APPX 4.2 release notes

Release notes for APPX 4.2.0 through 4.2.a, newest first. They were published on www.appx.com and moved here in October 2026. To move between releases, see Upgrade paths. Every release is listed in the Release history.

APPX 4.2.a

The APPX 4.2.a Patch Release fixes more than 140 previously reported bugs, listed below. For additional details, click on the bug for a link to the corresponding bug report.

Bug #24 - Xref screens not GUI
Bug #26 - Create EM's scroller not GUI
Bug #401 - Run Database not GUI
Bug #440 - Non GUI Screen - Locked Application
Bug #441 - Non-GUI SCreen - Data Dictionary User Documentaion
Bug #443 - Non-GUI Screen - Database Management
Bug #560 - Save as Default not honoured in Xref inputs / app id
Bug #582 - Option Help missing on many of the five marquis 0AD design tabs
Bug #583 - Compare Applications - Mulitple Items
Bug #699 - Items Display - Y/N fields not required!
Bug #710 - Non-GUI screen - Design Transfer
Bug #713 - Non-GUI screens: Process Generation
Bug #714 - Non-GUI screens: Design Analysis
Bug #716 - Language: Translations not GUI
Bug #717 - Non-GUI screens: Documentation
Bug #720 - Item Overlap utility does not catch all overlaps
Bug #759 - File won't Restructure from 'runtime' environment
Bug #764 - Invoking process w/o database ID acts unexpectedly
Bug #769 - Compare Utility - Jump to Old Context
Bug #918 - Tech Doc on FLEP
Bug #1006 - Print On Screen - Option 7 No longer works
Bug #1018 - Spurious error message in Disposition at runtime
Bug #1027 - License server off by one
Bug #1093 - Create Executable Modules Doesn't Display Progress within App Design
Bug #1094 - New Undocumented Relations Appear in Record Selection
Bug #1101 - SET occurrences & the Reference Browser
Bug #1106 - Can't delete a query/report specification
Bug #1180 - SQL generates compile error - Can't Compile CNV TEXT statement
Bug #1382 - Returning from View Errors or Edit Process loses place in EM create results scroller
Bug #1385 - Some 0AD Tools processes still not GUI.
Bug #1387 - Item Help on 'Picture Properties' Position is blank
Bug #1388 - Date Mask is Missing in the DD for a System Date
Bug #1393 - Image Editor Object prop popup Alt-Keys WRONG!
Bug #1395 - Change all References Wrong
Bug #1417 - Illogical Assignment of Hot Keys on Query Process Design
Bug #1427 - Font inconsistency in Query Element Display
Bug #1455 - Application Chooser - Locked App
Bug #1466 - Image Editor - PDFs require entry of '---'
Bug #1467 - Field Length x Occurrences is Allowed to exceed 32k
Bug #1498 - DD field editor copies second range value
Bug #1500 - Single File Export truncates documentation
Bug #1506 - Changing a field's type behaves oddly
Bug #1507 - AA indicator not set for logic default value
Bug #1508 - Process DD updates Date/User Changed for Files and Work Fields
Bug #1531 - FLEPs are lost when applying a patch
Bug #1539 - X-App File Design Transfer does not change all App ID's
Bug #1550 - Input Tech Doc prints faulty AA for optional child
Bug #1559 - Tech Doc prints token ID number, not token value
Bug #1564 - 0AD Sub NAVIGATE API is behind the time
Bug #1565 - Label Field size can't be adjusted in Additional Attributes
Bug #1571 - Changing a menu name does not clean up widgets
Bug #1573 - Item Overlap Always Returns to First screen
Bug #1574 - Item Overlap Doesn't find truncated fields
Bug #1591 - Processes XRef reports process called by * GOSUB
Bug #1608 - Transfer query does not allow User ID with trailing spaces
Bug #1630 - License Usage PID field too small
Bug #1635 - input --- COMPARE is not scrolling
Bug #1636 - ** (Comment) in the ILF code doesn't generate top of a new page in Tech Doc
Bug #1639 - Action Processes missing in Design Transfer menu
Bug #1642 - Documentation Mantenance - Process
Bug #1643 - Check for Item Overlap missing END (CONFIRMATION)
Bug #1644 - Use Query default should check PCF
Bug #1656 - Unexecutable process types shown in Invoke A Process
Bug #1662 - Query Editor allows invalid comparisons
Bug #1666 - --- CLEAR PASS LIST
Bug #1670 - Sort Order screen requires extra Return
Bug #1674 - Data Dictionary Mtce - wrong fields deleted
Bug #1681 - Cross Reference acrosss All Apps returns TOO MANY OPEN FILES
Bug #1684 - Inconsisten Short Cuts for 'Event Points For Rules'
Bug #1687 - Cursor position wrong when adding to a long scrolling list
Bug #1695 - Not all references to Application IDs are found
Bug #1698 - Error Screen when ALL apps are selected in X-ref
Bug #1708 - UQ in ADD mode doesn't check for PCF, but does in CHANGE mode
Bug #1709 - Check Query PCF with Process PCF
Bug #1723 - Named Resource is invalid after SCAN
Bug #1748 - Documentation wrong - Delete Protection
Bug #1749 - Documentation wrong - Key Protection
Bug #1784 - Tech Doc for Outputs doesn't list frames in the same sequence as in App Design
Bug #1785 - APPX Reportwriter cursor positioning a little confusing
Bug #1788 - Cancelling e-mail from Print on Screen gets error
Bug #1801 - Screen display of text output can drop first character
Bug #1807 - DD Compiler doesn't flag record length >32K
Bug #1813 - Check for should not allow '?' if attached item does not allow blank.
Bug #1822 - Search while viewing a report broken in 4.2.8
Bug #1838 - Opt 7 bug
Bug #1841 - Help Text Displayed Multiple Times
Bug #1843 - Change all References doesn't change App Id on G/A for O/C
Bug #1845 - Rules Indicator turned off
Bug #1848 - ULOG File Structure wrong on 0LA/0LC
Bug #1850 - Adobe doesn't open with 4.2.9 client on Linux
Bug #1867 - Record Selection doesn't work right for token fields
Bug #1868 - Reportwriter does not honor default rows & columns for a text field
Bug #1869 - Reportwriter does not honor default display mask
Bug #1870 - Report list not refreshed after delete
Bug #1871 - Overflow Error in 'Explanation' of Orphan Detection
Bug #1874 - Pathname of uploaded file truncated
Bug #1878 - Can not set the default value for a date field defined as mm ss
Bug #1881 - Security Profile Xref List
Bug #1884 - System Parameters List
Bug #1887 - F11 from Menu Image Editor does nothing
Bug #1893 - Change all references
Bug #1895 - Comilation error list misspelling
Bug #1908 - Change All Refs Doesn't do Named Resources
Bug #1911 - Validating O/S User Id too slow
Bug #1913 - Design Transfer - ALL doesn't transfer Named Resources
Bug #1914 - Drill down from Compare shows too many children
Bug #1915 - Compare utility doesn't compare Resources
Bug #1916 - Color Coding Lost in Debugger
Bug #1917 - Read From Client Clipboard writes to clipboard
Bug #1919 - Non-modifiable logical field can be modified when in Change mode
Bug #1922 - ut remove from lst - elem is NULL
Bug #1924 - 0AD Token Missing ILF commands
Bug #1925 - Java Client & textReverseEnterKey
Bug #1926 - Using Foundation Processes does not turn on AA for output
Bug #1927 - DL Button does not work in Domains
Bug #1928 - New ILF commands & design utilities
Bug #1932 - Delimted Exporter generates bad update
Bug #1937 - Sort Setup Not Saving Grand Totals Change
Bug #1940 - Label Missing For 'Previous Image OK?
Bug #1941 - Reportwriter auto selects in 'Where' and 'Order by'
Bug #1942 - Exceptions for Processes crashes in Character Mode
Bug #1943 - Lang Translation Icon Missing on Token Table
Bug #1945 - Document Button in Inquiry shows Additional Attributes
Bug #1948 - File restructure silently fails if done from the error screen
Bug #1949 - Query Broken with Record Selection on Group Header
Bug #1950 - Auto Gui buttons not available in WIDGET file on first/last row
Bug #1951 - A file containing a field with the same name as the file is a problem
Bug #1952 - No Rebuild Keys Option for Windows®
Bug #1953 - Create Delimited Export needs more choices
Bug #1954 - Audit Info missing on Generated Processes
Bug #1955 - Field Xref ignores entered field value when SCAN is invoked
Bug #1956 - Quick Search for Users
Bug #1957 - Profile List- New Format
Bug #1959 - SCAN on Fields and switch to File/Sno path fills filename prompt with field name
Bug #1960 - Autogui Cosmetic GUI Issue in 0AD
Bug #1961 - Release Information Cosmetic GUI Issue
Bug #1962 - 0SA Scrolling Footers look odd
Bug #1963 - Seg Fault compiling a Query with an invalid PCF
Bug #1964 - Invalid PCF in Query crashes APPX
Bug #1965 - Query breaks if Field Key Order is blank
Bug #1970 - Font on Mac Client
Bug #1971 - Compare utility & Documentation
Bug #1972 - Compare Utility interactive display
Bug #1975 - Changing Decimal notation from a period prevents EP's from highlighting in ADC


Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows 98, Windows NT 4, Internet Explorer, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

APPX 4.2.9

The APPX 4.2.9 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug #1761: Memory leak in RDBMS READ operations
  • Bug #1811: Missing ODB Lock error
  • Bug #1812: ILF Editor throws error incorrectly
  • Bug #1824: Internal Error when PrintOnScreen Disposition cancelled
  • Bug #1831: Disposition not honored when printing to client
  • Bug #1832: FLEP on memory file interferes with scrolling input process
SPECIAL NOTE: APPX Release 4.2.8 and those that follow include the new 0AI (Application Installer) application. It is designed to support automated installation of the Open Source Business Applications. Existing customers currently have no need for application 0AI and can safely ignore it.

Bug #1761: Memory leak in RDBMS READ operations

  • This bug was previously reported as fixed, but additional symptoms had surfaced.
  • Those symptoms have been fixed in 4.2.9.

Bug #1811: Missing ODB Lock error

  • APPX was still erroneously looking for the ODB product license when attempting to connect to SQL Server.
  • Fixed for 4.2.9.

Bug #1812: ILF Editor throws error incorrectly

  • If you have a field name where the file name portion was longer than 6 characters, and you tried to make it the target of a CNV TEXT field where the source is a date field, the ILF editor will complain with 'Error - Alpha Field Type Required'.
  • Fixed for 4.2.9.

Bug #1824: Internal Error when PrintOnScreen Disposition cancelled

  • An 'Internal Error Has Occurred' message appeared if you printed a PDF report (Print On Screen = Y) and then canceled the PrintOnScreen disposition input process.
  • This is the same as Bugs #1189 and #1800.
  • Fixed for 4.2.9.

Bug #1831: Disposition not honored when printing to client

  • When local printing through the client is selected, the print disposition of SAVE does not save the print file in the PRINT/USR directory on the server. The file is deleted.
  • Fixed for 4.2.9.

Bug #1832: FLEP on memory file interferes with scrolling input process

  • If you define a File Level Event Point on a memory file and then use that memory file as the PCF of a scrolling input process, the input process can get wacked. The symptom varies, but after adding a record, the input process will probably display some sort of nonsense (illegal values).
  • Fixed for 4.2.9.

APPX 4.2.8

The APPX 4.2.8 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug #1079: Overriding LOGIC field as BIT field doesn't work
  • Bug #1144: Temp filenames not guaranteed unique under Windows®
  • Bug #1286: Fields modifiable in Inquire Mode
  • Bug #1484: Can't enter Euro symbol
  • Bug #1494: Input items with Modifiable=? behave strangely
  • Bug #1554: ILF Editor TOO Smart when APPENDING
  • Bug #1666: --- CLEAR PASS LIST steps on --- TEMP 80
  • Bug #1667: 4.2.7 Java Client hangs when Incorrect Password entered
  • Bug #1673: APPX error when converting an SQL Server® datetime field
  • Bug #1676: Justification in Java client
  • Bug #1689: pos() - invalid curs_reg message reported
  • Bug #1701: Application-only optional children can cause crash
  • Bug #1702: RECEIVE of a group header can cause crash
  • Bug #1703: NULL DATETIME field can confuse ODBC interface
  • Bug #1705: Bad RECEIVE and LOCAL statements compile without error
  • Bug #1751: PRINTER file does not allow duplicate System ID's
  • Bug #1758: Title bar does not display at runtime if rows > 21
  • Bug #1760: Memory leak in BEG/END READ loop
  • Bug #1761: Memory leak in RDBMS READ operations
  • Bug #1763: ERROR statements don't appear on Action Logs
  • Bug #1765: Cannot selectitemswhen>21 rows
  • Bug #1769: Reportwriter doesn't honor runtime record selection changes
  • Bug #1770: Reportwriter crashes when editing WHERE clause
  • Bug #1781: Reportwriter 'Paste' doesn't work
  • Bug #1782: Reportwriter 'Insert Char' doesn't work
  • Bug #1783: Reportwriter buttons not right
  • Bug #1786: ReportWriter problem choosing table for New Query
  • Bug #1787: ReportWriter tutorial for Where is incorrect
  • Bug #1846: CASSERT Message - 'Wrong Calling Convention'
  • ECR #1790, 2342, 2549, et al: Output processes generate extra line feed
  • ECR #4144, 4330, 4534, 4609, et al: Orphan sessions remain on server
SPECIAL NOTE: APPX 4.2.8 includes the new 0AI (Application Installer) application. It is designed to support automated installation of the Open Source Business Applications. Existing customers currently have no need for application 0AI and can safely ignore it.

