GDC 2.21 new features

Discover the new features and changes in functionality introduced with Genero Desktop Client (GDC) 2.21.

Important: This page covers only those new features introduced with the Genero Desktop Client 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: GDC 2.21 upgrade guide.

Previous new features page: GDC 2.20 new features.

Table 1. General
Overview Reference

You can now run your GDC 2.11 application with GDC 2.21 and your application behavior will be the same as GDC 2.11. This can be useful if you need to mix FGL 2.11 and 2.2x installations: you only need to install GDC 2.21.

 See the GDC 2.21 upgrade guide.

The internal HTTP stack has been rewritten to support pre-2.20 features and HTTP retries. This enables pre-2.20 lost features like Kerberos Support, NTLM single Sign-on or Client certificate.

GDC is also able to retry when network errors occur. This was already the case in previous (late MR) versions, but now it may retry in more situations (ex: in case of HTTP error 500). This can be useful if your network is not too reliable and sometimes messages may be discarded before reaching GAS or returning to GDC. You can now configure how GDC will retry:

 See Internal HTTP stack has been rewritten.
Table 2. Windows
Overview Reference

The Genero Desktop Client automatically displays scrollbars around the form when the window is larger than the desktop size.

This old feature has been completely reviewed to now work also when the window is not maximized. GDC will then automatically, when the window is larger, fit the size of the window to the desktop size (height or width) and display scrollbars around the form.
Note: This feature should be used carefully. A Desktop application is not a web application, and having scrollbars (especially horizontal ones) around the form is not common. As GDC will try to always show the current field, this may lead to lots of scrolling when you move from one field to another if the fields are not all visible.

We strongly recommend that you adapt your forms to the smallest desktop size you target; automatic scrollbars should only appear for "accident" cases.

If you prefer avoid automatic scrollbars and retrieve the behavior of previous versions (only getting scrollbars when the current window is maximized) you can use the following style attribute:
<Style name="Window.myWindow">
  <StyleAttribute name="formScroll" value="no">
</Style>
To achieve automatic scrollbars in a more stable way, the action frame (menu/dialog) has been reviewed. The new look is very slightly different, but the main behavior is the same.
  • Navigation button are different if you are on the first or last row.
  • A "plus" button has been added to display in one click all remaining items.
  • A little animation shows scroll direction.
 See the Window style attributes topic in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

As well as "maximized", windows can be started minimized using minimized as the value for the "windowState" style attribute.

See the windows style attributes section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.
Table 3. Widgets
Overview References

DateEdit now has a presentation style named "showCurrentMonthOnly". This style configures whether the calendar shows only the current months, or displays (in light grey) days of the previous and next month.

See the DateEdit style attributes section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

You can now set a range on the SpinEdit widget with the new attributes valueMin and valueMax.

 See the SpinEdit item type section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

Image field now supports style attribute "alignment" to define where the picture should be located when the container (widget) is bigger.

 See the Image style attributes section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

Window supports new style attribute "toolBarDocking" to define if the toolbars are movable and floatable.

 See the windows style attributes section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.
Table 4. Presentation styles
Overview Reference

You can now set a point font size with a non-integer value, for example 8.3pt.

 See the Font sizes section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.
Table 5. Monitor
Overview Reference

The Connection tab now displays both the application name and text.

 See the Connection configuration options topic.

Users now receive an error message if the number of user licenses is exceeded. User Limit exceeded is now a default terminal string, so the end user has feedback if the application can't start because of a license issue.

 No additional reference.

Debugging information has been added to the debug console when a shortcut starts. Analyzing this log may help you to understand what GDC did, and why a connection may have failed.

 No additional reference.

Genero Desktop Client 2.21 is now supported on Windows™ 7 platform.

 No additional reference.

GDC 2.21 has been adapted to work with WinSSHd 5.0.9 (some changes in the server have been done by Bitvise too, so you'll need to upgrade the server part to at least version 5.0.9.)

 No additional reference.
Table 6. FrontEnd functionCall
Overview Reference

"Hardcopy" is now available as a frontCall.

 See the Hardcopy section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.

"launchurl" frontCall signature has the same signature for a Genero web client and the Genero Desktop Client (GDC)

 See the LaunchURL section in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.
Table 7. Miscellaneous
Overview Reference

Windows® Only: The HardCopy menu item is now available in the system menu for MDI child windows.

 No additional reference.

Windows now uses the MSI installer system.

 No additional reference.
File association and start menu entries help to improve desktop integration:
  • .gdc files are associated with the Genero Desktop Client to be run directly in your favorite explorer (Windows, Linux®).
  • Linux installer creates entries in your desktop start menu.
 No additional reference.
Table 8. Experimental features
Overview Reference
It is possible to see a Flash application in the pages you display with the Integrated browser.
Note: This feature uses "Netscape Plugin" technology, which is also used by Mozilla Firefox™ or Google Chrome. So you need to have Firefox, Chrome plugin or stand-alone Adobe™ flash player installed. Having Microsoft™ IE plugin only is not enough.
 No additional reference.

Compositing allows you to make some fancy effects with window transparency.

 See Compositing.

Supported added for a Command Link Button using the buttonType button style attribute.

 See the Button style attributes topic in the Genero Business Development Language User Guide.
Two new frontcalls have been added in the standard frontcall library:
  • storeSize asks GDC to store the current size of the current window.
  • restoreSize asks GDC to restore the stored size.
 See storesize and restoresize.
Important: Experimental features are available in the product, but:
  • They are likely to be changed in future versions, or even simply removed from the product.
  • They are not supported. Four Js will not be able to fix all reported issues. This is frequently due to current technical limitations.
  • They may not work 100%, not on all platforms, and likely not with all Front-Ends.