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Functionality: Minor copy editing

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

}}

'''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 chose 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 [[MS-DOS]], [[Unix]], [[Linux]], and [[Windows]].<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> 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}}

PL/B 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 [[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>

PL/B also has the ability to access external routines through [[Component Object Model|COM objects]], [[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 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 ==
{{Portal|Computer programming}}
* [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:Programming languages created in 1972]]
[[Category:Structured programming languages]]

Programming Language for Business - Revision history

imported>Dgpop: /* Functionality */Minor copy editing