The System Tree provides an active resource of programming information you use while developing targets/projects. It lets you not only get information, but also drag objects into painter views (such as the Script editor or Layout view) for immediate use.
The System Tree displays by default when you start PowerBuilder for the first time. You can hide or display the System Tree using the System Tree button on the PowerBar or by selecting Window>System Tree.
Using the Workspace/Solution tab page
The System Tree has a single tab page that provides a view of the current workspace/solution. The Workspace/Solution tab page displays the current workspace/solution and all its targets/projects. Most targets/projects display the library list for the target/project and all the objects in each library. The Workspace/Solution tab page in the System Tree works like a tree view in the Library painter, but you can keep it open all the time to serve as the control center of the development environment.
You can set the root of the Workspace/Solution page to your computer's root directory, the current selection, or any directory or library, as well as to the current workspace/solution.
Working with targets/projects
To see the pop-up menu that lets you perform operations on a target/project such as search, build, and migrate, you must set the root of the System Tree to the current workspace/solution.
The following illustration shows a workspace with two targets.
Current target/project
The target/project is bold, indicating it is the current target/project, which means that it is the default target/project used in the New dialog box and for Run and Debug. The current target/project is set whenever you:
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Invoke an action in the System Tree, Library painter, or main menu that affects a target/project or a child of a target/project, such as Build, Migrate, Run, or Debug. Some actions, such as Search and Migrate, display a dialog box. If you cancel the action by clicking the Cancel button in the dialog box, the current target/project is not changed.
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Open an object painter.
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Change the active object painter.
If you prefer to set the current target/project explicitly using the Set as Current Target/Project pop-up menu item for the target/project in the System Tree or the File>Set Current Target/Project menu item, clear the Automatically Set Current Target/Project check box on the Workspace/Solution tab page in the System Options dialog box. To open the System Options dialog box, select Tools>System Options from the main menu.
Actions in the System Tree
You can use the Workspace/Solution page as the hub of your PowerBuilder session. Pop-up menus let you build and deploy targets/projects and open and edit any object. Double-clicking an event or function in the System Tree opens its script in the Script view. Events with scripts have a different icon and are listed before events without scripts.
The following table lists the actions you can take on each item that displays on the Workspace/Solution page. You can also set properties for each item, choose which object types display in the tree view, change the root of the Workspace/Solution page, and reset the root to the current workspace/solution.
|
Item |
Menu action items |
|---|---|
|
Workspace/Solution |
New (opens New dialog box), Add Target/Project, Convert Workspace to Solution, Convert & Add Target, Open Workspace/Solution, Close, Incremental Build, Full Build, PowerScript Build, Deploy, Export Build File, Run, Debug, Add to Source Control, Show, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties. Convert & Add Target and PowerScript Build are available only for solution. Convert Workspace to Solution is available only for workspace. |
|
Target/Project |
New, Search, Set as Current Target/Project, Remove Target/Project, Library List, Migrate, Incremental Build, Full Build, PowerScript Build, Deploy, Build & Deploy, Export Build File, Run, Debug, Show, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties. PowerScript Build is available only for project. |
|
PBL |
Search, Delete, Remove Library, Import, Import PB Extension, Import From Library, Optimize, Build Runtime Library, Print Directory, Show, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties. Import From Library is available only for PBL folder. Optimize and Properties are available only for PBL file. |
|
PBD |
Search, Delete, Remove Library, Print Directory, Show, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties |
|
Application project object |
Edit, Search, Deploy, Run, Export Build File, Copy, Move, Delete, Regenerate, Export, Print, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties |
|
PowerServer project object |
Edit, Search, Build & Deploy, Deploy, Undeploy, Run, Export Build File, Copy, Move, Delete, Regenerate, Export, Print, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties |
|
PowerClient project object |
Edit, Search, Build & Deploy, Deploy, Undeploy, Run, Export Build File, Copy, Move, Delete, Regenerate, Export, Print, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties |
|
.NET DataStore project object |
Edit, Search, Generate, Run, Copy, Move, Delete, Regenerate, Export, Print, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties |
|
PowerBuilder object |
Edit, Edit Source, Search, Inherit from, Run/Preview, Copy, Move, Delete, Regenerate, Export, Print, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties. Edit Source is not available for project and proxy objects. Inherit from and Run/Preview are available only for some object types. Source control items are available only if source control information is associated with the target/project. |
|
Functions and events |
Edit, Edit Source, Search, Copy, Move, Delete, Regenerate, Export, Print, Open Containing Folder, Copy Full Path, Copy Name, Properties. The Properties dialog box shows the prototype of the function or event and its "signature." The signature is a string that represents the argument types, return types, and passing style. You use this string when you write a PBNI extension that calls the function or event. For more information, see PowerBuilder Native Interface Programmers Guide and Reference. |