Bug #1079: Overriding LOGIC field as BIT field doesn't work

  • When overriding the LOGIC fields to BIT data type a problem is detected with the inputs. The Checkboxes always appeared UNCHECKED (if seen from the Java Client) and when checked the values don't seem to work properly in SQL Server. Leaving the fields as varchar(1) is the best method to handle this error.
  • Initially reported fixed in 4.2.4, it appears that the fix for this bug broke LOGIC fields in existing SQL Server tables. You should have been able to override the data type for a LOGIC field from its (new) default of BIT to CHAR(1). But, the rsod.c conversion routines didn't seem to handle CHAR(1) fields.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8 - you should be able to store a LOGIC field in a BIT column, a CHAR column or a VARCHAR column (maybe even a numeric or integer column).

Bug #1144: Temp filenames not guaranteed unique under Windows

  • The APPX file manager was not generating guaranteed-unique file names (for temporary files) on Windows hosts. Namespace collision is unlikely in most cases because the file manager will create a new temporary file whenever a CREATE statement executes - it keeps trying until it finds a temporary file name that is not already in use. But, that makes it impossible to close and re-open a temporary file (which one would you re-open?).
  • On Linux/Unix hosts, the file manager includes the file scope and process ID in the temporary file name. We should use the same naming method on Windows hosts.
  • (Historical note - old Windows systems had an 8 character filename limit; the file manager is stripping off the unique identifier to force temporary file names to be no more than 8 characters long. Since we don't support 8.3 file systems, we can remove this limitation and use longer file names).
  • Fixed in 4.2.8.

Bug #1286: Fields modifiable in Inquire Mode

  • If you're in Initial Setup or Recovery Processing, any field with Modifiable = ? can be modified in Inquire mode.
  • If you're in LIVE OPERATIONS in DELETE MODE, an item that has 'Modifiable?' set to blank is modifiable (it should not be), just like in INQUIRE mode.
  • If you're in LIVE OPERATIONS in KEY ENTRY an item that has 'Modifiable?' set to blank is non-modifiable (it should be modifiable if part of the current key path).
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1484: Can't enter Euro symbol

  • Can't enter the Euro symbol using the Java Client. It looks ok when you enter it, but after saving the data & recalling the record, it's replaced by a box character.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1494: Input items with Modifiable=? behave strangely

  • Items with Modifiable set to '?' are outlined inappropriately on the Key Entry screen. In Live Operations they appear with the normal screen background color but in Initial Setup or Recovery Processing they appear as though they were part of the key, although they are not open for input and you cannot tab to them.
  • In Add or Change mode in IS/RP, they are open for input as they should be but a date field does not behave properly. You have to enter the slashes for the date to be formatted right. Also, as reported in Bug #1286, they are erroneously open for input in Inquire mode.
  • All of the above behavior applies if the items have GUI attributes (control RAW TEXT or CALENDAR/CLOCK for the date field). However, if the items are defined without GUI attributes, the Key Entry screen appears fine in LO and the items are not open for input in IS/RP in Inquire mode. Other than that, the rest of the problems remain.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1554: ILF Editor TOO Smart when APPENDING

  • User wanted to APPEND to --- WIDGET a product number. When scanning, the desired field did not appear: SIC CUSTPNR1 PRODUCT NO is a domain X(18).
    The field points to domain SIC SSY SAMEAS PRODUCT NO. SIC Domain is a SAME AS pointing to SSY SAMEAS PRODUCT NO. SSY Domain SAMEAS PRODUCT NO is an Alpha 18. Apparently, the link to the alpha field is too long and tenuous for the ILF editor to trace back.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1666: --- CLEAR PASS LIST steps on --- TEMP 80

  • Apparently also --- STREAM BUFFER, --- TEMP 32K.
  • Context was where --- CLEAR PASS LIST in a Post-PCF Read FLEP was stepping on the values set in the parent process.
  • Fixed in the 0-apps for release 4.2.8

Bug #1667: 4.2.7 Java Client hangs when Incorrect Password entered

  • If a bad password is entered, the Java client sucks up 50% CPU and does not return an error
  • Fixed in the Java Client code for release 4.2.8

Bug #1673: Appx error when converting an SQL Server datetime field

  • Appx throws an error (which causes a stack dump and causes the current process to abort) when it tries to convert a SQL Server date/time field into Appx format
  • Fixed for 4.2.8.p4 (preview 4)

Bug #1676: Justification in Java client

  • The Java Client seems to justify fields differently than it did before, in situations where an alpha field contains more text than can be shown in the area on the image.
  • It used to always left justify the fields, so you always saw the beginning of the field. Now it seems to right justify the field, so you always see the end of the field, until you move to that particular record in change mode. Then it switches the justification to left.
  • Fixed for release 4.2.8 in the client JAR file.

Bug #1689: pos() - invalid curs_reg message reported

  • If you move the cursor off of all logical regions and press ENTER, a subsequent POSITION statement will get confused (because there is no active region) and you'll get the message mentioned in the title of this bug report.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1701: Application-only optional children can cause crash

  • When you invoke an optional child that specifies only a process type (MENU) and an application ID, Appx invokes the startup menu for the (current operational phase) for the given application.
  • That confuses the menu/widget processor and can cause memory corruption (because the engine finds more optional children than widgets).
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1702: RECEIVE of a group header can cause crash

  • When you execute a RECEIVE command and the source and destination operands are not of identical type, the engine creates a compiles a dynamic event point (at run time). If either operand is a GROUP HEADER field, the compiler can gag because it doesn't know the proper application version.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1703: NULL DATETIME field can confuse ODBC interface

  • A NULL DATE, TIME, or DATETIME value can confuse the Appx/ODBC interface causing a stack dump on Windows hosts. This is only an issue with release 4.2.6 and 4.2.7
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1705: Bad RECEIVE and LOCAL statements compile without error

  • If you enter a RECEIVE or LOCAL statement that refers to a non-existent field (or you delete a field referenced by a RECEIVE or LOCAL statement), the process compiler will silently ignore the error but will throw an error at run-time.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1751: PRINTER file does not allow duplicate System ID's

  • The PRINTER file in System Administration does not allow two printers to have the same value for the 'system ID'.
  • Changed the key from Unique Alternate to Alternate with Duplicates Allowed

Bug #1758: Title bar does not display at runtime if rows > 21

  • In a simple scrolling input, with the size of the detail frame as '-2', use Window Properties to put a title in the header frame. Run in a standard 21 x 80 window, and all is good. Change row size of the client to 28 or 30 rows, and window title does not show at runtime.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1760: Memory leak in BEG/END READ loop

  • Each execution of a BEG/END READ loop (not each iteration, but each complete execution) leaks a small amount of memory.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1761: Memory leak in RDBMS READ operations

  • When you execute a READ statement (or a keyed PCF read) against a file stored in an RDBMS, the engine leaks a small amount of memory (the query chain should be discarded at the end of the read).
  • Fixed for SQL-Server in 4.2.8.

Bug #1763: ERROR statements don't appear on Action Logs

  • If you run a job with a query that selects records within only one range, and you have ERROR statements executed in a RANGE END frame of an UPDATE, then those ERRORs will not show on the action log. If the data is such that the RANGE-END frame would execute twice, then the first execution will show on the log, but the second will not. It seems as if ERRORs that are executed during the last execution of the RANGE-END frame do not appear on the Action log.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1769: Reportwriter doesn't honor runtime record selection changes

  • If you edit the record selection criteria of a query at runtime, the changes are ignored. The query is run using the record selection criteria as designed.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1770: Reportwriter crashes when editing WHERE clause

  • Reportwriter crashed when trying to edit a WHERE constraint. This happens when you are on the constraint screen for the second time.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1781: Reportwriter 'Paste' doesn't work

  • The paste option always reports that nothing has been cut even though a field has been cut.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1782: Reportwriter 'Insert Char' doesn't work

  • The insert character button does not shift fields correctly. It always seems to insert the space at the beginning of the row.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1783: Reportwriter buttons not right

  • The Ins/Del Char and the Ins/Del Row buttons do not look right. They are auto-GUI buttons and they do not fully cover the underlying text.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1786: ReportWriter problem choosing table for New Query

  • The sequence of events is this.
    • 1. After choosing an application for a new query, I got the tutorial for choosing a new table.
    • 2. After pressing return to get past the tutorial, I got the list of tables but the arrow keys wouldn't work so I clicked on Customers.
    • 3. However, the next tutorial described the A/P Receipts table.
    • 4. When I cancelled, I got the screen asking for the report title for the A/P Receipts table.
    • 5. When I cancelled that, I returned to the menu and selected New Query. Then I got the tutorial for designing a new query on the selected table.
    • 6. After selecting Select, I got the message 'Unable to Locate Process'.
    • 7. After cancelling, I got an 'Error - Record Not in File' message.
  • FYI, this whole unhappy sequence of events can be circumvented at step 2 by pressing NEXT or PREV to wake up the table selection process. However, it does seem like there should be a graceful way to back up if you inadvertently select the wrong table.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1787: ReportWriter tutorial for Where is incorrect

  • The tutorial states that only columns that have been selected using the Select operation are displayed. However, all columns in the table are actually displayed and seem to work OK in Where clauses.
  • Fixed for 4.2.8

Bug #1846: CASSERT Message: 'Wrong Calling Convention'

  • Using the CALL statement to invoke a function in a Windows environment sometimes results in a CASSERT: 'You've CALL'ed C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32kernel32.dll,xxxxx with the wrong calling convention' where 'xxxxx' is the function being called.
  • This is related to ECR 5376, and perhaps to ECR 4762 and others. The CASSERT message, which was added in 4.2.8, indicates that Appx has called a subroutine with an incorrect calling convention.
  • Windows supports a number of different 'calling conventions', or rules for calling a function, and most of the kernel32 routines use a non-standard convention - there's no way for Appx to know in advance which convention to use. If the designer guesses the wrong one, the CALL statement could result in memory corruption. Thus, the CASSERT is now generated, to advise the designer of the problem. At the same time, APPX attempts to fix the problem itself.
  • Windows supports two different (and incompatible) 'calling conventions' - __stdcall and __cdecl. By default, most applications (including Appx) use the __cdecl calling convention. When you invoke a function that uses the __cdecl calling convention, the caller (that's Appx) pops arguments off the top of the runtime stack when the function ends. When you invoke a function that uses the __stdcall convention, that function cleans its own arguments off of the top of the runtime stack before it returns to the caller. Appx can't tell the difference between __cdecl and __stdcall functions. Appx assumes (unless you tell it otherwise) that you want to call __cdecl functions. If you invoke a __stdcall function (and you don't tell Appx that you're calling a __stdcall function), the runtime stack will be corrupted.
  • APPX tries to recover from this error but will also display a CASSERT message that tells you that you've CALL'ed a function with the wrong convention (the message includes the name of the function that you've called). If you see that message, add a '@' to the end of the function name (or, if you already have a '@' at the end of the function name, remove it). The '@' is the 'windows way' to tell Appx to use the __stdcall convention to call your function. For example, you currently invoke the Kernel32,DeleteFileA - change that to Kernel32,DeleteFile@.
  • So how can you tell which functions are __stdcall and which functions are __cdecl? That's not an easy question to answer - that information is included with the Microsoft® C compiler, but I don't see it anywhere else. That's why APPX is displaying the CASSERT message here; so you'll know when you run into a problem. In general, most of the functions that you find in Kernel32.dll will be __stdcall functions (so you need to add an @ to the end of each Kernel32.dll function name).
  • This issue is also addressed in the APPX FAQ system: http://faq.appx.com/cgi-bin/fom.cgi?file=592
  • To learn more about calling conventions: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/vclang/html/_core_Calling_Conventions_Topics.asp

ECR #1790, 2342, 2549, et al: Output processes generate extra line feed

  • There had long been an extraneous new line character (n) at the beginning of each page of an output. This caused the first page of a report to have one line less than it should have had, and resulted in alignment problems.
  • The extraneous n has now been removed. Additionally, all form feed characters will now be preceded by a carriage return (r f).
  • These changes may cause problems for installations that utilized work-arounds to deal with this long-standing issue. For those who would rather retain the old behavior, as opposed to reworking many output processes, a new environment variable has been created. By defining APPX_427_PRINT_FILES, the old behavior will be maintained.

ECR #4144, 4330, 4534, 4609, et al: Orphan sessions remain on server

  • Appxd and appxdsvc.exe have been "fixed" so that an APPX session can more reliably detect that the TCP connection to the client has been lost. This means that the session can then terminate itself instead of hanging around indefinitely as an orphan. There are four environment variables that can be set to override the default settings for appxd. The configuration parameters for the Windows based APPXDSVC service can be specified in the registry. After the service is installed, you would add an Expandable String Value to the Config Key. The Config Key for the APPXDSVC service would normally be found at: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesappxd-8060Config
  • Configuration parameters for appxdsvce:
    • # TCPEnableKeepAlive = true #Enable TCP dead-connection detection
    • # TCPKeepCount = 8 #Maximum number of keep-alive pings
    • # TCPKeepIdle = 300 #Idle time before ping sent to client (in seconds)
    • # TCPKeepInterval = 60 #Interval between keep-alive pings
    • # TCPNoDelay = true #disable TCP packet filling delay?
  • Environment variables for appxd:
    • APPXD_DISABLE_KEEPALIVE
    • APPXD_KEEPIDLE
    • APPXD_KEEPINTERVAL
    • APPXD_KEEPCOUNT


Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

APPX 4.2.7

The APPX 4.2.7 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug #539: XCOPY across applications still confuses ILF EDITOR
  • Bug #1196: Restructure on RS/6000 destroys Data Files as soon as DD has FLEP's
  • Bug #1305: Query fails to select any records on Descending key
  • Bug #1328: APPX Can't Create files in Access
  • Bug #1415: SET TOT gets wrong answer
  • Bug #1485: uappxd does not honor startup process options
  • Bug #1496: ILF editor loses position and statements
  • Bug #1501: @ in Tooltip or Text doesn't work
  • Bug #1512: ILF Editor can silently rearrange code
  • Bug #1513: Automatic subtotals may overlap (PDF)
  • Bug #1519: Query Fails to select any records
  • Bug #1525: CNV PORT fails with fields longer than 256 bytes
  • Bug #1530: Simultaneous access to the same resource
  • Bug #1531: FLEPs are lost when applying a patch
  • Bug #1549: RECEIVE statement can step on PASSED values
  • Bug #1557: C-assert processing DD Runtime
  • Bug #1585: Tooltips don't translate
  • Bug #1586: Pulldown menu names are not being properly translated at runtime
  • Bug #1590: Regular Expression memory leak
  • Bug #1593: Appx can't create Oracle table with more than 512 columns
  • Bug #1594: Lock held too long for query-constrained PCF stored in an RDBMS
  • Bug #1596: Appx won't read record content in locked Oracle record
  • Bug #1600: TRANSLATE subroutine doesn't work
  • Bug #1601: TRANSLATE FIELD needs better error checking
  • Bug #1602: In Progress messages are not being translated
  • Bug #1608: Transfer query does not allow User ID with trailing spaces
  • Bug #1611: Switching between cache and disk PCF can produce invalid record length CASSERT error
  • Bug #1614: DB2 query optimizer seems brain damaged
  • Bug #1615: DB2 on AS/400 reports unrecognized RDBMS name
  • Bug #1626: Two-level input (with memory-file PCF at both levels) wonks out
  • Bug #1627: Command line switches are broken in AppxDsvc
  • Bug #1628: DB2 reports 'string representation of a datetime value'
  • Bug #1630: License Usage PID field too small
  • Bug #1638: Unable to translate message message is useless
  • Bug #1659: PASS statement copies too much/too little data when passing a FILE

Bug #539: XCOPY across applications still confuses ILF EDITOR

  • XCOPY from application BBB into AAA and all statements added have application ID defaulted to BBB.

