Template:Infobox programming language
Programming Language for Business or PL/B is a business-oriented programming language originally called DATABUS and designed by Datapoint in 1972<ref name="sysmaker">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> as an alternative to COBOL because Datapoint's 8-bit computers could not fit COBOL into their limited memory, and because COBOL did not at the time have facilities to deal with Datapoint's built-in keyboard and screen.
A version of DATABUS became an ANSI standard, and the name PL/B came about when Datapoint chose not to release its trademark on the DATABUS name.<ref name="dbc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="mmc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FunctionalityEdit
Much like Java and .NET, PL/B programs are compiled into an intermediate byte-code, which is then interpreted by a runtime library. Because of this, many PL/B programs can run on DOS, Unix, Linux, and Windows operating systems.<ref name="sunbelt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> PL/B (Databus) is actively used all over the world, and has several forums on the Internet dedicated to supporting software developers.Template:Cn
PL/B has a database capability built-in with ISAM and Associative Hashed Indexes,<ref name="sunbelt" /> as well as functionality for working with ODBC, SQL, Oracle,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> sequential, random access, XML and JSON files.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
PL/B also has the ability to access external routines through COM objects, DLLs and .NET assemblies. Full access to the .NET framework is built into many versions.Template:Cn
Several implementations of the language are capable of running as an Application Server like Citrix, and connecting to remote databases through a data manager.Template:Cn
Source code exampleEdit
IF (DF_EDIT[ITEM] = "PHYS")
STATESAVE MYSTATE
IF (C_F07B != 2)
DISPLAY *SETSWALL 1:1:1:80:
*BGCOLOR=2,*COLOR=15:
*P49:1," 7-Find "
ELSE
DISPLAY *SETSWALL 1:1:1:80:
*BGCOLOR=7,*COLOR=0:
*P49:1," 7-Find "
ENDIF
STATEREST MYSTATE
TRAP GET_PRO NORESET IF F7
ENDIF
IF (SHOW_FILTER AND THIS_FILTER AND C_CUSTNO <> "MAG")
LOADMOD "filter"
PACK PASS_ID WITH "QED ",QED_ID1,BLANKS
MOVE " FILTER DISPLAY (F6) " TO PASS_DESC
SET C_BIGFLT
CALL RUN_FILT USING PASS_ID,PASS_DESC,"432"
UNLOAD "filter"
CLEAR THIS_FILTER
ENDIF