Copyright: 1994 Paul F Poellinger, Silent O Software


Contents
PB3Icon - PowerHelper Utility

Index

Introduction

The Pel - ICON

Menus

Main (icon control) menu

Alphabet submenu

Data Types submenu

Object-related submenu

Powerbuilder menu item

dwSyntax menu item

Hotkeys

Changing key combination

Find the Icon

Alphabetic

Context Sensitive (F1)

Launching Programs

Powerbuilder

dwSyntax & dwSyn30

Miscellaneous

Peliware.ini

Defining your Powerbuilder Setup

Registration

Uninstalling PB3Icon

What's with the damn penguin?

Who?


Introduction

PB3Icon is an icon based index to Powerbuilder's Powerscript functions and data types.  All functionality is available via hotkeys while in a powerscript editor window (provided that another application doesn't kill a hotkey).

Menus

PB3Icon's primary interface is a menu heirarchy leading from a list of Powerscript function categories, successively narrowing choices via submenus, until you've found the specific function you desire.  At that point you're given the option, via an "OK" menu item, to paste the function's syntax into your program at the cursor.

The main menu contains a list of the primary function groupings, as well as a choices to traverse function lists alphabetically or by Powerbuilder object (commandbutton, datawindow, static text, etc).

It also contains a menu item for traversing Powerscript data types, both enumerated and standard.

Finally, two miscellaneous functions are represented by menu entries.  You can launch the Powerbuilder product and the dwSyntax helper Powersoft provides.  Choices of version 2 and 3 products are provided.  These require some setup in the  Peliware.INI file in the PB3Icon directory to provide pathing information.  The dwSyntax and dwSyn30 programs can be downloaded from bulletin boards maintained by Powersoft...and the dwSyn30 program is supplied with version 3.0a.

Main (icon control) menu

Alphabet submenu

Data Types submenu

Object-related submenu

Powerbuilder menu item

dwSyntax menu item

Hotkeys

The tasteful PB3Icon icon (pel-icon) shows the hotkey combination as its title.

This key combination, defaulted to {CTRL}{SHIFT}, when pressed simultaneously with either:

a letter of the alphabet (a thru z)

will cause a menu of functions beginning with that letter to popup in the upper left corner of the screen.  Sample for letter A

F1 while a Powerscript function is highlighted in your coding

will cause the PB3Icon program to search its (.mnu) file for that function and display its syntax in a messagebox, with an option to paste it to your program.  Sample messagebox

If the function is not found, the first letter of your highlighted text is used to display a menu as described in the above point.

F2

will launch Powerbuilder version 2 (provided you've supplied the pathing information required to be located in Peliware.INI).

F3

will launch Powerbuilder version 2 (provided you've supplied the pathing information required to be located in Peliware.INI)


The Pel - ICON

The PB3Icon icon serves as the anchor to the Powerscript lookup process.  The icon caption is the hotkey combination.

Single-clicking the icon displays the control menu augmented with PB3Icon's function list categories.


Changing Hotkey Combo

The default hotkey combination is {CTRL}{SHIFT}.  Pressing these two keys simultaneously with a neumonic key (such as D for functions beginning with D) signals PB3Icon to awaken,  intercept and interpret the following key stroke, and carry out the designated action.

If you prefer another hotkey combination, you can specify it by changing the

appropriate entry in the PELIWARE.INI file in the PB3Icon directory (c:\windows\pb3icon) if you didn't override it during setup.  You can use any editor, including Windows Notepad.

The installed peliware.ini file contains the following relevant lines:

[PB3Icon]

; hotkey - 1=shift,2=ctrl,4=alt - for a combination add the numbers

;

;                                 i.e ctrl/shift=1+2=3

;hotkey=3     ... is the default

To change the hotkey combo, uncomment the last line by removing the semi-colon (;), then change the  number 3 to whatever number represents the sum of key values for your desired keys, e.g.  6 (= 4+2) for Alt-Ctrl.

You must close and re-open PB3Icon for the new combo to become effective.


PB3Icon Menus

PB3Icon's menus are accessed by:

single-clicking on the PB3Icon icon, or

pressing {CTRL}{SHIFT}{ENTER}

Either will bring up the following menu first-page:

The menu entries group Powerscript functions by various categories.  Click a category to see the functions in that category.   When you reach the function you desire, an OK item will appear, which when clicked will paste that function's syntax into your program at the caret.

Alphabet submenu

Data Types submenu

Object-related submenu

Powerbuilder menu item

dwSyntax menu item


It's a Pelican, Dammit

My last name, Poellinger, when properly pronounced (the O is silent like the P in swimming) sounds somewhat like pelican, at least to juvenile minds, thus it became my nickname long ago.  A pelican collection ensued, and the state bird of Lousiana has become my mascot and company logo.

