Session Catalog

Learn how to migrate PowerBuilder applications to the latest version of PowerBuilder (2019 R3). Topics covered include: understanding how to avoid various pitfalls based upon the version or PowerBuilder you are migrating from; how to gather your software source code; how to determine which version of PowerBuilder your application is running in; how to ensure that you have the most recent version of your code and related files, which other artifacts that will be needed for migration based on the age of the application; various things to look for during and after migration and how to ensure that your application has the most modern look and feel possible right out of the box.

Learn more about the new PowerClient feature of upcoming PB 2019 R3 release. Topics covered include: an overview of the product's features; how to install / configure, deploy and then how this automated deployment system works from the application user's perspective.

Learn how to use the DataWindow to C# Converter to create REST web services using PowerBuilder DataWindows. Topics covered include: how to manually create the REST services; how to create them automatically using the scaffolding option, what the DataStore and SQLModelMapper approaches are and when each should be used; how to call the REST web services from a PowerBuilder client. We'll only briefly touch on the PowerScript to C# converter as there is a separate session dedicated entirely to that.

Learn how to use PowerBuilder’s HttpClient and RestClient objects to access a fax provider’s REST API, and get some UI tips on how to integrate a cloud-based faxing solution into your applications. Topics covered include: REST API; HttpClient; RestClient; WebBrowser and UI/UX considerations.

Learn about the new PowerBuilder 2019 R3 release's decoupling of the IDE and runtime. Topics covered include: how it works; developer impact and how this fits into the longer-term PB roadmap.

Learn the techniques of how to share ancestor between DataWindow, DataStore and DataWindowChild. Topics covered include: a review of situations where you need to share the same exact code to run on DataWindows/DataStores/DataWindowChilds; a review of how to work around problems in each case; and a review of how to construct a user object that provides the functionality of common ancestor object without most of the drawbacks of using a dynamic keyword or if/then statements.

Learn what Git is, the advantages it provides as a source code system, and the mechanics of using it with PowerBuilder. Topics covered include: an introduction of Git; how to create a Repository in Azure Dev Ops and populate it with PowerBuilder objects; how to handle bad code; how to use branches in PowerBuilder 2019R2 & R3.

Learn how to use the C# Web API Tester in SnapDevelop 2019. Topics covered include: how to test your requests in the Web API tester; viewing results; testing update methods; previewing calls and debugging.

Learn how to use the UI theme feature in PowerBuilder applications. Topics covered include: using the built-in themes; how to create your own custom theme; how to create custom themes that operate at a window and/or control level, and how to deploy the themes with your compiled application.

Learn how to use the PowerScript to C# converter to migrate your business logic into REST services. Topics covered include: how it handles PowerBuilder specific syntax such as DataWindow interaction (Modify, Describe) and embedded SQL.

Learn how to do unit testing of C# projects in SnapDevelop code using xUnit. Topics covered include: an overview of what unit testing is; how to create a unit test project; how to do unit testing using live data; how to do unit testing using a mock controller, and how to do debugging using your unit tests.

Learn how to use the new Chromium WebBrowser control in PowerBuilder applications. Topics covered include the methods, properties, events, and functions of the new control and what features have been added in 2019 R3.

Learn how to use PBSearch to make enhancing your very large, mature PowerBuilder applications feasible and manageable rather than cost- and time-prohibitive. Topics covered include: how to formulate powerful search strings that will return desirable and accurate results; formulating filter criteria that will constrain search result sets to provide an impressive level of marksmanship making automated global search and replace of class definition fragments possible; learn how to automate UI modifications; learn how to automate data type and other wide spread infrastructure modifications.

Learn how to use DataWindow technology to build a new Web API. Topics covered include: migration process; DataWindow techniques (dynamic DataWindows, DataWindow expressions, update properties); organizing a DataWindow-based Web API, use in PB and non-PB clients.

Learn how to use the RibbonBar control in your PowerBuilder applications. Topics covered include: an introduction to the different components that make up the RibbonBar control; an overview of the syntax used for defining a RibbonBar control; a demo of a generic RibbonBar user object that can simplify reuse across your applications and a demo of a utility that can be used to convert generate RibbonBars from existing standard PowerBuilder menus.

Learn two simple techniques for containerizing and orchestrating your new or migrated applications. Upgrade your applications to a SaaS architecture easily! Topics covered include: how to create a Docker image of your app with minimal effort, perform Docker orchestration directly from SnapDevelop, publish your Docker images easily, etc.

Learn how to take the PFC resize service out of the PFC and use it standalone without the overhead of the full PFC libraries. Topics covered include: how to put code in your ancestor window to enable the service and code for descendant windows for the different resize options for most standard PB objects.

Learn how to use the .NET Assembly Importer in PowerBuilder 2019 to use .NET assemblies without having to create COM callable wrappers. Topics include an overview of the importer; a walkthrough of importing an assembly; how to do debugging and what needs to be deployed with your compiled application. We will also have demos, including demos for handling arrays and complex data types.

Learn all about Zeenyx's robust testing solution for PowerBuilder and the Datawindow, regardless of its presentation style (Form, Grid, Group, Tabular) or the controls (PbCheckBox, PbPopupTable, PbTextField, etc.) that are contained in the rows and columns. Topics covered include: how to develop a suite of automated tests for PowerBuilder in a drag and drop interface that does not require programming experience; how to use AscentialTest's selector to interface with the Datawindow.

Learn how to migrate a PB application to C# using the .NET DataStore, with the "PB Open" methodology. Topics covered include: comparing the PB Open approach (that uses the .NET DataStore) with other migration approaches; case study: exploring the Web API definition, the PB-to-C# code conversion, the UI code; case study: exploring the techniques used and the best practices. By attending this session, the audience will learn an effective way to convert their applications to C# using the .NET DataStore, not at a theoretical level, but with a deep exploration of the source code (JavaScript and C#).

