Compatibility with Visual Basic

While we have attempted to support every VB feature, a few are not supported, generally due to limitations inherent in Java itself. There are also a very few known bugs that we are working on. These known bugs should be resolved in the near future and will be implemented in a future release.

Visual Basic file formats supported by IB4J
Windows API
Objects
Unsupported Features

Visual Basic file formats supported by IB4J

In IB4J, you can save and load entire projects, as well as specific form, standard, and class modules. You cannot, however, save and load the associated resource file. IB4J automatically uses the extension .VBP for projects, .FRM for form modules, .BAS for standard modules, and .CLS for class modules.

File Type Visual Basic IB4J
Project File (.VBP) Yes Yes
Form Module (.FRM) Yes Yes
Standard Module (.BAS) Yes Yes
Class Module (.CLS) Yes Yes
Resource File (.RES) Yes No

Windows API

In IB4J, you can call all Windows API's and the user-defined API with the declare statement.

The usage is:

Usage 1
Declare Sub globalname Lib "libname" [Alias "aliasname" ][([argumentlist])]

Usage 2
Declare Function globalname Lib libname [Alias aliasname ] [([argumentlist])] [As type]

Objects

App

The App object is a global object accessed with the App keyword. It determines or specifies information about the application's title, the path and name of its executable and Help files, and whether or not there is a previous instance of the application running. The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
hInstance
Java limitation
Java limitation
OLERequestPendingMsgText
"
"
OLERequestPendingMsgTitle
"
"
OLERequestPendingTimeout
"
"
OLEServerBusyMsgText
"
"
OLEServerBusyMsgTitle
"
"
OLEServerBusyRaiseError
"
"
OLEServerBusyTimeout
"
"
PrevInstance
"
"
ProductName
"
"

Clipboard

The Clipboard object is accessed with the keyword Clipboard, and is used to manipulate text and graphics on the Clipboard. You can use this object to enable a user to copy, cut, and paste text or graphics in your application.

Know Problem:
We can not support to get graphics data from system clipboard.

Err

Contains information about run-time errors. The following table lists the unsupported properties:

Property Method Others
HelpContext
Java limitation
Java limitation
HelpFile
"
"
LastDLLError
"
"
Source
"
"

Picture

The Picture object enables you to manipulate Gif images assigned to objects having a Picture property.The following table lists the unsupported properties:

Property Method Others
Handle Render
Java limitation
hPal
Java limitation
"

Screen

The Screen object is accessed with the keyword Screen. The following table lists the unsupported properties:

Property Method Others
ActiveControl
Java limitation
Java limitation
ActiveForm
"
"
MouseIcon
"
"
MousePointer
"
"

DBEngine

The DBEngine object represents the database engine. As the top-level object, it contains and controls all other objects in the hierarchy of data access objects.

The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
SystemDB CompactDatabase
Java limitation
Java limitation Idle
"
Java limitation RegisterDatabase
"
Java limitation RepairDatabase
"

Workspace

A Workspace object defines a session for a user. It contains open databases and provides mechanisms for simultaneous transactions and for a secure workgroup.The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
Java limitation CreateDatabase Java limitation
Java limitation CreateGroup Java limitation
Java limitation CreateUser Java limitation
Java limitation RepairDatabase Java limitation

Database

A Database object represents an open database. The following table lists the unsupported properties, methods:

Property Method Others
VlxNullBehavior CreateRelation Java limitation
Java limitation MakeReplica Java limitation
Java limitation Synchronize Java limitation

Recordsest

A Recordset object represents the record in a base table or the records that result from running a query.The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
cachSize canceUpdate Java limitation
cachStart CopyQueryDef Java limitation
DateCreated FillCache Java limitation
LastUpdated GetRows Java limitation
LockEdits Requery Java limitation
Restartable Seek Java limitation
ValidationRule Java limitation Java limitation
ValidationText Java limitation Java limitation

TableDef

A TableDef object represents the stored definition of a base table or an attached table. The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Event
conflictTable RefreshLink Java limitation
DateCreated Java limitation Java limitation
LastUpdated Java limitation Java limitation
validationRule Java limitation Java limitation
validationText Java limitation Java limitation

Field

A Field object represents a column of data with a common data type and a common set of properties.The following table lists the unsupported properties, methods:

Property Method Others
AllowZeroLength Java limitation Java limitation
DataUpdatable Java limitation Java limitation
DefaultValue Java limitation Java limitation
ForeignName Java limitation Java limitation
Required Java limitation Java limitation
ValidateOnSet Java limitation Java limitation
ValidationRule Java limitation Java limitation
ValidationText Java limitation Java limitation

Index

Index objects specify the order of records accessed from database tables and whether or not duplicate records are accepted. Index objects also provide efficient access to data. For external databases, Index objects describe the indexes established for external tables. The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
Clustered Java limitation Java limitation
Foreign Java limitation Java limitation
IgnoreNulls Java limitation Java limitation
Required Java limitation Java limitation

Error

Error object contains details about data access errors. The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
HelpContext Java limitation Java limitation
HelpFile Java limitation Java limitation

Property Collection(Data Access)

A Property collection contains all the Property objects for a specific instance of an object. The following table lists the unsupported properties and methods:

Property Method Others
Append Java limitation Java limitation
Delete Java limitation Java limitation

The following table lists the unsupported Objects:

