Colours Utility Application - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News Item **

NEW Colour Generator App!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce an updated Colour Generator Utility application. This application allows the PowerBuilder developer to select a colour and then it generates both the Colour Code, RGB and HEX (web, ribbon builder, Web DW) colour values for use in PB, C#, Web, Delphi and other Development tools!

 

   The STD Framework was used for building this application. So features like for example: Zooming, Print Preview, Tabbed Dialogues, Ribbon Bar UI, Logging, Debugging, Themes, Multiple monitor support, automatic Dialogue centering, MS-Window notifications,  consistent message box displays, etc are already in the application by default just through inheritance!

 

Key Application features ...  

• Migrated from PB 2025 build 3726 to PB 2026 R2 build 6430
•  Migrated from the STD Framework from version 2025 R3 to version 2026 R3
• Tested the Colour Generator on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278

  

   The Colour Generator application is a good example of a PB App that it is all driven by the STD framework. This now allows the PB developer to easily build modern GUI Application interfaces that are  required / desired with all the "bells & whistles" just by changing object inheritance. The framework based app also allows the PB developer to be exponentially more productive!

 

    To use the Colour Generator Utility application, just click on a colour in either category. A hand icon will appear next to your selection and then the resulting colour values will be generated, as follows.

 

Colour Selection Generator in action!

 

       

     The Colour Generator Utility application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. 

 

Please click here to download & enjoy the APP!   

 

  

Enjoy ... Chris

Capture Demo Application - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News Item **

Updated Digital Capture Application Released!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce a brand new Digital Image Capture  application built from the STD Framework for PowerBuilder. This application allows the PowerBuilder application to select an object class (ie: Window, Application, Screen, Control, etc)  and capture them as a digital image using MS-Windows API's!

 

   The STD Framework was used for building this application. So features like for example: Zooming, Print Preview, Tabbed Dialogues, Ribbon Bar UI, Logging, Debugging, Themes, Multiple monitor support, automatic dialogue centering, MS-Window notifications,  consistent message box displays, etc are already in the application by default just through inheritance!

 

Key Application features ...  

• Built using PB 2025 R2 and the STD Framework 2026 R3
• Upgraded App for PB 2025 R2 build 6430 
• Demonstrates the use of the  "nc_capture_master" NVUO to perform image captures
• Tested the Capture Application on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9278

  

   The Capture application is another great example of a PB App that it is all driven by the STD framework. This allows the PB developer to easily build modern GUI Application interfaces and features that are  required / desired with all the "bells & whistles" just by changing object inheritance. The framework based app also allows the PB developer to be exponentially more productive!

 

    To use the Capture Demo application, just click on a command button to generate a digital image of an application resource (ie; Window, App, Control, etc). The Capture application uses a new User Object (NVUO) named "nc_capture_master". You can direct the NVUO to capture any object class as a digital image and return it either as Blob data or optionally, copy the Digital Image to the MS-Windows clipboard, as follows.

Capture Demo App allows you to generate a digital image of App classes!

Select a Capture Area

 

Confirmation that a capture is now in the Clipboard!

 

  

View the digital capture in your favourite imaging tool!

  

    Tip: You can also optionally have the digital image capture of any class into a PB Blob variable where you could write this into a DB Blob column, external file, etc under PowerScript control. Check out the PowerScript in the various Command Buttons's!

         

   The Capture Demo application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download & enjoy the App!  Note that the "Beta" sub-folder holds the PB 2025 R2  version of the Capture Demo application as well.

 

    

Enjoy ... Chris

CDPlayer Application - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News **

Updated version of the PowerBuilder CD player!

Built from the STD Integrated framework!

    Software Tool & Die Inc.are please to announce the release of an updated Compact Disc Player (version 2026.3.0.70) application all written in PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430! This application demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus the all the Unicode based MCI (Multimedia Command Interface) API's now residing in the base classes. The updated application can be deployed as either a P-Code ot M=Code Win32 / Win64  native application or even a PowerClient application and allows the user to control music from any CD/DVD player attached to their PC.