Bug #1196: Restructure on RS/6000 destroys Data Files as soon as DD has FLEP's

  • As soon as a file which has FLEP's wants to restructure the restructure utility reports errors. Afterwards the data file is empty.

Bug #1305: Query fails to select any records on Descending key

  • If you have an alpha field that allows trailing blanks, and it's a descending key, and you try to run a query that uses that key field, and the criteria is EQ, and the criteria does not use every character of the field, the query will not select any records.

Bug #1328: APPX Can't Create files in Access

  • Local APPX can create tables in Microsoft Access®, but Remote APPX (via appxdsvc.exe tcpip) cannot.
  • Adding the environment variable to either the tail end of the appxdsvc.exe installation option, or to the appx.env file seems to fix this.
  • This has been fixed for 4.2.7. AppxDSvc takes care of expanding the environment variables read from the registry and that translates the TMP (or TEMP) variable as needed.

Bug #1415: SET TOT gets wrong answer

  • Occasionally, APPX will get confused and return the wrong contents after a SET TOT comand.

Bug #1485: uappxd does not honor startup process options

  • The uappxd connection manager does not honor startup process options when they are specified on the java client command line.

Bug #1496: ILF editor loses position and statements

  • The ILF editor will often lose its current line position when adding or moving statements near the end of the event point. This results in statements being inserted in the wrong position, statements appearing to be duplicated, and even statements being deleted without warning.

Bug #1501: @ in Tooltip or Text doesn't work

  • If you put an '@' in a tooltip or in the text of a label, nothing after the '@' is displayed to the user.

Bug #1512: ILF Editor can silently rearrange code

  • Related to #1496, but scenario was at top of event point, rather than at end.

Bug #1513: Automatic subtotals may overlap (PDF)

  • When automatic subtotals are created by APPX for fields that are being totaled, subtotal fields may overlap if fields that are being totaled overlap from multiple rows, images, or frames.
  • This problem only exists when PDF output is requested.

Bug #1519: Query Fails to select any records

  • If you have a key field > 22 bytes long and you use it in a query, it will not select the proper records.
  • Query processes have always limited literal values to 30 characters or less. When range-read optimizations were added a while back, the query processor was damaged so that literal values were limited to 22 characters (or less). To fix this bug, the limit has been restored to 30 characters.
  • NOTE #1 - Increasing that limit beyond 30 is considered an enhancement request.
  • NOTE #2 - Key values with a length of 22 or less result in a constrained read of the PCF. Key values longer than 22 characters result in an unconstrained read of the PCF.

Bug #1525: CNV PORT fails with fields longer than 256 bytes

  • A CNV PORT statement fails if the destination (alpha) field is longer than 256 bytes. If the source field is a numeric field, the CNV PORT causes a seg. fault. If the source field is a date field, the CNV PORT fails (but correctly returns a 'F').
  • Definition of statement: "CNV PORT works like CNV TEXT except that the portable format is designed for import/export purposes and is immune to differences in numeric and date masks. CNV PORT ensures that you can import anything that you export."

Bug #1530: Simultaneous access to the same resource

  • The resource record is held causing a cassert if another user attempts to use the same resource.

Bug #1531: FLEPs are lost when applying a patch

  • It appears that APPX does not copy FLEPs when transferring a file definition using the Design Transfer - All utility. Furthermore, there is no warning given that this has happened, either on the screen or in the transfer log. This would be fine, except for the fact that existing FLEPs are deleted when the file definition is subsequently applied as a patch, again without warning.
  • Design transfer has been modified so that it always transfers the Flie Level Event Points (FLEPs). The text of the warning has been altered so that instead of stating the FLEPs will not be transfered if the App ID or Filename is changed, it states that in this case the FLEPs will be transfered but the code should be revised manually to correct App ID and Filename changes.
  • NOTE: We do not automatically try to convert the App ID or Filename in the FLEP code because you may be using the destination applications as a temporary holding area to copy code from development into production. And chances are that if you are really crossing into a new app ID or new filename you will need to make other alterations to the code beyond just changing the App ID and File name on the statements related to this file.

Bug #1549: RECEIVE statement can step on PASSED values

  • A RECEIVE statement in a subroutine that references a field name that is also referenced by a PASS statement in the calling process that has not yet been received will modify the value of the yet to be received field. This will cause the wrong value to be received when a subsequent RECEIVE statement is executed.

Bug #1557: C-assert processing DD Runtime

  • Fixed for 4.2.7.

Bug #1585: Tooltips don't translate

  • Tooltips are not being tranlated at runtime. It appears that the engine is using the wrong length for the tooltip field. The tooltip field has a length of 60. The engine appears to be using a length of 256.
  • The tooltip is being added to the translation dictionary with a length of 256. Positions 61-256 contain 'garbage'.

Bug #1586: Pulldown menu names are not being properly translated at runtime

  • The 'WIDGET GROUP NAME' field is not currently being tranlated. The 'WIDGET LABEL' field is being translated. As a result, pull-down menu items and sub-menu items are not being associated with the correct pull-down menu groups.

Bug #1590: Regular Expression memory leak

  • Every time you use the Appx regular expression matching relational operators, memory is allocated and never freed until you exit the session. Usually several K each time. The amount of memory consumed each time is larger with a more complex expression.

Bug #1593: Appx can't create Oracle table with more than 512 columns

  • If you try to create (or open) an Oracle table that contains more than 512 columns, Appx crashes

Bug #1594: Lock held too long for query-constrained PCF stored in an RDBMS

  • The record lock held for the last record in a query-built result set is held too long if the PCF record is stored in an RDBMS.

Bug #1596: Appx won't read record content in locked Oracle record

  • When Appx encounters a locked record in an Oracle database, it may not read the record content (leaving the wrong data in the record buffer). This only occurs when the engine re-reads a locked record by its record-ID.
  • Also fixed for DB2 and ODBC

Bug #1600: TRANSLATE subroutine doesn't work

  • The 0LA TRANSLATE subroutine does not correctly identify the Application and Version.
  • NOTE: This subroutine has not yet been released for general use.

Bug #1601: TRANSLATE FIELD needs better error checking

  • The 0LA TRANSLATE FIELD subroutine needs to check for and gracefully handle:
    1) A blank source string.
    2) The from and to language ID's are the same.
    Neither of these conditions should occur but they do. The subroutine needs to anticipate that the conditions might occur and handle them without crashing.
  • The subroutine will now return a blank field when passed a blank field.
  • The subroutine will now return the original text when the from and to language IDs are the same.

Bug #1602: In Progress messages are not being translated

  • When running an application with a language ID set, the In Progress message for a Job is not being translated.

Bug #1608: Transfer query does not allow User ID with trailing spaces

  • The transfer query utility displays a 'Blank not allowed' message if either of the User ID fields contain trailing spaces.

Bug #1611: Switching between cache and disk PCF can produce invalid record length CASSERT error

  • In an input process whose PCF is a disk file, scan against a cached version of the PCF. When you come back from the scan and change modes, you'll get an invalid record length CASSERT error.

Bug #1614: DB2 query optimizer seems brain damaged

  • Customer reported that it takes a long time (anywhere from 6 to 40 minutes)
    for an input process to start when using a particular DB2 table. The
    table has 35 million records and occupies 4+ gigs on the AS/400.
  • They turned on logging, and noticed line 'Select * from auliv61f.tttb
    where 1 = 0' in the log. They monitored the sql log while APPX was
    connecting, and the pause occurred when this line was executed. For
    confirmation, they logged on directly to DB2 and entered the command,
    and it took 6 minutes to run there as well.
  • Fixed (hopefully) for 4.2.7, but you must set APPX_USE_SQLCOLUMNS to force Appx to use an alternate method to retreive the metadata for a table.

Bug #1615: DB2 on AS/400 reports unrecognized RDBMS name

  • A DB2 instance running on an AS/400 host reports an unrecognized RDBMS name (AS). On all other hosts, DB2 reports 'DB2'. The Appx/DB2 interface treats DB2 on an AS/400 as a generic RDBMS of unknown type.

Bug #1626: Two-level input (with memory-file PCF at both levels) wonks out

  • If you have a multi-level input process family (with auto-update of the child PCF) and the parent and child PCF's are both memory files, Appx will crash when you delete a record at the parent level.

Bug #1627: Command line switches are broken in AppxDsvc

  • Using AppxDsvc services and trying to launch Appx from the client using the command line switches like -runApplication, -runDatabase, -runProcess and -runProcessType, they will not be honored. They do, however, work for WinAppxD.

Bug #1628: DB2 reports 'string representation of a datetime value'

  • If you try to store a CCYYMMDD field in a DB2 database, you'll get an error that states ' string representation of a datetime value '

Bug #1630: License Usage PID field too small

  • The License Usage field 'PID' on the System Registration is too small. It shows ???? for PID's greater than 99,990. AIX 5.2 is assigning PIDs that are 7 digits.
  • Expanded PID field on scrolling screen and reworked screen to be bigger so more scrolling records can be viewed at a time

Bug #1638: Unable to translate message message is useless

  • An 'unable to translate message' error occurs when the Appx runtime tries to convert an error code (as defined in the 0LA message file and la.h) into a human-readable, localized form. In almost every case, the error occurs because the engine has reported an error whose code does not appear in the 0LA MESSAGE file (that should never happen). To aid in debugging this sort of problem, we should remove the extra information displayed in that message (because it's confusing) and replace it with the raw error code and the runtime (engine) context.

Bug #1659: PASS statement copies too much/too little data when passing a FILE

  • When you PASS a FILE (to a CALL, RUN, or RECEIVE statement), the PASS statement typically copies too much or too little data to the receiving field. It may also copy too much/little data when restoring the field value on return.
  • This can cause memory corruption and may explain some/all of the exceptions thrown by the NSCAN process


Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

APPX 4.2.6

The APPX 4.2.6 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug #1424: AT FIELD statement can be added in invalid Event Points
  • Bug #1426: Export/Import Application to a Single-File fails
  • Bug #1444: Changing Named Resource fails to build new EM
  • Bug #1445: Java Client does not always detect server resource changes
  • Bug #1448: Widget Sync utility must be required on upgrade
  • Bug #1451: APPX_PRT_SCRIPT skipped when PRINT MODE=HOLD
  • Bug #1476: Java Client slow over low bandwidth connections

Bug #1424: AT FIELD statement can be added in invalid Event Points

  • AT FIELD statements are only valid in Option Intercept and Global Option Intercept. A designer should get a 'Warning - This statement has no effect in this event point' message if you add it elsewhere. The warning did appear in non-image event points, but not in Pre-Display, Pre-Display/Verify, or Verify.
  • This has been fixed in 4.2.6 to display the warning in all invalid event points.

Bug #1426: Export/Import Application to a Single-File fails

  • When exporting an application to a Single-File (e.g. for transfer from Linux to AIX) the application could not be imported back. The import silently ended within 1-2 seconds and has NOT imported the application.
  • This has been fixed for 4.2.6.

Bug #1444: Changing Named Resource fails to build new EM

  • Changing a Named Resource record did not cause any related EMs to be rebuilt.
  • This has been corrected for 4.2.6.

Bug #1445: Java Client does not always detect server resource changes

  • The java client did not always detect that a server-side resource had changed and needed to be re-cached.
  • Client detection and cache clearing of server side resources that have changed has been tightened for 4.2.6 to resolve this problem.

Bug #1448: Widget Sync utility must be required on upgrade

  • In prior releases, the designer would be prompted to run the Widget Sync utility when it detected an application with old widget records. The designer had the option to skip running it and continue designing. If the designer opted not to run the utility and did some design work, then later tried to run the utility, it would fail since some of the fields it needs to update were already filled in.
  • This has been changed to prevent access to application design in 4.2.6 if the Widget Sync utility has not been run.

Bug #1451: APPX_PRT_SCRIPT skipped when PRINT MODE=HOLD

  • APPX was not invoking the APPX_PRT_SCRIPT (or any script) when a PDF report was spooled with PRINT MODE = HOLD. APPX did invoke APPX_PRT_SCRIPT when spooling a text report with PRINT MODE = HOLD.
  • This has been fixed in 4.2.6.

Bug #1476: Java Client slow over low bandwidth connections

  • The java client was very slow over a 64K ISDN connection. This had gotten much worse with the 4.2 GUI application design screens.
  • An inspection of the 4.2 client datastream found extra widget specifications being sent. Basically the pulldown menu widgets were being sent twice on a non-scrolling menu or input. On a scrolling input the pulldowm menu widgets were also sent again for each scrolling record in the screen. So, for example, viewing the scrolling list of input processes woud send 221 widgets instead of the 79 required. Eliminating this duplication dropped the raw data being sent for the input process scroller from 44K to 25K. This is fixed for the 4.2.6 engine release.
  • NOTE: All GUI input and menu processes that have pull-down menus should benefit from this change.

