What's new in EGL 6.0.0.1

Version 6.0.0.1 includes the following changes:
  • The EGL form editor provides a graphical user interface for creating text and print forms.
  • Target environments include HP-UX and Solaris. EGL provides 32- and 64-bit support for those platforms and has added 64-bit support for AIX®.
  • The EGL debugger has the following changes:
    • Allows you to debug consoleUI-based applications
    • Allows use of an EBCDIC code page to represent character and numeric data during a debugging session
  • The language is more flexible:
    • The system variables SysVar.sqlCode and SysVar.sqlState are modifiable
    • Array subscripts and substring indexes can include numeric expressions, as long as those expressions do not include functions
    • Any function that returns a value can be invoked from within a numeric, text, or logical expression, if the type of the return value is valid in the expression
    • Any function that returns a value can be used as an argument to a function parameter that has the modifier in, if the return value and parameter types are assignment compatible
    • Any EGL system variable can be passed as an argument to any function parameter that has the modifier in, if the argument and parameter types are assignment compatible
    • Any modifiable EGL system variable can be passed as an argument to a function parameter that has the modifier out (if the argument and parameter types are assignment compatible) or inOut (if the argument and parameter types are reference compatible)
  • Documentation now identifies the access modifier (in, out, or inOut) for every parameter in every EGL system function; and describes reference and assignment compatibility
  • New system functions are available:
    • MathLib.stringAsDecimal accepts a character value (like "98.6") and returns the equivalent value of type DECIMAL.
    • MathLib.stringAsFloat accepts a character value (like "98.6") and returns the equivalent value of type FLOAT.
    • MathLib.stringAsInt accepts a character value (like "98") and returns the equivalent value of type BIGINT.
    • SysLib.conditionAsIntaccepts a logical expression (like myVar == 6) , returning a 1 if the expression is true, a 0 if the expression is false.
    • SysLib.startLog opens an error log. Text is written into that log every time your program invokes SysLib.errorLog.
    • SysLib.errorLog copies text into the error log that was started by the system function SysLib.startLog
    • New functions support consoleUI--
      • ConsoleLib.currentArrayCount returns the number of elements in the dynamic array that is associated with the current active form
      • ConsoleLib.setCurrentArrayCount specifies how many rows exist in a dynamic array that is bound to an on-screen arrayDictionary
      • ConsoleLib.hideAllMenuItems hides all menuItems in the currently displayed menu
      • ConsoleLib.showAllMenuItems shows all menuItems in the currently displayed menu
  • The Informix® 4GL conversion tool is included with the product
  • The VAGen migration tool has changes that allow for a more efficient migration

Related concepts
Sources of additional information on EGL

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