About the Web ActiveX

The Sybase DataWindow Web control for ActiveX is a fully interactive DataWindow control for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer. It implements all standard DataWindow features except rich text.

The Web ActiveX supports data retrieval with retrieval arguments and data update. You can use edit styles, display formats, and validation rules. Most of the standard methods for manipulating the DataWindow are available, including Modify for changing DataWindow object properties. Several functions that involve file system interactions, such as SaveAs and SaveAsAscii, are not supported, allowing the Web ActiveX to be in the safely scriptable category of ActiveX controls.

Included with the Web ActiveX is the Sybase DataWindow Transaction Object control for making database connections that can be shared by several Web ActiveX controls.

When you install PowerBuilder, the Setup program registers the Web ActiveX and the Transaction Object controls in the Windows registry. The class information entered in the registry is visible in the PowerBuilder Browser under OLE Custom Controls on the OLE tab. You can also examine the properties, events, and methods of the controls on the OLE tab of the Browser.

To use the Web ActiveX, your development system must meet the following requirements, all of which are met when you install any PowerBuilder component that requires the Java VM:

The Web ActiveX uses a DataWindow object, which determines what data is retrieved and how it is displayed. The Web ActiveX can also display Powersoft reports (PSRs), which do not need to retrieve data. A DataWindow object for the Web ActiveX can have any presentation style except RichText.

DataWindow objects are stored in PowerBuilder libraries (PBLs) or PowerBuilder dynamic libraries (PBDs). The DataWindow libraries are stored on the Web server and downloaded as needed by the Internet Explorer browser. You use a URL to point to the library. It can be relative or absolute, using any supported protocol—for example, http, ftp, or file.

To use the Web ActiveX with IIS 6.0, which is the IIS version included in Windows Server 2003, you need to configure IIS to recognize the .pbl, .pbd, and .psr extensions. Previous versions of IIS include a wildcard character MIME mapping that allows IIS to serve any file.

1. In IIS Manager, right-click the computer on which you want to add a MIME type, and click Properties.

2. Click MIME Types.

3. Click New.

4. In the Extension box, type pbl.

5. In the MIME type box, type application/octet-stream.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the .pbd and .psr extensions, using application/octet-stream and application/datawindow respectively as the MIME types.

7. Click OK.

8. Restart IIS to apply the new settings.

You can also add a MIME type to a specific Web site or directory from its HTTP Headers property page.

The Web ActiveX uses JDBC for database connectivity. Users can connect to a data source on any server to which they have access, including databases and middle-tier servers on the Internet.

You can use internal transaction properties for specifying a connection; or you can make the connection with a separate Transaction object, the Sybase DataWindow Transaction Object control. When you connect using a separate transaction object, you can control when SQL COMMIT and ROLLBACK statements occur and you can use the same connection for multiple Web ActiveX controls.

Since the Web ActiveX is designed for Internet Explorer, you can use Jscript or another ECMAScript-compatible scripting language for scripting purposes.

In general, you can use the same methods as in a PowerBuilder application. However, there are a few differences:

• Datatypes are mapped to the basic JavaScript types of string, number, boolean, and various object types

• ECMAScript languages do not support arguments passed by reference; so instead of checking the value of a reference argument, you call a separate method to retrieve the value

• Enumerated datatypes are not supported; instead, specify the integer that corresponds to the enumerated data value

The Web ActiveX supports the same events as a standard DataWindow control, with these differences:

• Event names are different to conform to Web conventions

• Events in ECMAScript languages do not have return values; instead you can call SetActionCode to affect the outcome of an event

The Web ActiveX is provided as a CAB file, which allows the client browser to install and register the control. When the user downloads a Web page that refers to the CAB file, the browser also downloads the CAB file if necessary, unpacks it, and registers the control. Some additional files must also be deployed to the client.