Users Guide
Appendix B. The PB.INI File

[Application]

AppName

The name of the application that is last opened.

IDE

[Application]

Applib

The library of the application that is last opened.

IDE

[Application]

Citrix

Whether the programs compiled by PowerBuilder obtain the "default" printer(s) of Windows in real time instead of getting a copy of the "default" printer(s) when the application starts as before.

1 = For handling "default" printer(s) in Citrix environment

0 = For not handling "default" printer(s) in Citrix environment

Note: This key is supported starting from version 2019 R3 and works on Windows 10 and later.

Runtime

[Application]

ModernGraph

Whether the graph displays in the modern style or traditional style.

1 = Displays in the modern style

0 = Displays in the traditional style

1

IDE and Runtime

[Browser]

Window

The display size and position of the Browser window that is last opened.

IDE

[Browser]

Show Inherited

Whether the Browser window shows Inherited.

True = Show

False = Hide

TRUE

IDE

[Browser]

Show Legend

Whether the Browser window shows Legend.

True = Show

False = Hide

TRUE

IDE

[Database]

AutoQuote

How single quotation marks are placed around strings in the Expression box of the Where Criteria window in the Query or Select painter.

1 = Quotes are automatically added to strings.

0 = No quotes are added.

1

IDE

[Database]

Columns

The number of columns displayed when you open a table.

The default value is 8.

8

IDE

[Database]

NoCatalog

Whether PowerBuilder creates and uses the extended attribute system tables.

0 = PowerBuilder will create and use the tables.

1 = PowerBuilder will not create and use the tables.

0

IDE

[Database]

ReadOnly

Whether the settings in the Database painter are read-only.

0 = No. Settings in the Database painter can be changed and updated to the extended attribute system tables or other database tables.

1 = Yes. Settings in the Database painter cannot be changed or updated to the extended attribute system tables and other database tables.

0

IDE

[Database]

ShowIndexKeys

Whether the objects of Object Layout view show index keys in the Database painter.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Database]

ShowReflnt

Shows referential integrity in the Database painter.

1 = Yes

0 = No

IDE

[Database]

StayConnected

Indicates when PowerBuilder disconnects from the database.

1 = PowerBuilder will remain connected to the database until you exit PowerBuilder.

0 = PowerBuilder will disconnect from the database when you exit the Database painter.

1

IDE

[Database]

TableDir

Shows the table directory when you enter the Database painter.

1 = All tables are listed.

0 = The tables are not displayed until you click the Tables icon open brush.

1

IDE

[Database]

TableListCache

Specifies the refresh rate of the table list from the database.

The default value is 1800 seconds.

1800

IDE

[Database]

TableSpace

Specifies the name of the table space (database-dependent).

*

IDE

[Database]

TerminatorCharacter

Specifies the SQL statement terminator character used by the ISQL view in the Database painter.

;

IDE

[Database]

HideComments

Whether the objects of Object Layout view show column comments in the Database painter.

0 = Show

1 = Hide

0

IDE

[Database]

ODataInPBClassic

(pending to be updated)

[Database]

HIDEDATATYPES

Whether the objects of Object Layout view hide data types in the Database painter.

0 = Hide

1 = Show

IDE

[Database]

ConnectDefault

Whether the Database painter opens with establishing a connection to a database.

1 = The Database painter establishes a connection to a database using a default profile when the painter is invoked.

0 = The Database painter opens without establishing a connection to a database.

IDE

[Database]

EnableSet

Whether to enable SET commands in the ISQL view for database interfaces.

1 = Enable

0 = Disable

This page has more information.

IDE

[Data Window]

GridOn

The snap-to-grid option.

1 = The objects are aligned on the grid.

0 = The objects can be arbitrarily laid out.

IDE

[Data Window]

GridShow

Whether to show the grid.

0 = Hide

1 = Show

IDE

[Data Window]

GridX

The width of the grid, in pixels, if displayed.

The default value is 8.

8

IDE

[Data Window]

GridY

The height of the grid, in pixels, if displayed.

The default value is 8.

8

IDE

[Data Window]

new_default_datasource

The new_default_datasource keyword contains the value of the current data source selected when you created a new DataWindow (for example, SQL Select or stored procedure data source). It also lists the Composite presentation style as a data source because it behaves differently than all of the other presentation styles (for more information, see Working with DataWindows).

