John Martin

As a software vendor developing a Windows-based PowerBuilder application often competing with Web-based applications, we decided that we need to embrace as many Windows advantages as we can. As you know, the latest hot-ticket item in that arena is Windows Vista. When we decided to pursue Vista certification for our product, we didn't fully understand what that really entailed. This article will give you some insight into how to structure a project to certify your PowerBuilder application for Vista - and it needs to be treated as a project, since it involves many different components. Our company - AssetPoint - develops, sells, and supports TabWare EFx, an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software package developed with PowerBuilder. We are also a Microsoft Gold Certified partner, and as such we decided to take full advantage of the Vista early adoption partner ben... (more)

Opening Doors with Distributed PowerBuilder

Shared and remote objects - powerful features of DPB for business applications - can also be used in industrial settings. If you've been handling serial communications with many types of devices - such as gate security, pump controllers or PLCs that need to know what they're doing, or you simply want to turn your coffeemaker on remotely - read on. That's Not a Door! As an example I'll use a parking garage with three gate openers where you insert a card and the barrier lifts, or a red light comes on and the people behind you become very familiar. I want to locally control and monit... (more)

Opening Doors with Distributed PowerBuilder

Shared and remote objects - powerful features of DPB for business applications - can also be used in industrial settings. If you've been handling serial communications with many types of devices - such as gate security, pump controllers or PLCs that need to know what they're doing, or you simply want to turn your coffeemaker on remotely - read on. That's Not a Door! As an example I'll use a parking garage with three gate openers where you insert a card and the barrier lifts, or a red light comes on and the people behind you become very familiar. I want to locally control and monit... (more)