APPX 4.2.5

The APPX 4.2.5 Patch Release addresses more than 320 previously reported bugs. They are divided into the categories listed below. Click on each category to review the related bugs. For additional detail on any bug, APPX resellers and supported customers may refer to the BugTracker System.

In addition to the categories, this release also contains one new feature ("Shrink to Fit Content" widget attribute) and one new known bug (PDF output doesn't support multiple appearance fields). Links to those items appear at the bottom of the list.

Important Notes Concerning Release 4.2.5
  1. Upgrading to APPX 4.2.5 from any prior release will require that you scratch and re-create the design structure files in all applications, and run the Sync Widget Elements utility thereafter. Refer to the Installation Instructions for further information.
  2. Single-file import/export, which worked in previous versions, is temporarily non-functional in APPX 4.2.5 (fixed in 4.2.6). Additionally, import/export should never be used across versions - exporting from a prior version and attempting to import into 4.2.5 is likely to result in severe data corruption.
  3. APPX 4.2.5 is the first release to include support of the HP Itanium processors. Files may be downloaded from the HP Download page.
  4. Please also note that blank line compression and float spaces are now fully functional in both PDF and text outputs.
APPX/Net (1 bug)
Connection Manager (3 bugs)
Database Management (1 bug)
Design - General (16 bugs)
Design - Cross Ref. (3 bugs)
Design - DD (3 bugs)
Design - ILF Editor (10 bugs)
Design - Image Editor (18 bugs)
Design - Processes (31 bugs)
Design - Tech Doc (5 bugs)
Design - Transfer (4 bugs)
Design - Utilities (4 bugs)
Design File Management (4 bugs)
DISAM (2 bugs)
Documentation - 0-Apps (4 bugs)
GUI - 0-Apps (1 bug)
ILF Interactive Debugger (2 bugs)
Install/Uninstall (1 bug)
Java Client (27 bugs)
Kit Build (3 bugs)
ODBC Interface (Windows®) (1 bug)
RDBMS Interfaces (2 bugs)
ReportWriter (SQL) (9 bugs)
Runtime - 0-Apps (15 bugs)
Runtime - APPX Engine (41 bugs)
Runtime - PDF Output (91 bugs)
Runtime - Proc Compiler (1 bug)
System Administration (8 bugs)
User interface (8 bugs)
Winprint (1 bug)
New Widget Attribute - Shrink to Fit Content
Known Bug - Appearances in PDF Output

APPX/Net (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to APPX/Net

Bug #1327: APPX/Net causes Bus Error - Itanium to Windows®

Connection Manager (3 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Connection Manager

Bug #652: Appxdsvc command does not set environment variables
Bug #743: AppxdSvc Always Logs
Bug #1229: Default TCPNoDelay to True

Database Management (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Database Management

Bug #885: Screens > 21 rows - Database Management

Design - General (16 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - General

Bug #11: Scrolling problem - records duplicated
Bug #462: Can't Opt 99 from drill down
Bug #463: Toolbox active but no Visual Cue
Bug #570: Lockout after viewing ILF in Inquire Mode
Bug #712: Wrong abbreviation for ID
Bug #764: Invoking process w/o database ID acts unexpectedly
Bug #809: Scan starts at original field name, not current field
Bug #882: 0SA APPL ALLOW DESIGN - No longer works
Bug #884: REFRESH TEMP 80 is broke
Bug #1087: 0apps cursor in wrong place
Bug #1129: Duplicate keyboard shortcuts
Bug #1142: Hot key duplicated in Application Design on Inquiry
Bug #1167: Default mode inconsistent
Bug #1171: Warning message on User Selections not clear
Bug #1226: Wrong DD processed after running FILES EDIT
Bug #1371: Tool tip incorrect on Switch Apps button

Design - Cross Ref. (3 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - Cross Ref.

Bug #1016: Cross reference - Load All Applications is missing
Bug #1017: Cross Refence - Applications to Search
Bug #1049: Field/Domain X-ref incomplete

Design - DD (3 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - DD

Bug #14: DD changes are not always processed
Bug #1177: Initial Value problem with Logic Domains
Bug #1242: Domains maintenance needs work

Design - ILF Editor (10 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - ILF Editor

Bug #410: Paste ILF Code
Bug #619: One-Rec File asking for Key
Bug #647: Java Client - Pick Up and Put Down doesn't work in ILF editor
Bug #873: Paste ILF code doesn't always work
Bug #914: Scanning on field name too restrictive
Bug #951: XCOPY - Ugly Screen > 21 rows
Bug #996: File Names not available to scan from READ stmt
Bug #1174: ILF Editor give bogus warning on GOSUB
Bug #1178: Seg Fault in ILF Editor
Bug #1203: Pasting an invalid application ID causes ILF editor to crash

Design - Image Editor (18 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - Image Editor

Bug #198: LABEL Icon Position display can vary with icon size
Bug #613: Touching field disappears
Bug #729: Show Object Bounds compresses spaces from row text
Bug #775: Image Editor Toolbox should use Optional Children terminology
Bug #778: Image Editor Toolbox Rules Option problem for Menu/Input
Bug #779: Image Editor Toolbox Rules Option problem for Inquiry
Bug #780: Image Editor Toolbox Rules Option problem for Output
Bug #781: APPX Data Palette does not list any items
Bug #928: Field labels should default to Transparent=Y
Bug #954: Field label won't behave in IE
Bug #959: OIE deletes field, GUI attributes
Bug #979: Changing modes in GUI Attributes causes c-assert
Bug #1090: Java Scan on App ID in Image Editor
Bug #1216: Unexpected error message in output process design
Bug #1243: Can't remove all GUI attributes in Output process
Bug #1247: Text Area widgets should default Transparent = Y
Bug #1332: Icon Position value is truncated on Label Properties screen
Bug #1380: Odd behavior after changing font for alpha label widget on output image

Design - Processes (31 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - Processes

Bug #302: New Page B4/After editable on PAGE-START & END?
Bug #388: Cosmetic Query Process Level display bug
Bug #776: Optional children can be added to Output/Inquiry processes
Bug #777: Empty Job Steps or Automatic Children
Bug #825: Label GUI Attribute
Bug #922: Selection Expression button not highlighted
Bug #931: Option Number Off Display
Bug #943: Use Query default name is stripped of leading spaces
Bug #961: ILF and Image Changes do not flush EM/Dbg
Bug #964: Add'l Attributes on Optional Children do not work at Entry Level 0
Bug #1014: Auto Update
Bug #1019: Application not modifiable in Query (SortOrder,UserSelection....)
Bug #1118: Process Management during Add Mode Entry Level 1
Bug #1121: AA indicator not lit when needed on Inquiry image
Bug #1126: Query Em doesn't get rebuilt
Bug #1154: Relation field chopped off in Query Selection Entry
Bug #1158: Duplciate Alt-hotkeys in App Design
Bug #1199: Child specs need tighter edits
Bug #1208: Output frame level buttons do not display
Bug #1211: Optional children could be added to a "display-only" input frame
Bug #1218: 'Display Only?' flag unexpectedly set to 'N'
Bug #1227: Cannot set Multiple Image flag in Output Image Editor
Bug #1231: ILF Code can be lost
Bug #1262: Changing an output image number erases the Rules indicator
Bug #1277: Cursor not positioned on image description when adding new output image
Bug #1289: Changes to INQUIRY process do not trigger Em rebuild
Bug #1302: Frame Size can be reduced despite presence of widgets on image
Bug #1333: Inquiry KEY ENTRY frame Rules does not highlight End of Process
Bug #1360: Two buttons have the same shortcut
Bug #1394: OC attribute 'Auto Update' not modifiable
Bug #1408: Enduser Selection Button Mismatch

Design - Tech Doc (5 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - Tech Doc

Bug #918: Unable to print Tech Doc for File Level Event Points
Bug #1120: Tech Doc prints two sets of Widget Attributes
Bug #1149: Tech Doc does not always print Transparent flag
Bug #1188: Occurrence number not printed for item widget in Tech Doc
Bug #1212: Tech Doc does not print Auto-Total Type or Extra Digits Left

Design - Transfer (4 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - Transfer

Bug #711: Design Tranfer Output/Inquiry inconsistent
Bug #753: Design Transfer - File Structure
Bug #1013: Design Transfer - Anticipates Target Name too early
Bug #1379: Design Transfer SCAN confusion crossing versions

Design - Utilities (4 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design - Utilities

Bug #1209: Xref blows up for files across applications
Bug #1213: XREF bug after editing referenced event point
Bug #1294: Standard Output process generation tool needs tweaking
Bug #1357: Sync Widgets utility updates Date/User Changed at process level

Design File Management (4 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Design File Management

Bug #578: Export an Application (Single File Export) - Target with No Directory
Bug #579: Export an Application (Single File Export) - Target with New Directory
Bug #580: Import an Application - Single File
Bug #909: 17) Convert From Pre 4.1 to 4.1

DISAM (2 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to DISAM

Bug #835: 'This record already held by another user' unexpectedly encountered
Bug #863: REWRITE statement returns T but doesn't really rewrite

Documentation - 0-Apps (4 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Documentation - 0-Apps

Bug #586: Item help on Named resouces does not match 4.2
Bug #887: Designer ILF Help
Bug #893: Cache Priority Help Screen Correction
Bug #1238: Input Default Key documentation is wrong

GUI - 0-Apps (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to GUI - 0-Apps

Bug #1374: Design Analysis - Check for Item Overlap

ILF Interactive Debugger (2 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to ILF Interactive Debugger

Bug #595: Non standard Row/Col sizes don't work
Bug #1155: T/F Flags not visible when in trap mode

Install/Uninstall (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Install/Uninstall

Bug #543: Can't print anything after installation or upgrade

Java Client (27 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Java Client

Bug #58: PDF output to client printer always prints on default printer
Bug #452: Java Client with large screens
Bug #551: Missing Graphical images - TMS, Main Menu with 32 rows
Bug #556: Changing screen Row/Col spec should not alter fundamental java display behavior
Bug #600: File Chooser Limited to One Row
Bug #623: Java client freeze
Bug #659: Java Client - Token Scan
Bug #677: Selected Record is not always 'selected'
Bug #782: Java Client Hangs
Bug #800: PREVious at a job step just does a pulldown
Bug #805: Must Click Option Twice
Bug #852: Duplicate Keyboard Shortcuts
Bug #891: Focus remains on date chooser button
Bug #962: Box unexpectedly drawn around image
Bug #972: END from pull-down menu leaves empty white box
Bug #976: F1-F12 not working on text fields
Bug #1022: Pulldown menu bug: Keyboard options RETURN and ESC (resp. END) have no effect in pulldown menu
Bug #1086: Java Client Image Editor text looks wrong
Bug #1088: Java Client font changes
Bug #1214: Cursor is not positioned where mouse is clicked in Image Editor
Bug #1222: SCAN in ILF-editor hangs task
Bug #1228: Backspace broken for ILF Editor Search
Bug #1230: 28x80 Client Startup Breaks Wallpaper
Bug #1270: Label value not displayed in image editor
Bug #1271: Pull-down list widget truncates table values if field is shortened
Bug #1372: Can't Enter Data in Scrolling Input
Bug #1377: LoadUrl does not expand pathname tokens like SendFile and RecvFile

Kit Build (3 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Kit Build

Bug #1175: Cosmetic issue - appx.exe version display
Bug #1356: Wrong client version included
Bug #1383: Cosmetic? Full install shows 4.25b13 in Opt-99 vs

ODBC Interface (Windows) (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to ODBC Interface (Windows)

Bug #1275: Asql doesn't find Database

RDBMS Interfaces (2 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to RDBMS Interfaces

Bug #438: RDBMS restructure ignores Field (Name) overrides.
Bug #1301: APPX ODBC fails to translate question mark to underscore

ReportWriter (SQL) (9 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to ReportWriter (SQL)

Bug #472: SQL - Report Writer - various issues
Bug #477: SQL- Report Writer Item Overlap
Bug #1047: SQL Report Writer requires c:tmp
Bug #1055: Exporting Data from SQL is mangled
Bug #1106: Can't delete a query/report specification
Bug #1108: Tutorial pane missing - text incomplete
Bug #1165: Sort Duplicated in SQL
Bug #1235: Export Options are not respected
Bug #1241: Can't set disposition for old queries

Runtime - 0-Apps (15 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Runtime - 0-Apps

Bug #671: Column headings clip report subheading
Bug #939: Auto Column Headings not right sometimes
Bug #1031: Standard Page Headings wrong on PDF output
Bug #1046: Query Date Mask ignored
Bug #1066: Scan doesn't return 1st record when is pressed
Bug #1159: Option Help Missing on Default 'Operational Phase' Menus
Bug #1160: --- GET ENV VAR limited to 22 characters
Bug #1192: Standard Subtotals not graphical for PDF output
Bug #1194: Appx Hangs When Canceling from Scan
Bug #1195: Non-integer query field re-displays blank for zero
Bug #1220: TEMP 80 contains garbage after scan
Bug #1246: Hangs trying to open SOP EP
Bug #1257: Select Path button missing in Scan
Bug #1293: Sending e-mail from Print on Screen doesn't include report
Bug #1404: Improper tooltip for Execute button on Select a Database

Runtime - APPX Engine (41 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Runtime - APPX Engine

