The PowerBuilder Foundation Class Library (PFC) is the combination of reusable & extendible classes and framework. PFC is the first class library that uses the service-oriented classes approach. PFC comes with enterprise PowerBuilder. If you are a PowerBuilder desktop user, you can purchase advanced developers kit in which PFC is included. The following is the list of some PFC features:
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PFC doesn’t use any obsolete functions |
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Takes advantage of version 5.0 syntax (for example, CREATE USING, .OBJECT notation syntax for DataWindow, new syntax of triggering/posting an event/function, Parameterised events, AutoInstantiation, etc) |
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No hierarchical overloading (Till version 5.0, there is no other way of overloading a method without using inheritance. In version 5.0, you can overload a method in the same object level without using inheritance) |
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Unlike some class libraries where you get the executables (PBDs), PFC comes with the source code. |
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Includes extension layers that can be customized. As you know, no class library can meet your exact needs and you have to customize either by modifying some or enhancing some objects. |
PFC is spanned over eight libraries.
| Base Class Libraries | Extension Layer Class Libraries |
| PFCMAIN.PBL: Contains basic services | PFEMAIN.PBL |
| PFCAPSRV.PBL: Application Services | PFEAPSRV.PBL |
| PFCDWSRV.PBL: DataWindow Services | PFEDWSRV.PBL |
| PFCWNSRV.PBL: Window Services | PFEWNSRV.PBL |
There is two more libraries "PFCSECAD.PBL", "PFCSECSC.PBL", that comes with PFC. The first library contains security administration related services and the later contains Security system scanner application. These two libraries have no extension libraries.