[FIX] Valentina for RB/Xojo: Mac + Linux updated the work with pictures

In new Xojo was changed the work with pictures for Mac/Cocoa and Linux.

We have improve plugin “Valentina for REALbasic/Xojo” to support these new formats. This fix affects both normal pictures and preview pictures in Valentina Reports.

[NEW][MAC] VStudio.app and installer of VServer_x64 now are signed

OS X 10.8 has option “System Settings -> Security -> General -> Allow: MAS App Store and identified developers”  on default to be ON, so you cannot installed easy not signed applications and run installers. Note that 10.7 also can have this option enabled on some computers.

To resolve this issue, we have sign vstudio.app and vserver_x64.pkg installer.

Unfortunately we cannot easy sign other our installers (V4RB, V4REV, V4CC, … ) because we using third party installer.  So for now, for 5.0, we going to ship these installers not signed. To run them, OS X developer should in the Finder do CTRL + click on icon of installer and choose OPEN command in the contextual menu. In this case you will see the button ALLOW in the OS X security dialog. Click it, and continue as usual.

[NEW] VKERNEL now can create journal at a specified location + Sandboxed Mac Apps with V4CC.

Frank have contact us with request add ability for V4CC (Valentina for Cocoa) developers to specify the location of journal of a database. This is important for sandboxed applications, which on default can access only their sandbox folder and a file(s) that user specify explicitly.

PROBLEM is that if a user choose somedb.vdb file in the SelectFile dialog , then Valentina engine needs yet to create a journal file near to .vdb file. But for a sandboxed application this is prohibited by OS X. This is why developer want to be able specify another location for journal file.

Btw, this problem exists more of year for SQLite database that is used e.g. in CoreData of Apple, when it is used by a sandboxed app. Strange, but the only advice from Apple is – disable journal file.

We have spend couple of days to add into C++ level  and into V4CC ADK this feature. Rest ADKs soon.

Now you can write the following in V4CC:

Continue reading [NEW] VKERNEL now can create journal at a specified location + Sandboxed Mac Apps with V4CC.

[new] VSERVER as HTTP Server + Admin based on Valentina Reports

Few years ago we have added into Valentina Server HTTP port, so it have:

  • normal port
  • SSL port
  • HTTP port
  • SNMP port
We added this HTTP port to be able do the next step — implementing admin built-in right into VServer. So user can access from any browser this admin by HTTP. We see  the following advantages of  this:
  • it is enough install server on you mac/win/linux computer and this admin will be available immediately, without need in Apache/PHP/else.
  • this admin will allow to manage vserver from platforms where not exists VStudio or iValentina. For example Android users will be able manage VServer.
Such admin of vserver we was going implement on C++ of course.
But some time ago we have got idea to use Valentina Reports for this, which could do HTTP generation from report. We have spend some time to make couple of prototypes of this idea. And while we did them, we have already made few improvements in our Reports to support this. The most important  are:

[NEW] Valentina Reports 5.0 Support mySQL Datasource

We are glad to inform you, that we already have working Valentina Reports engine with datasource from mySQL.

We have use one of BSD clients compatible with mySQL Server. This resolve any issues related with GPL-license of mySQL native drivers.

Please note, that this mySQL datasource for now works only for Valentina Reports ADK, but not in Valentina Studio – Report Editor. To prepare reports in the GUI Editor you need to use Valentina or Postgre or SQLite database with the same tables. But do not worry, in about 1.5-2 months we will introduce 5.x version of Valentina Studio, with full-featured mySQL plugin also.

Right now, you can make dump of schema of mySQL database, and load that dump into local Valentina DB, then use it as test-db to design report(s). Later, from ADK application, just specify mySQL datasource against this report(s). For mySQL you should use connection string of kind

theReport = my_project.MakeNewReport(
        "report_1",
        "mysql://host=192.168.2.33, user=admin, passw=admin",
        "SELECT fldName, fldPhone FROM tblPerson" )

Deprecated VPHP and VODBC client-only Archives

Historically, we have developed at first VPHP as client-only ADK of Valentina Server. Later we have add vphp_standalone version of archives, which included the whole Valentina engine, and can work without VServer. Actually we have this for all other Valentina ADKs, such as V4RB, VNET, V4REV, …  But for VPHP we have got two archives, where others ADKs did have one.

