About PowerScript targets
The PowerScript target can be used to create:
- An executable application A collection of PowerBuilder windows that perform related activities
and that you deliver to users.
An executable application can be a traditional client/server application
(that accesses a database server) or an application that acts as
a client in a distributed application (and requests services from a
server application). - A server component A component containing one or more custom class user objects
that have methods to provide the required business logic and the
characteristics needed for deployment to a distributed application
server such as EAServer.
The first step in creating a new application or component
is to use a Target wizard, described in Chapter 1, “Working with PowerBuilder”.
Depending on the type of target you choose to create, the
target can include only an Application object or it can include
additional objects. If the target requires connection to a server
or a SQL database, the Template Application wizard also creates
a Connection object.
The Application object
All PowerScript targets include an Application object. It
is a discrete object that is saved in a PowerBuilder library, just
like a window, menu, function, or DataWindow object. When a user
runs the application, the scripts you write for events are triggered
in the Application object.
When you open an Application object, you enter the Application
painter.
After you create the new application, you open the Application
object and work in the Application painter to define application-level
properties (such as which fonts are used by default for text) and
application-level behavior (such as what processing should occur
when the application begins and ends).