PowerBuilder Applications in the new Edge Web Browser!

** Hot News **

PowerBuilder Web Applications

Engage the new Windows10 EDGE Browser!

  The new Edge web browser launched with MS-Windows 10 has a new look & feel and technical architecture. Microsoft is currently planning for the Edge to become the standard browser in the MS-Window line with Internet Explorer eventually being retired.

OrderEntry PowerBuilder application running in the Edge browser!

   Last week, Appeon Corporation released a new version of Appeon Web product housed within its latest maintenance release version of the Appeon 2015 for PowerBuilder software release - MR#328. This new Appeon software version not only included support for the new W10 O/S but also included a hidden gem - Appeon`s first beta support for the Edge web browser. Now PowerBuilder developers can build and deploy their PB Applications to the web and have them run directly in the new Edge web browser using Appeon Web! Just like they can do today utilizing either the: IE, FireFox, Opera, or Chrome web browsers* - utilizing Appeon Web`s "leading edge" (sorry - no pun intended) web technology.

  Since I was testing my Web Service and Integrated Foundation Classes with the new MS-Windows 10 O/S, I decided to engage the Edge browser with my example applications. To my delight, the example OrderEnrtry application built from the STD Integrated framework worked flawlessly the first time running inside the new Edge web browser.

  At this time, Appeon Corporation do not claim that the new Edge browser is "officially" supported. However, their web browser plugin does seem to work very nicely with the Edge in my early testing.  If you would like to get a jump start on testing your Appeon Web based PowerBuilder applications in the new Edge browser, I would highly recommend downloading Appeon for PowerBuilder version 2015.0328.00.

* - please note that Appeon Web still works with the MS-Windows based Safari web browser. However, this browser is no longer supported by Apple and for this reason, Appeon will be discontinuing its plug-in support for this browser in the next release.

Regards ... Chris

Appeon for PowerBuilder Update!

** Hot News **

Appeon for PowerBuilder 2015

  MR#328 Released

   

    Appeon Corporation has announced the release #0328 of a maintenance release of Appeon for PowerBuilder 2015, which supports Microsoft Windows 10. Also, included in this maintenance release is the replacement of Appeon’s NPAPI browser-plugin to comply with changes in Google Chrome version 45 and newer.

    Appeon would like to thank their community for submitting requests and issues as well as, supplying valuable comments on their Support Center and Appeon Developer Group!

What’s New:

• Supports MS-Windows 10.
• Supports IIS 10 with .NET 4.6.
• Removed NPAPI dependency from the Appeon browser plug-in, which is required for Chrome version 45 and newer.
• Supports text centered vertically in SingleLineEdit, StaticText, & EditMask controls (mobile only).
  
• Able to get the width and height of the Appeon Workspace screen.
  
• Supports the hide/display of the normal view icon on the Appeon Workspace title bar.
  
• Supports the HintText property of the SingleLineEdit control (mobile only).
  
• Supports the Run PowerScript function on the Android OS.
• Appeon Mobile now supports compiling 64-bit compatible iOS native apps.
• Supports the silent installation of all Appeon components including Appeon Developer, Appeon Server of all types (except for EAServer and NetWeaver), Appeon Server Web Component, and Appeon Help.
• Enhanced NCharBind data type support in MS SQL Server.
• Supports the era setting of PowerBuilder 12.5 Japanese version.
• Various bug fixes ... read the list.

Download the update!

• If you've already have Appeon 2015 installed then you directly upgrade by installing maintenance release build 328.
• If you're new to Appeon or have a version of Appeon pre-dating 2015 then you should download the full installation of Appeon 2015 build 328.

Update your Applications!

    Please, remember to update (re-deploy) your Appeon for PowerBuilder applications after installing the latest Appeon version in order to activate all the fixes & features listed above.

 

 

 Enjoy ... Chris

Installing GhostScript for PowerBuilder on Windows 10!

** "Kool" Tip **

GhostScript on Windows 10

PDF Generation for PowerBuilder Classic

 

   Most PowerBuilder developers know that the DataWindow object class in PowerBuilder (PB) Classic utilizes the open source (GNU) version of the GhostScript (GS) software to convert PostScript printer output into an Adobe PDF (Portable Data Format) file. The challenge this year for PB Developers moving into the MS-Windows version 10 domain, is that all drivers must be signed in order for the new O/S to accept the driver. This creates an issue for the GS installation as even the latest version 9.16 does not supply signed MS-Windows drivers.

