QR provides two static methods that encode your input into a QR code image. One method returns a binary field containing a PNG image of the QR code. The other method generates a PNG file as output at a specified path.
TCPTalk lets you run Omnis as an HTTP server, eliminating the need for cgi middlemen. Good for implementing other protocols like POP, SMTP, IMAP... It can be used for Omnis-to-Omnis communications, too. One Omnis library can listen for requests from other libraries and respond in whatever fashion. New in version 3 are commands to scan for and to publish Bonjour services, making it possible to talk to custom applications on iOS devices. UDP support has also been added.
The ImageBox component gives you a scrolling display of a list of images. You can adjust the aspect ratio, add labels, and choose between vertical and horizontal orientation. Several properties are available to control label size and coloring, as well as frame margins, sizes, shape and color. It also gives you a static method for obtaining thumbnail versions of images.
The Dragster component gives you horizontal and vertical splitter controls, letting you dynamically resize and reposition window objects. It also gives you a way to respond dynamically during window resizing.
With the LightsOut extended commands and event handler, you can schedule up to ten different procedures to be called at specified times or intervals. Originally conceived to kick users off the datafile prior to nightly backups, it can be used for lots of other things in place of timer procedures. Version 2.1 added a new command to fetch a list of scheduled procedures, increases the maximum number of scheduled procedures from ten to twenty, and provides a way to increase timer resolution on Windows to allow shorter intervals between calls - it still defaults to a 5-second resolution but can be reduced to as little as .25 seconds - Macs get time even more frequently. Version 2.2 added the ability to assign priority levels to the timers for selective blocking.
StringList flattens a list into a character field for exporting, and un-flattens the char field later, parsing it back into the list. It's also useful for importing a tab- or comma-delimited file into a list, and for turning a list into a fomatted/delimited text file.
The StringJockey external adds 38 functions to the Omnis language for doing all kinds of string parsing and manipulation, base64 encoding, and decoding, checksumming, producing MD5 digests, doing blowfish encryption, and more.
ExpandTags is a good tool for merging data with templates, HTML or otherwise. Templates can use any tagging convention you want, and the tagged data can include field names, methods to call, keywords to be mapped to field contents, calculations and notation expressions. One call to DoSubstitutions will return the expanded text, having merged field data, method results, etc. in place of the tagged elements.
With the 4SightTalk v2.0 extended commands, you can create and send faxes to a 4-Sight Fax v7 server, and check on their status to verify that they have been sent, or discover the reasons for their rejection. Version 2.0 adds compatibility with Studio 4.2 IntelMac universal binaries, and removes compatibility with 4-Sight Fax v6 and v5 servers (4SightTalk v1.1 is still available for those, but without the universal binary).
With the 4SightTalk v1.1 extended commands, you can create and send faxes to a 4-Sight Fax v5 or v6 server, and check on their status to verify that they have been sent, or discover the reasons for their rejection. V6 servers allow email addresses to be used as recipients.
With the ParseFile extended commands, you can import any kind of file, tab-delimited, comma-delimited, fixed length, DBF, and more. You can define the structure of one line of the file, and then import each line into a set of fields with one command, ready for insertion.
With the ExecuteScript extended commands, you can compile and execute AppleScripts in your Omnis 7 procedures or Studio methods, you can store the compiled scripts in binary fields for faster repeated execution, and you can parse complex results returned by the executed scripts.
With the CTBPorts extended commands, you can overcome the limits on using only the modem or printer port with the Omnis serial commands. CTBPorts shows you all the serial ports added through the CommToolbox, and you can redirect the modem or printer port to any other equipped port. Useful with serial port expander cards, USB adaptors, etc.
With the OmDex external area for Omnis 7, you can implement lookup lists which load very quickly at startup time, without hitting the datafile. There are commands and functions to access any data in the list, and to keep it up-to-date in a multi-user environment.
With the GeoDraw external you can generate graphics on the fly in an Omnis picture field. It adds commands for drawing lines, shapes or text. You can also direct the output to a PICT file on Mac, or to a BMP file on Windows. Markup of existing images works better on Mac than Windows, I'm still working on that...
The OmnisTWAIN external adds commands to Omnis for acquiring images from TWAIN-compliant scanners and cameras. You can select a data source, get and set the different capability settings supported by the device, and scan into a picture field, or into a file (default is PICT on Mac, BMP on Windows; if the device supports the IMAGEFILEFORMAT capability setting, other formats like JPG and TIFF are possible).
