2 Theme HighDPI feature is now supported.
• Can now modify the RibbonBar mode from the App's "Tools" menu
• Can now modify the TabbedView mode from the App's "Tools" menu 
• Can now swap the RibbonBar / Menu mode from the App's "Tools" menu.

Examples ...

 

Ribbon Bar Menu Mode

 

Marquee running when long requests are in progress!

Process Explorer Example!

 

 

WMI Explorer With Tabbed View UI!

     This release includes Project Objects ready for 32 or 64 bit App deployment to Native (P-Code or M-Code), or PowerClient based applications. With the combination of the STD Integrated  Framework the MS-Windows Explorer application will now function in either native or Cloud deployment modes!

 

Explorer updated Help dialogue

  

     Unlock the "Power" in your PowerBuilder and download this free PB2025 R2 utility application. Check out the prowess of the free & open source Integrated framework as well assisting the Windows Explorer application. Click here to download! Then find see how this utility can find every visible and invisible object in all tasks, notifications, processes, background tasks and services running on the MS-Windows O/S machine!

Note: Older versions of the Windows Explorer utility can be found in the "Archive" sub-folder.

Enjoy ... Chris

Send Message Example Applications - (2026 R3) Released!

 ** Hot News Item **

Updated Send Message Examples!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce the new release of an STD Integrated Framework example application that utilizes the STD framework to implement O/S messaging! The Send Message feature inside PowerBuilder has been around since PB version 2.0. However, it is not a well documented and known feature of the PB development tool. The STD Send Message example goes even further by allowing applications to communicate across processes. The STD framework allows the PB developer to easily implement messaging. The framework also allows the PB developer to be  exponentially more productive!
  

    The Send Message example application utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2026.3.0.481 released on 2026-08-19 and the newest Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 R2 release build 6430 to locate external applications. In turn, the framework then facilitates external applications written in PB or almost any development language - to send messages back to  PB applications using a Send() command (PB or Windows API).

 

    The download includes three applications, Sender, Receiver and SendReceive. The SendReceive application demonstrates locating any object class in your PB App and its address (handle). Once an object class handle is found the calling object can use the PB Send() command to send it an O/S message. The messaged control can then send back information (ie: its Class Name) to the caller by using another Send() command. Note the PB Send command is the same as the MS-Windows API Send command. So using the Windows API allows non-PB Apps to send messages to a PB App.

 

SendReceive example using Send() to introspect other objects!

    The Integrated framework also allows you to send messages from one application to another (different processes). The Sender and Receiver applications in the download provide this example between applications (processes). These PB applications can be running as either a Native, System Tray or System Task process. They also demonstrate the use of the "Custom User Event" to be able to receive messages between any App and your PB App.

    

    The 2026 R3 Send Message applications have also been updated to use the new PB 2025 R2 HighDPI  Themes, TabbedView and DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar features of  PB 2025. Then these feature enhancements updated again to the PB 2025 R2's latest GUI.

Sender & Receiver example of inter-process Send Messages

     The STD Send Message PowerBuilder example applications can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download & enjoy!
  

Enjoy ... Chris

WordSearch Game Application - (2026 R3) Released!

 ** Hot News Item **

Updated WordSeach Puzzle Maker App!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce a brand new release of a WordSearch Puzzle Maker application. The original Classic App (non-framework) has now been updated to use the latest STD Framework. The Classic version was migrated version from PB 2021 to PB 2025 with some GUI image tweaks that was remapped to use the STD Integrated Framework classes!

 

    The Classic version was originally written by me in the PB version 5.0 time frame for my children who had to make these up as their homework assignment in public school. I upgraded this in PB 2021 and now into PB 2025 R2 build 6430. Now my grandchildren use the app to create the same Word Searches for their school mates! The framework version is an MDI based App that solely use pure Framework Class objects to add things like RibbonBar TabbedView, HighDPI, Themes etc features, as follows

    

Classic version of the Word Search Puzzle Creator!

 

New Framework version of the Word Search Puzzle Creator!

   The Framework version is a refactored classic version replacing the System Classes with the equivalent ones from the STD Framework! This means that the framework based WordSearch maker now has automatically many new features like for example: Zooming, Print Preview, Tabbed Dialogues, Ribbon Bar UI, Logging, Debugging, Themes, Multiple monitor support, Dialogue centring, MS-Window notifications,  consistent message box displays, etc

 

Key Application features ...  

• Built in PB 5.0 and then migrated to PB 2025 build 3683
• Migrated  from PB 2025 GA build 3683 to PB 2025 R2 build 6430
• Migrated  from STD Framework 2025 R3 to the latest framework version 2026 R3
•  Tested SQL Extract on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278

 

Framework version of the Word Search Puzzle Creator with Zooming!

 

   The Framework Word Search Puzzle Creator application is a good example of refactoring a classic PB App so that it is all driven by the STD framework. This now allows the PB developer to easily build any GUI Application interface that is required / desired with all the "bells & whistles" just by changing object inheritance. The framework based app now also allows the PB developer to be exponentially more productive in the future!

 

Complete the puzzle by auto filling the empty squares!