Bug #466: Too Many Error Messages
Bug #480: AT FIELD always 'F' in INQ if field Entry Level > 1
Bug #660: GUI Title Bar disappears
Bug #681: 'Option' spec ignored on Child Widgets
Bug #819: Automatic Recompile is NOT Happening Automatically
Bug #841: Passing Groups with Token field element fails to pass
Bug #850: Invalid Date(s)
Bug #851: 30 column scan fails
Bug #875: CNV TEXT corrupts memory when receving field too small
Bug #879: Display item sequence out of whack on generated subheading
Bug #906: Mod logs don't display occurrences correctly
Bug #907: Mod logs show deleted record values in wrong column
Bug #910: Printing of PDF files with Windows doesn't honor specified printer
Bug #911: Printing of PDF files with APPX/Windows doesn't honor APPX PRT SCRIPT
Bug #925: End of Process (Query Setup) EP does not always run
Bug #927: Trailing sign not honored for integer numeric field in output
Bug #935: Date Chooser Returns Blank Date
Bug #953: Runtime C-assert caused by exceeding maximum size in Output Image Editor
Bug #963: Can't select by keyboard on single-field-display file scans
Bug #1026: Scan fails with seg fault
Bug #1045: Automatic subtotal not properly aligned in PDF output
Bug #1076: Record locking/error message issue
Bug #1077: STANDARD MOD LOG
Bug #1123: Scrolling Input missing record
Bug #1141: Windows Properties WIDGET not working when rows > Image (Menu)
Bug #1161: Invalid Window Size reported for centered windows
Bug #1179: Process Compiler Hangs
Bug #1182: Change mode while in key entry
Bug #1183: DLU from Record Selection Ignores DD Display Sequence
Bug #1189: Internal error encountered upon return from PDF tech doc
Bug #1202: SCAN unexpectedly modifies the values of the source fields
Bug #1206: Row position of item in Inquiry process can disrupt printing
Bug #1221: AT FIELD has no effect in Global Option Intercept event point
Bug #1237: Random system errors encountered running Tech Doc
Bug #1274: Usage log can overwrite system admin files
Bug #1281: Problems with query-constrained input processes
Bug #1306: Can't SCRATCH file via APPX/Net
Bug #1338: Can't hook 0LA STANDARD TOOLBARS
Bug #1339: TAP Checks Approval behaving badly
Bug #1373: Can't create UNC-based directories
Bug #1389: Next Record after end of file in Inquiry causes Position Undefined error

Runtime - PDF Output (91 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Runtime - PDF Output

Bug #85: PDF Output - Invisible doesn't work
Bug #159: LABEL/PDF - ETCHED border not etched on hard copy
Bug #192: Frame/Image Widget Properties Border not based on Frame dimensions
Bug #193: Icons not printing for Window Properties
Bug #215: Box borders are barely visible
Bug #224: BOX widget doesn't honor Invisible? parameter on PDF output
Bug #263: Float Spaces loses or distorts data on PDF Output
Bug #273: PDF: Text item TEXT AREA widget not compressed
Bug #279: Box fill color overruns box boundary
Bug #298: PDF Output loses widgets if image has New Page Before
Bug #316: LABEL/PDF ETCHED borders w/color different from output image
Bug #324: PDF Picture scale doesn't print correctly
Bug #360: Data LABEL/PDF: Right margin is not honored on PDF Output
Bug #361: Data LABEL/PDF: Height/Width micro adjustments not honored on PDF Outpt
Bug #366: PDF Output - extra lines added to last frame on page
Bug #369: Data PICTURE/PDF: Icons do not print for alpha picture widgets
Bug #446: Resolution of some PDF label textual problems
Bug #479: Garbage prints for multi appearance fields
Bug #481: Trailing Blank Lines Compression doesn't work
Bug #482: Justification of multi line label doesn't work
Bug #500: LABEL/PDF: Change PDF Output to match Image Editor
Bug #504: Boxes with micro height adjustment are not WYSIWYG
Bug #506: Text wraps funny, adds extra blank line
Bug #614: Image 'Characteristics' don't print
Bug #625: Invisible attribute on label not working on PDF output
Bug #668: Missing label widget in Page-Start frame
Bug #672: PDF Output prints designer column headings under page head
Bug #785: PDF Output - Compression
Bug #853: Page-Start frame starting in Position >1 overwrites page heading
Bug #860: Trailing Blank Line not compressed on Page-Start image
Bug #900: Auto-Display question marks duplicated on Range-Start image
Bug #965: PDF Output dropping widgets
Bug #967: PDF Output not honoring Characteristics
Bug #980: PDF Output - Data Size Mask
Bug #995: Lines After on frame, not image, can cause blank page
Bug #1065: PDF Output doesn't work with codepage 950
Bug #1098: PDF Output not honoring right justification
Bug #1119: PDF Output won't compress widgets
Bug #1135: PDF Output putting garbage in work fields
Bug #1147: PDF Output not representing margins correctly
Bug #1151: Field under picture blows widgets away
Bug #1162: PDF Output corrupts page heading if Page-Start has compression and widgets
Bug #1163: PDF Output Print Beside behavior has deteriorated
Bug #1181: Right Justification truncates text
Bug #1184: Standard Grand Total generating page headings
Bug #1193: Standard page headings are broken for PDF Output
Bug #1205: Page Headings are sometimes missing the separator line
Bug #1215: Some row text may be missing on PDF Output
Bug #1239: Text item w. Text Area control does not fill col spec
Bug #1252: PDF Output not honoring micro adjustments on boxes
Bug #1253: PDF not printing correctly when blank lines are compressed
Bug #1254: New engine shrinking widgets too far
Bug #1255: Print Beside broken again
Bug #1258: Not all trailing blank lines are being compressed
Bug #1259: Token field print garbage
Bug #1260: Output Widgets do not honor transparency spec
Bug #1263: Auto totals printing erratically
Bug #1264: LINEDRAW Widgets should not shrink to fit contents
Bug #1265: PDF Output not honoring appearance numbers
Bug #1266: Ratio Formula not printing
Bug #1268: Range Totals don't honor sign space
Bug #1272: C-assert PDF end page: Unmatched save level
Bug #1273: Stacked widgets no longer honor Transparent = Y
Bug #1278: Compression distorts boxes
Bug #1284: Label text is unexpectedly 'wrapping'
Bug #1287: Vertical alignment of labels and data is off in PDF Output
Bug #1288: Picture widget with shrink Null not printing on PDF Output
Bug #1290: PDF Output hangs at runtime if PICTURE alpha item is blank
Bug #1291: Compression suppresses PICTURE alpha items with shrink Null
Bug #1292: Text Position of LABEL widgets behaving strangely
Bug #1295: PDF Output may not print some standard column headings
Bug #1296: Some widgets not printing at all
Bug #1298: Label widgets no longer honor right margin
Bug #1300: Numeric widgets with Text Position RIGHT not aligned properly
Bug #1308: Fill color not filling label completely
Bug #1309: Data LABEL widgets do not print for some Text Positions
Bug #1311: LABEL widget borders are shrunk for some text positions
Bug #1312: Data LABEL widget borders are shrunk for some text positions
Bug #1313: PDF Output may not print underscore character
Bug #1317: PDF Output can distort Page-Start image if Page-Start has compression and widgets
Bug #1322: PDF Output may not float spaces properly (#1)
Bug #1323: PDF Output may not float spaces properly (#2)
Bug #1324: Last frame on page duplicated
Bug #1325: PDF Output can encounter C-assert 2100 using Float Spaces
Bug #1326: Tiling Mode = Expand no longer working
Bug #1331: PDF Output deletes row text following '<' sign
Bug #1342: Float erratic on multiple fields
Bug #1350: PDF Output may not float spaces properly (##3)
Bug #1351: Bar code does not work with 4.2.5
Bug #1353: EMBEDDED compression has new problems under PDF Output
Bug #1364: PDF Box Label not Centered

Runtime - Proc Compiler (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Runtime - Proc Compiler

Bug #1348: Could not compile AT FIELD... if Appearance specified

System Administration (8 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to System Administration

Bug #52: Font spec on 'PDF' Form ignored by PDF output
Bug #707: Screens > 21 rows - Keymap Deletion
Bug #715: Language menu: Building Dictionary needs stop sign
Bug #856: Screens > 21 rows - Documentation Rights
Bug #1018: Spurious error message in Disposition at runtime
Bug #1330: Registration Screen not editable
Bug #1344: Inconsistent Default Mode
Bug #1407: SysAdmin 'Copy to Clipboard' Has Wrong Verif Codes

User interface (8 bugs)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to User interface

Bug #497: Print On Screen 'Title' Text Overlaps
Bug #727: Option Help - DISPOSITION
Bug #737: Toolbar Tool Tips Do Not Show Key Board Equivalents
Bug #767: Help Pop-Up Appearance - Full Screen versus Less than full
Bug #774: Hard to Get Item Help - Impossible in Option 98
Bug #968: Help Screen on PRINT ON SCREEN
Bug #1094: New Undocumented Relations Appear in Record Selection
Bug #1299: appx print defaults to MPAGE on non-linux servers

Winprint (1 bug)

Bugs Addressed in APPX 4.2.5 Relating to Winprint

Bug #513: Point size has different meanings depending on platform

New Widget Attribute - Shrink to Fit Content

In APPX 4.2.5, we have implemented a new output widget attribute - "Shrink to Fit Content". This widget attribute is a token and can have the following values:

The default value is currently <null> and all existing widgets will have this field set to <null> by the sync widget process.

Behavior

A box widget is never shrunk so this new attribute does not apply.

Only widgets that have <null> or LEFT justification of the contents can be shrunk.

If blank line compression is specified on a frame, APPX will vertically shrink all widgets on the image that have a <null> specification for the "Shrink to Fit Content" spec.

If float spaces is specified for any item (field) on an image, APPX will horizontally shrink all widgets on the image that have a <null> specification for the "Shrink to Fit Content" spec.

If a widget has no contents, it will effectively "disappear" if shrunk.

The "Shrink to Fit Content" attribute is used to tell the output processor to "shrink" the defined size of a widget to match the contents of the widget. When a widget shrinks, the anchor point (row and column) for the widget does not change. When shrinking horizonally, the right border of the widget will move to the left until it reaches a non-blank column. When shrinking vertically, the bottom of the widget will move up until it reaches a non-blank row. After shrinking, the resulting widget size will always be some number of full rows and full columns. In other words, a widget that has been shrunk will not have a size consisting of a fractional number of rows or columns.

The "Shrink to Fit Contents" attribute is useful when using two specific output process design features, "Float Spaces" and compression of blank lines.

When float spaces is specified for an item in character mode, the item is shifted to the left until it is positioned the specified number of "spaces" to the right of the text of the preceding item. When designing for PDF output, items may have widgets defined. Float spaces can be used to position an item (and its widget) a specified number of spaces to the right of the preceding object (text, item, item/widget, or widget). If the preceding "object" is a widget or an item/widget, it should be "shrunk" horizontally so that an item that has float spaces specified is able to be shifted farther to the left and closer to the rightmost contents of the preceding widget. If a preceding widget is not shrunk, then the item that follows can only float relative to the defined right boundary of the widget.

When blank line compression is specified, rows that are "covered" by a widget cannot be compressed away even if the widget is empty or partially empty. If blank line compression is specified, then partially filled widgets should be "shrunk" vertially to fit their contents thereby reducing the vertical size of the widget and allowing blank rows to be compressed.

Known Bug - Appearances in PDF Output

A newly introduced bug in APPX 4.2.5 has created a situation where multiple appearances are not currently supported for text fields within PDF output. It used to work in 4.2.4 but unfortunately it no longer works.

We recognize that this will break some existing applications that use PDF output. If two appearances of a text field appear on the same image, both will print the same value. The work-around for designers is to replace the multiple appearances with work fields or other values until this is corrected in a future release or patch.



Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows XP,Windows 7, Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

APPX 4.2.4

The APPX 4.2.4 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug #731: Client Preferences issues
  • Bug #996: File Names not available to scan from READ stmt
  • Bug #998: GUI destroys field content if multiple '=' characters are contained
  • Bug #1023: Spelling mistake in DD
  • Bug #1026: Scan fails with seg fault
  • Bug #1027: License server off by one
  • Bug #1028: Multiple sessions not allowed after registration limit reached
  • Bug #1034: Maintenance agreement license server changes
  • Bug #1036: Scan on Alternate key returns 1st record
  • Bug #1037: Direct Process 1 = > Signal Error
  • Bug #1066: Scan doesn't return 1st record when <Enter> is pressed
  • Bug #1079: Overriding LOGIC field as BIT field doesn't work
  • Bug #1087: 0-apps cursor in wrong place

Bug #731: Client Preferences issues

  • There were differences between value and default value for debugNotifyLevel and debugLogLevel caused by one being the token value, the other the token number. Also, widget is misspelled in the description for editorForceSize.
  • These have been corrected.

Bug #996 - File Names not available to scan from READ stmt

  • When entering a READ statement and scanning to select the file name to be read, only field names were presented, and the 'Select File' option button does not function.
  • Corrected as follows: When you scan on an operand that can contain a field name or a file name, you should now be able to scan for either. The scan processor will show you the list of files by default - use option 1 to scan fields instead. The scan processor will remember your scan preference.

Bug #998: GUI destroys field content if multiple '=' characters are contained

  • If the content of an alpha field is a series of '=' characters (example '==========') the gui represented its content as NULL (empty). If the record was stored the field content was blanked out. If the alpha field contained a substring of '=====' 's that substring was replaced by blank characters.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #1023 - Spelling mistake in DD

  • In the AA popup for Alpha fields, the 'Lowercase OK?' label is misspelled as 'Lowercare'.
  • This has been corrected.

Bug #1026 - Scan fails with seg fault

  • Invoking scan from within a live application caused a seg fault.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #1027 - License server off by one

  • The Appx license server granted one too many usage rights for any counted feature registrations.
  • This has been corrected.

Bug #1028 - Multiple sessions not allowed after registration limit reached

  • The license server, which allows up to four logins under the same user ID for each usage right, disabled multi-session logins once you reached the maximum number of users allowed by the registration.
  • This has been corrected.

Bug #1034 - Maintenance agreement license server changes

  • The Appx license server previously compared the expiration date contained in the APX/MNT feature registration with the compile date of the Appx engine. If the engine was built after the registration expiration date, Appx reported an invalid, missing or expired MNT registration.
  • Our new maintenance policy states that a user can run any patches made to a supported version of Appx. In other words, if version 4.2 (a major release) is released while your APX/MNT registration is valid, you should be able to run any 4.2.x release, even if 4.2.x was issued after your APX/MNT registration has expired.
  • This feature has been implemented in 4.2.4.