Value Meaning:

1 = SQL select

2 = Query

3 = Stored procedure

4= Script

5 = Quick select

6 = Composite

IDE

[Data Window]

new_default_presentation

The new_default_presentation keyword contains the value of the current presentation style selected when you created a new DataWindow (for example, tabular or freeform). Values are:

1 = Tabular

2 = Freeform

3 = Grid

4 = Label

5 = N-Up

6 = Crosstab

7 = Graph

8 = Group

9 = OLE

10 = Rich-text

IDE

[Data Window]

Outline_Objects

Whether DataWindow objects are outlined.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Data Window]

PreviewOnNew

Previews a new DataWindow on data source selection. Values are yes and no.

No

IDE

[Data Window]

PreviewRetrieve

Retrieves each time you preview a window.

1 = Data should be retrieved immediately when you preview a DataWindow.

0 = Click the Retrieve icon or select Retrieve from the Rows menu in order to view data.

1

IDE

[Data Window]

Preview_RetainData

Saves retrieval arguments between previews.

1 = The retrieved data is cached between previews.

0 = The data will be retrieved from the database again.

1

IDE

[Data Window]

PrintOnNew

Previews a new DataWindow after creating a new DataWindow definition.

Values are yes and no.

Yes

IDE

[Data Window]

PrintPreviewRulers

Shows rulers on Print Preview window.

Values are yes and no.

No

IDE

[Data Window]

PrintPreviewZoom

Zoom percentage for the Print Preview window.

The default percentage is 100.

100

IDE

[Data Window]

Ruler

Whether to show the ruler in the DataWindow painter.

1 = Show

0 = Hide

0

IDE

[Data Window]

Status

Whether to display the selected target status in the DataWindow painter.

1 = Display

0 = Hide

0

IDE

[Data Window]

stored_procedure_build

How the process and results of the stored procedure data source are described.

1 = PowerBuilder automatically describes the executable process and results.

0 = PowerBuilder prompts a description.

1

IDE

[Data Window]

OverlayLineWidth

The line width in the type of Line Graph in the DataWindow.

The default value is 1.

1

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

Accessibility

0 = Disable both MSAA and Microsoft UI Automation (and can resolve several reported bugs of later PowerBuilder versions that run slowly, particularly on Citrix and similar).

1 = Enable both

2 = Enable Microsoft UI Automation only

3 = Enable MSAA only

This page has more information.

0

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

ForgetColumnKeyboardLayout

Yes = PowerBuilder will forget which keyboard layout (language) was used for each individual column.

No = PowerBuilder will remember and apply the used keyboard layout when having switched the keyboard layout / language on individual columns.

No

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

NativePDF_Valid

1 = Use Native

0 = Use GhostScript or XLSFO

Note: This key was added in 2019, and removed in 2019 R2.

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

NativePDF_IncludeCustomFont

1 = Embed fonts in PDF

0 = Do not embed fonts in PDF

Note: This key was added in 2019, and removed in 2019 R2.

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

NativePDFPrintDC

Whether the NativePDF uses the desktop DC (device context) or the printer DC.

0 = (default) desktop DC

1 = printer DC

0

IDE and runtime

[Data Window]

useDefaultKeyboardLayout

Yes = Force RichText Edit DataWindows to use the default keyboard layout

No = Do not force RichText Edit DataWindows to use the default keyboard layout

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

RTL_NoAlignment

Yes = Support Alignment when Column selects the RightToLeft property

No = Do not support Alignment when Column selects the RightToLeft property

No

IDE and Runtime

[Data Window]

GenerateWSAssembliesOnCompile

Yes = Regenerate an assembly for a DataWindow that uses a Web service data source for retrieval, update, insert, or delete operations

No = Do not regenerate an assembly for a DataWindow that uses a Web service data source

Note: Web service data source is discontinued starting from PowerBuilder 2022.

IDE

[Data Window]

debug_ws_metadata

(pending to be updated)

0

[Data Window]

FixPreview

0 = When using certain Japanese fonts and specific sizes in DataWindow, the printed content is complete, but the total page number in the print result is inconsistent with that of the preview version due to the extra blank lines.

1 = When using certain Japanese fonts and specific sizes in DataWindow, the total page number in the print result is the same as that of the preview version, but the printed content in the column may be truncated.

