PB Birthday!

Happy 33rd birthday PowerBuilder!

Released in July 1991

Check out the latest Appeon PowerBuilder!

Crypto Example Application (2024 R2) Released!

 ** Hot News **

STD Foundation Classes

Updated CRYPTO Example Application released!

Version 2024 R2

           Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce the release of an updated CRYPTO Encoding / Decoding example application for PowerBuilder, PowerClient and PowerServer 2022. This latest release of the CRYPTO application is are all written in the latest PowerBuilder 2022 R3 version and is also using the latest STD Integrated Framework (2024 R2 ) ... 

 

 

   The latest release of the Crypto example has had some major updates, as follows:

• Updated the example using PB2021 build 1509 to PB 2022 R3 build 3356
  
• Updated using STD Integrated Framework version 2024.2.0.395
• Updated the Theme feature for the latest PB 2022 R3 themes
  
• Incorporates the latest PB notification & Marquee App utilities
• Deployment examples in 32/64bit and M-Code / P-Code
  
• Tested the Encrypt code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the Encrypt code on W11 version 23H2 build 22631.3737
• Ready for PowerClient or PowerServer 2021 deployment as well!

     Click here to download the example application source code!

 

Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

DDE Example Application (2024 R1) Released

 Hot News!

PowerBuilder DDE Example Application

Built using the latest STD Framework!

        Software Tool & Die Inc. are very pleased today to announce an updated example application 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 2022 version and are also using the latest STD Integrated Framework (2024R2)  ...

    In the updated release, the DDE Demo Applications include the following changes:

• Built using PB2022 R3 build 3356
• Using STD Integrated Framework  v2024.3.0.395
• Updated to support the PB2022 R3 Theme features
  
• Now includes  Client & Server App logging auto delete at EOJ
  
• Incorporates MS-Windows notification utility built in PB 2022 R3
  
• Deployment examples for 32 & 64bit M-Code / P-Code
  
• Tested the DDE code on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4529
• Tested the DDE code on W11 version 23H2 build 22631.3737
• PowerClient or PowerServer 2022 R3 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 PB2022 R3 build 3356, 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

PSR Report Viewer (2024 R2) Released!

 ** Hot News **

PSR Viewer Application updated for PB 2022 R3!

    Software Tool & Die Inc. are please to announce a new version of the PowerSoft Report (PSR) Viewer (v2024.2.0.37) application built from the latest free open source STD Integrated Foundation Classes and specially designed for Appeon PowerBuilder version PB2023 R3 build 3356! 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 2022 R3 themes...

PSR Viewer using the new Orange Theme from PB 2022 R3 release!

 

   The new PSRViewer.exe application is built using the latest version of the STD Integrated Foundation Class library (2024.3.0.395) utilizing PowerBuilder 2023 R3's build 3289 feature set). The revised PSRViewer has also been extensively tested on the newer W11 Operating System as well with no issues. The new PSRViewer now 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, P-Code compilations and in either 32 or 64 bit mode also.

 

   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 ... Chris

Windows Explorer (2024 R2) Released!

 ** Hot News **

PowerBuilder - MS-Windows O/S Explorer

Updated for PB2022 R3 (latest MR)!

Build 2024.2.0.58

    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 R3 - build 3356! 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 base from PB2022 R2 build 3289 to PowerBuilder 2022 R3 build 3356!
  
• Updated the STD Integrated framework to the latest release (2024.3.0.395)
• Updated MS-Window "Notification" support for PB2022 R3 compliance
  
• Added "Marquee" support via the update STD Framework.
  
• Tested on MS-Windows 10 version 22H2 build 19045.4474
• Tested on MS-Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.3672

Examples ...

 

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!

 

 

  

     Unlock the "Power" in your PowerBuilder and download this free PB2022R3 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! Then find see how this utility can find every visible and invisible object in all tasks, processes and services running on any MS-Windows O/S machine!

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

Enjoy ... Chris

Visual Guard 2024 Released!

 ** Hot News **

    Visual Guard 2024 comes with a plug & play solution for PowerBuilder apps offering modern authentication features like Windows Authentication, Single Sign On, Multi-factor Authentication, Token-based Authentication, OAuth 2, and compliance with regulations. !

Hot features:  Visual Guard 2024

• Integrate with Active Directory
• Implement Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Support OAuth 2
• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA/2FA)
• Secure Your Web API

Plus many more new features & upgrades ... learn more about VG 2024 here!

