PowerBuilder - Windows Explorer

** Hot News **

PowerBuilder - MS-Windows O/S Explorer

Updated for PB2022 R2!

Build 2023.2.0.50

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce the release of its updated MS-Windows O/S System Explorer utility all written in PowerBuilder 2022 R2 - build 2819! This utility demonstrates the power of using the STD Integrated Framework plus MS-Windows SDK calls to locate every running process or service in the entire operating system plus now O/S features like drivers, input devices, environment settings, desktop use, etc! The latest release contains the following upgrades ...

• Migrated the code base from PB2022 build 1900 to PowerBuilder 2022 R2 build 2819!
  
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release (2023.2.0.355)
• Updated MS-Window "Notification" support for PB2022 R2 compliance
  
• Revised Theme feature for PB2022 R2 support
• Tested on MS-Windows 10 version 22H2 build 19045.3516
• Tested on MS-Windows 11 version 22H2 build 22621.2361
• Improved the WMI Display dialogue speed by 2-3 times
• Revised WMI Display Tree View descriptions
• Revised WMI Display Reporting Views
• Added TRY..CATCH to WMI Display to capture invalid option. 

Examples ...

 

Process Explorer Example!

 

 

WMI Explorer Example!

     This release includes Project Objects ready for 32 or 64 bit App deployment to Native (P-Code / 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!

 

 

  

     Unlock the "Power" in your PowerBuilder and download this free PB2022 utility application. Check out the prowess of the free & open source Integrated framework as well assisting the Windows Explorer application at work - click here to download!

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

Enjoy ... Chris

STD Integrated Framework - 2023R2 released!

  ** Hot News **

  Integrated Foundation Classes (2023R2) Released!

 "THE" Framework for PowerBuilder & PowerServer 2022 R2!

(Framework version 2023.2.0.355 - September 26, 2023)  

 

New Framework Encryption features!

        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 2023R2 (build 2023.2.0.355) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2022 R2 and PowerServer 2022 R2 (Cloud), and InfoMaker 2022 R2 (build 2819) - 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 2022  development environment! The updated framework combined with the current PowerBuilder and/or PowerServer products, 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 2021 through 2022, please follow these links - 2021R5, 2022R1  and 2022R2. Note that the Integrated framework had 3 releases in 2022 and 5 releases in 2021 - so that it's always leading edge feature rich! STD also has more features planned for more Integrated framework in 2023 as well!

   

   The following are some of the key highlights of the new 2023R1 Integrated Foundation Class library for Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 R2 build 2819, as follows:

• All obsolete object system classes were removed to align with PB2022 R2
  
• Refactored some external API's to conform to PB 2022 R2's use of the C++ v2022 compiler!
  
• Tested code compliance with W10 / W11 & W2019 / W2022 22H2 builds.
  
• Now encrypts all Transaction object settings for better App security
• Transaction encryption now uses random / unique encryption key per instance.
  
• Now encrypts PowerServer connection & DBParm settings for better N-Tier security
• All DBMS INI connection settings are encrypted better App security
• Created a new ADMIN App to handle INI encryption. 
• Refactored the ns_sqla_master Ancestor object class to handle all DBMS connectivity
• Added new object classes to support the new PDF Builder feature
• Revised the ns_app_controller_master class to handle DPI awareness
• Revised the ns_app_controller_master class to allow each App to have their own encryption key.
  
• Revised the ns_app_controller_master class to fix MS-Word Spell Checking in Office 365
• Revised the OrderEntry Demo App to connect to either SQL Anywhere, SQL Server or PostGres PB2022R2 "Demo DB"!
• Added TabbedView support to the MDI Window ancestor class!
  

INI Encryption Example:

 

 ; SQLAnyWhere (Version 17)
[Database Information SA1]
; The following DB is used for 32bit PB Apps (and PB IDE)!
Database32=£–dŠ×ÎÜ…»±’Á…ƒ……¥…
; The following DB is used for 64 bit PB Apps!
Database64=£–dŠ×ÎÜ…»±’Á…ƒ……¥…
; DB = Dbms version Check ( Y / N )
DB_Check_Version=¬
DB_Expected_Version=„‹rv ’ž“®Ÿ§£
DBMS=¢˜†
UserID=ᦴ
LogId=ᦴ
LogPass=ÆÅ°
Lock=¥¦
ServerName=ŸÃ§§Þ©ÜØë
AutoCommit=Y
DBParm=–ò´×Äá¸ëáÛÙºz—¦¡£•s—¸ÀÂs—•s©…ƒ……¥…
CacheName=¦•£Š×ÎÜ©¹