Bug #1036 - Scan on Alternate key returns 1st record

  • When you did a scan on Alternate key and select a record from a list built by that scan, it returned the first record from that list.
  • However, if you scanned on the Primary Key first and changed path to Alternate Key, 'select' works properly.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #1037 - Direct Process 1 = > Signal Error

  • When user defined a SYSPARM Direct Process 1, users entering appx got => MODULE: BI.C.1727 ; 'An unrecoverable error has occurred (signal), exiting'
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #1066 - Scan doesn't return 1st record when <Enter> is pressed

  • When scanning a file, if the desired record is the first one on the screen, a simple return did NOT bring the record back. Only by clicking on the record would it be retrieved.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #1079 - Overriding LOGIC field as BIT field doesn't work

  • When overriding the LOGIC fields to BIT data type, a problem is detected with the inputs. The Checkboxes always appeared UNCHECKED (if seen from the Java Client) and when checked the values didn't seem to work properly in SQL Server. Leaving the fields as varchar(1) was the best method to handle this error.
  • This has been corrected.

Bug #1087 - 0-apps cursor in wrong place

  • When adding records on a scrolling display, when you reached the bottom of the display and added a record, after returning to the scrolling display, the cursor was on the row above the bottom row.
  • This has been corrected.

Refer to the APPX 4.2.0 Release Notes for all enhancements and corrections built into this major release. Also refer to the Release Notes for APPX 4.2.1, APPX 4.2.2, and APPX 4.2.3 for items addressed by those patch releases.

APPX 4.2.3

The APPX 4.2.3 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug # 93: Toolbox is not accessible from Data Dictionary
  • Bug #272: F8 sometimes won't end Main Menu
  • Bug #358: REFRESH statement does not send widgets to client
  • Bug #383: Cosmetic Query Process Level display bug
  • Bug #422: --- STREAM CLOSE returns failure for 'pipe' stream
  • Bug #427: Java Client 0AD Tools and Utilites Menu Process pulldown needs work
  • Bug #437: Java 0AD File Design level has no Toolbox button
  • Bug #447: File Chooser steps on field contents during folder drill down
  • Bug #548: ILF Search & Replace fails on KEY portions of I/O commands
  • Bug #564: Some 0AD Process PullDown descriptions are less-than-perfect
  • Bug #577: Current Query Des. Sel. Rel. hidden by SCAN indicator in ADD/CHG
  • Bug #660: GUI Title Bar disappears
  • Bug #678: Image Editor Item Display (F11) needs Page X of Y as per java client
  • Bug #732: Full re-install of JC b9 over writes some Advanced options in .ini
  • Bug #743: AppxdSvc Always Logs
  • Bug #760: Tabbing through multi-row fields requires hitting tab twice
  • Bug #774: Hard to Get Item Help - Impossible in Option 98
  • Bug #784: Keyboard Buffer does not work
  • Bug #802: Convert Images Utility is virtually useless
  • Bug #804: CNV PORT is missing from ILF Editor Statement SCAN
  • Bug #835: 'This record already held by another user' unexpectedly encountered
  • Bug #837: Output Image Editor displays row of = 's as gray bar
  • Bug #842: DD Toolbox Missing 'Convert to Domain' & 'Copy'
  • Bug #851: 30 column scan fails
  • Bug #863: REWRITE statement returns T but doesn't really rewrite
  • Bug #882: 0SA APPL ALLOW DESIGN - No longer works
  • Bug #884: REFRESH TEMP 80 is broken
  • Bug #891: Focus remains on date chooser button
  • Bug #892: FLEP Problem with Cache Priority 1
  • Bug #898: Using a cached file as the PCF can cause crashes
  • Bug #906: Mod logs don't display occurrences correctly
  • Bug #907: Mod logs show deleted record values in wrong column
  • Bug #914: Scanning on field name too restrictive
  • Bug #915: 'guilook' defaults differently, can't change it.
  • Bug #925: End of Process (Query Setup) EP does not always run
  • Bug #930: Access to Designer Rights
  • Bug #934: Constrained Read silently skips records
  • Bug #935: Date Chooser Returns Blank Date
  • Bug #947: HELP loses changes if you edit twice
  • Bug #950: REFRESH TEMP 80 in Output aborts Output
  • Bug #963: Can't select by keyboard on single-field-display file scans
  • Bug #975: RESTORE statement hangs if scanning on 'DEFAULT RECORD' field
  • Bug #976: F1-F12 not working on text fields
  • Bug #978: -windowTitle= command line argument ignored
  • Bug #997: PgUp and PgDn in SCAN for Process Name oversteps processes
  • Bug #998: GUI destroys alpha field content if multiple '= ' characters are contained
  • Bug #1006: Print On Screen - Option 7 No longer works
  • Task #111: Implement new Unix/Linux Connection Manager

Bug # 93: Toolbox is not accessible from Data Dictionary

  • The Data Dictionary toolbox, which contained such utilities as "Convert Field to Domain" and "Copy Fields", was not visually accessible. This has been fixed.

Bug #272: F8 sometimes won't end Main Menu

  • It was sometimes necessary to click on "Exit" from the APPX Main Menu, rather than just pressing F8 (or ESC), to exit APPX. This has been fixed, as part of the major reworking of keyboard handling for type-ahead issues.

Bug #358: REFRESH statement does not send widgets to client

  • When a REFRESH statement was executed, field values were being sent to the screen but widget records were not. This has been fixed.

Bug #383: Cosmetic Query Process Level display bug

  • The first two records of the Query Process scrolling image appeared 'within' the box of the header frame.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #422: --- STREAM CLOSE returns failure for 'pipe' stream

  • This has been fixed.

Bug #427: Java Client 0AD Tools and Utilites Menu Process pulldown needs work

  • The 'Utilites' and especially the 'Tools' menus contained enough optional children that having a Group specification of the Optional Child label would not be a luxury.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #437: Java 0AD File Design level has no Toolbox button

  • Toolbox was accessible only through opt-1
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #447: File Chooser steps on field contents during folder drill down

  • This has been fixed.

Bug #548: ILF Search & Replace fails on KEY portions of I/O commands

  • ILF Editor didn't find values in the key space of a READ, READNEXT, or BEG READ statements.
  • User also couldn't manually change those values when in his ILF Search&Replace.
  • Search & Replace also failed on the right side of an IF statement, but that could be manually corrected, and the Search & Replace continued.
  • This only seemed to happen when the 'new' string is shorter that the 'old'.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #564: Some 0AD Process PullDown descriptions are less-than-perfect

  • Documentation Process Pulldown : 'Summary' and 'Detailed' presumably refer to Domains
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #577: Current Query Des. Sel. Rel. hidden by SCAN indicator in ADD/CHG

  • There was about one cell too little allowed for the 'Rel' in this scrolling display.
  • This has been corrected.

Bug #660: GUI Title Bar disappears

  • An INPUT process' Frame-Size-Rows of less than the default of 21, caused the GUI (Window Properties) Titlebar-Options 'Title' attribute to not display a titlebar at runtime. This has been fixed in Java client release 4.2.2c.

Bug #678: Image Editor Item Display (F11) needs Page X of Y as per java client

  • (From Bruce Johnston:) I was going to complain that the scroll bar doesn't appear on the displayed frame until I remembered that it's NOT a scrolling window but rather a display with 10 modifiable occ. of the info on each line.
  • No need to complain - it has been fixed.

Bug #732: Full re-install of JC b9 over writes some Advanced options in .ini

  • After a full uninstall and re-install, the caret color, which had been set to red, went back to black even though other default in the .ini retained my custom values.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #743 - AppxdSvc Always Logs

  • You can adjust the logging parameters by setting three registry values:
    LogServiceDir - set to the name of a directory and AppxDSvc will write the log there (in a file named $(LogServiceDir)serviceName.log
  • LogAllEvents - set to 'Y' to get a complete log or any other value to disable most log messages. The default is 'N' so you should be seeing very few message written to the log
  • LogCreate - set to 'Y' to create a log file or any other value to disable logging. The default is 'N' (starting with 4.2.3 - it defaulted to 'Y' before release 4.2.3).

Bug #760: Tabbing through multi-row fields requires hitting tab twice

  • If tabbing to different fields on an input and you came to a text or alpha field that had multiple rows, you had to hit the tab button twice to get to the next field. This has been fixed in Java client release 4.2.2c.

Bug #774: Hard to Get Item Help - Impossible in Option 98

  • It has alwyas been harder to get Item Help with the Java Client. In particular, in Inquire Mode and non-modifiable fields.
  • Bug 1 - The Java ? does not seem to get Item Help when the fields are non-modifiable! The mouse method seems to work well on a modifiable field.
  • Bug 2 - The work around, Turn off GUI Interface, still works on a simple scroller, but when you pop Audit Info (you can see this in the Process scroller) you cannot get the cursor over to a field to get Help!!
  • The prior work around was to exit the GUI Mode and move the cursor around; that did not work any more!
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #784: Keyboard Buffer does not work

  • The old keyboard buffering problems have resurfaced. Looks like there is no keyboard buffered at all; typing very fast, lots of keystroke after each other, results in loss of arbitrary keystrokes...
  • This has been tightened up significantly for 4.2.3. Please report any new instances as new bugs.

Bug #802: Convert Images Utility is virtually useless

  • When you attempt to Convert Images, APPX requires that the target exist. Does this mean that I have to create all of my output processes first with dummy target images in order to be able to use this utility?
  • Corrected in 4.2.3.

Bug #804: CNV PORT is missing from ILF Editor Statement SCAN

  • This has been fixed.

Bug #835: 'This record already held by another user' unexpectedly encountered

  • This occurred only in the DISAM environment
  • When returning to the parent process from the child process, APPX encounters the following errors:
    • ERROR - Record Not in File
    • This record already held by another user
  • When running with APPXIO instead of DISAM, these errors are not encountered. There were no other users or sessions running the same database.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #837: Output Image Editor displays row of = 's as gray bar

  • A row of equal signs should display as such at design time, not as a gray bar (which is an auto-GUI feature at runtime for an input). It does print as a row of equal signs.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #842: DD Toolbox Missing 'Convert to Domain' & 'Copy'

  • The toolbox options to convert a field to a domain and to copy fields are not available on the menu bar or buttons in the data dictionary.
  • Fixed for 4.2.3.

Bug #851: 30 column scan fails

  • When scanning on a field that uses NSCAN (30) the user receives an Appx ILF error on a DEFINE statement for --- ENTRY KEY FLD VAL ZI. This has been fixed.

Bug #863: REWRITE statement returns T but doesn't really rewrite

  • This occurred only in the DISAM environment.
  • REWRITE of PCF record in 'footer' frame of update process returns a T indicating success but the record is not really rewritten.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #882: 0SA APPL ALLOW DESIGN - No longer works

  • In 4.2.2 the new feature allowing changing of modes at lower levels allowed changes to the design as well at lower level despite the setting of the 0SA APPL ALLOW DESIGN field!
  • The application chooser now shows a READONLY icon in the left column of the scrolling display for applications that are locked from changes due to the Application 'Allow Design?' flag.

Bug #884: REFRESH TEMP 80 is broken

  • This is fixed in 4.2.3 client.

Bug #891: Focus remains on date chooser button

  • After using the date chooser button to select a date, the cursor focus remained on the button on returning to the input image. If the user then pressed RETURN, the date chooser popup box re-appeared rather than the expected result (i.e. processing of the RETURN option by the image). Even if the user didn't press RETURN, the cursor focus was not obvious to the user.
  • This is fixed in 4.2.3 client.

Bug #892: FLEP Problem with Cache Priority 1

  • When the cache priority was 1 when a new sessions starts, FLEP's didn't fire for the process. This was reported specifically happening in a Job with the first step being a Query. If the cache priority was changed, the FLEP's fired. If the cache priority was changed from 2-99 to 1, the FLEP's fire as expected. This only seemed to occur if the cache priority was initially set to 1 when the session started.
  • For the record, this bug would only occur when a query process EM gets tossed out of the cache and is subsequently read back in. In the replication scenario, the query setup job step loads the query EM into memory, the next job step throws the query EM out of cache, and then the 'use query' job step loads the EM again.
  • You could replicate this bug at priorities other than one, but it's not easy and depends on your USER CACHE LEVEL and which other EM's are in the cache.
  • Fixed in 4.2.3.

Bug #898: Using a cached file as the PCF can cause crashes

  • Using a cached file as the PCF for a scrolling input process could cause various crashes. You would have to use an OPEN or CREATE stmt. in the Start-of-process event point for this problem to appear.
  • The symptom varied - on a Windows® platform, the appx.stk file grows for a very, very long time. On a Linux/Unix platform, you could see a huge number of [defunct] processes spawned by the engine when the error occurs.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #906: Mod logs don't display occurrences correctly

  • If the PCF for a process contained any multi-occurrence fields, the modification log entries for a CHANGE operation were incorrect. The mod log seemed to skip every other occurrence, and the values shown were associated with the wrong occurrence numbers.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #907: Mod logs show deleted record values in wrong column

  • The modification log entries generated for a DELETE showed the PCF values in the 'New' column instead of in the 'Old' column.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #914: Scanning on field name too restrictive

  • When scanning on the source field name of an APPEND statement, the scan list did not include ALPHA fields that are defined by DOMAINS.
  • Fixed for 4.2.3.

Bug #915: 'guilook' defaults differently, can't change it

  • The 'guilook' parameter defaulted differently. It used to default to 'appx', but now defaulted to something else (java?). Even worse, you couldn't force it to what you wanted by specifiying it on the command line.
  • This is fixed in the 4.2.3 client.