The same did happens with VODBC ADK …

For 4.9.1. release we have decide “resolve” this issue. Now on FTP present only “standalone” full archives, but they are renamed to just vphp_4 style.

[DEPRECATED] I_Field::put_ID()

We have note that put_ID() should not be in the public interfaces of Schema Objects, because developer should not be able change ID of a scheme object.

We have check our sources, and found that only I_Field interface did have such method. So we move it into internal I_FieldEx interface. In the C++ header this method marked as DEPRECATED, and do nothing now. We believe that nobody from C++ developers have used it.

We will consider future ability to do “SET PROPERTY ID of Object name” via SQL, but this will be recommended for use by our own SQL scripts only.

[NEW][C++] set of MACROS as GET_STRING( cursor, field_name)

Problem is that if you are a C++ developer and use VSDK for development,
then work with Values of Fields of cursor looks as:

I_Cursor_Ptr pCursor = db->SqlSelect( ... );
...
 String s = pCursor->get_Field("Name"  )->get_Value()->get_String();
 double d = pCursor->get_Field("Weight")->get_Value()->get_Double();
...

In contrast, for such languages as REALbasic or VB syntax is more short:

  String str = pCursor.StringField( "fldName" ).value

We have decide that for C++ developer we can have set of simple macros that will allow C++ developer syntax as:

  String str = GET_STRING( pCursor, "fldName" );

These macros are located in the:  sources/FBL/VShared/VSQL/publ/Interfaces/VSQL_I_Cursor.h

Note, that more complex values as DateTime, Binary, still should be used in old way, because VSDK do not know format you goingto use. May be you can add own macroses in your project that looks similar and do job you need.

[NEW][C++] Family of toValue_xxx() factories for simple SQL binding

Now C++ developer can write simpler code as

ArrayOfValues_Ptr pValues = new ArrayOfValues();
        pValues->AddItem( toValue_varchar(mName) );
        pValues->AddItem( toValue_double(70.5) );
        pValues->AddItem( toValue_long(size) );

Instead of:

ArrayOfValues_Ptr pValues = new ArrayOfValues();

       Value_varchar* pValueName = new Value_varchar();
       pValueName->put_String( mName.begin(), mName.end() );
       pValues->AddItem( pValueName );

       Value_double* pValueD = new Value_double();
       pValueD->put_Double( 70.5 );
       pValues->AddItem( pValueD );
       ...

Converting FileMaker Pro Databases into LiveCode Applications

David Simpson has written an excellent article over on Omegabundle.com called Converting FileMaker Pro Databases into LiveCode Applications. dot com Solutions makes a powerful utility product called FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition that is a part of the latest Omegabundle for LiveCode 4.2011 offering.  More than a utility, its really a one of a kind solution for porting Apple FileMaker Pro and Microsoft Access databases into full LiveCode applications, which in turn makes it possible to port the data store over to Valentina DB.

Omegabundle 2011 for REAL Studio Developers Extended to 2.14.2011

A group of developer tool makers that support REAL Studio have put together a fantastic bundle of $3200 of pro tools for only $399 – the Omegabundle. This offer lasts only through 2.14.2011 – ie Valentine’s Day. Continue reading Omegabundle 2011 for REAL Studio Developers Extended to 2.14.2011

Paradigma Software Participates in Omegabundle 2011 for REAL Studio

Paradigma Software has joined with a group of professional development tool vendors to produce and release Omega Bundle 2011 for the REAL Studio environment. This limited time package contains $3200 worth of tools but available in this set for $399 – over 80% savings.

Continue reading Paradigma Software Participates in Omegabundle 2011 for REAL Studio

[NEW][V4CC] Interface Builder Plugin – Zero Lines of Code!

In version 4.8 we add one more cool feature to Valentina for Cocoa (V4CC) ADK – Interface Builder plugin!

V4CC Interface Builder Plugin allows you to develop a Cocoa application with embedded V4CC.framework without writing any code to link GUI with a Valentina database. Instead you will use bindings and few Valentina Controllers.

You can read Manual of V4CC IB plugin and learn few tutorial lessons.