1. MARK GOLDSTEIN
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. Wednesday, 12 June 2019 20:28 PM UTC

Using PowerBuilder 6.5, I'm trying to open a PBL to see the source code of the modules.  I have no experience with PB, so I need some hand-holding.  I can display entry forms, but I need to find the code that connects to the Oracle back end, and I need to change it to open up a SQL Server back end.  Can someone show me how to do this?  I can open a sample app that comes with the installation of PB, and I believe that I can see source code, but I need to do this with another PB app and don't know how.  I also have install disks to upgrade to PB 7.0 and then to 9.0.

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MARK GOLDSTEIN Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Thursday, 13 June 2019 19:43 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 1

I had no problem installing v6.5 on my Windows 10 laptop.  I just discovered that the version 7.0 disk I thought I had is actually a 7.0.3 update.  I get prompted to install version 7 before installing that update.  The version 9 disk prompts me to install version 7.x or 8.x before installing version 9.  So, it looks like I'm stuck without the version 7 installation disk.  Any suggestions?  

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  1. Roland Smith
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 19:50 PM UTC
I think you should follow Chris' advice and move to a current version. I am good friends with the guys at Intertech, one of the partners he linked to. I'm sure they would be able to make the needed changes and give you training on how to use PowerBuilder to maintain it afterwards.
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Chris Pollach @Appeon Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Thursday, 13 June 2019 18:29 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 2

Hi Mark;

  Thank you for posting your App's source code. Just as an FYI .. I was able to migrate the source code into PB2017R3 or PB2019 (the latest & supported versions of PowerBuilder). The migration went without error and a Full Build has also been done without any warnings or errors. I can now see your entire App's source code in the new PB IDE, as follows:

 

  My suggestion at this point - since you neither seem to have the correct PB release install CD (even if you had - installing under W10 would probably be another issue), do not have PB experience and are trying to use PB versions not certified for current MS-Windows (and I am guessing maybe even current DBMS versions) - would be to:

1) Install a supported PB version. Note that you can install an Appeon PB "Trial" version for free to test with and at least then view your App's source code:  https://www.appeon.com/freetrial?product=pb

2) Contact an Appeon Consulting Partner to help you expedite the return to working order of your PB application(s). FYI:  https://www.appeon.com/consultants/consulting-partners

Just my $0.02 suggestion.

HTH

Regards ... Chris

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  1. MARK GOLDSTEIN
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 19:48 PM UTC
Thanks for these suggestions, Chris. I assume that the trial version would not enable me to modify the source code that connects to the back end and recompile it, correct? The current executable runs without issue. I just need to modify it to point to a SQL Server back end. Is my only recourse to hire someone from Appeon to make the change for me?
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  1. Chris Pollach @Appeon
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 20:27 PM UTC
I suggested the PB2017/2019 "trial" version so that you can try it with your current App versus moving to PB 7,8,9 ... 12.6 versions which are all now deprecated and non-supported. If it works, I would skip these old release all together (just my $0.02).



You can modify the App's source code with the "trial" version but that is more so that you can see your code and play with your App in a "sandbox" like environment. In order to move this into production, I would not recommend the trial version. I would recommend buying Appeon PB.



Appeon does not have consulting services - however, contacting one of our consulting partners - as per my previous post - would be what I would recommend.
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  1. Roland Smith
  2. Friday, 14 June 2019 01:06 AM UTC
The trial version allows all features to be used until the time period expires. That includes building an executable. So it is technically possible to build an exe with the trial and continue to use it after the trial period but that would be a violation of the license. You should contact one of the partners like Intertech. The app isn't very large, they should be able to update it for you and train you on how to use PowerBuilder.
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Chris Pollach @Appeon Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Thursday, 13 June 2019 17:42 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 3

Hi Mark;

  You should have a CD for the main PB 6.5 installation. The other disks you mention were extra separate products that came with the "Enterprise" version of PB 6.x.