     The amazing changes to this release were the refactoring of the previous code to dovetail into the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2026 R3 for PB release 2025 R2! New features include: a) can now reside in the O/S's System Tray; b) can be compiled for the first time into a 64 bit EXE; c) can be compiled into either a 32 or 64 bit  application; d) complied into M-Code or P-Code,  e) W11 ready and; f) Theme ready!

 

 

Not only is this a "kool" application to run - it demonstrates important low-level control of the O/S that you can easily achieve using the STD Framework's extensive external WinAPI's and support for PB 2025 R2's latest features. When you add the STD framework to the PB development mix - a whole new horizon of application possibilities emerges! 

 

 

     If you would like to enjoy the Native M-Code or P-Code versions of the above CD Player application, please visit the SourceForge website download the CD Player from this link. Note that all the applications and the framework itself  in the SourceForge project are free & open source!

 
    

  

 To commemorate the release of the various Star Wars movies, the CD Player has now been enhanced with various sound effects that salute this great story-line & movie franchise. 

 

I hope that you enjoy the updated Star-wars CD Player edition!

 

 

  You seek a PowerBuilder Master.
Know him I do,
Find him I will!
Hmmm .. you seek Chris Pollach

PSR Example Utility Application - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News **

PSR Viewer Application updated for PB 2025 R3!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce a new version of the PowerSoft Report (PSR) Viewer (v2026.1.0.45) application built from the latest free open source STD Integrated Foundation Classes and specially designed for Appeon PowerBuilder version PB2025 R2 build 6430! 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 2025 R2 HighDPI themes...

PSR Viewer using the new Orange Theme from PB 2025 R2 release!

 

   The new PSRViewer.exe application version 2026 R3 is built using the latest version of the STD Integrated Foundation Class library (2026.1.0.467) utilizing PowerBuilder 2025 R2's build 6430 feature set. The revised PSRViewer has also been extensively tested on the latest W11 Operating System version 25H2 build 26200.9168 with no issues. The new PSRViewer 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 or P-Code compilations and in either 32 or 64 bit mode as well.

 

   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!


Enjoy ... Chris

FileDrop Example Application - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News Item **

Updated External Files Drag & Drop Example!

    

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are please to announce the new release of an STD Integrated Framework External File Drop application version 2026 R3 that utilizes the framework to implement External File Drag & Drop! The ability to drag & drop into a PowerBuilder application via the STD Framework has been feature for over a decade. However, there was not a detailed example on how to perform this action except in the OrderEntry example application. The STD framework implements this by allowing the PB Developer to just set one property, coding one event and then directing the file name data to any standard native PB control!

 

 New features in this release...

File Drop App version 2026.3.0.165 built using PB2025 R2 build 6430

Uses the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2026.3.0.481

Updated to support the latest PB2025 R2 HighDPI Theme feature

Incorporates MS-Windows notification utility built in PB 2025 GA

Incorporates MS-Windows Marquee utility built in PB 2025 GA 

Includes deployment examples for 32 & 64bit M-Code / P-Code

Tested the FileDrop code on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9168

File Drop App is also PowerClient or PowerServer deployment ready!

Improved the DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature found PB 2025 R2

Can now toggle the RibbonBar feature ON or OFF using the "Tools" menu

Can now toggle the TabbedView feature ON or OFF using the "Tools" menu

Can toggle the TabbedView ON/OFF and also change its Look & Feel in the INI file as follows...

  [TabbedView]
Mode=Y/N
FaceName = "Tahoma"
ShowCloseButton =Y
ShowContextMenu=Y
ShowIcon=Y
ShowSeparator=Y
ShowPowerTips=Y
ShowText=Y
TextSize=-8  

 

New GUI Look & Feel automatic Ribbon Bar!