Bug #925: End of Process (Query Setup) EP does not always run

  • If a query was executed with first having executed a QUERY step in the job, the End of Process (Query Setup) EP does not run. The Start of Process (Query Setup) EP does run.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #930: Access to Designer Rights

  • Even though the message 'ERROR - No Application Designer Rights' was displayed, user was able to go to change mode and make changes to an application that was manually keyed in on the App Chooser screen.
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #934: Constrained Read silently skips records

  • NOTE: This was originally reported as just a problem with BEG READ/END READ, but in fact it happens with any kind of child constraint.
  • If task 'A' has a hold on a record in file 1 (but not the first record) and task 'B' is doing a constrained Read with Hold on the same file (e.g., an UPDATE with child constraints), the record held by the other task would be completely skipped by the Read, with no warning, error or held condition indicated.
  • The problem did not occur if the first record is held, or if the BEG AT/END AT is unconstrained.
  • This is similar to ECR 5166 and 662, except those reference using an Alternate key. We have found that this occurred even when using the primary key.
  • This was a fairly serious problem, as the Designer could no longer count on a constrained READ to read all the records with Hold in a multi user environment. This could cause all kinds of subtle application errors, e.g., orphan records, etc.
  • Fixed for 4.2.3 - Appx will now wait for locked records rather than silently skipping them

Bug #935: Date Chooser Returns Blank Date

  • Clicking on the Date Chooser Icon returned a blank date.
  • This has been fixed for the 4.2.3 Java client.

Bug #947: HELP loses changes if you edit twice

  • If you are a System Administrator or Designer/Documentor, you can edit the Help text on the fly.
  • User edited one, pressed enter to redisplay, was not content with the edits, and pressed F12 again. The first edit was lost; it reverted to the pre-edit state.
  • This has been fixed in the 4.2.3 0-apps.

Bug #950: REFRESH TEMP 80 in Output aborts Output

  • In the Pre-Display EP of a record frame of an output process, the command "REFRESH TEMP 80" aborted the Output, sending it to the End of Process Event Point, the second time the statement was executed.
  • This has been fixed in 4.2.3.

Bug #963: Can't select by keyboard on single-field-display file scans

  • When scanning on a data lookup into a file for which only one field is defined as displayable, selecting with the mouse brought back the desired record, but trying to select by using cursor arrow keys and ENTER brought back no result at all.
  • This has been fixed in the 4.2.3 client.

Bug #975: RESTORE statement hangs if scanning on 'DEFAULT RECORD' field

  • In the ILF editor, when adding a RESTORE statement, tab to the last field (where you would to enter DEFAULT RECORD) in order to pick 'DEFAULT RECORD' from the scan list, and press F2. APPX hangs.
  • This has been fixed in the 4.2.3 client patch.

Bug #976: F1-F12 not working on text fields

  • F1-F12 were not working when cursor is positioned on a text field.
  • This has been fixed in the 4.2.3 client.

Bug #978: -windowTitle= command line argument ignored

  • Setting the startup option for -title= or -windowTitle= is ignored.
  • This has been fixed in the 4.2.3 client.

Bug #997: PgUp and PgDn in SCAN for Process Name oversteps processes

  • When scanning for a process name (e.g., in design transfer), pressing PageUp or PageDown scrolled more than one page. Therefore not all processes were visible.
  • This may be because there is less than a full page of processes visible, and the PgDown scrolls for a full page.
  • This has been fixed for 4.2.3.

Bug #998: GUI destroys alpha field content if multiple '= ' characters are contained

  • If the content of an alpha field was a series of '=' characters ('========'), the GUI represented its content as NULL (empty). If the record was stored, the field content was blanked out. If the alpha field contained a substring of '=====' characters, that substring was replaced by blank characters.
  • Fixed for 4.2.3.

Bug #1006: Print On Screen - Option 7 No longer works

  • Option 7 to email a report, when a report was brought to the screen, was no longer working.
  • This has been fixed in 4.2.3.

Task #111: Implement new Unix/Linux Connection Manager

  • Implement a new connection manager (uappxd) for Unix/Linux systems that provides for easier installation and configuration and includes new features.
  • This new feature is included in APPX 4.2.3 on an "experimental" basis. User feedback is welcome.

Refer to the APPX 4.2.0 Release Notes for all enhancements and corrections built into this major release. Also refer to the APPX 4.2.1 Release Notes and APPX 4.2.2 Release Notes for items addressed by those patch releases.



Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows 98, Windows NT 4, Internet Explorer, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Excel are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

APPX 4.2.2

The APPX 4.2.2 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug #838: SCAN is not Hookable
  • Bug #833: Client needs more control over Screen Fonts
  • Bug #829: PDF Reports fail on RISC platforms
  • Bug #821: 0LC - Hookable Processes HELP
  • Bug #817: Duplicated Toolbar AutoGui Buttons
  • Bug #810: DISAM restructure fails across file systems
  • Bug #755: Changing modes trips error in Pre-Display/Verify
  • Bug #673: Blank line generated before separator line in page heading
  • Bug #669: Designer has no control over separator character
  • Bug #640: Separator character overwritten
  • Bug #617: PDF Output encounters c-assert if no records selected
  • Bug #517: PDF Output encounters c-assert if output has only a PAGE-START frame

Bug #838: SCAN is not Hookable

  • The 0LA Input processes are in 0LC to be copied and hooked. These are now hookable under 4.2.2. The list of input processes that make up the SCAN process family are:
    • NSCAN
    • NSCAN (110)
    • NSCAN (125)
    • NSCAN (30)
    • NSCAN (35)
    • NSCAN (50)
    • NSCAN (65)
    • NSCAN (80)
    • NSCAN (TOKEN) (15)
    • NSCAN (TOKEN) (35)
    • NSCAN FILE SELECT
    • NSCAN KEY VALUE
    • NSCAN PATH SELECT

Bug #833: Client needs more control over Screen Fonts

  • The -font= setting will let you use any OS or Java font as the base font used to compute all the screen geometry. 'fixed' and 'prop' are just shortcuts to reference 'Courier' and 'Helvetica'. In the prior versions of the client, Courier on linux really used a font called 'Lucida Sans Typewriter'. That was because of the way the Sun Java 1.2 and 1.3 VMs handled font names.
  • We now use Sun Java 1.4 which does honor Courier. So, if Courier is really not what you want, you should use a different real OS font name.
  • The list of available font names could be different on every system. So, the help with this the 4.2.2 client will dump the list of available fonts on a given system to the appxlog.txt file. It will also present a dropdown list in the Advanced Properties table of all the currently available OS fonts.

Bug #829: PDF Reports fail on RISC platforms

  • A report that utilizes standard page or standard column headings will fail if printed as a PDF-formatted report, but only on RISC platforms. This has been fixed.

Bug #821: 0LC - Hookable Processes HELP

  • When I Design transfer 0LC HELP and hook the process, I get an error:
Invalid Application ID
  • Offending code, per the EM Build Error Listing is:
Frame: Image: Child: START OF PROCESS
WRITE 0AD DOCUMENT
  • This has been fixed.

Bug #817: Duplicated Toolbar AutoGui Buttons

  • Sometimes the OK and Cancel buttons that show up on the toolbar are repeated 2 or three times on the toolbar. These are the buttons generated by the AutoGui STANDARD TOOLBARS process. It seems to be caused by having Direct Process 1 and/or Direct Process 2 active. This has been fixed.

Bug #810: DISAM restructure fails across file systems

  • If you restructure a DISAM file that is located in a different file system than the restructure work directory (Newdata), then the restructure will indicated that it ran successfully but the file will be missing. This has been fixed.

Bug #755: Changing modes trips error in Pre-Display/Verify

  • If an input process defaults to Inquire Mode, and you hit F12 to use Change Mode for key entry, it trips an error in my application in Pre-Display/Verify (looking to see if a field is blank). This has been fixed.

Bug #673: Blank line generated before separator line in page heading

  • If you specify a separator character, there is a blank line generated before the separator line. The only time it does not appear seems to be when there is no Page-Start frame. You get the blank line if there is a Page-Start frame even if you suppress printing by setting alternate image number to 0. This has been fixed.

Bug #669: Designer has no control over separator character

  • No matter what character you specify for the separator line (as long as it's non-blank), it prints as sort of a double underline character. This has been fixed.

Bug #640: Separator character overwritten

  • In the situation where a designer has requested standard column headings but has also designed a Page-Start frame, the separator character can get overwritten by the first line of data, and the designer-specified image is also overwritten by the GUI page heading. This has been fixed.

Bug #617: PDF Output encounters c-assert if no records selected

  • C-Assert: PDF_begin_page: Function must not be called in 'page' scope. This has been fixed.

Bug #517: PDF Output encounters c-assert if output has only a PAGE-START frame

  • C-Assert: PDF_begin_page: Function must not be called in 'page' scope. This has been fixed.

Refer to the APPX 4.2.0 Release Notes for all enhancements and corrections built into this major release. Also refer to the APPX 4.2.1 Release Notes for items addressed by that patch release.

APPX 4.2.1

The APPX 4.2.1 Patch Release addresses the following items:

  • Bug 754: Design Transfer hangs on third Transfer
  • Bug 803: APPX_PRINT on Unix doesn't spool to Unique properly
  • Bug 807: Background Processing Fails
  • Bug 808: PRINT FILE PATHNAME corrupted
  • Bug 815: No "Acknowledge Delete" button for work fields
  • Task 17: APPX_USAGE_BITS needs another one just for Session End

Bug 754: Design Transfer hangs on third Transfer

  • Running Design Transfer several times in a row and scanning for the "From" process name each time caused a lockup on the third Scan operation. This has been fixed.

Bug 803: APPX_PRINT on Unix doesn't spool to Unique properly

  • When spooling to Unique via appx_print, nothing gets into the Unique print queue. This is because the print file is deleted by appx_print before Unique can print it. We now don't delete the print file, we leave it there for unique to delete.

Bug 807: Background Processing Fails

  • Background processing fails 100% of the time. Usage log shows 'Appx System Error (BI.C:1714) - An unrecoverable error has occurred (signal), exiting'. Background processing works again.

Bug 808: PRINT FILE PATHNAME corrupted

  • The value of --- PRINT FILE PATHNAME has changed with 4.2 so that it now has a null 0x00 appended immediately after the pathname. All code that uses PRINT FILE PATHNAME as part of a RUN string now fails since the RUN string is truncated on execution at the 0x00. This has been fixed so that PRINT FILE PATHNAME works as it always has in the past.

Bug 815: No "Acknowledge Delete" button for work fields

  • In Work Fields maintenance, in delete mode, there is no Ack Delete button on the screen. This has been fixed.

Task 17: APPX_USAGE_BITS needs another one just for Session End

  • Under a minimal surveilance scheme I'd like to simply log the session start and end. Currently you can get the session start by itself by simply setting APPX_USAGE_BITS to 0x80000000. You won't get any end info unless you also set the lowest bit. Then you get every process that you ever run in addtion to the END of the first process that you executed when you started you APPX session. Should be fixed in 4.2.1 - use bit 0x200 to see session start and session end log entries

Refer to the APPX 4.2.0 Release Notes for all enhancements and corrections built into this major release.

APPX 4.2.0

The Release Notes for APPX 4.2.0 are presented in sections. Please click on the section below to view the corresponding release notes.

Installation
O/S Issues
Initial Setup (Operational Phase)
Run-Time Environment
Run-Time Behaviors
System Administration
Application Design
Database Management
FMS Interfaces
APPX GUI Client
Reportwriter (SQL)

Installation

General

Operating System Versions Required

  • Risc Processors:

IBM RS/6000 - AIX 4.3.3 & higher
HP - HPUX 11.0 & higher
SUN (Sparc) - Solaris 8; SunOS 5.8 & higher

  • Intel & Intel Compatible Processors:

Linux - Redhat 7.2 & higher
Linux - Redhat Enterprise Server 2.1 & higher
Windows® - Windows 98®,  Windows NT 4®, Windows 2000®, Windows Server 2003®
NCR SRV4 MP-RAS Version/Release 03.02.00.39
SCO OpenServer Enterprise System (ver 5.0.4p)
DG/UX R4.20

RDBMS/FMS Versions Supported

  • Oracle 9i (9.2.0) - APPX 4.2.0 has been tested with Oracle 9i and has been dynamically linked with the Oracle 9 Client Software. Oracle customers who desire to run Oracle 7 or Oracle 8 with APPX 4.2.0 should check with Oracle regarding compatibility of Oracle 7 and Oracle 8 with the Oracle 9 Client Software.
  • DB2 (7.1)
  • ODBC (3.0)
  • DISAM96 (6.12) - Replaces C-ISAM
  • Sybase - The APPX/Sybase interface may no longer be purchased. However, the existing Sybase interface will be retained in this release so that existing Sybase customers may migrate to our ODBC interface.
  • Vision - The APPX/Vision interface may no longer be purchased. However, the existing Vision interface will be retained in this release so that existing Vision customers may migrate to our ODBC interface.

Registration import utility improved

  • The registration import step that is run as part of "finalizing" a new installation has been modified to be more understandable and intuitive.

Windows

AppxdSvc replaces WinAppxD

  • The "winAppxD" Connection Manager has been replaced by a new "appxdSvc" Connection Manager. The new Connection Manager is a "true" Windows service and is much easier to install, configure, and control. It's also more immune to denial-of-service attacks. The new Connection Manager also supports multiple authentication methods: you can, if you choose, configure appxdSvc to validate passwords against the Appx password file rather than the OS password file. That means that you can control the passwords more easily. It also means that you do not have to create an OS account for every Appx user.

O/S Issues

Security on Directories

appx_print can't create log file in /tmp - ECR Number 6679

  • Printing under Appx for Unix no longer fails with "/tmp/appx_print.last: cannot create" messages due to undeleted files, due to the "t" in newer OS's /tmp 'drwxrwxrwt' directory permissions.

Initial Setup (Operational Phase)

Input Processes

Fields should not be modifiable in INQ - ECR Number 6804

  • In Operational Phase INITIAL SETUP when running an Input process in INQUIRE mode, fields with blank "Modifiable?" attributes were unexpectedly modifiable.