0

[DataStore Behavior]

UseHwnd

Yes = Use MS-Window handles in DS processing

No = Do not use MS-Window handles and gain much better performance (recommend to set to 'No')

Note: Setting the value to 'No' might have an undesired side effect. "No" will break print functionality for DataStores, specifically, print (true, true) (which is called by pfc_print if you're a PFC user) will no longer show the regular print dialog for DataStores. Please see the discussion and solution at this community post.

Yes

Runtime

[DbTrace]

SqlTraceFile

Changes the trace output file name for the main database trace utility. For example, SqlTraceFile=c:\myApplication\tracesql.log.

This page has more information.

Runtime

[DbTrace]

FetchBuffers

ShowBindings

SumTiming

Timing

ShowDialog

LogFileName

Changes the log file location and log file name. For example,

FetchBuffers = 1

ShowBindings = 1

SumTiming = 1

Timing = 1

ShowDialog = 1

LogFileName = dbtrace.log

This page has more information.

Runtime

Runtime

Runtime

Runtime

Runtime

Runtime

Runtime

Runtime

[Debug]

VariablesWindow

Shows Variables window during debugging.

1 = Show

0 = Hide

0

[Debug]

WatchWindow

Shows Watch window during debugging.

1 = Show

0 = Hide

0

[DotNetGenerator]

PrefixClass

Prefix for the imported object name.

nvo_

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

PrefixFunction

Prefix for the imported function name.

of_

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

PrefixGetFunction

Prefix for function which gets the property.

get_

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

PrefixSetFunction

Prefix for function which sets the property.

set_

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

IsDistingObject

Whether to add number suffix to the object name if object names are duplicated.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

IsArgumentPrefix

Whether to add prefix to the argument name to identify the data type.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

IsPackAgeObject

Whether to encapsulate a DotNetAssembly object in each DotNetObject object.

1 = Yes

0 = No

0

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

IsTryCatch

Whether to incorporate the try-catch error handling in the DotNetObject object.

1 = Yes

0 = No

0

IDE

[DotNetGenerator]

TargetNetType

The framework type.

1 = .NET Core

0 = .NET Framework

0

IDE

[dwconverter]

ColumnPlaceHolder

Whether the C# model uses the column place holder.

1 = (default) Use the column place holder

0 = Do not use the column place holder

1

IDE and Runtime

[Edit Mask Behaviors]

AutocompleteDates

Yes = Complete the date automatically.

No = Do not complete the date automatically.

This page has more information.

IDE and Runtime

[JavaVM]

CreateJavaVM

1 = Instantiate a Java VM.

0 = Do not instantiate a Java VM.

Note: This key is no longer supported starting from version 2022.

IDE

[Library]

ApplicationExplosion

Includes application explosion in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

ApplicationScripts

Includes application scripts in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

DeletePrompt

Prompts for library or entry deletion.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

DisplayComments

Shows comments in the library list.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

DisplayDates

Shows last update date in library list.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

DisplaySizes

Shows entry file sizes in the library list.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeApplications

Includes application objects in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeDataWindows

Includes DataWindows in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeFunctions

Includes user functions in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeMenus

Includes menus in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludePipeLines

Includes pipelines in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

IDE

[Library]

IncludeQueries

Includes queries in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeStructures

Includes structures in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeUserObjects

Includes User objects in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

IncludeWindows

Includes Windows in a browse.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

MenuAttributes

Includes menu attributes in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

MenuScripts

Includes menu scripts in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

SaveBackupsOnOptimize

Creates a backup file when library is optimized.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

WindowAttributes

Includes Window attributes in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

WindowObjects

Includes Window objects during report print.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

WindowObjectsAttributes

Includes Window object attributes in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

WindowObjectsScripts

Includes Window object scripts in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

WindowPicture

Includes picture of window in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

WindowScripts

Includes window scripts in report.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[Library]

NormalFont

Contains the font used when printing developer reports. It is used in the display text of Window controls, and the available fonts depend on the print driver and the soft fonts that are loaded.

Courier New

IDE

[Library]

NormalFontHeight

Contains the font height when printing developer reports.

The default value is 10.

10

IDE

[Library]

ExportEncodingDefault

The default encoding of Export Library Entry.

2 = ANSI/DBCS

4 = UTF-8

8 = Unicode LE

32 = HEXACSII

8

IDE

[Library]

SccCOImport

SccUCImport

SccGLImport

SccRBImport

SccMaxArraySize

SccCaseSensitive

SccMultiCheckout

SccCheckoutNoLock

Settings for managing source control operations.

