Introduction to PowerBuilder

PowerBuilder Family of Products

The following are some important products from Powersoft which you will be using directly or indirectly as a PowerBuilder programmer.

InfoMaker

InfoMaker is a subset of PowerBuilder, used by end users for generating reports. You can't use this product for development. All DataWindows generated in InfoMaker are by default read-only.

PowerDesigner

PowerDesigner a new name for 'S-Designer', a product of Red-Pepper. After merging of Red-Pepper with Powersoft, this product became a product of Powersoft. This product supports multi-user database designing, including logic, physical modeling and process modeling. Using the 'AppModeller' module of this product, you can generate code for popular front-ends, such as VisualBasic, PowerBuilder, etc.

SQL Anywhere

SQL Anywhere (also called 'Watcom SQL') was a product of 'Watcom' , which later merged with Powersoft at the time of PowerBuilder 4.0 development. SQL Anywhere is a full-featured transaction processing SQL database management system, which performance excellently even with its fewer resource requirements (memory space, disk space, and CPU speed) than other database management systems.

SQL Anywhere is a fast and efficient database for many environments, from notebook computers to servers supporting large numbers of concurrent users. It is a flexible and scalable solution for today's diverse needs. One great feature that you don’t find in any other database is that the database files are compatible between versions and across all operating systems.

SQL Anywhere is available for Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 3.x, OS/2, NetWare, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, DOS, and QNX operating systems. SQL Anywhere can be used as a standalone database management system or (on non-UNIX operating systems) as a network database server, in a client/server environment.

SQL Anywhere is an ideal database for a variety of application developers --such as C, PowerBuilder, etc. for developing single-user and/or client/server applications for workgroups and mobile usage. Currently SQL Anywhere supports ODBC 2.1 level II, as well as other interfaces.

From version 5.0 onwards, this database completely supports Transact SQL (Transact SQL is an enhanced version of ANSI SQL, used in Sybase SQL Server as well as Microsoft SQL Server), and also, SQL Anywhere supports replication in different ways, which ideally is used in mobile applications.

PowerBuilder Library for Lotus Notes

From version 4.0, Powersoft started shipping a 'PowerBuilder library for Lotus Notes', as part of the enterprise edition. This library comes with many user objects that fall into two categories.

	User objects that encapsulate Lotus Notes APIs
	User objects that are meant for inheritance (you can create PowerBuilder objects by inheriting from them and build applications quickly)

Using this library, you can build PowerBuilder applications, which act as front-end to the Lotus Notes databases, i.e., you can create reports and also modify data in the Lotus Notes databases. We have a separate session on this topic.

PowerBuilder Library for Pen Computing Interface

You may be aware that on a computer that has regular MS-Windows installed, you can’t use a pen (i.e., a special pen used to write on the computer screens) to write on the screen instead of using the keyboard and mouse. For that, you need to install MS-Windows for Pen Computing. What if you need to build a PowerBuilder application, for that type of computers? PowerBuilder does not support pen interface. You need to purchase a PowerBuilder library for pen computing, (This library is not part of any PowerBuilder edition, you need to purchase it separately.) and you can use user objects and APIs available in that library. There are few applications written using this library for doctors, sales reps, courier deliverymen, etc.. We have a separate session on this topic.

Translation Assistant

As company grows, competition increases. For companies which span various countries need to write the same application for multiple languages and cultures. For example, take any multinational company that has its branches in various countries. If it has branches in USA and France, the same application should have two interfaces one in English and one in French. Sometimes, multiple language might exist in the same country --such as India. Using the Translation Assistant, you can write the PowerBuilder application once in the base language and then deploy it in multiple languages. We are covering this topic in a separate session.

Funcky Library

This library contains many functions that are not available in PowerBuilder. However, these functions are made available in PFC as services. Funcky library is discontinued from version 6.0.

PowerBuilder Library for Netware

This PowerBuilder library is not part of any PowerBuilder edition. You need to purchase it separately. This library comes with user objects, that encapsulate various Novell NetWare APIs and reduces the complexity of calling them as external function. We are not covering this library.

ObjectCycle

ObjectCycle is a relation database based version control system, sold by Powersoft. This product also supports Microsoft source control APIs and is tightly integrated with PowerBuilder. From within the Library painter, you can directly check-out PowerBuilder objects, and the versioning is taken care by this product automatically. ObjectCycle client comes with PowerBuilder enterprise edition, however, you need to purchase ObjectCycle Server separately. You don't have to stick to this product for versioning PowerBuilder objects. You can choose any third party vendor products as well --such as PVCS, LBMS, CCC, Endevor, SourceServer, etc.. We have a separate session covering this product in depth.

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