  The good news though is that the PB Developer can get around this roadblock in the new O/S by following the procedure I used below to install GS v9.16. Without this technique, the GS install will not complete due to finding an unsigned driver. The install will in fact get stuck in a closed loop ... select the .INF, get an unsigned driver message, click next, get an unsigned error and voila - your back at the select the .INF file part again in the MS-Windows 10 install printer wizard!

  The following procedure is what I used to circumvent the unsigned GS driver issue in W10, as follows:

1) Hold down the SHIFT key while you click Restart.

2) Once your computer has rebooted, choose the Troubleshoot option.

 

3) Then select the Advanced options.

4) You will now be prompted to restart your Computer again.
5) After restarting, you will need to press the F7 key!

6) Now your PC will reboot and you will be able to install unsigned drivers without any error messages! 

Now during the GhostScript installation, once you get to selecting the printer driver from the GS installation's LIB folder, you should now see the MS-Windows security dialogue allowing the GS Driver to be installed even though its not signed!

  Some of you may be saying to yourself ... OMG, How will I ever get around this when I deploy GS into the production realm? My technical support people will never allow this procedure to be used the our production environment! To that I would answer ... how about using this approach (click here) instead?

  I hope that this article has helped prepare you for the world of MS-Windows 10 with PowerBuilder. I have now personally used the above procedure on two W10 PC's to successfully install GhostScript and use it with PB 12.1, 12.5 and 12.6.  

Regards ... Chris

STD Framework Project Updates!

** "Kool" news **

STD Frameworks on SourceForge

New project Features!

    Software Tool & Die Inc (STD) is very pleased to announce that the Foundation Class (FC) project on the SourceForge website has had some significant improvements as of late. The FC project that supports PowerBuilder, Appeon and EAServer has had an amazing download activity this year. In fact, year to date figures currently stand at 3,844 downloads! In order to support this significantly increased use, new project features have been enabled for framework users.

Support:

    Framework users can now contact the framework designer directly using the new "Support" link located at the top of the STD FC Project. The support link will enable direct email contact for framework help.

Tickets:

   Framework users can now see a list of open maintenance and enhancement tickets on either the Integrated or Web Service framework. Developers who are logged into the STD FC SourceForge project can also open tickets directly on a framework and/or specific feature.

Discussion: 

    The newest feature is the Discussion forums. There are three forums: General, Integrated and Web Service. The Discussion is open to all framework users to puruse. To open a discussion or reply to a question, the developer must log into the SourceForge project in order to participate.

   The general discussion forum is just that - general questions about overall framework strategies, direction, futures, etc. The Integrated discussion is specific to the Integrated framework which encompasses Appeon and PowerBuilder Client Server, Web and Mobile based applications. The last discussion area is around the Web Service framework specifically for PowerBuilder. However, both Appeon Web and Appeon Mobile can take advantage of these Web-services at run time as a "Consumer".

    Once inside a specific discussion, any FC user my browse any discussion thread. However, in order to participate in any discussion, the developer is required to log into the SourceForge STD project. Once they start participating in a discussion thread they will receive emails on various postings. These email updates also allow the thread participant to continue the thread update via email responses.

    All-in-all, the new SourceForge features enabled for the STD FC's on SourceForge further enhances the direction and dedication of the frameworks to continue to be the best frameworks available in the market for either PowerBuilder, Appeon or EAServer.

Regards ... Chris

Drag & Drop Into PowerBuilder!

** Hot News **

Drag & Drop Into PowerBuilder

Example Application!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce a new example application built from the free open source STD Integrated Foundation Classes that demonstrates dragging files from MS-Windows Explorer into any PowerBuilder application. The Foundation Classes provide an automatic interface to the MS-Windows operating system that enables the Drag Into feature by setting one Window class property!

   The new DragDrop_Into.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 Drag & Drop INTO Example application can be downloaded from the SourceForge web site ... click here!


Enjoy ... Chris

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

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

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

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!

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

PowerBuilder Conference - Impressions!

** Hot News **

2015 PowerBuilder Conference!

    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. The 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 Sybase 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.  The 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 conference 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, Brian Le Suer, Christophe Dufourmantelle, Armeen Mazda, Matt Balent and John Strano! Unfortunately, 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.

    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.

    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, techniques, 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.

    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