A marvelous bird is the Pelican.

His mouth holds more than his belly-can.

He takes in his beak

enuf food for a week;

but I'm damned if I see how the hell-he-can.


The Peliware.INI File

Peliware products store working information in this file in the directory where their  executables are stored.  Typical contents are:

[winptr]

; hotkey - 1=shift,2=ctrl,4=alt - for a combination add the numbers

;                                 i.e ctrl/shift = 1+2=3

;hotkey=3   ... is the default

[pb3icon]

; hotkey - 1=shift,2=ctrl,4=alt - for a combination add the numbers

;                                 i.e ctrl/shift = 1+2=3

;hotkey=2   ... is the default

pb3path=d:\pb3

;pb3work=d:\pb3\work

;pb2path=c:\pb20

;pb2work=d:\pb3\work

The section headed [pb3icon] contains directive information for controlling the pb3icon program.  Change its entries as required to fit your hotkey needs and your Powerbuilder setup.

Changing the Hotkey Combo

Defining your Powerbuilder Setup


Registration

This program is shareware.  It is not free.  However, you are free to try this program for 30 days.

If you decide to use it thereafter, you are obligated to send $20 to

PAUL POELLINGER

2019 Round Lake Drive

Houston, TX  77077

Texas Residents, include 8.25% sales tax (total = $21.65).  The $1.65 is our states "share" :-(

Here's a terrific idea. Using WinHelp's PRINT TOPIC function, print out the following little form to send to me:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

|

| Name_____________________________________________

| Address____________________________________________

| ___________________________________________________

| ___________________________________________________

| ___________________________________________________

| E-Mail id___________________________________________

| Diskette preference:      _____ 3.5"    _____ 5.25"

| Where'd you find PB3Icon_______________________________

|

| Comments:

|                   Thanks, Paul, you sure did a terrific job on PB3Icon.

|                   ___________________________________________

|                   ___________________________________________

|                   ___________________________________________

|                   ___________________________________________

|

| Amount:___ copies @ $20 + TX sales tax____ = _______ total

|

| Send to:

|           Paul F Poellinger

|           2019 Round Lake Drive

|           Houston, TX  77077

|_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _|

 -- OR --

register via Compuserve's shareware registration service by typing GO SWREG at the prompt. I charge $23.50 for registering this way cause Compuserve gets 15%...guess shareware means everyone who can gets a share :-( ... TX residents, I'll eat the tax.  The SWREG registration ID number is not yet assigned...so search for it by name.

When you do, I'll send you a registration file to kill the nag screen.  Please include your e-mail address if you have one (automatic with SWREG) ...unless you say no, I'll send your registration file via e-mail. Compuserve does not, however, allow e-mailing binaries via INTERNET, so I'll have to use snail-mail if you're not on CIS.  I can also send via my AOL account (I'm PFPelican, there).

Please note that even if you paid for a diskette or CD containing this package, you must still pay my registration fee for use of PB3Icon past the 30 day free trial.  The fee you paid for the CD or diskette is someone else's "share" :-(

You are free to pass this TRIAL package on to others or upload it to bulletin boards provided that 1) you do not charge for it above the cost of distribution, and 2) all parts of the package are included (see "included" in the read.me file). Naturally, you're not allowed to pass on the registration file or allow a friend to use it. (Having to say the always reminds me of the local commercial that finds it necessary to state that the all-you-can-eat-ribs offer for dine-in-orders only :-)

Thank you for supporting shareware.

------------------------------------------------------

Corporate licenses area available:

        2  to  25 users ...  $250

     26  to 250 users ...  $500

      over 250 users ...   $500 plus $1 per user

      unlimited users ...  $1000 just in case Powersoft wants one :-)


Uninstalling PB3Icon

In the unlikely event that you decide not to register PB3Icon, you have a moral obligation to remove it from your system.  Your loss.  To make that loss easier, I've included in the package an uninstall program.

If you followed my recommendations in the read.me file, X_PB3Ico, my uninstall program, can be found on the PB3Icon diskette.  If, instead, you placed it in the directory where PB3Icon is installed, it cannot properly execute, because it won't delete itself.  Move it somewhere else first.

Close PB3Icon if it's active.  Then, from Program Manager's File/Run menu item, run X_PB3Ico.

If you for some reason manually set up the Icon in the Program Manager Startup group, use   [Description:   PB3Icon] ... If you don't use this, the uninstall won't find it..

Thanks for giving PB3Ico a try, and for taking part in the shareware experience.


Find the Icon

Selecting PB3Icon functions are easy when you can see the icon:  simply click on it and traverse the menu paths...OR use the hotkeys.  BUT what do you do when you're deep in your work, with lots of windows opened and the icon deeply buried somewhere on your desktop below?