This page has more information.

IDE

[Library]

SccExtensions

SccLogLevel

SccMultithread

SccDiffStrategy

Settings for troubleshooting problems with source control.

This page has more information.

1

IDE

[PB]

SCC_SkipOpenWarning

Skips warning when opening objects are not checked out.

1 = Skip

0 = Show

0

IDE

[PB]

CompilerWarnings

Shows compiler warnings during compile.

1 = Show

0 = Suppress

1

IDE

[PB]

DashesInIdentifiers

Dashes are allowed in identifiers (there must be a space before the dash if it is used as an operator).

1 = Allow

0 = Prohibit

1

IDE

[PB]

DatabaseWarnings

Shows database warnings during compile.

1 = Show

0 = Suppress

1

IDE

[PB]

Maximized

Maximizes main PowerBuilder IDE window when opened.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[PB]

PromptOnExit

Exits confirmation message to leave PowerBuilder IDE.

1 = Yes

0 = No

0

IDE

[PB]

StripComments

Strips statement comments when sending SQL statements to DBMS.

1 = Strip

0 = Keep

1

IDE

[PB]

WebLink1

WebLink2

WebLink3

WebLink4

WebLink5

WebLink6

WebLink1 = Community &Q&&A, https://community.appeon.com/

WebLink2 = &Online Product Manuals, https://docs.appeon.com/

WebLink3 = PowerBuilder &Demo Apps, https://demo.appeon.com/?Powerbuilder

WebLink4 = &PowerBuilder Education, https://www.appeon.com/appeon-u

WebLink5 = &Technical Support, https://www.appeon.com/developers/get-help.html

WebLink6 = &Latest Product News, https://www.appeon.com/news

IDE

[PB]

EditorFontHeight

Contains the Editor font height being used in PowerBuilder IDE.

IDE

[PB]

EditorFontName

Contains the name of the Editor font being used in PowerBuilder IDE.

IDE

[PB]

PrinterFontHeight

Contains the Printer font height being used in PowerBuilder IDE.

IDE

[PB]

PrinterFontName

Contains the name of the Printer font being used in PowerBuilder IDE.

IDE

[PB]

XPStyleTB

Enables the offending portion of the new menu presentation layer (for Windows XP only).

1 = Enable

0 = Disable

1

IDE

[PB]

LatestProductNews

Whether the latest product news is automatically displayed when opening PowerBuilder IDE (it is only displayed once during a new installation). The key is supported starting from version 2017.

0 = Display

1 = Hide

1

IDE

[PB]

ToolbarText

Indicates whether the Show Text option is on or off in PowerBuilder IDE.

1 = On

0 = Off

0

IDE

[PB]

ToolbarTips

Indicates whether the Show PowerTips option is on or off in PowerBuilder IDE.

1 = On

0 = Off

1

IDE

[PB]

TestIni

(pending to be updated)

IDE

[PB]

Dock

Contains the layout of UI Dock.

IDE

[PB]

PbCrashFlag

The flag of PowerBuilder IDE crash.

1 = Cause the PowerBuilder IDE to crash.

0 = Open the PowerBuilder IDE normally.

1

IDE

[PB]

ReopenWorkspace

Reopens the current workspace project automatically.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[PB]

StartDialog

Starts Welcome to PowerBuilder dialog box.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[PB]

LastWorkspace

Contains the last workspace path.

IDE

[PB]

AutoSetCurrentTarget

1 = Set the current target as default automatically

0 = Cancel the setting and manually set it

1

IDE

[PB]

OpenSelection

(pending to be updated)

5

IDE

[PB]

NewSelection

(pending to be updated)

9

IDE

[PB]

NewDefaults

(pending to be updated)

6

IDE

[PB]

NewDimensions

(pending to be updated)

0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

IDE

[PB]

Window

Contains display size and position for PowerBuilder windows, and locates the newly created windows automatically.

IDE

[PB]

InheritSelection

(pending to be updated)

2

IDE

[PB]

RunSelection

(pending to be updated)

0

IDE

[PB]

SystemOptionsPage

(pending to be updated)

0

IDE

[PB]

UseSimpleMAPI

Yes = Use Simple MAPI

No = Use Extended MAPI

Both have their individual shortcomings / bugs.

This page has more information.

Depends on which version of PowerBuilder you are using, so it is better to set this value explicitly.