 Regards .. Chris

Visual Expert 2024 Released!

 ** Hot News **

    Visual Expert 2024 is now available to download that includes a "kool" new PowerBuilder code profiling features and more to boost your development productivity and code quality!

Hot new feature:  PowerBuilder Code Profiling

• Generate a trace to identify slow code consuming the most time in a business process.The lines are highlighted in red with execution time percentages in Visual Expert source code view.Streamline optimization by focusing on critical areas for improvement.

Plus many more new features & upgrades ... learn more about VE 2024 here!

Regards .. Chris

Script Commenter (2024 R2) released!

 ** Hot News **

STD Foundation Classes

PowerBuilder Script Commenter - Application update released! 

        Software Tool & Die Inc. today are very pleased to announce an updated  version of the Script Commenter 2024 R2 application (build 2024.2.0.85) for the Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 R3 build 3356 IDE! This latest release of the Script Commenter application is also using the STD Integrated Framework to drive this functionality...

PB 2022 R3 IDE using the Script Commenter!

         The STD Script Commenter is a significant enhancement to the way a PB developer works productivity wise by easily allowing code comments to be added to any object class in the current object painter's PowerScipt or declaration areas! The Script Commenter is based on the original commenter application by R.C. Sizer but has been totally refactored to work much more efficiently with the STD Framework. The latest release includes the following new features ...

• Migrated the App code from PB2022 R3 build 3289 to PB2022 R3 build 3356
  
• Tested on W10 version 22H2 build 19045.4412
• Tested on W11 version 23H2 build 22631.3593

Mapping the Script Commenter in the PB 2022 R3 IDE

    The latest Script Commenter is designed to work with any Unicode version of PowerBuilder (v10.x through 2022 R3). It can be activated in the PB IDE by creating a toolbar short-cut icon and assigning to the Commenter's EXE as follows:

app path\ScriptCommenterXXX.exe  header
  - or -
app path\ScriptCommenterXXX.exe  block
  - or -
app path\ScriptCommenterXXX.exe  inline

• where XXX = Compiled type 32M or32P
  

Watch the video  (Version 2023 R2 which the same functionality as 2024R2!)

   The values added as a header, in-line or block comment area are located in the "Comment_Block.ini" file. This INI file can customized based on the values found in the "Comment_Template.ini" file to meet the exact needs of each PowerBuilder developer!
  

    You can download the new STD Script Commenter application from the STD Framework's SourceForge project's website by clicking here and then get more productive with your PB IDE development in minutes!

 
Note: The previous Script Commenter versions are in the SourceForge's Archive sub-folder.

 

 Enjoy!

Regards ... Chris

Language pack for PowerBuilder / InfoMaker 2022 R3 build 3356 - Released!

 

Product Release,

Appeon are excited to announce that the language pack 2022 R3 build 3356 for PowerBuilder/InfoMaker 2022 R3 (build 3356) is now available. This language pack works with PowerBuilder and InfoMaker 2022 R3 build 3356. It is the same for all the product editions.

The language pack is provided for French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Chinese. With the language pack, PowerBuilder & InfoMaker developers can deploy traditional C/S applications, PowerClient applications, and PowerServer applications with standard runtime dialog boxes in the local language.

Please get the zip file of the language pack from the Appeon  User Center and follow the instructions to install.

STD Integrated Framework (2024 R2) released!

 

 ** Hot News **

  Integrated Foundation Classes (2024R2) Released!

 "THE" Framework for PowerBuilder & PowerServer 2022 R3!

(Framework version 2024.2.0.392 - May 07, 2024)

 

        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 2024 R2 (build 2024.2.0.392) exclusively for PowerBuilder 2022 R3 and PowerServer 2022 R3 (Cloud), and InfoMaker 2022 R3 (build 3356) - 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 R3  development environment! The updated framework combined with the current PowerBuilder product for building Native Client, PowerClient and/or PowerServer 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 2023 through 2024, please follow these links - 2023R1, 2023R2, and 2024R1. Note that the Integrated framework has now had 2 releases in 2024 thus far so that it stays leading edge and feature rich! STD also has more features planned for the Integrated framework in 2024 as well - so stay tuned!

   

   The following are some of the key highlights of the new 2024 R2 Integrated Foundation Class library for Appeon PowerBuilder 2022 R3 build 3356, as follows:

 

Marquee: Allows animation to continue while your PB App is in a wait state!

 

Radar Marquee in action!

