Archive 2009

The roadmap for the years 2010 and 2011 has just been made available. Alaska Software would like to encourage every Xbase++ user to take a look at it. Especially the details regarding the Arctica Technology Preview and how this will fit into Xbase++ 2.0 will surely be of great interest to many of you. Visual Foxpro and Xbase++ developers get a good first idea about Visual Xbase++ 3.0 - currently under development. In this context, Alaska Software plans to release a statement of direction (SOD) in early 2010. The SOD shall outline more technical and strategic details about this project for both communities. So much upfront, Visual Xbase++ 3.0 will take an array of features etc. from Visual Foxpro 9 into consideration!

Finally, we are in midst of preparing a webcast showing the basic steps to move an existing non-client/server dbf/ntx/cdx based application to the PostgreSQL server. This cast will be announced in due course - so stay tuned and check back in January 2010.

Last but not least, Alaska Software wishes all Xbase++ developers, our Business and Technology Partners, and everybody still using Clipper, FoxPro or Visual FoxPro a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
 

Today, Alaska Software has made available for download a series of Hotfix Rollups, covering more than 25 PDRs related to Xbase++.

Hotfix Rollups #22, #23 and #24 are to resolve all known issues with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The issues we have found so far are not critical, nor do they break existing applications. However, we want to ship as soon as possible all corrections we applied with respect to the release of Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2.

Alaska Software plans to provide another series of Hotfix Rollups or even a Service Release should customers report further Windows 7 or Server 2008 R2-releated matters. However, we are very pleased with what Microsoft has accomplished, and how Xbase++ 1.90 SL1 performs on these Windows releases.

Hotfix Rollups are available to all customers who have an active subscription or have purchased Xbase++ within the last 12 months. More details about each Hotfix-Rollup including download information can be found under Login-> MyAccount-> Downloads-> Hotfix Rollups or here . In addition, the Xbase++ Online Documentation in HTML Help format for Windows 7 can be found under Login-> MyAccount-> Downloads-> Latest Releases.
 

In accordance with our Product-Maintenance-Policy a Hotfix-Rollup for Xbase++ 1.90 SL1 just has gone online. It provides various corrections for the Xbase++ runtime (xpprt1.dll) Customers which have performance issues when opening CDX files (CDXDBE or ADSDBE) should check out PDR 6166 , which is also covered in this Hotfix-Rollup.

More details about each Hotfix-Rollup including download information can be found under Login-> MyAccount-> Downloads-> Hotfix Rollups or here .
 

In accordance with our Product-Maintenance-Policy a Hotfix-Rollup for Xbase++ 1.90 SL1 just has gone online. It provides various corrections for the ASINet (Internet Library).

More details about each Hotfix-Rollup including download information can be found under Login-> MyAccount-> Downloads-> Hotfix Rollups or here .

In addition, the Xbase++ Online Documentation in HTML Help format for Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be found under Login-> MyAccount-> Downloads-> Latest Releases.
 

With Xbase++ 1.90 Service Level #1 we have extended the owner-drawing feature of Xbase++ to most Xbase Parts. In addition, new GraXXX functions have been added to support platform-conformant UI painting. To further encourage the development of custom Xbase Parts, we now have enhanced the Xbase++ FormDesigner by providing the ability to support custom parts. We also plan to release a series of Xbase Part Packs which will include new Xbase Parts making use of the owner-drawing feature. These Xbase Part Packs will come with the entire source code and the ability to be used in the FormDesigner.

Xbase Part Pack #1, sample showing various formatting options for push buttons and tab pages.

The first Xbase Part Pack includes XbpImageButton() and XbpImageTabPage(), and is available for download. Both Xbase Parts extend the existing XbpPushButton() and XbpTabPage() parts with flexible text & image captions and formatting options.

To get access, please go to www.alaska-software.com, log on to your customer account, then go to download -> solutions.

Remember: Xbase Part Packs are for active Subscription customers or customers which have purchased Xbase++ in the last 12 month only. Xbase++ 1.90 Service Level #1 with new features is a precondition for using this Xbase Part Pack.
 

