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Sunday, June 28, 2015

STD Foundation Classes - SMTP Example

** Hot News **

PowerBuilder SMTP eMail Example



    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce a new example PowerBuilder application built from the free open source STD Integrated Foundation Classes that demonstrates sending eMail via the SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The Foundation Classes provide an SMTP object class that brokers the interaction with an eMail server using SMTP and TCP/IP socket programming.


   The new SMTP_Example.exe application is built using the latest version of the Integrated Foundation Class library utilizing PowerBuilder v12.1. However, the application is ready to migrate to PB 12.5.x or 12.6 using PB's built-in migration feature. The SMTP Example may also be deployed to Appeon Web as well if Appeon 2015 is installed.

   The SMTP Example application can be downloaded from the SourceForge web site ... click here!


Enjoy ... Chris

Thursday, June 25, 2015

STD Integrated Framework - Example Applications

** Hot News **

Integrated Framework Example Applications Updated!


   Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce that immediately following the release of its new Integrated framework (2015R3) - that all related example applications and utilities built from this PowerBuilder Classic and Appeon framework have been upgraded to use this latest framework version!

   The updated applications systems are:
Cryptography


Order Entry












 
Multi-Threading


  
PDF Generator








Structure Generator



Windows Explorer











    The Integrated framework example applications & utilities can be downloaded from it's SourceForge project website ... click here to Enjoy!



Regards ... Chris

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

New Release (2015R3) of the STD "Integrated" FrameWork!

** Hot News **

 Integrated Foundation Classes (2015R3) Released!

 "THE" PowerBuilder Classic & Appeon Framework!

(v2015.3.0.40 - June 23, 2015)

 
   Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) is very pleased to announce that they have just released an updated version 2015R3 (2015.3.0.40) of their Integrated Foundation Class library for PowerBuilder "Classic", Appeon Web and Appeon Mobile!


   The latest version contains the following updates and has been tested with Appeon 2013R2 and Appeon 2015 (GA) using the official MR (maintenance  releases) of PowerBuilder "Classic" versions 12.1, 12.5.1 and 12.6. Testing inside of PB included Win32 (both p-code & m-code) deployments while testing inside of Appeon included latest Web Browsers, latest Apple Tablet/Smart Phone and Android Tablet/Smart Phone  deployments.



Release 2015.3.0.40 change highlights ...
  • Framework was system tested with: PowerBuilder Classic 12.1, 12.5.1 and 12.6; Appeon 2013R2 and 2015R2; iOS 8.3 and Android 5.0.1/5.1 (both Smart Phone & Tablet); IE10/11; FireFox 37.02; Safari 5.1.7; Opera 29.0.1795.47; Chrome 42.0.2311.135.1)  
  • Added new "of_notification_display" method to the Application Controller (nc_app_controller_master) base class. This allows you to send a notification message that becomes a MessageBox in native & web but a real tablet / smart phone notification in the Mobile space!
  • Added new "of_notification_remove" method to the Application Controller (nc_app_controller_master) base class.
  • Revised "oe_help" event of "vs_dc_master" base class to use the new "of_notification_display" Application Controller method. This allows applciations to provide interactive help on each object or column in their applications.
  • Removed the old PocketBuilder "of_set_nb_message" method from the "wn_master" base Window class.
  • Replaced hard coded message text in the "nc_app_controller_master" Application Controller base class.
        - The AC now utilizes the Message Sub-System to deliver messages!
  • Revised the "vs_dc_master" DW Control base class to issue more informative messages in the following events:
        - Error, DBError, ItemError, WSError and SQLPreview
  • Revised the "ns_dS_master" DataStore base class to issue more informative messages in the following events:
        - Error, DBError, ItemError, WSError and SQLPreview
  • Revised the "ns_sqlca_master" Transaction base class to issue more informative messages in the following events:
        - DBError and DBNotification
  • Added new message numbers 72-93 and text to the message sub-system.
  • Revised "vs_dc_webservice_master" abstract class to utilize the new "ns_ws_connection_master" Connection base class.
  • Revised "ns_ds_webservice_master" abstract class to utilize the new "ns_ws_connection_master" Connection base class.
  • Added a new "Web Service DataWindow Section" to the default Application INI file (see above changes for the DC/DS web service ancestor components).
  • Revised the events in the "nc_app_controller_master" class to use the help sub-system for message text, as follows ...
        - oe_systemerror, constructor, oe_close
  • Revised the methods in the "nc_app_controller_master" class to use the help sub-system for message text processing.
  • Added new instance variable "is_hint_text" to the "vs_sle_master" base class for Appeon Mobile's of_SetHintText method support. Check out the updated OrderEntry application to see how this works in the Appeon Mobile space!
  • Fixed a bug in the "wn_master" base class to call the related menu's "of_ok2save" method when it is notified!
  • Changed the "of_display_basic_help" method in the "nc_app_controller_master" class to no longer use the old XP "WinHelp.hlp" help.
  • Modified the ""oe_postconstructor" event of "mu_application_master" class to set the related Colour, Log & SMC menu properties.
  • Modified the ""oe_postconstructor" event of "mu_main_master" class to set the Colour, Log & SMC menu item state properly.
  • Added new "About" tab page ancestors in the English, French, Spanish and Italian PBL's.
  • Added new "About" tab control ancestors in the English, French, Spanish and Italian PBL's.
  • Fixed the "Device" about tab page code to correctly display the device ID in the Mobile environment.
  • Revised the "wn_response_master" base class to bypass any ChangeMenu processing on the Mobile platform.
        - Menus are handled differently by Appeon's AWS on the mobile device.
  • Updated the example OrderEntry application using the latest Integrated framework build and added Italian support!
     