Runtime

[PB]

PBDebug

Indicates whether the Just In Time Debugging option is on or off.

ON = Create a debug log when running in the development mode

OFF = Do not create a debug log when running in the development mode

OFF

Runtime

[PB]

DebugOutFile

The debug log file location and file name, for example, DebugOutFile = c:\<path>\<filename>.dbg (used in combination with PBDebug = ON).

Runtime

[PB]

CODEGENTEMP

Targets the output of your Machine Code compiling to a specific location (for PowerBuilder IDE only). For example, CODEGENTEMP = C:\PB2019\CplusPlus

This page has more information.

IDE

[PB]

UseZp1

UseZp1=1 is equivalent to selecting "Use 1-byte structure member alignment in external function" in System Options dialog box > General tab.

This page has more information.

Runtime

[PB]

DashInIdentifiers

(pending to be updated)

IDE

[PB]

UserHelpFile

UserHelpPrefix

This page has more information.

IDE

[PB]

SystemTree_DotNetFullName

1 = Display the full class name

0 = Display only the final name

Note: .NET Assembly target is discontinued starting from PowerBuilder 2022.

IDE

[PB]

PasteLowerCase

1 = Paste the scripts in lowercase.

0 = Paste the scripts in uppercase.

This page has more information.

IDE

[PB]

UserOptionFileExt

Saves the breakpoints set by developer in a separate file.

This page has more information.

IDE

[PB Welcome]

IsEnable

Whether to open the welcome screen.

0

IDE

[PB Welcome]

WebLink

(pending to be updated)

IDE

[RibbonBarXmlEdit]

ShowLineNumbers

Whether to show line numbers.

1 = Show

0 = Hide

1

IDE

[RibbonBarXmlEdit]

WordWrap

Whether to start word wrap.

1 = Yes

0 = No

0

IDE

[RibbonBarXmlEdit]

IsDynamicrefresh

Whether dynamic refresh is supported in Ribbonbar Builder.

1 = Yes

0 = No

1

IDE

[RibbonBarXmlEdit]

IsTopLayout

Whether to place the preview pane on the top in Ribbonbar Builder.

1 = On the top

0 = On the bottom

0

IDE

[RibbonBarXmlEdit]

XmlCurrentDirectory

Sets the default Images Directory path in Ribbonbar Builder.

The default value is null.

NULL

IDE

[RibbonBarXmlEdit]

DynamicInterval

Indicates the refresh interval (milliseconds) when dynamic refresh is supported in Ribbonbar Builder.

The default value is 100.

100

IDE

[RichText]

PageSizeAsControlSize

1 = Adapt the page size on a RichText control to the control's size. Resolve the issue of PowerBuilder RichText Control WordWrap property is not working.

0 = Do not adapt the page size to the control's size.

0

Runtime

[SourceControlProxy]

Url

Port

Username

Password

Timeout

Uses a proxy server to connect with the source control server.

Note: These keys are supported starting from 2019 R3.

This page has more information.

IDE

[SourceControl]

DetailError

1 = Generate detailed error log when using source control in PowerBuilder IDE. It is recommended to use it together with the "Log All Activity" option in the Workspace properties > Source Control tab.

0 = Do not generate detailed error log.

Note: This key is supported starting from 2019 R3.

0

IDE

[SQL Painter]

Hidecomments

Shows column comments when table is opened.

1 = Hide

0 = Show

0

IDE

[SQL Painter]

Tabitem

(pending to be updated)

1

IDE

[SQL Painter]

HIDEFLAGS

Whether to hide Comments, Datatypes and Label of Table. The default value is null.

C = Hide Comments of Table

D = Hide Datatypes of Table

L = Hide Label of Table

CDL = Hide Comments, Datatypes and Label of Table

NULL

IDE

[Window]

GridOn

The snap-to-grid option.

1 = The objects are aligned on the grid.

0 = The objects can be arbitrarily laid out.

0

IDE

[Window]

GridShow

Whether to show the grid.

1 = Show

0 = Hide

1

IDE

[Window]

GridX

The width of the grid, in pixels, if displayed.

The default value is 8.

8

IDE

[Window]

GridY

The height of the grid, in pixels, if displayed.

The default value is 8.

8

IDE

[Window]

Status

Whether to display the selected target status in the Window painter.

1 = Display

0 = Hide

0

IDE