   

    The External File Drag & Drop example application utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2026.3.0.165 release and the latest Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 R2 release build 6430 to locate external files dragged into any PB Application. In turn, the framework facilitates identifying external files coming into a PB application. This latest framework now also detects if the PB App is running in "ADMIN Mode" as well. This is important because external file drag & drop cannot be performed while the application is in that mode. 

  

A list of External Files can be directed to any PB control!

    The Integrated framework allows the PB developer to enable the External Files Drag & Drop by just setting one property. The PB developer then just needs to code one event to handle the external file drop, as follows:
   

Three easy steps... a) Property ON, b) Code framework event, c) Use function to get file names!

     The STD External File Drag & Drop PowerBuilder example application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download   

Enjoy!  

Regards ... Chris

DDE Example Application - 2026 R3 Released!

** Hot News **

Updated PowerBuilder DDE Example Application

Built using the latest STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce an updated DDE example application version 2026.3.0.20 that demonstrate a fully working Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Client and Server application! This latest release of the DDE Client / Server applications are are all written in the latest PowerBuilder version 2025 R2  that fully utilize the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2026 R3.

    In this updated release, the DDE Demo Applications includes the following changes:

• Built using PB2025 R2 build 6430
• Uses the latest STD Integrated Framework  v2026.3.0.481
• Updated to support the PB2025 R2 Theme feature supporting HighDPI
• Incorporates MS-Windows notification utility built in PB 2025 R2
• Incorporates MS-Windows Marquee utility built in PB 2025 R2
• Includes deployment examples for 32 & 64bit M-Code / P-Code
  
• Tested the DDE code on W11 version 25H2 build26200.9168
• Both PowerClient or PowerServer 2025 R2 deployment ready as well!
  

Actual DDE Client and DDE Server in action!

 

    The deployed EXE's for the DDE Client and DDE Server are also included in the DDE Example Applications download. You can run either the Client or Server in mixed modes. For example a 32 bit client and a 64 bit server (or vise versa), a P-Code client and an M-Code server (or vise versa), or any combination of the various DDE EXE's built from the STD Framework. The DDE features will work with any combination of the above EXE's. So this feature is just another tool in the PBToolBox that PB Developers can use to accomplish inter-application communication!

  You can download the new STD Framework DDE Demo App for PB2025 R2 build 6430, as follows:

DDE Demo App:  Download 

STD Framework:  Download  (latest OrderEntry Demo App that uses the framework!)

Note: Older DDE examples and STD Frameworks are available in their respective "Archive" sub-folders found in the above links.

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

Regards ... Chris

Base64 Example Application - 2026 R3 Released!

 ** Hot News **

STD Foundation Classes

Updated BASE64 Example Application released!

 

     Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce an updated Base64 Encoding / Decoding example application version 2026 R3 version 2026.3.0.38 for Appeon PowerBuilder that was built from the latest STD Integrated Framework version 2025.1.0.436 and the new Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 25.1.0.6430 IDE. 

 

The highlights in this release are:

• Migrated the code from PB2025 GA build 3683 to PB 2025 R2 build 6430
• Updated "Theme" support to PB2025 R2 for HighDPI support
• Updated DB Connection settings for SQLAnyWhere v17 database PB 2025R2
• Requires ADMIN INI application to change DB Connection encryption settings (download)
  
• Updated the STD Framework to the latest version 2026.3.0.38
• Tested the Base64 code on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9168
• Updated for PowerClient 2025 R2 App deployment
• Updated for PowerServer 2025 R2 App deployment
• Updated support for the DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar feature of PB 2025 R2
• Can toggle the RibbonBar & TabbedView features ON or OFF from the "Tools" menu
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native & PC / PS deployments with both 32 & 64 bit EXE's! 

 

New TabbedView and Ribbon Bar GUI

 

Base64 example from an ANSI text file!