Have you ever asked yourself how to embed a MS Word document into your application? Are you looking for a way to determine the battery status of your laptop, or need to know which network connections are alive? Are you still using EXPORTED for all of your methods and variables in your classes? Answers to these questions plus a lot more are covered in the "Assorted Tips and Solutions for Xbase++ developers" document for Xbase++ 1.90 SL1. Customers who have an active subscription or have purchased Xbase++ within the last 12 months can download a complete package including the related source code samples. Just log onto your individual customer account at www.alaska-software.com and then go to downloads -> solutions.

Xbase++ 1.90 SL1 Tips and Solutions

The owner-drawing samples which include ready to use new Xbase Parts, such as push buttons or tab pages supporting text and images, a new XbpColumn class showing the value as a gradient bar in the browser are not yet included in this sample package, but shall be made available in due course.

Remember: All samples, concepts and tips presented in this paper are for Xbase++ 1.90 SL1!
 

To download Service Level #1, log onto your individual customer account at www.alaska-software.com. Go to Downloads->Service Levels; there you will find the English and German installation packages ready for download.
 

Since we like to be in touch with our customers, we are in the process of planning the next developers conferences. In doing so various questions have popped up, so we decided to get direct feedback from our customers to learn what they deem suitable regarding the next DevCon!

Therefore, we would like to invite you to join in our customer opinion poll regarding the next developers conferences. It will only take a couple of minutes, and your thoughts and feedback will be taken into account!

To participate, simply log onto your customer account and go to Feedback -> Opinion Poll. Make sure to get your vote in as this poll ends on Friday, May 29th, 2009.

Note: Unfortunately there is nothing to win. However it is now up to you to tell us what, where, how and when you would like to meet others of the Xbase++ community.

Thank you very much upfront for taking the time.
 

Be reminded, on May 16th and 17th, 2009, there will take place the German Xbase++ User Meeting in the metropolitean area of Cologne. More information can be found here . The event is to be regarded as a platform for all interested German-speaking Xbase++ programmers to exchange programming experiences, to brainstorm over programming issues and also to get first-hand information about new technologies etc. In addition, Steffen F. Pirsig, representative of Alaska Software, will give not only two speeches about Xbase++ et.al., but he will also be there answering your individual questions in person.

Today, Alaska Software has released the source code of the XbpBrowse, XbpColumn and XbpQuickBrowse classes. The archive also contains an updated version of the Sorted QuickBrowse example. The files in the archive update the corresponding files in your Xbase++ 1.90 installation to build level 0355 (Xbase++ 1.90 Service Level 1). Both XbpBrowse and XbpQuickBrowse have been extended to support visual styles under Windows XP and Vista. In addition, both classes do now have support for owner-drawing. To download the archive, please log onto your customer account and go to section Downloads -> Solutions.
 

We have prepared a feature overview for Xbase++ developers who wish to learn more about the features and their practical benefits of the Service Level #1. The document also contains further information for those of you wanting to perform an educated decision, or needing further argumentation.

If you use object-oriented programming as a single developer or in a larger project team, then the following information is tailored for you. We have collected some basic rules and principles regarding the Xbase++ object-oriented programming model to give you guidance in that subject area.

Xbase++ OOP 6 rules you need to know!
 

Today, Xbase++ 1.90 Service Level #1 has been released. All active Xbase++ as well as all active subscription customers may download Xbase++ 1.90 SL1 as a part of their subscription plan. Xbase++ 1.90 SL1 includes more than 140 corrections and around 170 new features or enhancements. Driven by 1.400++ postings from the Xbase++ community, SL1 provides a tremendous amount of value in various areas. Special thanks goes to the Xbase++ community for its contributions and commitment in the course of the Xbase++ SL1 technology preview.

To download SL1, log onto your individual customer account at www.alaska-software.com. Go to Downloads->Latest Releases; there you will find the English and German installation packages ready for download.
 

Furthermore, Mr. Steffen Pirsig, representative of Alaska Software, will give not only two speeches about Xbase++ et.al., but he will also be there answering your individual questions in person. All attendees are encouraged to make use of this opportunity to actively participate, especially during the so-called open discussion-rounds.

Since the total number of attendees is limited, you should get started reading up about this event here , and of course get your registration in ASAP.

Look forward to seeing you there, at a surely informative Xbase++ event in Cologne.