Learn how to implement a unified and combined data access layer from multiple data sources for your reports. Topics covered include: how to Connect multiples data sources using SnapOjects; how to compose a unified view using .NET DataStore, LINQ, memory caching; how to consume and filter the data by the standard interface REST-JSON.

Learn how to add two-factor authentication with Google Authenticator into your PowerBuilder applications. Topics covered include: a high-level overview of what two-factor authentication is; a mid-level review of how we can implement it in PowerBuilder, and then a deep in the weeds review of a working code sample.

Learn how to create repositories in Google Cloud Source. Topics covered include: setup and configure using the Google Cloud SDK; connect to PowerBuilder using GIT/TortoiseGIT; push code to Google Cloud Source and create branches.

Learn how to design a modern single-page application using .NET DataStore and a JavaScript framework. in this 2 hour practical tutorial, you will follow the instructor to implement an demo app with User Interface built in Vue.JS/Quasar and REST APIs built in SnapDevelop.

Learn about the enhancements that have been added to the RESTClient in PowerBuilder 2019. Topics covered include: the RetrieveOne and Submit methods; changes to the SetRequestHeader method; Gzip compression; Oauth and JWT authentication and the Sent[Method]Request methods, where [Method] can be Get, Put, Post, Patch or Delete.

Learn how to understand and clean up the existing code, then secure and document the changes. Topics covered include: reverse engineer and understand the existing code (data model, call graphs…); find and remove dead code to reduce the workload (duplicated code, unused objects…); avoid regression bugs while making changes; automatically document the modifications for future references.

Learn how to create a lightning fast, clean and simple user interface touch screen with smooth animation. Topics covered include: the basic concept of your whole application user experience; what tools to use; step-by-step introduction of how to build simple object creation with minimum script and maximum creativity.

Learn about the JSON enhancements that have been introduced in PowerBuilder 2019. Topics covered include: an overview of the two different JSON formats supported; DataWindow row level import/export and enhancements to the JSONGenerator, JSONParser and JSONPacakge objects.

Learn about a number of the smaller enhancements that have been made in the three PowerBuilder 2019 releases which aren't covered in their own individual sessions. Topics covered include: the RichTextEdit control; CompressorObject/ExtractorObject; 64 bit enhancements; stand-alone compiler enhancements; NativePDF by default; CoderObject enhancements; CrypterObject enhancements; ExtractorObject enhancements; Source Control enhancements; separating runtime from IDE; PowerBuilder IDE enhancements; RibbonBar enhancements and PBU enhancements.

Learn how to implement a Continuous Integration workflow, to establish a consistent and automated way to build and test your PB apps, detect problems early and innovate faster. Topics covered include: automate the build generation on a regular basis; automatically test new builds and send a test report; inspect the code of new builds, to find vulnerabilities, bugs & quality issues.

Learn the logging techniques in a real-world, production applications using PowerBuilder, SnapDevelop, Serilog and Seq. Topics covered include: how to send important log information from the client to the API via request headers and restclient calls; how to add Serilog and Seq to API via nuget package manager; why and how to implement the logging class & middleware; introduce the ancestor service class with overloaded logging methods; review contents of physical log file; demonstrate Seq and how to parse log information.

Learn how to improve the quality and security of your code, with hundreds of automated Static Code Analysis rules for PowerBuilder, Oracle and SQL Server. Topics covered include: scan for security vulnerabilities that compromise your application; catch tricky bugs that will break the application, and improve reliability; fix maintainability issues; reduce the cost of modifications and the risk of introducing new bugs; calculate the cost to remediate to bugs and vulnerabilities; estimate the technical debt related to maintainability issues.

Learn how to modernize your PowerBuilder application UI with Web-like UI features without touching the application logic. Topics covered include: how to implement a tabbed document oriented UI with a navigation panel on the left; how to implement web like resizing features in your DataWindows; how to implement a “page” oriented UI; how to encapsulate existing or future Web applications into your PB application; get tips and tricks for face-lifting your application.

Learn how to add a modern layout and innovative features to your DataWindows. Topics covered include: create and apply modern graphs as a presentation layer to existing DataWindows; leverage graphs for navigation and drill down purposes: users will click on portions of charts, to reach other windows or graphs; assemble graphs to compose modern dashboards and reports.

Learn how to create a secured restful Web API from scratch using .NET DataStore and SnapDevelop. Topics covered include: connect the Web API to multiple databases; secure the Web API using an IDaaS; packaging the DataWindows with IDataPacker to make a single call.

Learn how to easily modernize an existing PowerBuilder UI, with little/no coding, by leveraging PowerBuilder and Ultimate Suite features. Topics covered include: apply a UI theme to modernize the style of existing PB controls; automatically convert your PB menu into a Ribbon; replace traditional message boxes with Windows 10 style banner messages.

Learn how to use the new asynchronous programming features with SnapDevelop, .NET DataStore, and SnapObjects. Topics covered include: new scaffolding templates, how to use the new APIs of the .NET DataStore and SQLModelMapper, how to perform debugging of asynchronous methods, etc.

Learn how to migrate your DataWindows and business logic to C#. Leverage the .NET DataStore for creating RESTful Web Services that can be consumed by any modern UI Technology including PowerBuilder, ASP .NET Core, JavaScript, Angular, REACT Native, etc. Topics covered include: how to migrate existing DW’s and business logic to C#, creating the RESTful Web API, testing the Web API, publishing it and consuming it with PowerBuilder or ASP .NET Core.