Using the Workspace tab page

The Workspace tab page in the System Tree displays the current workspace and all its targets. Most targets display the library list for the target and all the objects in each PBL. JSP targets display the contents of the root folder of the JSP target. The Workspace tab page in the System Tree works like a tree view in the Library painter, but you can keep it open all the time to serve as the control center of the development environment.

You can set the root of the Workspace page to your computer’s root directory, the current selection, or any directory or library, as well as to the current workspace.

NoteWorking with targets To see the pop-up menu that lets you perform operations on a target such as search, build, and migrate, you must set the root of the System Tree to the current workspace.

The following illustration shows a workspace with two targets. The first target, orders, has a second library in its library search path.

The sample shows a workspace with two targets. One of the targets has a second library in its library search path

Current target

The orders target is bold, indicating it is the current target, which means that it is the default target used in the New dialog box and for Run and Debug. The current target is set whenever you:

If you prefer to set the current target explicitly using the Set as Current Target pop-up menu item for the target in the System Tree or the File>Set Current Target menu item, clear the Automatically Set Current Target check box on the Workspaces tab page in the System Options dialog box. To open the System Options dialog box, select Tools>System Options from the main menu.

Actions in the System Tree

You can use the Workspace page as the hub of your PowerBuilder session. Pop-up menus let you build and deploy targets and open and edit any object. Double-clicking an event or function in the System Tree opens its script in the Script view. Events with scripts have a different icon and are listed before events without scripts.

Table 1-1 lists the actions you can take on each item that displays on the Workspace page. You can also set properties for each item, choose which object types display in the tree view, change the root of the Workspace page, and reset the root to the current workspace.

Table 1-1: Action items for objects in the System Tree

Item

Menu action items

Workspace

New (opens New dialog box), Add Target, Open Workspace, Incremental Build, Full Build, Deploy, Debug, Run, Close, Show, Properties.

Target

New, Search, Set as Current Target, Incremental Build, Full Build, Migrate, Deploy, Debug, Run, Remove Target, Show, Properties.

PBL

Delete, Remove Library, Search, Optimize, Print Directory, Build Runtime Library, Import, Import PB Extension, Show, Properties.

PBD

Remove Library, Show

PowerBuilder object

Edit, Edit Source, Inherit, Copy, Move, Delete, Export, Regenerate, Search, Print, Properties.

Edit Source is not available for project and proxy objects. Inherit and Run/Preview are available only for some object types. Source control items are available only if source control information is associated with the target.

Functions and events

Properties.

The Properties dialog box shows the prototype of the function or event and its “signature.” The signature is a string that represents the argument types, return types, and passing style. You use this string when you write a PBNI extension that calls the function or event. For more information, see the PBNI Programmer’s Guide and Reference.

.NET assembly

Show, Properties. .NET assemblies can be added to the System Tree by selecting them from the Properties dialog box for .NET targets.

JSP target

New, New Folder, Import Files, Import Folder, Incremental Build, Full Build, Migrate Web, Deploy, Deploy to EP, Run, Remove Target, Show, Properties.

JSP target object

Edit, Rename, Delete, Build, Properties.