     Base64 encoding and decoding is a critical  feature when processing XML and JSON files that contain binary datum. As well as using PowerBuilder's PBDOM feature, an XML DataWindow or interacting with Web Services that pass binary data back and forth (ie: JSON in a RESTFul web service). The received binary data will be in base64 encoded format - which is unusable to your PB application unless decoded (converted back) to its original binary state. Conversely, binary data that your PB application needs to send to other XML or JSON based applications must be converted (encoded) into the base64 standard.

 

PowerClient based Base64 example using Unicode text file!

 

Error handling for corrupt (incomplete) or wrong encoded Base64 files.

    The Base64 Example application utilizes standard Microsoft Base64 API's supplied by the MS-Windows O/S. These API's are now embedded in the framework's "nc_crypto_master" object class and easily called from your PowerScript code, as follows:

• lo_crypto.of_base64_stringtobinary ( lblb_image , ls_base64 )

Base64 file translation into an image (or any other binary format for that matter)!

 

    The latest Base64 Example - along with the STD Integrated Framework is also able be used with PowerClient and PowerServer (Cloud) PB 2025 R2 applications. Thus, the Base64 Example application can also be deployed to your favourite Web Server for a more convenient deployment approach. 

 
    You can download the Base64 Example application from the STD Frameworks website by clicking here! You can also download either of the free open source STD frameworks for PowerBuilder, InfoMaker and PowerServer version 2026 R3 by clicking here!

 

   Note: The Archive folder on SourceForge contains older versions of the PB Base64 application for older versions of PB!

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

STD Integrated Framework 2026 R3 - Documentation Released!

 ** Hot News **

STD Integrated Framework

Documentation Updated for the 2026 R3 Released!

    

        Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) are very pleased to announce that they have just released an updated version of the new 2026 R3 build 2026.3.0.481 of the STD Integrated Foundation Class framework documentation! The documentation has been produced using the latest Visual Expert 2026 software tool from Novalys.

   

  

STD Framework documentation main web page!

 

Visual Expert session engaged with the Integrated Framework

    Note: All the STD frameworks and Apps are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes SourceForge project website. You can download the new updated STD Integrated Framework documentation from here.

   STD would like to thank Novalys Corporation for their support of the Foundation Classes by supplying the Visual Expert product for the framework's automated documentation generation!

Regards ... Chris

AppStats Utility 2026 R3 Released - for PB 2025 R2!

 ** Hot News **

Application Statistics

Updated AppStats Application for STD Framework!

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

 

    The STD Framework automatically keeps internal runtime statistics about your PB Application built from the framework. Every time any framework based application is run, at the end of processing the framework writes a run time statistics file (named "std_fc_memory.csv") to your App EXE's folder, The AppStats application has been designed to read this performance file and render a graphic look on how your app actually performed with the host O/S.

 

New features in this release include:

• Migrated the App code from PB 2025 GA to PB 2025 R2 build 6430
• Migrated the STD Framework from 2025 R1 to 2026 R3
• Supports the new HighDPI themes now included in the PB 2025 R2 release!
• Updated menus for the new DisplayMenuAsRibbonBar features of the PB 2025 R2 release
• Can now toggle the RibbonBar feature from the AppStats "Tools" menu!
• Added support for the new TabbedView MDI Sheet look & feel 
• Tested the AppStats code on W11 version 25H2 build 26200.9168
• Tested both M-Code, P-Code, Native & PowerClient deployments with both 32 & 64 bit EXE's!

Customizable Ribbon Bar GUI Look k& Feel

Note: The STD Framework is the only PB framework that is performance tracking ready with no programming required on the PB developers part!  

 

Performance Tabs...

 

Over all Application performance statistics

 

Over all Device performance statistics

Over all Paging performance statistics

     You can download the new AppStats utility application from the STD Framework's website by clicking here to get more productive in analyzing your PowerBuilder App's execution! 

