Updates

PC Side Updates History - Release 4

Release 4.02, Build 7421 - 2004/06/03

• Remove limit of 50 files

Release 4.02, Build 7420 - 2004/04/30

1. Clearer message on failure to save in WCM, and improved recoverability
2. Fix to inline PML function naming for JSE
3. Fixed an order by problem in the SQL template

Release 4.02, Build 7418 - 2004/04/16

• Allow PML in excess of 100k.

Release 4.02, Build 7404 - 2004/03/08

1. Expanded IDE Wizard Functionality
2. The program creation wizard now offers considerably more functionality. This functionality is tied directly to enhancements to Version 4 templates, summarized in a section below. New wizard functionality includes:

• Option for Dynamic or static use of style sheets and HTML includes
• Option for programmer initials
• Option for number of records per page
• Options to include add, change and/or delete capabilities
• Initial field selection for panels includes fields from all files defined to the program.
• Two sets of field selection panels: first for list of record page, second for add/change/delete pages.
• Option to include sortable columns feature (on SQL templates)
• Option for a URL to redirect to after successful completion of add, change, delete or display (on single record edit template).
• Option to include a link for adding new records (input capable list template)

II. New Templates

There are 6 new template families for Release 4 with their own look and feel. One of those, the Music Store design, is also used with the shipped demo applications provided. Each template supports the option to use dynamic or static references to HTML includes, and style sheets.

  7 different schemes:

•     Music store (also used for the future demo app).
•     bluekeys
•     greencheckers
•     gradedyellow
•     businessblue
•     birdseyeblue
•     plain vanilla   

 7 templates for each of the above schemes:

•     Page at a time maintenance
•     Input-capable page at a time
•     Record listing
•     SQL page at a time maintenance
•     Single record maintenance
•     Simple page
•     Login page

III. Template Customizability

Support for custom wizard screens - Allows the template to be modified to present additional custom wizard screens containing input fields, checkboxes and drop down boxes.

Support for conditional template execution - Based on user input, the template now supports directives which condition the inclusion or execution or particular sections of the template.

• More Tokens: More replaceable (and customizable) template tokens.
• More Fragment Types: Allows fragments which iterate through a greater range of definition components

IV. Integrated Change Management

WebSmart Change Management provides many benefits to developers.

• Definitions are all stored on the iSeries, thus more likely subject to backup procedures and easier to find and manage.  
• Central location and control also allows for definition locking. This prevents multiple developers from working on the same definition at the same time.
• Easier access to definitions when connecting to the iSeries remotely– no need to use FTP to download a definition locally- instead, simply access it directly from the IDE.

Managing development environments

• Definitions can easily be migrated from one development environment to another.  WebSmart refers to these as 'Sets'.  You have complete flexibility over the configuration of each set.  You can also perform mass compiles, mass import or mass export of definitions to/in a set.
• The import feature lets you easily define a change management environment for existing development projects done in WebSmart.
• The export feature makes it easy to move whole applications to other systems for development work.

Modification tracking and logging

• Automated logging  tracks all access and operations on definition. All activity that takes place on a  definition can be reviewed, providing a complete and accurate audit trail of your development efforts.   
• Change Management supports definition archiving.  Different versions of definitions can be archived, then restored or compared to other archives or to the current version of the definition. This provides a convenient way for you to perform incremental development work, with different stages of possible rollback to earlier codebases of your application.

V. New email function

The most requested feature for WebSmart 4 was a function to support more robust email capabilities. WebSmart 4 adds a new function to support enhanced email, with the following benefits and features:

• Uses any SMTP server (easy to point it at a non-iSeries mail server)
• Does not require Mail Server Framework or SMTP to be active on your iSeries
• Easy to configure command to identify the IP address of your SMTP server
• Supports different mime-types (such as HTML emails)
• Email body supports HTML formatting to construct formatted emails with tables, and graphics.
• Supports multiple attachments.
• Supports multiple CC, BCC email recipients

VI. Seamless integration with  external HTML editors and the WebSmart IDE for visual HTML design

The WebSmart IDE now allows you to specify an external HTML design tool that you can use for visual (WYSIWIG) HTML page design. This feature provides seamless integration with popular design tools such as Microsoft Front Page, Macromedia Dreamweaver, HTML Kit and more.  The IDE uses your  HTML previews to  merge the constituent  segments (such as list header, details and footer) into a single page,  then launches your chosen HTML design tool  with that page,  After you save the changes in the tool, WebSmart seamlessly extracts the component segments and saves the HTML in your WebSmart PDW, keeping any changes made in the external design tool intact, along with your original design work done in the WebSmart IDE.

VII. Ability to browse iSeries for database files

When you are adding a file to your definition you can now browse the iSeries to locate the database file.  Files are grouped alphabetically by library making it easy to locate the file you need.  Once you’vel ocated a file, simply click on it to include it in your definition.  

VIII. Inline PML Color Coding

When PML is imbedded in your HTML using the <pml> tag it is now color coded to provide the same readability as when entered in the PML editor. This helps to distinguish comment lines, text constants, IF conditions and loops and any other PML constructs. 

IX. Intelligent Segment Previews

Segment previews will now intelligently access any externally referenced style sheets and images and incorporate them into the preview. This results in a preview that much more closely resembles the actual web page your program will deliver, making it easier to make design decisions without the need to compile and test.  

X. Automatic hot-key segment preview

By pressing Shift-F5 the IDE will preview the current segment together with related segments as defined in your previews automatically without the need to select a preview containing the current segment.  Previously, in order to view a preview you needed to select it from the drop down and then click the preview button (or press F5).  

XI. Ability to launch new session from existing one

A new menu option has been added to allow you to start a new WebSmart session (window) to either create a new PDW or open an existing PDW. This allows you to quickly open another instance of the IDE on your desktop to edit or create a PDW, so you can switch between multiple PDWs at the same time.

XII. PML Snippets

PML Snippets, like HTML snippets, can now be created and easily inserted into your PML code. PML snippets are user-customizable which allows you to create your own commonly used snippets for re-use in other programs.

XIII. Support for PML contexts in the HTML

PML Snippets extensions defined in the WebSmart repository require a context in the PML section of the template which determines where to include the 'snippet'.  With release 4, this PML context can now be placed in the HTML.  This enables predefined PML to be inserted inline in the HTML when a specific field is placed on a panel. One of the uses of this is to include field specific JavaScript in the HTML when a particular field is used within a template.

XIV. New user validation functions

• The verify user function allows you to build login applications that verify a user ID/password combination against an iSeries user profile.  This functionality was previously only supported by defining a protection directive in the web server.
• After a user logs in another new function - set user, supports the ability to set the current iSeries user profile so that the current thread of the server instance job will run under the user and group profiles represented by the user profile. This is useful for having a program essentially adopt authority before it attempts to open files, etc.