PB3Icon provides a hotkey {SHIFT}{CTRL}{ENTER} for icon which brings menu page 1 in front of your workspace.


The Author

Your humble correspondent first laid eyes on a computer in 1963, while data-recording for a group of graduate nuclear physics students.  It filled a room the size of your bedroom with metal racks of vacuum tubes, and its input device was a paper tape punch.  I am not making this up.  He's got socks older than you.  The first computer he programmed, the IBM 1401 in anger, had 4K (not meg) of memory, as much as his current pocket phone number rememberer.

Except for a misguided 10 year foray into systems management, he's been programming daily since, most recently full-time in Powerbuilder at a real job, and evenings playing at C utility and dll creation for higher-level language programmers for fun and an occasional nickel or two.

DBA Silent O Software, he's available for custom windows programming ... reachable on Compuserve at 70732,3576 and America Online as PFPelican (that's 70732.3576@compuserve.com and PFPelican@AOL.com for you e-mail purists).

He and all those dependent on him thank you for supporting shareware.


f1_msg


A_menu


Alphabet Submenu

Selecting the Alphabetic main menu item yields a menu of the first letters of all available Powerscript functions.  Subsequent item clicking traverses to a desired function, and ultimately an OK choice for pasting that function's syntax into your code at the caret.


main_menu


enum.bmp


standard.bmp


Object-related Submenu

Selecting the Object-related main menu item yields a submenu listing all Powerbuilder objects.  Clicking on an object yields a submenu listing all functions for the selected object.  Ultimately an OK choice is available for pasting the proper syntax into your code at the caret.


Data Type Submenu
Data Types Submenu

Selecting the Data Types main menu item yields a choice of Enumerated or Standard data types.  Subsequent item clicking traverses to a desired type, and ultimately an OK choice for pasting the proper syntax into your code at the caret.


Alphabetic Hotkeys

The tasteful PB3Icon icon (pel-icon) shows the hotkey combination as its title.

This key combination, defaulted to {CTRL}{SHIFT}, when pressed simultaneously with a letter of the alphabet (a thru z) will cause a menu of functions beginning with that letter to popup in the upper left corner of the screen.  Clicking on the desired function yields an OK choice for pasting the proper syntax into your code at the caret.  Sample for letter A


Context Sensitive Hotkey

The tasteful PB3Icon icon (pel-icon) shows the hotkey combination as its title.

This key combination, defaulted to {CTRL}{SHIFT}, when pressed simultaneously with F1 while a Powerscript function is highlighted in your coding will cause the PB3Icon program to search its (.mnu) file for that function and display its syntax in a messagebox, with an option to paste it to your program.

If the function is not found, the first letter of your highlighted text is used to display a menu as described in the Alphabetic Hotkeys topic.  Sample for letter A


Syntax Sample

Date DataWindowName.GetItemDate(LongRow,NumOrStrColumn {,DWBuffer,OriginalValue})


Powerbuilder Menu Item

The tasteful PB3Icon icon (pel-icon) shows the hotkey combination as its title.

This key combination, defaulted to {CTRL}{SHIFT}, when pressed simultaneously with either:

F2

will launch Powerbuilder version 2 (provided you've supplied the pathing information required to be located in Peliware.INI).

F3

will launch Powerbuilder version 2 (provided you've supplied the pathing information required to be located in Peliware.INI)

Defining your Powerbuilder Setup


Launching dwSyntax

The PB3Icon main menu contains a dwSyntax entry.  Clicking on it yields a submenu offering a choice of version 2 or 3 or this Powerbuilder developed program for analyzing dwDescribe/dwModify syntax.

Note that these programs are not included in the PB3Icon package to keep its size small.  They are available on the Powersoft bulletin board or their Compuserve forum (GO POWERSOFT), and the version 3 program is included with Powerbuilder 3.0a.

Defining your Powerbuilder Setup


Defining your Powerbuilder Setup

The Peliware.ini file contains a section for defining the pb3icon hotkey and the powerbuilder pathing information.  Note that semi-colons begin comment lines in an ini file.

[pb3icon]

; hotkey - 1=shift,2=ctrl,4=alt - for a combination add the numbers

;                                 i.e ctrl/shift = 1+2=3

;hotkey=3   ... is the default

;pb3path=d:\pb3

;pb3work=d:\pb3\work

;pb2path=c:\pb20

;pb2work=d:\pb3\work

When you choose the Powerbuilder launch or dwSyntax launch menu items, PB3Icon changes to the directory indicated by the pbxwork entry above, then executes the appropriate program preceded by the pbxpath entry...where the x represents the Powerbuilder version involved.  If these entries are not active, that is, are commented out, the programs must be found in your path.  The dwSyntax and dwSyn30 programs are expected to be found in the pb2path/pb3path directory if not in the path.