Features 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.
Topic Page
About the Web ActiveX 165
HTML for inserting the controls on a Web page 168 How to use the Web ActiveX in a Web target 170
DataWindow objects for the Web ActiveX 173
Using the DataWindow Transaction Object control 175
Making database connections 177
Coding for the Web ActiveX 179
Deploying the Web ActiveX 180
About the Web ActiveX
Browser support
The Web ActiveX and Transaction Object control are designed to work in browsers that support ActiveX controls, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3 and higher.
The DataWindow controls are not designed to work in Netscape browsers, which do not support ActiveX controls. Even if you use third-party plugins to enable ActiveX support, scripting for the controls works differently and is not tested.
Development
environment When you install PowerBuilder, the Setup program registers the Web ActiveX and the Transaction Object control 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.
In a Web target, you can develop Web pages that use the Web ActiveX and Transaction Object control. You can drag and drop these controls from the Components tab of the System Tree to a Web page. You can also examine the properties, events, and methods of these controls from the System Tree. In the HTML editor, you can insert the control, set property values using the control property sheets, and write event scripts in the script editor.
For more information, see “How to use the Web ActiveX in a Web target” on page 170.
In addition to the Web target HTML editor, you can use any text editor to write HTML for the controls. However, other development environments are not supported and do not provide advanced authoring support.
For information about the required HTML, see “HTML for inserting the controls on a Web page” on page 168.
DataWindow objects 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.
For more information, see “DataWindow objects for the Web ActiveX” on page 173.
Database connections 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.
For more information, see “Using the DataWindow Transaction Object control” on page 175.
Scripting 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:
• Data types 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 data types are not supported; instead, specify the integer that corresponds to the enumerated data value
For more information, see “Coding for the Web ActiveX” on page 179.
Events 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
Deployment 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.
For more information, see “Deploying the Web ActiveX” on page 180.