Comments on: Searching PowerBuilder http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:20:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Terry Voth http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/#comment-77 Terry Voth Fri, 23 Nov 2007 02:37:47 +0000 http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/#comment-77 If you've got PB installed, there should be a tree branch that has applications from pb.ini or the registry listed in it (one branch for each version of PB or derivative product, like PocketBuilder). Digging through the file system folders shouldn't be necessary, but you can do it if it's an app that's never been opened in PB, or if you want to select all apps in a subtree or drive. Still, if you're looking for an object in the app you're currently working on, with the default installation options, there should be a shortcut on your desktop that automagically loads that app (the "Current" app) and switches you to the Browse page. Launching QuickFind will start searching for an object by substring, prefix string or exact match, jumping you to the closest match whenever you stop typing. When you jump there, the PBL/object name should be in the microhelp, but the Up toolbar item will also jump you back to the PBL in the tree. If you don't want PBL Peeper guessing at which app you want to look at, you can create your own shortcuts with command line parameters for the apps you regularly work on. So, to find an object, it should be double-click, Ctrl-Q, start typing the name (or, if you're already in PP, Browse icon, Ctrl-Q, start typing). Then again, PBL Peeper is big, bloated, slow and it's mother cuts its hair with a bowl. I've got no doubt there are more elegant solutions out there. Last selected is a good idea (that was the *idea* behind "Current", but not quite the same), although I'd probably make that a command line parameter rather than a default. (I try not to launch into processing without user confirmation.) The challenge is that you can drag over a workspace with 3 apps in it, each with 69 PBLs, delete 14 PBLs at random, and then launch. I'll have to figure out where to store all that information, keeping Vista-friendliness in mind (meaning not in PBL Peeper's own program folder). Needs more thought. It's probably two episodes of "Chuck" and a "Heroes" away from being solved. Thanks for the input. If you’ve got PB installed, there should be a tree branch that has applications from pb.ini or the registry listed in it (one branch for each version of PB or derivative product, like PocketBuilder). Digging through the file system folders shouldn’t be necessary, but you can do it if it’s an app that’s never been opened in PB, or if you want to select all apps in a subtree or drive.

Still, if you’re looking for an object in the app you’re currently working on, with the default installation options, there should be a shortcut on your desktop that automagically loads that app (the “Current” app) and switches you to the Browse page. Launching QuickFind will start searching for an object by substring, prefix string or exact match, jumping you to the closest match whenever you stop typing. When you jump there, the PBL/object name should be in the microhelp, but the Up toolbar item will also jump you back to the PBL in the tree. If you don’t want PBL Peeper guessing at which app you want to look at, you can create your own shortcuts with command line parameters for the apps you regularly work on.

So, to find an object, it should be double-click, Ctrl-Q, start typing the name (or, if you’re already in PP, Browse icon, Ctrl-Q, start typing).

Then again, PBL Peeper is big, bloated, slow and it’s mother cuts its hair with a bowl. I’ve got no doubt there are more elegant solutions out there.

Last selected is a good idea (that was the *idea* behind “Current”, but not quite the same), although I’d probably make that a command line parameter rather than a default. (I try not to launch into processing without user confirmation.) The challenge is that you can drag over a workspace with 3 apps in it, each with 69 PBLs, delete 14 PBLs at random, and then launch. I’ll have to figure out where to store all that information, keeping Vista-friendliness in mind (meaning not in PBL Peeper’s own program folder). Needs more thought. It’s probably two episodes of “Chuck” and a “Heroes” away from being solved.

Thanks for the input.

]]> By: dmcmeans http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/#comment-76 dmcmeans Wed, 21 Nov 2007 04:07:43 +0000 http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/#comment-76 Could be that I'm not using PBL Peeper correctly, but when I start it, I have to browse to the folder containing my libraries, drop that folder onto the right pane to display all the libraries, and then I can do a search. The next time I need to search for an object, I have to repeat the process including browsing for my libraries. This is what I meant by "too difficult to use on a regular basis." It requires too many keystrokes. Perhaps I've missed something, but I expected PBL Peeper to remember the libraries I had from the last session. Then, a search could be invoked immediately. Could be that I’m not using PBL Peeper correctly, but when I start it, I have to browse to the folder containing my libraries, drop that folder onto the right pane to display all the libraries, and then I can do a search. The next time I need to search for an object, I have to repeat the process including browsing for my libraries. This is what I meant by “too difficult to use on a regular basis.” It requires too many keystrokes. Perhaps I’ve missed something, but I expected PBL Peeper to remember the libraries I had from the last session. Then, a search could be invoked immediately.

]]> By: Terry Voth http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/#comment-75 Terry Voth Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:52:09 +0000 http://dmcmeans.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/searching-powerbuilder/#comment-75 Not that I don't think you've created a tool that fits your need nicely, do you mind if I ask what the difficult part of PBL Peeper is? I always appreciate a fresh perspective. Not that I don’t think you’ve created a tool that fits your need nicely, do you mind if I ask what the difficult part of PBL Peeper is? I always appreciate a fresh perspective.

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