Note: This feature includes 5 marquees that can be driven via an INI setting. The Marquee is an App that  you can modify as well to add more animated icons of your choice as well. 

 

Tip: To use the new Marquee feature in the framework, all you need to call are the two new methods: "of_start_marquee" & "of_stop_marquee".

Admin INI: A new Application that can Encrypt and Decrypt Database connection information. This application can encrypt some or all DB Transaction Object (ie: SQLCA) connection settings for advanced security. The STD Framework at runtime though can decrypt these settings just before the Transaction Object performs the DB "Connect". As soon as the DB Connect is completed, the framework will then re-encrypt the Transaction Object settings in memory to secure memory walkers from deciphering key DBMS login / runtime settings.

 

Admin INI App working example!

Debugger example encrypted SQLCA values just before Connect;

Note: At runtime the framework will automatically decrypt any Transaction Object's properties, do the real SQL Connect, then encrypt the Transaction object again for DB memory protection / security. Have a look at the STD Framework's OrderEntry Demo App's Logon window code to see how that feature is used in a real App.

 

Tip: The Admin INI and STD Framework can be changed to allow you to formulate any secret encryption key. So each PB App can have it's own unique encrypted INI / runtime Transaction Object values.

 

Statistics Viewer: New STD framework based App that can display your PB App runtime statistics during or after your PB App completes from the information gathered and logged automatically by the framework!

 

Example of OrderEntry Demo app memory stats in the new Viewer App!

Tip: More statistics capturing categories and resulting viewer displays are planned for future 2024 (and beyond) framework releases!

Dot Net Framework: System-to-System checking for this entity has now been added! 

New DotNet Sys2Sys checking & logging by the STD framework!

 

Grid DW Colour: Allows you to set the grid line colour based on the new "is_grid_colour" property. See the OrderEntry Demo App on how this works code wise by just setting the DW Control's new property.

A Grid Line example with the new property set to "Red".

 

 

Performance Monitor Upgrade: Now you can monitor any entity within the PB or within the entire MS-Windows O/S as well!

Example of monitoring .NET runtime memory

Example of monitoring SQL Server

      The latest Integrated framework version contains the following updates and has been tested with the latest MS-Windows 10 O/S (22H2 build 19045.4355, MS-Windows 11 O/S (23H2 build 22631.3527), PB 2022 R3 build 3356 and the PowerServer 2022 R3 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 framework, Demo Apps, etc are free are licensed under Apache 2.0 open source model.

Release 2024.2.0.392 - Major Release (2024R2) - change highlights ...  

• Migrated the framework from version 2024.1.0.374 to 2024.2.0.392 under PB 2022 R3 build 3356
  
• Removed the "of_is_native_app" method check from all classes. As of PB 2021 and higher ALL Apps are "Native"!
• Modified nc_app_controller_master class to add "of_check_cloud_version" method that checks either PowerClient and/or PowerServer runtime versions.
• Modified nc_app_controller_master add "of_check_cloud_version" method to check PowerClient / PowerServer version.
• Modified ns_ds_master to add "of_get_child" method that allows GetChild on NESTED DataWindows (not supported by PB natively).
• Modified vs_dc_list_master to add "of_set_grid_line_colour" method to change the Grid DWO's line colour.
• Modified vs_dc_master to add "of_set_grid_line_colour" message suppression when the PB App is running in "silent" mode
• Modified wn_log_viewer_master "clicked" event - Revised the Code to reset the DC's log information on no filter   
• Modified wn_response_master "Open" event -  to take into account the current Controller Window's location
• Modified mu_application_master to turn off drawing when menu is adjusted, adjust the Toolbar icons & improve drawing performance
• Modified vs_dc_master Boolean switches for scrolling & Print Preview & Rulers ON/OFF
• Modified vs_dc_master Added code to allow an expanded DDLB or DDDW to be collapsed   
• Modified vs_dc_master Revised the code to only show the rulers if requested
• Modified wn_master to add "Cancel" option to the message box dialogue
• Modified wn_messagebox_master to turn OFF debug mode to save excessive O/S memory calculations
• Modified nc_app_controller_master to add "of_start_marquee" & "of_stop_marquee methods" to control animated GIFs

         The OrderEntry example application and the Integrated Framework's Documentation has also been updated to the new Integrated Foundation class 2024R2 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!

Tip: PB 2022R3 Demo Database downloads

 

 

Special thank you...

 

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!