 

Future

1)  Continued performance improvements in the PB, Web and Mobile single source framework.
2)  Add more PB, Web and Mobile features (ie: controls, Active Directory, etc).
3)  Integrate Open Source tools like Spell Checking, OCR, Imaging, and more!
4) Add new GUI controls
5) Extend the IIS (Web Services) framework
6) Support for NFC communications and other new features.

The FC's are *free* and can be downloaded (along with a sample Order Entry application) from the SourceForge website!   
Enjoy ... Chris

Friday, June 12, 2015

New Release (2015R2) of the STD "Integrated" FrameWork!

** Hot News **

 Integrated Foundation Classes (2015R2) Released!

 "THE" PowerBuilder Classic & Appeon Framework!

(v2015.2.0.35 - June 10, 2015)

 
   Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) is very pleased to announce that they have just released an updated version 2015R2 (2015.2.0.35) of their Integrated Foundation Class library for PowerBuilder "Classic", Appeon Web and Appeon Mobile!


   The latest version contains the following updates and has been tested with Appeon 2013R2 and Appeon 2015 (GA) using the official MR (maintenance  releases) of PowerBuilder "Classic" versions 12.1, 12.5.1 and 12.6. Testing inside of PB included Win32 (both p-code & m-code) deployments while testing inside of Appeon included latest Web Browsers, latest Apple Tablet/Smart Phone and Android Tablet/Smart Phone  deployments.



Release 2015.2.0.35 change highlights ...
  • Framework was system tested with: PowerBuilder Classic 12.1, 12.5.1 and 12.6; Appeon 2013R2 and 2015; iOS 8.3 and Android 5.0.1/5.1 (both Smart Phone & Tablet); IE10/11; FireFox 37.02; Safari 5.1.7; Opera 29.0.1795.47; Chrome 42.0.2311.135.1)  
  • Added new "ns_ws_connection_master" Web Service Connection base class.
  • Added new "nc_thread_execution_master" base class for Multi-threading support.
  • Added new "nc_thread_postback_master" base class for Multi-threading support.
  • Added new "of_get_appl_data_path" method to the "nc_app_controller_master" base class.
  • Added new "of_get_appl_temp_path" method to the "nc_app_controller_master" base class.
  • Replaced Log Wrap Integer with a Long data type in the "nc_app_controller_master" base class.
  • Added new "STD_FC_PB_Base_i.pbl" PB Library that supports the Italian language!
        => Many thanks to Gimmy Susan for the Italian translations & testing!
  • Added a New global function "FN_NVL" added that implememts the "NULL VALUE" DBMS command in PB.
  • Added a New global function "FN_IIN" added that implememts the "IN" DBMS command in PB.
  • Added a New INI value "Log_Wrap" (Y/N) that enables/disables Log File wrapping.
  • Added a New INI value "Log_Wrap_Size" (NNNNNNNN) - threshold when Log File wrapping is active.
  • Added a New "vs_dc_webservice_master" class to handle Web Service DWO's inside a DW Control.
  • Added a New "ns_ds_webservice_master" class to handle Web Service DWO's inside a DataStore.
     
Note: Due to adding the "nc_thread_execution_master" and "nc_thread_postback_master" classes for Multi-Threading, the "PowerBuilder - MultiThreaded" application was also updated to showcase the threading example using these new ancestors!
MultiThreaded

Futures

1)  Continued performance improvements in the PB, Web and Mobile single source framework.
2)  Add more PB, Web and Mobile features (ie: controls, Active Directory, etc).
3)  Integrate Open Source tools like Spell Checking, OCR, Imaging, and more!
4) Add new GUI controls
5) Extend the IIS (Web Services) framework
6) Support for NFC communications and other new features.

 

   The FC's are *free* and can be downloaded (along with a sample Order Entry application) from the SourceForge website!
  
Enjoy ... Chris

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

PowerBuilder Conference - Impressions!

** Hot News **

2015 PowerBuilder Conference!


NCPBUG.jpg
    This was the second year in a row that I attended the Charlotte, North Carolina user group's PowerBuilder Conference. A big "hats off" to Matt Balent and the NCPBUG Team for a job well done!