Object Name
Application Object (Add-in)
SelectedComponents(Add-in)
Component Object (Add-in)
Components Collection (Add-in)
ControlTemplate Object (Add-in)
ControlTemplates Collection (Add-in)
MenuLine Object (Add-in)
FormTemplate Object (Add-in)
MenuItems Collection (Add-in)
Property Collection(Add-in)
Property Object (Add-in)
SelectedControlTemplates (Add-in)
SubMenu Object (Add-in)
Debug Object
Printers Collection
Containers Collection(DAO)
Container Object (DAO)
Groups Collection (DAO)
Group Object(DAO)
Users Collection(DAO)
User Object(DAO)
QueryDefs Collection
Querydef Object(DAO)
Paramters Collection(DAO)
Paramter Object(DAO)
Relations Collection(DAO)
Relation Object(DAO)

Unsupported Functions

We have separated the unsupported functions into three groups:

Known bugs. Proof that noone's perfect. We are aware of these bugs and are working on them. These functions will all be functional in the near future.

JDK issues. These functions are limited due to the limitations of Java itself. As a result, these functions are not supported, but in some instances we may be able to design a workaround.

Partially supported controls. These controls are partially supported, due to various reasons. We have provided a list of each control along with the reason for the unsupported function. We are working hard to make sure these functions are fully supported in the next version of Instant Basic for Java (unless noted as a Java limitation; we may not be able to support these).

Known bugs
Features listed here are known bugs that we are currently working on.

Function Unsupported item
Property AllowCustomize
Method Customize
RestoreToolbar
Java issues
The following list consists of features not supported by Java and and therefore are unsupported by Instant Basic for Java.

Function Unsupported item Comments
Property ClipControls
Java limitation
ClipMode
"
ClipText
"
DefaultExt
"
DragIcon
"
DragMode
"
DrawMode
"
ExtractIcon
"
Filter
"
FilterIndex
"
FontTransparent
"
GridlineWidth
"
hDC
"
HelpCommand
"
HelpContextID
"
HelpKey
"
HImageList
"
hWnd
"
LinkItem
"
LinkMode
"
LinkRequest
"
LinkTimeout
"
LinkTopic
"
MaxButton
"
MDIChild
"
MinButton
"
MouseIcon
"
NegotiateMenus
"
NegotiatePosition
"
OLEDragMode
"
OLEDropMode
"
Palette
"
PaletteMode
"
PrinterDefault
"
RightToLeft
"
ShortCut
"
ShowInTaskbar
"
UseMaskColor
"
WhatsThisButton
"
WhatsThisHelp
"
WhatsThisHelpID
"
WindowList
"
WindowState
"
Method Drag
"
DragDrop
"
LinkClose
"
LinkError
"
LinkExecute
"
LinkNotify
"
LinkOpen
"
LinkPoke
"
LinkRequest
"
LinkSend
"
OLEDrag
"
Point
"
PopupMenu
"
ScaleX
"
ScaleY
"
ShowWhatsThis
"
Event DragDrop
"
DragOver
"
LinkClose
"
LinkError
"
LinkNotify
"
LinkOpen
"
OLECompleteDrag
"
OLEDragDrop
"
OLEDragOver
"
OLEGiveFeedback
"
OLESetData
"
OLESetStartDrag
"
OLEStartDrag
"

The following controls have partially supported functions. We have provided a list of each unsupported function, along with a reason for its lack of functionality.

Partially supported controls
Text Box
Command Button
Check Box
Option Box
Combo Box
File List Box
Common Dialog
Menu
MaskEdit
Slider
Form
TabStrip
ImageList
TreeView
ToolBar
Text Box
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property Alignment
Java limitation
FontStrikeThru
"
TabStop
"
TabIndex
"
Command Button
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DisablePicture
Java limitation
MaskColor
"
Check Box
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DisablePicture
Java limitation
MaskColor
"
Option Box
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DisablePicture
Java limitation
MaskColor
"
Combo Box
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property Locked
Java limitation
FontUnderline
"
FontStrikeThru
"
TabIndex
"
TabStop
"
TopIndex Known issue; will be implemented in the future
File List Box
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property Archive, Hidden, Normal, System
Java limitation
Hidden
"
Locked
"
Normal
"
ReadOnly
"
System
"
Common Dialog
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DefaultExt
Java limitation
Filter
"
FilterIndex
"
HelpCommand
"
HelpKey
"
No Action but has custom
"
Object Known issue; will be implemented in the future
Menu
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property Checked Known issue; will be implemented in the future
MaskEdit
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DataBinding Known issue; will be implemented in the future
DataChanged
"
DataField
"
FontUnderline
Java limitation
FontStrikeThru
"
TabIndex
"
TabStop
"
Slider
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DataBindings Known issue; will be implemented in the future
Form
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property BorderStyle
Java limitation
ControlBox
"
DrawStyle
"
Method Show
"
WhatsThisMode
"
TabStrip
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property DataBinding Known issue; will be implemented in the future
DataBindings
"
Event BeforeClick
"
ImageList
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property BackColor
Java limitation
MaskColor
"
object.ListImage Method ExtractIcon
"
TreeView
Function Unsupported item Reason
Event AfterLabelEdit Known issue; will be implemented in the future
BeforeLabelEdit
"
ToolBar
Function Unsupported item Reason
Property AllowCustomize Known issue; will be implemented in the future
DataBinding
"
DataBindings
"
Object
"
Method Customize
"
RestoreToolbar
Java limitation
SaveToolbar Known issue; will be implemented in the future

© 1998 Halcyon Software Inc. All rights reserved.
Last Updated:10/13/03 09:54:02 PM