Run-Time Environment

C-Asserts

More info on mm_alloc panic out of mem - ECR Number 6832

Display on Screen

Panning now works for client cols > 80 - ECR Number 6806

Help

Boxes now drawn around all sizes of help - ECR Number 6805

License Server

Application Locks not being released - ECR Number 6865

Print Disposition

PDF output can be generated on client or server

Warning on disposition if PDF form type

PDF printing on local and server printers

Run-Time Behaviors

APPXIO

Enable large-file support for Linux - ECR Number 6905

REWRITE of consec record loses position - ECR Number 6883

REWRITE without HOLD could corrupt file - ECR Number 6816

SCRATCH fails if structure file missing - ECR Number 6838

File Level Event Points

SCRATCH followed by DELETE breaks FLEPs - ECR Number 6171

General

All screens should be GUI-fied

Implement '+' mask character for numeric - ECR Number 6904

Toolbar button size selectable at runtim

ILF Statements

CNV TEXT behavior changed - ECR Number 6897

COMPUTE statement results in wrong sign - ECR Number 6829

Inquire mode honors errors and warnings

Input Processes

ADD mode scrolling prob for consec PCF - ECR Number 1825

ENABLE/DISABLE now apply to mult widgets - ECR Number 6899

ERROR stmts are now honored in INQ mode - ECR Number 4126

Mode change for one-record inputs

Mode change retains key on form inputs

Parent PCF record now reread in INQ mode - ECR Number 5772

Pre-Display EP's now execute after child - ECR Number 6308

    1. --- KEYMAP NAME is set to "DATA ENTRY" or "MENU ENTRY"
    2. The SELECT IMAGE (Frame-Level) event point is executed. You can select a different alternate image here, or you can suppress optional images.
    3. Frame-level widgets are copied from the EM into the --- WIDGET file.
    4. If the image chosen by the SELECT IMAGE event point should be skipped during live operations and --- OPERATIONAL PHASE is LIVE OPERATIONS, the image is suppressed.
    5. The characteristics (Editable, Bright, etc.) for all items are set to their default values (based on entry level, security, etc.)
    6. The default cursor position is computed
    7. Any MESSAGE's, WARNING's, or ERROR's are displayed
    8. Data lookups are performed
    9. Image-level widgets are copied from the EM into the --- WIDGET file
    10. The PreDisplay/Verify event point is executed
    11. The PreDisplay event point is executed
    12. The Global PreDisplay event point is executed
    13. All items are converted from internal form to external form (i.e. DISPLAY'ed) according to the usual rules.
    14. The image is displayed to the user

Pre-PCF Update EP executes in auto child - ECR Number 6284

Pre-PCF Update EP now executes in DELETE - ECR Number 5721

Restore cursor pos after child completes - ECR Number 6854

SCAN now starts at specified value - ECR Number 6098

Scrolling input causes Bad Reg No error - ECR Number 6841

    1. A scrolling input with a display-only frame, followed by the scrolling frame,
    2. The display-only frame extends to the bottom of the terminal (typically row 21), and
    3. The scrolling frame extends to 1 row above the end of the display-only frame (typically 20).

WIDGET attributes changed via ILF now reset - ECR Number 5323

KEATERM

KEA Term hangs on Select Access Path - ECR Number 6861

Language Translation

Build dictionary util now incl widgets

Modified widget text now translates - ECR Number 6427

Output Processes

Default print directory relocated

Designer has more control over blank lin

GUI title bar not displayed in Key Entry

Panning now works for all report sizes - ECR Number 6806

PDF headings for existing reports

Print? check box now displays correctly - ECR Number 5549

Query Processes

Query audit fields updated in INQ mode

Query on key substring fails - ECR Number 6836

SCAN Type 1 does not work - ECR Number 6872

Subroutines

mm_memset() causes random crashes - ECR Number 6776

RT_WRITE_STREAM returned false negative - ECR Number 6568

STREAM OPEN can now open a pipe - ECR Number 6902

System Administration

Logging

Usage log can now be activated - ECR Number 1830

  • Setting environment variable APPX_USAGE_LOG to a filename now produces an Appx Event log. If the filename ends in ".dat", the log is created as a variable-length consecutive file with 1037-byte records.
  • You can mask APPX_USAGE_LOG with APPX_USAGE_BITS, setting it to any combination of the following hex values:
 00000001 (dec 1) - logs process begin and end (OS process ID, application ID, version, database, process type, and process name) 00000002 (dec 2) - log CASSERT's 00000004 (dec 4) - currently unused 00000008 (dec 8) - currently unused 00000010 (dec 16) - log CANCEL, ERROR, WARNING, and MESSAGE statements 00000020 (dec 32) - log ERROR, WARNING, and MESSAGE statements 00000040 (dec 64) - log WARNING and MESSAGE statements 00000080 (dec 128) - log MESSAGE statements 00000100 (dec 256) - log TRACE messages 80000000 - log date and time of process execution 
  • For example: APPX_USAGE_BITS=0x00000001 would log only processes begin and end. APPX_USAGE_BITS=0x80000103 would log the process begin and end, the date and time execution started and ended, and and CASSERTs (01 + 02 + 100 = 103).
  • These are hex values so 00000040+00000080 is not 00000120, it is 000000c0 (decimal 192).
  • The first record written for each session contains the time, OS process ID, and user name.
  • If APPX_USAGE_BITS is not set, then APPX_USAGE_LOG logs all of the above events.
  • Log file types other than AppxIO are *not* multi-user safe. You should only use .dat files for USAGE logs. When you log to a .dat file, the file will always reside in the 0SA data directory and you should not include a directory (or drive name) in the environment variable.

Other

PDF form type in Disposition

  • Form definition in System Administration now supports selection of text or PDF as a form type. This is a new field. Appx assumed a form type of text in prior releases

Security

Query fails if 0SA USER SYS ID reference - ECR Number 6878

  • 0SA USER SYS ID had a damaged data-lookup definition that threw off the Query processor, when it was used in a Query.

Application Design

0LA (---) Application

New subroutine - CLEAR PASS LIST

New subroutine - DELETE MODE BUTTONS

New subroutine - DELETE SCROLL BUTTONS

Data Dictionary

FLEP can now be compiled within design

Phantom DL indicator fixed

Debugging

Restore cursor pos after ILF debugger - ECR Number 6853

General

Default mode in application design changed

GUI Application Design

All design utilities are now GUI - ECR Number 6834

Named Resources available across applications

Override OPTION for optional children

ILF Editor

Additional help documentation

Auto-change appl ID to --- when approp. - ECR Number 6104

Completion of ILF editor field names

 SET TAR CUSTOMER N

and you press F5 (Next Record), the ILF editor will change it to:

 SET TAR CUSTOMER NAME

press F5 again and it becomes:

 SET TAR CUSTOMER NUMBER

just press F5 until you see the value you want. Gone too far? Press F4 (Previous Activity) to go back.

Cursor position corrected after Help - ECR Number 5834

Errors now cause beep

File name now validated for RESTORE stmt - ECR Number 6115

ILF Editor crash fixed - ECR Number 6882

Invalid fields allowed in ILF statements

New Cut, Copy, & Paste capabilities - ECR Number 6747

SCAN ability enhanced in ILF Editor

SCAN in ILF on field and file names

SCAN on ILF commands lists all commands - ECR Number 5318

Statement validation has been improved - ECR Number 6849

XCOPY now works for locked applications - ECR Number 4630

ILF Statements

--- STREAM i/o routines enhanced

CNV PORT - New Statement

CNV TEXT - T/F result flag corrected - ECR Number 6535

IF DIFF - New Statement - ECR Number 6506

 ----- IF DIFF --- ---------------------- --- -------- (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 1 - T/F flags 2 - Application ID 3 - Field or Record Name 4 - Occurrence Number 5 - Comparison Type (STORE, DEFAULT, or ORIGINAL) 
 COMPARE FIELD NAME X(22) (Primary key) COMPARE DESCRIPTION X(30) COMPARE CURRENT VALUE X(80) COMPARE OTHER VALUE X(80) COMPARE OFFSET 9(5) COMPARE LENGTH 9(5) 
    1. Any process that has a PCF can compare to the original-record buffer.
    2. Since file-level event points have a PCF, they can compare to the original-record buffer.
    3. The original-record buffer is now shared between the file-level event points and the foreground process. This change was necessary to fix a bug in the current implementation of file-level event points. Prior to this change, you could modify a record in the file-level Post Read event point and the foreground input process would not notice that the record had changed.
    4. Here is a short description of how the original-record buffer is managed:
      1. In Add mode, the default-record buffer is copied to the original-record buffer just before the Set Default Values event point
      2. In Inquire, Delete, or Change mode, the original-record buffer is copied from disk just before the Post PCF Read event point
      3. For file-level event points, the original-record buffer is copied from disk just before the Post PCF Read event point
      4. In Change mode, the current-record is copied to the original-record buffer just before the Post PCF Update event point
      5. In Add mode, the current-record is copied to the original-record buffer just before the Post PCF Update event point
      6. For process types other than Input, Appx never updates the PCF automatically, so rules d and e only apply to Input processes
    5. For file-level event points, each stream maintains its own original-record buffer
    6. For release 4.2, we will only keep an original-record buffer for PCF files - we may change this restriction in a future release.
    7. You can scan for the comparison type in the ILF editor

LOCAL - New Statement - ECR Number 6105

RESTORE - New option: ORIGINAL

Image Editor

GUI Windows properties accessible from Image Editor toolbar and pull-down

WIDGET cut, copy, paste loses micro adj - ECR Number 6846

Input Process Design

Add, Delete, Change widgets at runtime - ECR Number 5442

Display Only flag unexpectedly changes - ECR Number 6871

Generate Column Headings

New --- PDF – CURSOR AT FIELD

Toolbar now defined in hookable process - ECR Number 6246

Widget state is now context sensitive - ECR Number 6252

Widgets erroneously deleted - ECR Number 6759

Menu Process Design

Menu image editor mode problem fixed

New 0-App for runtime routines

0LA Runtime processes can now be copied - ECR Number 6778

Output Process Design

GUI Output can now be designed - ECR Number 6819

GUI Output can now be printed (PDF) - ECR Number 6819

Opt 6 on Output Image Editor fixed

Query Process Design

Wrong event points loaded for editing

Tech Doc

Can now be printed within Process Design

Printed Tech Doc for widgets & Resources - ECR Number 6431

Utilities

Added new Design Compare Utility - ECR Number 6449

Added new Export/Import util for Design - ECR Number 6450

Change All References will process data - ECR Number 6318

Gen rpt: Date fields no longer autototal - ECR Number 5646

New utility to locate misplaced widgets

Xcopy and Design Transfer on locked appl - ECR Number 4630

Database Management

Recover Utility

Recover fails on files larger than 2GB - ECR Number 6890

  • The Recover utility no longer fails on files greater than 2 Gigabytes. The Recover utility has been incorporated into the Appx engine on all platforms. It can be invoked by executing appx -recover. The format of the command is the same, appx -recover old_filename new_filename deleted_filename.

Restructure Utility

Can't restructure 2,000 byte records - ECR Number 6749

  • Prior to 4.2, restructuring a file containing records with an original length an even multiple of 1000 bytes, would fail with an "Invalid Prototype Record Length" error.

Failed restructure causes other problems - ECR Number 4570

  • When Restructures failed for some reason, subsequent Restructures could fail with errors like "Element file write - error already on file". Failed Restructures now cleanup after themselves more thoroughly.

FMS Interfaces

Oracle

Oracle 9i is now supported

  • APPX 4.2.0 has been successfully tested with Oracle 9i (9.2.0).
  • The APPX 4.2 engine (appx.oracle) has been dynamically linked with the Oracle 9i client software. The Oracle 9i client library (libclntsh.so.9.0) must be installed and accessible on the APPX server.

C-ISAM/DISAM

DISAM96 Version 6.12 is now supported

  • The APPX C-ISAM interface has been replaced with a new D-ISAM interface. D-ISAM should be fully compatible with existing C-ISAM files.

My SQL

Various issues - ECR Number 6898

  • Various issues relating to storing APPX data in a MySQL data source have been corrected.
  • The MySQL ODBC driver, called MyODBC, comes in two versions. You must use MyODNC 3.51 or later. Earlier verison had serious bugs.
  • The MyODBC driver erroneously reports some non-numeric data tyeps as being "unsigned" - Appx won't use unsigned data types when it creates a tablein an ODBC database. We have fixed this so that Appx ignores the signedness of non-numeric types.
  • MySQL supports the following temporal data types: TIMESTAMP, DATE, TIME, DATETIME, and YEAR. The DATE type will hold CC through DD (century through day). The TIME type will hold hh through ss (hours through seconds). The DATATIME type will holdCC through ss (century through seconds). The YEAR type will hold YY values.
  • TIMESTAMP colums can hold a variety of date component ranges: TIMSTAMP and TIMSTAMP(14) columns can hold CC-th (century through hundredths of a second). TIMSTAMP(12) will hold YY-ss, but appears to hold CC-ss because the MyODBC driver will synthesize the century component. TIMESTAMP(8) will hold CC.

Other

Error reporting in RDBMS improved

  • We've improved the handling of error messages in our database interfaces (Oracle, ODBC, DB2) so that, if something goes wrong, you should see a meaningful message.

Native FMS interfaces consolidated

  • With release 4.2, we're consolidating some of our FMS interfaces. We will be dropping direct support for Sybase and Vision, but we will continue to support those databases through ODBC (you'll need to acquire an appropriate ODBC driver). The old interfaces for Sybase and Vision will still be available for a while but are no longer "officially" supported.

APPX GUI Client

APPX Client Login Dialog Window

New startup sequence

    1. Startup graphic with version is displayed
    2. APPX Client Login dialog window is presented
    3. After the Connect button is clicked, the APPX Client window is opened

Options tab - "Advanced" button added - ECR Number 6817

Options tab - New "GUI Looks" available

Client Preferences/Command Line Options

Command line overrides saved properties

New Client Properties Window

User Client Preferences Now Saved

Runtime Environment

Desktop Client now uses Sun Java 1.4 VM

Reportwriter (SQL)

Report Design

Appx Report Writer revamped

  • All reported bugs in the Appx Report Writer have been fixed as of release 4.2


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Topic revision: 08 Oct 2026, AdminUser
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