New features in Powerbuilder 12.1

In 21 Sept 2010, Sybase launched the EBF for Powerbuilder version 12 with 12.1 as the minor version.

According to PowerbuilderTV.Com, there are some new features in version 12.1 such :

• XAML Editor Enhancements
• 3rd Party Control Support
• OLE Control Support in WPF Application
• WPF DW RightToLeft Enhancements

But still there are some limitations like

• No support for dynamically creating OLE controls in PowerScript
• No support for saving and retrieving the structure storage of an OLE control
• Must install .NET framework SDK 2.0 or later before you migrate OLE controls to WPF

For detail, visit this link to see the complete video. The duration is about 40 minutes. And you can download the version 12.1 EBF file from Sybase official download site

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How to build web application with Powerbuilder 11.5

One of the feature in Sybase Powerbuilder version 11.5 is a native build the application into the web-based. You don't need to change the scripts, you can migrate directly from window based into web-based. All you need are IIS (Internet Information System) and AJAX installed on the computer, and of course Powerbuilder version 11.5

I'll try explain how to build your window based application into web-based. I'm using the sample application which come with Powerbuilder installer, named: Solutions. It should be on : your documents directory with Sybase\Powerbuilder 11.5\Tutorial as sub directory.

Original Workspace

First, try to create new .NET web form application, by choosing File and New at pull-down menu, and choose Target tab. Click OK

Create new .NET Web Forms Application

Will show the first screen of Wizard to build .NET web form application, just click Next button

There are 3 option that you can select. Since we already open the application from the beginning, choose Use the library list and application object from an existing target option. Click Next

Just click Next again when you asked to Chooce a target window

Change if you want to change the target, leave it with click next button if you want to use default target (recomended)

and do the same thing for the Specify Project Information, just click Next

Type your web application name.

Add your resource files or directories, including PBR files, image files, etc.

Add your javascript (.js) file if you want to.

Choose Directly deploy to IIS if you want to deploy with your current machine, meanwhile you can generate setup file if you want to deploy into other machine.

Now you are ready to deploy the web form. Click finish.

After you click Finish button, there is a new target created named pbtutor_webform. Click the Run Icon at the menu toolbar to start deploy. Wait until finish.

If deploy process was finish, see the error statements (if any) and please check the Unsupported feature tab.

There are many functions that unsupported if you deploy into web application. Fortunately, Powerbuilder will list all the unsupported features after the deploy was finish. Remember, it will be error if you push to run the application without fix the list. See the online help which come with the installation of Powerbuilder to see all the unsupported feature.

And here is the result, you can compare with the window base version. Remember, the web-based version only can view and run with Microsoft Internet Explorer only, starting version 6.0 to up

The Web form version

The original Window version

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History of Powerbuilder

Note: I'm the author of this article. I published 4 articles at http://allaboutpowerbuilder.blogspot.com a year ago, and some how I lost the log-in ID for the account :( So, I re-write the article in my new blog.

Starting when the year marked 1991. A company named Powersoft, launched Powersoft Powerbuilder version 1.0, exactly in July 1991. A product (code name "Headstart") with totaly sold in $5.2 million in just six months.

Less than a year later, Powersoft Powerbuilder 2.0 was lauched with sales climbed to $22.1 million. Some of new features was introduced in version 2.0 including Picture button control, some events, and Embedded SQL for BLOB support.

In 1993, version 3 went released, with huge of new feature, including MAPI, rbuttonclicked event, and also Watcom SQL.

Year later, Powerbuilder 4.0 lauched with some new features and enhancements, including Data pipeline and OLE 2 support.

Powerbuilder version 5.0 was released in 1995 under Sybase, Inc umbrella (www.sybase.com). Sybase introduced the new feature, call Powerbuilder Foundation Class (or PFC). PFC is a foundation class or "platform" to help developers easier in they work. Also Info Maker was first introduce in this version.

Early 1997, Powerbuilder reached version 6.0, following by 6.5 a year later. This is the most stable of Powerbuilder has ever made (at least for me who started as Powerbuilder programmer, since this version). Lot of enhancements and new features in this version, including Internet Tools (mid of 90's is starting time for Internet technology booming), and Multi Platform support (Windows & Unix),

March 1999, Powerbuilder 7.0 was lauch to replace earlier version. With a new GUIs, this version brings some new feature, like New OLE DB database interface and New in component development and deployment (Building Jaguar components, Building Jaguar clients, etc)

Ten years since the first version launch, Powerbuilder reach version 8.0. Introduce Workspace and Target methode in this version, Powerbuilder version 8.0 came with Powersite Tool fully integration as the new Web targets feature. This means that you can now use PowerBuilder to create Web applications in addition to client executable applications and EAServer components

2003, Powerbuilder version 9.0 was launched, following the minor variant 9.01 and 9.02. In this version, programmer can set the script to save data in PDF file format, save Datawindow data in XML format, and support for Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Version 10.0 and 10.5 of Powerbuilder, release between 2005 and 2006. Brings the .NET technology for the first time called: Datawindow .NET (Windows form). There are 2 minor change before 10.5 released: 10.01 (support Windows XP SP2) and 10.2 with Ink controls for the Tablet PC as a new feature.
For version 10.5 itself there are some new feature like DataWindow TreeView Presentation Style, DataWindow Autosize Height on all DataWindow Bands, DateTime Picker Control, Rich Text Control, BYTE and 28 Digit Decimal Data Type Support, New Icons and Bitmaps, etc.

Powerbuilder became version 11.0 in 2008 following by 2 minors version: 11.1 and 11.2. First time introduce .NET technology for Web form, and able to build non visual object as .NET web service. Version 11.1 has added feature for Windows Vista support, where AJAX support added in version 11.2.

The next couple of month (Q3 of 2008), Sybase release Powerbuilder 11.5 which include RichText Edit style for DataWindow columns, 3D Graph styles, Tooltips for DataWindow columns and controls and PNG support, also support for Ms. SQL 2008.

Sybase has a planning to release Powerbuilder 12.0 somewhere in 2009. Some new features including .NET graphical control integration, Complete .NET interoperatbility and a new type of target: the WPF target, will be introduced in this version.

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