Programming Language for Business: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox programming language

| name = Programming Language for Business

| logo = =

| paradigm = [[Procedural programming|Procedural]], [[imperative programming|imperative]]

| year = 1972

| designers =

| developers =

| latest release version =

| latest release date =

| typing = [[strong typing|Strong]],<ref name="infopro">{{cite web | url=http://www.sysmaker.com/infopro/plb.htm | title=Programming Language for Business | publisher=sysmaker.com | accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref> [[static typing|static]]

| implementations = DB/C DX, DATABUS, and PL/B

| dialects =

| influenced_by = [[COBOL]], [[Java]] and [[Visual Basic]]

| influenced =

| file_ext = <code>.rl</code>, <code>.ps</code>, <code>.cb</code>, <code>.pls</code>, <code>.pgm</code>

<!--| wikibooks = Programming Language for Business --><!-- No page in wikibooks as of 2023-0802 -->

| wikibooks = Programming Language for Business

}}

'''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">{{cite web | url=http://www.sysmaker.com/infopro/x3j15/ | title=J15 - Programming Language PL/B | publisher=sysmaker.com | accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref> as an alternative to [[COBOL]] because Datapoint's [[8-bit computer]]s 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 [[American National Standards Institute|ANSI]] standard, and the name PL/B came about when Datapoint refusedchose not to release its [[trademark]] on the DATABUS name.<ref name="dbc">{{cite web | url=https://www.dbcsoftware.com/dbcov.html | title=DB/C DX, DATABUS, and PL/B Overview | publisher=DBC Software | accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="mmc">{{cite web | url=http://www.mmcctech.com/pl-b/plb-0100.htm | title=ANSI Standard PL/B | publisher=mmcctech.com | accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref>

== Functionality ==

Much like [[Java (programming language)|Java]] and [[Microsoft .NET|.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 [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[operating system]]s.<ref name="sunbelt">{{cite web | url=http://www.sunbelt-plb.com/show.php?Page=aboutplb.shtml | title=About PL/B | publisher=Sunbelt Computer Systems, Inc. | accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref> The PL/B development environments are influenced by Java and [[Visual Basic]], and offer many of the same features found in those languages. PL/B (Databus) is actively used all over the world, and has several forums on the Internet dedicated to supporting software developers.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Since its inception, PL/B has been enhanced and adapted to keep it modernized and able to access various data sources. It 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 Database|Oracle]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=SQL Instructions |url=https://sunbelt-plb.com/help/htm/plb/sql_overview.htm |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=sunbelt-plb.com}}</ref> sequential, random access, [[XML]] and [[XMLJSON]] files.<ref>{{Cite web |title=XDATA |url=https://sunbelt-plb.com/help/htm/plb/xdata.htm |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=sunbelt-plb.com}}</ref>

All the constructs of modern programming languages have been incrementally added to the language. PL/B also has the ability to access external routines through [[Component Object Model|COM objects]], DLL's[[Dynamic-link library|DLLs]] and [[Microsoft .NET|.NET]] assemblies. Full access to the [[Microsoft .NET|.NET]] framework is built into many versions.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Several implementations of the language are capable of running as an Application Server like [[Citrix]], and connecting to remote databases through a data manager.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

== Source Codecode Exampleexample ==

[http://brdata.com/ BR Data] is one company using PL/B in their products.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

== Source Code Example ==

IF (DF_EDIT[ITEM] = "PHYS")

Line 58 ⟶ 56:

CLEAR THIS_FILTER

ENDIF

</code>

== References ==

{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

{{Portal|Computer programming|Software}}

* [http://www.sunbelt-plb.com Sunbelt implementation of PL/B]

* [http://www.sysmaker.com/infopro/x3j15 ANSI PL/B Standards Committee]

* [http://www.mmcctech.com/pl-b/plb-0010.htm MMCC PL/B programming notebook]

* [http://www.dbcsoftware.com/dbcov.html DB/C DX, DATABUS, and PL/B Overview]

* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/datapoint/software/50004_databusSimpUG_Feb76.pdf Databus Simplified User Guide]

== References ==

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Major programming languages}}

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[[Category:Procedural programming languages]]

[[Category:Programming languages created in the 1970s]]

[[Category:Cross-platform software]]

[[Category:Programming languages created in 1972]]

[[Category:Structured programming languages]]