      

     The Framework version of the Word Search Puzzle Creator example applications can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download & enjoy the App (and your children as well)!  

 

  

Enjoy ... Chris

TCP/IP Sockets Example Application - (2026 R3) Released!

 ** Hot News **

TCP/IP Programming

Updated Socket Application Example for PowerBuilder 2025 R2!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce a brand new MS-Windowsc TCP/IP Socket (2026 R3) example application built with the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2026 R3). This latest release of the Socket application is also built using the latest Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430 of the PB IDE.

  

New GUI Look & Feel for PB 2025!

  

   The updated Socket example application now utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2026.3.0.481)!

 

Improvements in this release include:

• Migrated App code from PB 2025 GA build 3683 to PB 2025 R2 build6430
• Migration of the STD Framework from 2025 R1 to 2026 R3
• Now supports HighDPI themes now included in the PB 2025 R2 release!
• Improved support for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025
• Can toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF via the App's "Tools" menu.
• Can toggle the TabbedView feature ON or OFF via the App's "Tools" menu.
•  Can toggle the Ribbon / Menu feature ON or OFF via the App's "Tools" menu.
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native EXE's!
• Both PowerClient and PowerServer deployment ready 

Note: The STD Framework is the only PB framework in existence that is TCP/IP Socket ready! 

         The STD Socket example application demonstrates a significant enhancement to the the PB developer's toolbox! The Socket example showcases the TCP/IP features in the STD Integrated Framework and more importantly returns the power of Distributed PowerBuilder back to the application developer. The TCP/IP socket support in the STD Frameworks is based on the work by Tom Cervenka's Sockets objects (written in pure PB, dating back to the PowerSoft days) that utilizes MS-Windows socket API's for FTP'ing text, binary data, files etc. between Apps and/or peer-to-peer communications between PB Apps (clients / servers).

PB Server Application - Receiving DWO and buffers from sender

 

     In addition, the updated STD Socket example will also now work when deployed as either a PowerClient or PowerServer App as well!

 

Socket App talking to counter-part exchanging DataWindow data!

   

Socket App talking to counter-part exchanging Textual data!

Watch the video!

    You can download the updated STD Socket example application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here to get more productive in peer-to-peer communications with PowerBuilder! Note that an "Archive" sub-folder has also been added to this location as well. This folder contains previous versions of the socket example application for older PB releases!

 
Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

PS Console Utility Application - (2026 R3) Released!

 ** Hot News **

Updated PowerServer Console Application!

Built using the STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce an updated  version of the PowerServer Console (2026 R3) application for use with the new PowerServer 2025 R2 Web API application server! This latest release of the PowerServer Console application is all written in PowerBuilder 2025 R2 and uses the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2026 R3 as well!

    In the original release, the PS Console App could only monitor and if need be kill a PS App's "Session". Changes in this new release though now include:

• Migrated the App code from PB 2025 GA build 3683 to PB 2025 R2 build 6430
• Updated STD Integrated Framework from version 2025.1.0.436 to 2026.3.0.481
• Incorporated updated PB 2026 R3 MS-Windows notification utility
• Updated the Theme files to PB2025 R2 build 6430 for HighDPI support
• Tested the Console code on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278
• Updated the console support for the new C# Net DataStore server feature in PB 2025!
• Incorporated the newest DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025 R2
• Incorporated the newest TabbedView feature of PB 2025 R2 
• Can now switch between Menu / Toolbar mode in the App's "Tools" menu!
• Can now switch between Ribbon Bar mode in the App's "Tools" menu!
• Can now switch between Tabbed View mode in the App's "Tools" menu!

 

New Ribbon Bar look and C# .Net DataStore server support!

Customizable connection settings (DNS / IP Address) + Port

 

PS Console App monitoring PowerServer "Sessions".

 

    One of the new features in this PS Console release now allows you to see all the Web API's within the 2025 R2 PS server itself by using the API tab page. Note that the PS Console's functionality is governed by the built-in exposed "internal" RESTFul web services within the PS 2025 R2's server itself. Check this API documentation feature and also then be able to execute them from inside t2he PS Console application itself, as well as follows:

Console displaying WEB APIs currently available in the PS Server

Example of the Console executing any Web API it sees!

Console showing a called Web API's return JSON data.

   Another new feature in the latest version of the PS Console is the ability to check the PowerServer's actual Heath. You can do this by selecting the new Health Tab in the PS Console application, as follows: 

New PowerServer Health check feature at work!

    Software Tool & Dies have also recently updated the STD Integrated framework to handle PS Server outages without crashing the running PB App when connected to PowerServer. This allows the App User and/or the Support team to see exactly what happened during a PB=>PS App failure. This could be for example: network outage, server not started, killed session, PS processing error, etc) by the type of failure reported and now logged as well! The newer framework also allows PS Apps to perform a PS server Fail Over as well that can now be handled by the PS App when one instance of a PS Server is not available!

 You can download the PS2026 R3 Console and latest OrderEntry Demo App for PB/PS2025 R2, as follows:

PS Console:  Download     OrderEntry:  Download 

   Enjoy ... please let me know what you think & if you have any feature suggestions that you might like for future versions!

Regards ... Chris