BDL 1.20 new features

Features added in 1.20 releases of the Genero Business Development Language.

Important:

This version of Genero BDL is desupported, use a more recent version of the product.

Important:

This page covers only those new features introduced with the Genero BDL version specified in the page title. Check prior new features pages if you migrate from an earlier version. Make sure to also read the upgrade guide corresponding to this Genero version.

Corresponding upgrade guide: BDL 1.20 upgrade guide.

Prior new features guide: BDL 1.10 new features.

Table 1. Core language
Overview	Reference
Integrated debugger with gdb syntax to interface with graphical tools like ddd.	See Integrated debugger.
The program profiler can be used to generate statistics of program execution, to find the bottlenecks in the source code.	See Program profiler.
Internationalize your application in different languages with localized strings, by using the %"string" notation.	See Localized strings.
The `TERMINATE REPORT` and `EXIT REPORT` can be used in reports to respectively stop a report from outside of the `REPORT` routine, or stop the report from inside the `REPORT` routine.	See TERMINATE REPORT, EXIT REPORT
The `fgl_getversion()` function returns the version number of the runtime system.	See fgl_getversion().
Static arrays can be passed as parameters: all elements are expanded.	See Static arrays.
New methods for `StringBuffer` class: `base.StringBuffer.replaceAt()` and `base.StringBuffer.insertAt()`.	See The StringBuffer class.
Operators equal (= or ==) and not equal (<> or !=) now can be used with records: All record members will be compared. If two members are `NULL` the result of this member comparison results in `TRUE`.	See RECORD.
New `-W` option for fglform to show warnings.	See fglform.
`LSTR()` operator, to get a localized string by name. Useful when the localized string identifier is known at runtime only.	See LSTR().
`SFMT()` operator, to format strings with parameter placeholders. Useful to localize application messages with parameters.	See SFMT().
The `base.StringTokenizer` class can be used to parse strings for tokens.	See The StringTokenizer class.
`CONSTANT` language elements can now be defined as `GLOBALs`.	See Constants.
The `base.Application` class provides an interface to the program properties.	See The Application class.
Review of the definition of `base.Channel` class, now based on objects.	See The Channel class.

Table 2. User interface
Overview	Reference
Interactive instructions support the `UNBUFFERED` mode, to synchronise data model and view automatically: When you set a variable, the value is automatically displayed to the field, and when the user fires and action, the field value is automatically assigned to the corresponding program variable.	See The buffered and unbuffered modes.
`DISPLAY ARRAY` can now work in paged mode, to avoid loading a large array of rows, with the `ON FILL BUFFER` clause.	See Paged mode of DISPLAY ARRAY.
Centralize default attributes for actions in `ACTION DEFAULTS`.	See Configuring actions.
Client side settings can now be saved by application name, with a specific API. By default it is the name of the program.	See ui.Interface.setName.
New attribute `APPEND ROW = TRUE/FALSE` attribute for the `INPUT ARRAY` instruction, to control the creation of the default `append` action.	See INPUT ARRAY row modifications.
New attribute `KEEP CURRENT ROW = TRUE/FALSE` for the `DISPLAY ARRAY` and `INPUT ARRAY` instructions, to defines if the current row must remain highlighted when leaving the dialog. The default is `FALSE`.	See Handling the current row.
You can now define a `TOOLBAR` in form specification files.	See TOOLBAR section.
You can now define a `TOPMENU` in form specification files.	See TOPMENU section.
The `fgl_gethelp()` function returns the help text for the given help number.	See fgl_gethelp().
The `fgl_set_arr_curr()` function changes the current row in `DISPLAY ARRAY` or `INPUT ARRAY`.	See Handling the current row.
Users can now send an interruption event to the program,to stop long running SQL queries, processing loops and reports.	See User interruption handling.
The `statusBarType` window style attribute to define the statusbar layout.	Desupported in V4. See Universal Rendering as standard.
The new `FIELD ORDER FORM` option can be used to follow the new `TABINDEX` attribute, to define the field tabbing order. `FIELD ORDER FORM` can also be used at the dialog level as dialog attribute.	See Defining the tabbing order.
For `COMBOBOX` form items, a default `ITEMS` list is created by fglform when an `INCLUDE` attribute is used.	See COMBOBOX item type.
The `ON IDLE` clause can be used to execute a block of instructions after a timeout.	See Get program control if user is inactive.
New logical order of execution for `INPUT ARRAY` triggers: `BEFORE INPUT` `BEFORE ROW` `BEFORE INSERT` `BEFORE FIELD`	See Editable record list (INPUT ARRAY).
New `ui.ComboBox` class to configure `COMBOBOX` fields at runtime.	See The ComboBox class.
`DISPLAY ARRAY` and `INPUT ARRAY` instructions now automatically use two predefined actions `nextrow` and `prevrow`, which allow binding action views for navigation.	See Predefined actions.
`ON CHANGE` field trigger can be used to detect field modification. Useful for fields such as `CHECKBOX` and `COMBOBOX`.	See Reacting to field value changes.
Program icon definition with `ui.Interface.setImage()`.	See ui.Interface.setImage.
`LABEL` fields can now have a `FORMAT` attribute.	See LABEL item type.
Front-end function calls allow to execut code on the front-end side with the `ui.Interface.frontCall()` method.	See Front calls.
New ui.Form built-in class to handle forms.	See The Form class.
New `ON ROW CHANGE` clause in `INPUT ARRAY`, executed when if at least one value in the row has been modified, and the user moves to another row or validates the dialog. The `ON ROW CHANGE` block is executed before the `AFTER ROW` block.	See ON ROW CHANGE block.
`MENU` instruction now supports `ON ACTION` clause, to write abstract menus as simple action handlers.	See Ring menus (MENU).
New 'help' predefined action, to start help viewer for `HELP` clauses in dialog instructions.	See Predefined actions.

Table 3. SQL databases
Overview	Reference
SQL Server driver now supports the TINYINT data type.	See Numeric data types.
The fglcomp compiler supports now ANSI outer join syntax in SQL statements (`LEFT OUTER JOIN`), to replace the Informix specific `OUTER()` syntax.	See SELECT.
`FOREACH` that raises an error no longer loops infinitely.	See FOREACH (result set cursor).
New `SQLSTATE` and `SQLERRMESSAGE` registers, to give SQL execution information.	See SQL error identification.