The PocketBuilder environment

Workspaces and targets

In PocketBuilder, you work with one or more PowerScript targets in a workspace. A PowerScript target is a client/server or multitier executable application or a server component.

You can add as many targets to the workspace as you want, open and edit objects in multiple targets, and build and deploy multiple targets at once.

The first lesson in the tutorial shows you how to create a workspace and a PowerScript target.

The development environment

When you start PocketBuilder, it opens in a window that contains a menu bar and the PowerBar at the top, and the System Tree and Clip windows on the left.

System Tree

The System Tree window can serve as the hub of your development activities. You use it to open, run, debug, and build your targets, and for drag-and-drop programming.

Clip window

The Clip window lets you store code fragments that you use frequently.

Output window

The output of a variety of operations (migration, builds, deployment, project execution, object saves, and searches) displays in an Output window at the bottom of the main window. The Output window opens automatically when output information is generated, but you can open the Output window at any time by clicking the Output window toolbar button.

Painters

Once you have created a workspace and a PowerScript target, you build the components of the target using painters. Painters provide an assortment of tools for enhancing and fine-tuning the objects in a target.

PocketBuilder provides a painter for each type of object you build. For example, you build a window in the Window painter. There you define the properties of the window and add controls, such as buttons and text boxes.

Wizards

Wizards simplify the creation of applications, objects, and components. PocketBuilder has many wizards including ones that support the conversion of PowerBuilder targets, as well as separate wizards to generate template applications for the Pocket PC and the Smartphone.

To-Do List

The To-Do List displays a list of development tasks you need to do for the current target. Entries on the To-Do list can be created automatically by most PocketBuilder wizards. You can also type in entries or import them from a text file and then link them to a task that you want to complete.

Browser

The Browser lets you see all the objects, methods, variables, and structures that are defined for or available to your PowerScript target. Objects in the Browser can be displayed in alphabetic or hierarchical order. The Browser displays methods with their complete prototypes (signatures), which include the datatypes of all arguments and return values.

PowerBar

The PowerBar displays when you begin a PocketBuilder session. The PowerBar is the main control point for building PocketBuilder applications. You can use the New, Inherit, or Open buttons on the PowerBar to open all of the PocketBuilder painters. From the PowerBar, you can also open the Browser, debug or run the current application, and build and deploy the workspace.

PainterBar

When you open a painter or editor, PocketBuilder displays a new window that has a workspace in which you design the object you are building. PocketBuilder also displays one or more PainterBars with buttons that provide easy access to the tools available in the painter or editor.

StyleBar

The StyleBar displays when you open any painter that can contain text controls, such as the Window painter. Using buttons on the StyleBar, you can modify text properties such as the font and point size.

PowerTips

When you leave the mouse pointer over a button for a second or two, PocketBuilder can display a brief description of the button (a PowerTip). The ability to display PowerTips is toggled on and off by selecting the Show PowerTips menu item in any toolbar pop-up menu.

You can also include brief descriptive text for all toolbar buttons by selecting ShowText from any toolbar pop-up menu.

Customizing the environment

In addition to displaying text in toolbar buttons, you can move the toolbars around, add new toolbars, and customize existing ones. You can add buttons for opening painters and performing other activities.

You can also rearrange the System Tree, Clip, and Output views, set up custom layouts for each painter, choose whether PocketBuilder opens your last workspace at start-up with or without painters and editors open, customize shortcut keys, and change the colors and fonts used in scripts.

PowerBar buttons

The buttons in the PowerBar give you quick access to the most common PocketBuilder tasks:

Table 2-1: Buttons in the PowerBar

Button	Use to
	Create new workspace, target, component, or other object, or open a tool.
	Inherit from menu, user object, or window.
	Open an existing application, DataWindow, function, menu, pipeline, project, query, structure, user object, window, HTML page, HTML frame, style sheet, or script file.
	Preview a window or DataWindow object.
	Show or hide the System Tree window.
	Show or hide the Output window.
	Move to the next line in the Output window.
	Move to the previous line in the Output window.
	Display a list of development tasks you need to do. These can be self entered or entered automatically by PocketBuilder wizards.
	View object information (such as object properties or global variables) and copy, export, or print it.
	Show or hide the Clip window.
	Create and maintain libraries of PocketBuilder objects.
	Specify how to connect to a database.
	Maintain databases, control user access to databases, and manipulate data in databases.
	Edit a file.
	Select and launch an emulator.
	Start an incremental build of the workspace.
	Start a full build of the workspace.
	Build and deploy the workspace.
	When a series of operations is in progress, such as a full deploy of the workspace, skip to the next operation.
	Stop a build or deploy operation or series of operations.
	Debug the current target.
	Select a target and debug it.
	Run the current target.
	Select a target and run it.
	Exit from PocketBuilder.

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