Valence 2.1.20100301.0

[richard.milone]

About this Release:

This is the first general release of Valence 2.1. Please read this entire post before installing. Existing customers running Valence 2.0 can install this version and migrate using the provided conversion tool (see Migrating to Valence 2.1 from Valence 2.0 below). Existing customers running Valence 1.X should contact CNX at support@cnxcorp.com for information and guidance on upgrading to version 2.1. Visit the Valence Store to download version 2.1 under the free Community Developer License or to purchase a Professional Developer License. See the Licensing page and the FAQ page for information on the current Valence licensing methods.

Version: 2.1.20100301.0

Release Date: 2010-03-01

New Features:

• Valence Portal Language Translations – One of the best new features in this release is the ability to operate the Valence Portal in multiple languages. The Valence Portal has been professionally translated and now operates in a total of eight languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Russian and Spanish. You can also easily provide your own translation files for any other language you wish to support in the portal. Users can select a language at login and most portal pages and administration programs will show screen literals and error messages in that language.
• Unicode UTF16 and UCS2 Support – Works with Graphic character fields in your DB2 database using CCSID 1200 and/or 13488. Allows for applications that can display multiple languages on the same page and even multiple languages in the same field.
• File Maintenance AutoCode – Useful new file maintenance AutoCode feature lets you create file maintenance apps in seconds. Features include add/update/delete as well as basic grid inquiry. Resulting code generated is highly readable and maintainable.
• Error Management – RPG errors are automatically logged in a special incident file. And a new "Errors" portal administration program lets you review errors and set up rules to send emails or take other actions when particular errors are encountered..
• Updated front‐end Ext JS framework – Updated to Ext JS 3.1.0 from 3.0.0.
• New examples - "New Simple Form - ML" example provides developers with an example of how to create multilingual applications with Valence. Also new examples for dynamic JavaScript generation within your RPG programs.
• Other Valence Portal Enhancements – Language translations can be easily maintained within the appropriate portal administration program for environments, program options and navigation tree folders so users will see these displayed in their selected language.
• Improved Array Handling – Move JavaScript array data into an equivalent RPG array. This is helpful when saving an entire tree or grid at once.
• Valence Settings – Many settings previously maintained in the Apache server instance configuration are now moved to file VVVSQ100, with the new Settings administration program used to edit many of these conveniently from the portal.
• New Exit Program Capability – Add custom exit programs to coincide with users logging in, logging out and calling back-end programs.

Licensing Changes:

• See the Licensing page and the FAQ page for a description of the current Valence licensing methods.

System Requirements:

• Any hardware running the IBM i operating system V5R4 or higher. Existing customers on previous versions of Valence at V5R3 will not be able to upgrade to this version until they are at V5R4 or higher.
• A personal computer running Windows XP/Vista/7, MacOSX or Linux (for installation only).
• A compatible browser on client computers. This version of Valence has been tested with Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3.6 and Safari 4.0. Google Chrome is also very likely to work fine, but we do not currently QA test Valence with Chrome.
• If you would like to use the PDF and/or Email capabilities of Valence then you need 5722JV1 *BASE and option 6, Java Developer Kit 1.4. This is installed on most systems by default. After installing this version of Valence, just try to run the PDF and email examples. If they work then you know for certain your system has the correct configuration. Note that even though Java is required, you do not need to know or use Java to develop PDFs or send emails with Valence. You will use the Valence RPG Toolkit procedures, which use certain Java functions behind the scenes.

Migrating to Valence 2.1 from Valence 2.0:

Valence 2.1 will install into library VALENCE21 and ifs path /valence-2.1 so it will have no effect on your current VALENCE20 or /valence-2.0 installation. Once Valence 2.1 is successfully installed, call program VVCNV21 from a green screen session and follow the prompts to migrate select data from your Valence 2.0 installation.

If you need assistance with installing this release please email support@cnxcorp.com.