    As a presenter both last year and in this years event, I was very impressed with the University of North Carolina downtown campus facilities! The university campus was the home for the three day PowerBuilder 2015 Conference. University.jpgThe building is a little weird from the outside as it looks like each floor was built offsite and then assembled (stacked) one floor at a time improperly as each level is offset. This gives the weird impression I was mentioning when you walk up to the university building. Don't let that fool you though as the meeting, classroom, presentation equipment,etc are quite impressive. As the former president of the Ottawa Conference_Attendees.jpgSybase User Group, the University was also a great choice from the perspective of keeping the attendance costs extremely reasonable for the attendees.

    Speaking of the attendees, this years event drew people from various parts Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and North & South America! Charlotte even now has direct air flights from Paris and many other international destinations - so the task of getting to the conference is quite easy as an overall location pick. For myself, I drove down to the conference from Ottawa, Canada and was able to comfortably drive the 1,490km in two days staying overnight in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. For those attendees along the US eastern sea board, the location was certainly drivable - another bonus about the Charlotte location.

    As the attendees arrived at the conference, each person received some nice "swag" from the NCPNUG team - including a very nicely made conference T-shirt.  Conference_Swag.jpgThe light blue shirt had the conference logo and sponsors logo tastefully located on the shirt. This makes it a keeper for show around the office on dress down Friday's in my book!

    The hotels around the conference are also very conveniently located close to the university downtown campus. I stayed at the Hyatt House and was easily able to walk a few blocks to the conference each day. The weather was generally very pleasant at a sunny 27C. The Hyatt House is also centrally located in the Charlotte downtown area, so after the CharlotteSkyline.jpgconference each evening we were able to enjoy the varied and robust restaurants and pubs within a few blocks of the hotel.

    Along with the great places to eat, you can also find shopping and very interesting architecture to look at or visit the Ritz Carleton cafe or night club for some nice entertainment and dining cuisine. Each evening, I was able to walk the downtown area and discover something new about the City of Charlotte. This was also a great time to meet other conference attendees and reminisce about the days presentations and the good old days of PowerSoft.

    There was a plethora of presentations this year at the conference! Along with myself, the other main presenters were Yakov Werde, Bruce Armstrong, Lecturing_Chris.jpgBrian Le Suer, Christophe Dufourmantelle, Armeen Mazda, Matt Balent and John Strano! LecturingArmeen.jpgUnfortunately, Ronnie Po was not able to make the conference at the last minute but sent Don Clayton who was able to "pinch hit" a presentation in his place. We also had presentations from Heino Hellmers, Franck Fasolin, Mike Searer, Kyle Griffis, Ryan Story, Kay Jenkins, Song Li, and Fili Sosa.

    The classrooms in the university are all setup in a tiered lecture style setting with the presenter up front able to control lighting, audio, video, etc from a touch pad built into the presenter's podium. The rooms are also exceptionally acoustically well designed as well to allow the presenter and questions to be heard from the audience very easily among all the attendees. The university as a whole also had free WiFi for the conference attendees and presenters as well, which also enhanced the experience.

DirkBoessmann.jpg    Of course the big news and highly anticipated event at the conference was the Friday session on the Future of PowerBuilder given by Senior SAP Vice President Dirk Boessmann. This was presentation was done in a theater style room and filled with attendees wanting to know what SAP had decided about PowerBuilder after the four years since acquiring Sybase and its various products. DirkArmeen.jpg

    To the audiences great delight (after much clapping and WhooWhooo's) Dirk gave a great speech on how he came to the recommendation to the SAP Board of Directors that they turn over the future development of the PowerBuilder product to Appeon Corporation!

    At that time in the the presentation, Dirk asked Appeon CEO Armeen Mazda to join him on stage as he outlined that an OEM agreement was being ironed out by the lawyers at that moment to have the PowerBuilder product placed into the hands of Appeon for further development. Dirk stated that this decision was the best one he could come up with to the SAP management that would expedite the PB product into the capable hands of Appeon. Dirk also mentioned that he already had a "team" in place to make the transition happen ASAP. Dirk emphasized that there was already a signed Letter of Understanding in place between the two companies and the SAP and Appeon engineering teams were already meeting to discuss a transfer of knowledge and technology.

    All in all, this was great conference that was well focused on the PowerBuilder product from both the software development , use, education, tips, LecturingClasses.jpgtechniques, etc along with a very affordable pricing and super nice facilities. I would also like to thank the various sponsors of the event as well, that were key to making this event happen: Appeon, Novalys and Zeenyx. AppeonThankyou.jpg

    I am confident that Matt and the NCPBUG team are already thinking about next years event in light of the SAP/Appeon announcement. On the Friday night, Appeon held a presenters presentation dinner to thank all the people who worked so hard in making this event another success!

    Personally, I have received a "ton" of emails thanking me for various information disseminated across the nine presentations that I delivered. A big thank you to all the attendees who took the time to join us in Charlotte!

    For those who did not make the event, please take the time though to send your thoughts about the PowerBuilder product to the Appeon team. They now need this information to create a feasible road-map for the PowerBuilder product. You can fill out the questionnaire and give your ideas here!


Regards ... Chris