 

Transaction Object Encryption example:

 

 

MS-Word Spell Checking example:

 

 

New ADMIN App example:

 

 

 

PB 2022R2 Demo Database downloads:

 

 FYI: https://github.com/Appeon/PowerBuilder-Project-Example-Database

Demo App Multiple DB Support example:

 

 

 

 Demo App Tabbed View example:

 

 

     The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with the latest MS-Windows 10 O/S (22H2 build 19045.3516, MS-Windows 11 O/S (22H2 build 22621.2361), PB 2022 R2 build 2819 and the PowerServer 2022 R2 build 2.1.0. Testing within PB Apps included Win32 (both P-code & M-code) and Win64 (P-code) executable deployments. Testing inside of PowerClient and PowerServer included both 32bit and 64bit Apps & PowerServer App/Server (Web API) deployments.

Note: All the STD framework versions are free and can be downloaded from its STD Foundation Classes project hosted on the SourceForge website. The frameworks, Demo Apps, etc  are licensed under Apache 2.0 open source model.

Release 2023.2.0.3255 - Major Release (2023R2) - change highlights ...   

 

• Migrated the framework from version 2023.1.0.325 to 2023.2.0.355 under PB 2022 R2
• Continued to refactor API's to conform to the new C++ v2022 compiler used in PB 2022 R2 (IDE & Runtime)
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to add "CacheName" to the of_encrypt & of_decrypt methods.
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to add the of_load_connection_info method.
• Modified ns_sqlca_master the of_postconstuctor to decrypt the User_ID value
• Modified ns_app_controller_master to Moved PS Server check to Transaction Object on "of_connect" (ns_sqlca_master).
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to perform a PS Check on a valid OS connection
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to of_check_ps_version method to be public so that other objects can call it
• Modified fn_spell_check method to handle MS-Office 365 speller
• Modified ns_app_controller_master to add of_get_speller() and of_set_speller() methods
• Modified ns_app_controller_master Destructor event to clean-up MS-Word OLE spell checker
• Modified ns_app_controller_master Constructor event to handle setting DPI Awareness
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to grab the PowerServer URL from the App's INI
• Modified vs_dc_master to add of_set_save_required method
• Modified the fn_web_browser_control_settings class to support the new WebView2 web browser engine
• Modified the fn_web_browser_control_settings class to move the is_db_expected_version variable to ns_SQLCA_master
• Modified ns_app_controller_master to add of_get_crypto_key method
• Modified ns_sqlca_master to add is_dbms_expected_version variable now SQLCA's of_connect method
• Modified ns_sqlca_master's of_check_version method to find the DBMS version within the Server's signature
• Modified ns_sqlca_master class to add better PowerServer property settings
• Modified ns_sqlca_master's of_load_connection_info method to use encrypted data from the INI file
• Created a new PB App (STD_FC_Admin) that manages (Encrypt or Decrypt) database connection values in an INI file.

      The OrderEntry example application and the Integrated Framework's Documentation has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 2023R2 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 PowerBuilder, PowerClient & PowerServer (Cloud) based applications!

 

Visual Expert's STD Framework Summary Analysis

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

 

 

 Enjoy!

PowerBuilder/PowerServer 2022 R2 Build 2819 - Released!

 

    Appeon are excited to announce that the PowerBuilder / PowerServer 2022 R2 version and the InfoMaker 2022 R2 version, build 2819, have been officially released and are available for downloading!

New Features and Bug Fixes

• Newly supported databases
• SQL Server 2022 (supports MSOLEDBSQL 19.3 using TLS 1.3)
• PostgreSQL 15.x
• Oracle 23c (supports TLS 1.3)

• PowerBuilder
• Supports TabbedView for MDI window.
• Supports Autocomplete for DDDW & DDLB.
• Provides SMTPClient and MimeMessage for native email support.
• New PDF Builder offers a full-set of objects and functions for generating and manipulating PDF documents with text, graphics, images, and interactive elements such as watermarks.
• Enhanced RichTextEdit control to support form fields, tables, and text frames, for which a list of new functions are added.
• Changed the WebBrowser engine from Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) to Microsoft Edge WebView2.
• Upgraded the ADO.NET database drivers to .NET 6 for more secure database connection.

For more new features and detailed information, please see here.

For bug fixes & known issues, please see here.