 

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

Integrated Framework 2026 R3 Released - for PB 2025 R2!

 ** Hot News **

  Integrated Foundation Classes (2026 R3) Production Released!

 "THE" Framework for 

PowerBuilder / PowerClient  / PowerServer 2025 R2 !

(New Framework version 2026.3.0.481 - August 19, 2026)

 

        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 2026 R3 (build 2026.3.0.481) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2025R2 GA (build 6430) and PowerServer 2025R2 (Cloud), and InfoMaker 2025R2 MR (build 6430) environments - 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 2025 GA development environment! The updated framework combined with the current PowerBuilder products for building Native Client, PowerClient and/or PowerServer (32 or 64 bit) applications, 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 2025/2026, please follow these links to 2026R1 & 2026R2 & 2026R2-2 respectively. The STD Integrated framework has now had 3 releases in 2026 so that it stays leading edge and feature rich! STD also has more features already ready for the Integrated framework for 2026 R3 release to match the new Appeon PB 2025 R2 release that was just release on August 19, 2026!

 

     The OrderEntry example application and the Integrated Framework's Documentation have also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 2026R3 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 Native PowerBuilder, PowerClient & PowerServer (Cloud) based applications!

    

    The following are key details of the new 2026 R3 Integrated Foundation Class library for Appeon PowerBuilder 2025 R2 build 6430, as follows ...

 

Detailed list of updates between 2026 R2-2 => 2026 R3 ... 

 

1. Modified class "fn_set_web_browser" to handle WebView control languages
2. Modified class fn_spell_check" to add code to use the web Browser spell checker (alternative)
3. Modified Class "nc_app_controller_master" to add "of_is_webbrowser_used" method to check if WB control is being used.
4. Modified class "nc_app_controller_master" to add "of_get_microhelp_class" method for adding UO's to Micro Help bar!
5. Modified class "vc_wb_master" to add CB to be able to create a PDF from the current web page
6. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "of_get_current_html" method to ensure Design Mode does not interfere with HTML 
7. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "of_set_saved_url" that saves the entire current HTML (with any updates)
8. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "of_set_home_url" to set the WB control's "Home" Web Page
9. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "of_get_home_url" to get the WB control's "Home" Web Page
10. Modified class "nc_app_controller_master", "Destructor" method to use the App EXE location in removing the current Log file
11. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add ZOOM control of the current web page
12. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add Language translation to the current Web page
13. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add URL search feature
14. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add copy web page to clipboard
15. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add open downloads file folder
16. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "refresh" the current web page
17. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "Scroll Next Web Page" feature
18. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "Scroll Previous Web Page" feature
19. Modified class "vs_wb_master" to add "Print current Web Page" feature

Web Control:  (New - Custom Visual User Object that wraps the built-in Standard Visual Web Control)

 

CVUO Wrapper around the PB built-in WB Control that adds more functionality!

 

CVUO Web Control:  Custom Visual User Object Wrapper

 

Adds: Zoom, Previous, Next, Home, Print, PDF, Downloads, Clipboard, Translate, URL Search

Spell Checking:  (Activate Spell Checking on RMB)

 

SLE, MLE, RTE, DW Column, or DW RTE 

Spell Checking:  Web Browser Control Window wrapper

 

Spelling errors highlighted via red wavy line. RMB to select spelling options.

Spell Check Options:  (Use the App's INI file)

 

 SpellCheck=Y
; Spell checker to call ( WORD, BROWSER )
Speller=BROWSER

 

STD Framework 2026 R3 Download: https://sourceforge.net/projects/stdfndclass/files/FrameWork/Integrated

STD OrderEntry Demo App R3 Download: https://sourceforge.net/projects/stdfndclass/files/Applications/PowerBuilder/OrderEntry

Tip: PB  Demo Database downloads

A special thank you... 

 

Now over 122,000 lines of code!

 

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

 

 

 

 Enjoy! 

Regards  .. Chris