Regards ... Chris

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MARK GOLDSTEIN Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Thursday, 13 June 2019 13:08 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 4

Thanks for your latest comment, Roland.  I'm guessing that you didn't get prompted to migrate because this app was compiled and linked in version 9, but, then, where is the PBT file?  I didn't see it.  

Thanks for finding the modules applicable to making the connection to the back end.  I'll be upgrading to version 7 and then to version 9 to be able to see the code in these modules.  Not familiar with the naming convention.  What do you think the "uf" stands for at the beginning of the name of some of these modules?  You stated that the uf_dberror module has DB error numbers that will be different.  Different from what?

Comment
  1. Roland Smith
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 15:23 PM UTC
gf_ global function, of_ object function, wf_ window function

Custom events will hopefully have an e in them, ue_ is common.



http://www.sql-server-helper.com/error-messages/msg-1-500.aspx



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  1. Roland Smith
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 15:28 PM UTC
Variable names should be named [scope][datatype]_thename. Scope would be l for local, i for instance, and g for global. Datatype would be i for integer, s for string, l for , long, etc. So ll_row would be a local long.
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  1. MARK GOLDSTEIN
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 15:55 PM UTC
Thanks for all of this useful information, Roland, and thank you for the link to that list of SQL Server runtime error messages.
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Roland Smith Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Thursday, 13 June 2019 10:32 AM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 5

I downloaded the zip file. The .pbd files are compiled code, the .pbl files contain the source code.

In PB 6 the 'library list' which is the list of .pbl files that make up the app are stored in the pb.ini file. In PB 9, there is the target file (.pbt) which is a text file that contains the library list.

Oddly when I opened it in PB 9, it didn't prompt me to migrate.

It looks like the objects involved in database connect are uf_connect in ancestor.pbl and w_login in main.pbl. The object uf_dberror in ancestor.pbl has database error numbers which will be different.

 

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MARK GOLDSTEIN Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Thursday, 13 June 2019 04:49 AM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 6

Thank you so much, Chris and Roland, for your expert advice. 

I have PB 6.5 disks for version 1.1.1 of Jaguar CTS and version 1.5 of PowerSite.  Is either of those considered to be the integrated development environment (IDE) of which you spoke, Chris?  Or is the IDE installable from the main installation disks?

Perhaps I should just install the update to 7.0 and then to 9.0, as Roland suggests, and use that version of the IDE and then check back in with you for further assistance.

Comment
  1. Roland Smith
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 10:20 AM UTC
The IDE is PowerBuilder itself, pb60.exe I think. I have the installer for PB 6.5 but I can't get it to install on Windows 10.



PB 9 would be 100 times easier to work with.
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  1. Chris Pollach @Appeon
  2. Thursday, 13 June 2019 18:09 PM UTC
Hi Roland;

Neither PB 6.x or 9.x releases will probably install on W10. The only hope that you might have to do this is boot W10 into "safe mode" and try the older PB installation that way.

Regards ... Chris
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Chris Pollach @Appeon Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Wednesday, 12 June 2019 20:47 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 7

Hi Mark;

  You really need the PB v6.5 IDE installed to view the source code of your App properly.

You could however also try a 3rd party product, for example ...

https://www.pbdr.com/software/pbbrowse.htm     - OR -

http://www.techno-kitten.com/PBL_Peeper/pbl_peeper.html

HTH

Regards ... Chris

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Roland Smith Accepted Answer Pending Moderation
  1. Wednesday, 12 June 2019 20:39 PM UTC
  2. PowerBuilder
  3. # 8

The user interface for PB6 and earlier was very difficult to use. PB7 was a big improvement but PB8 is where the current IDE started. You should try migrating to PB9 since you have that.

A few days ago someone asked about the PB 9.0.3 MR installer. It is still on my website if you want to move to PB 9. Run your PB 9 GA installer and then the MR.

http://www.topwizprogramming.com/temp/PB903MR.zip

 

 

Comment
  1. Roland Smith
  2. Wednesday, 12 June 2019 20:42 PM UTC
Also, I have a search tool called PBSearch that you might want to check out. It supports PB 4 through the current PB 2019.



http://www.topwizprogramming.com/pbsearch.html
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