View source for Programming Language for Business

{{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,<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
| implementations = DB/C DX, DATABUS, and PL/B
| dialects = 
| influenced_by = [[COBOL]]
| 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 -->
}}

'''Programming Language for Business''' or '''PL/B''' is a business-oriented [[Programming language|programming language]] originally called '''DATABUS''' and designed by [[Company:Datapoint|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 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 [[Social:Trademark|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 .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 [[Engineering:DOS|DOS]], [[Software:Unix|Unix]], [[Software:Linux|Linux]], and [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]] [[Operating system|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.

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, as well as ODBC, [[SQL]], [[Software: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 [[JSON]] 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 COM, DLL's and .NET assemblies. Full access to the .NET framework is built into many versions.

Several implementations of the language are capable of running as an Application Server like Citrix, and connecting to remote databases through a data manager.

== Source code example ==

         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

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [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]

{{Major programming languages}}
{{ISO standards}}

[[Category:Procedural programming languages]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:Structured programming languages]]

{{Sourceattribution|Programming Language for Business}}