• PowerServer
• The PowerServer project deployment has been further simplified. Eliminates the need to deploy client apps and Web APIs separately. With just one click, you can deploy your app to an IIS server, saving time and hassle.
• Supports IBM DB2 UDB 11.x.
• Adds Cursory (ultra-fast) to allow developers to quickly validate fixes without waiting for a full build.
• Adds a new encryption type "Strict” to support TDS 8.0 in SQL Server 2022.
• Adds the UserExtensions object and the MaxSPCache setting to the PowerServer C# solution.

For more new features and detailed information, please see here. All the new features listed in PowerBuilder are also applicable to PowerServer.

For bug fixes & known issues, please see here.

• InfoMaker
• Adds the AutoCompleteMode property to the DataWindow object properties dddw.property and ddlb.property to support the following features:
• Supports automatic completion of data input in DropDownDataWindow & DropDownListBox.
• Supports filtering data according to the data input in DropDownDataWindow & DropDownListBox.
• Supports identity column for Oracle.
• Adds a new encryption type "Strict" to the Encrypt Data option in the DB profile. The "Strict" encryption type enables SQL Server 2022 to leverage TDS 8.0.
• It is now possible to enable NativePDF option for the entire application.
• Upgraded the ADO.NET database drivers to .NET 6 for more secure database connection.

For more new features and detailed information, please see here.

For bug fixes & known issues, please see here.

Upgrade Notes

For how to upgrade PowerBuilder applications, please see here. If your application uses WebBrowser, please read carefully the WebBrowser engine changes and evaluate the impact of the changes to your application before the upgrade.

For how to upgrade the PowerServer projects, please see here.

Downloads

To obtain either the new PB 2022 R2 or IM 2022 R2, please download either the PowerBuilder Installer or InfoMaker Installer from our Downloads portal.

 Regards .. Chris

PowerBuilder 2022 - TCP/IP Socket Example

 ** Hot News **

TCP/IP Programming

Updated Socket Application Example for PowerBuilder 2022!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce a brand new MS-Windows Socket (2022) example application built with the latest STD Integrated Framework (2023R1). This latest release of the Socket application is also built using the latest Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 IDE and should also work with the upcoming PowerBuilder 2022 R2 Beta test version as well.

Client Application - Ready to send DW object & buffers

 

         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 files between servers and/or peer-to-peer communications.

Server Application - Receiving DWO and buffers from sender

    In addition, the updated STD Socket example will also now work with PowerServer 2019 as well when deployed as a Web Application! 

Actual Web deployed Socket App talking to its Native PB counter-part!

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

PowerBuilder 2022 - Multi-Threading Example

** Hot News Item **

PowerBuilder 2022 - Multi-threading Example!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. (STD) are pleased to announce the release of an updated STD Integrated Framework example application that utilizes the framework to implement Application multi-threading! The multi-threading feature inside PowerBuilder has been around since version 5.0 when the Distributed PB feature was first introduced. However, it is not a well documented and known feature of the development tool. The STD Multi-threading example goes even further by allowing applications to utilize the vast resources of Integrated framework while taking multi-threading to a higher functional level. The framework allows the PB developer to easily implement multi-threading and be a lot more productive at the same time! 

 

    The updated Multi-threading example application now utilizes the latest STD Integrated Framework (version 2023.2.0.326 released on 2023-03-23) and the newest Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 release (build 1892). Improvements in this release include:

• Migration App code from PB 2021 to PB 2022 build 1892
  
• Migration of the STD Framework from 2021 to 2023R1
• Removal of all Appeon PB EJB library (feature now deprecated in PB 2022)
• Better performance (15% improvement). 
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.2788
• Tested the Multi-threading code on W11 version 22H2 build 22621.1555
• Tested M-Code, P-Code & PowerClient deployments in both 32 & 64 bit EXE's .
  

Note: The STD Framework is the only PB framework in existence that is both thread aware and multi-thread safe!

    The Integrated framework allows each thread to be monitored by the frameworks performance dialogue, write to the O/S Console, log a message in the main tread's application log, share DBMS access, send messages back & forth between threads or between the main thread and its sub-threads, introspect the O/S, etc - just to name a few interesting aspects. Messages may also now be written to the MS-Windows Event Log and MS-Windows Debug logs as well from each sub-thread!

  The latest STD multi-threaded PowerBuilder example application can now be downloaded from the SourceForge website. Please click here to download & enjoy!

  

  For a complete PowerPoint presentation on how Multi-Threading in Appeon PowerBuilder works, please click here to download this PPT presentation.
  

Regards ... Chris