E170 How To Successfully Prepare and Pass Your PowerBuilder Certification Exams

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E170How To Successfully Prepare and Pass Your
PowerBuilder Certification Exams
Sam Lakkundi Principal Instructor E-Business
Division lakkundi_at_sybase.com
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Agenda - What we will cover

• Introduction to the exams (General)
• PB - 8 Associate What do I study ?
• PB - 8 Sample questions
• PB - 7 Professional What do I study ?
• PB - 7 Professional Sample questions
• Secrets on the Questions

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Introduction To The Exams
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Class Abstract - Target Audience

• This session is a short discussion on preparing
  for the PB exams.
• The focus on this presentation is the
  PowerBuilder 8 exam
• The student should have at least 8 months of
  experience with PB programming for this associate
  exam.
• Techniques and suggestions for studying for the
  exam will be covered.
• This session as well as our one day class will
  NOT reveal any actual questions that the student
  will encounter on the exam. However, the types of
  questions will be covered.

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Introduction to the exams

• Basic PB Certifications CSP-PB
• PowerBuilder 7 - Sybase Certified Associate
• PowerBuilder 7 - Sybase Certified Professional
• PowerBuilder 8 - Sybase Certified Associate

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Introduction to the exams
Where do I take the exams? Call 1-800-8-SYBASE
choose Education menu or At any Prometric
(800-407-3926) testing center or visit
www.2test.com
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Introduction to the exams
When do I know if I passed? Immediately.
After taking the test, your score is immediately
printed out and also be sent to Sybase for
record keeping. CSP Associate PB 7.0 75
CSP Professional PB 7.0 75 CSP Associate
PB 8.0 70
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Introduction to the exams
What if I fail? The student is allowed to fail
any of the two tests two times. If the student
fails any of the two tests for the second time,
the exam may not be taken again for the period
of three months.
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Introduction to the exams
When do I need to be re-certified? Associate
Every version. Just take the new Associate
exam. Professional Every version. Just take
the new Professional exam.
As of version 7.0 there are no more
migration exams.
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Introduction to the exams

• What are my benefits?
• Industry Recognition
• Use of Logo on business cards
• Official Certificate
• Differentiator for employers and promoters

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Introduction to the exams

• What Does Sybase Certification Offer You?
• Increases your job advancement opportunities
• Provides a standard, tangible way of measuring
  your technical skills
• Provides you with a goal for self-improvement
  and self-development
• To design and implement real-world solutions,
  which will make you valuable to your clients and
  your team

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Introduction to the exams

• How does one prepare for an exam?
• Customer Education Schedules available at
  www.sybase.com/eucation
• Experience with products
• Make sure to go through the study guide in great
  detail
• Practice Exams Available at this conference and
  through e- Shop http//e-shop.sybase.com or
  calling 1-800-8-SYBASE
• Certification preparation class

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Sybase Developer Network (SDN)

• Additional Resources for PowerBuilder Developers
• Single point of access to developer software,
  services, and up-to date technical information
• White papers and documentation
• Collaboration with other developers and
  PowerBuilder engineers
• Code samples and beta programs
• Technical recordings
• Free software
• Join today www.sybase.com/developer or visit
  SDN at TechWaves Technology Boardwalk

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Introduction to the exams
CSP- PB Associate 8.0 Completion of one
multiple choice exam. Exam contains fifty
multiple choice questions. Sample practice can
be downloaded or full practice exams purchased
This exam covers fundamental PB questions
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PB - 8 Associate What do I study ?
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Course Maps
Course Maps PB 8 Associate We recommend
courses Fast Track to PowerBuilder 8.0 or
Moving to PowerBuilder 8.0 Using
DataWindows Advanced PowerBuilder 8.0 Controls
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Introduction to the PB 8 Associate Exam
This exam tests PowerBuilder development skill
at the Associate level. Developers taking this
test should have approximately 8 months to one
year of PowerBuilder development experience, and
demonstrate mastery of concepts taught in the
PowerBuilder 8.0 FastTrack course. Candidates
must also master the concepts and objectives
taught in the following PowerBuilder 8.0 course
DataWindow Objects As a supplement to the
Instructor led courses, candidates may use the
PowerBuilder 8.0 practice exam to prepare.
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What do I study? (PowerBuilder 8 Associate)
1. GUI 2. Relational Database 3. Application
4. Debugger 5. DataWindow 6. Function 7.
Library 8. Menu 9. Pipeline
10. Project 11. Query 12. User Object 13.
Window 14. Controls 15. Object Oriented 16.
Components 17. 4 GL Web DataWindows
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What do I study? (Associate)
1. GUI Understand the use of windows
controls in an application 2. DataWindow
Understand techniques to ensure data
consistency and concurrency using DataWindow
painter options. Identify how to use a
DataWindow button to perform a predefined or
customized functionality. 3. Library Know when
to use a PBD vs. a DLL
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What do I study? (Associate)
4. Menu Know the similarities and differences
between menus and other window controls. 5.
Project Be able to describe the different uses
of the PowerBuilder Projects. 6. User
Object Learn how to include Non-visual objects
in an application. Know how to define user
objects - class and visual. Be ready to describe
benefits of using NVOs.
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What do I study? (Associate)
POWERSCRIPT Most questions from here! 7.
Controls Know the code to manipulate and access
the data contained in PowerBuilder controls.
Know how to use Rich TextEdit controls. Know how
to create a ListView, TabView, RTF and OLE
controls. Know the purpose of Uniform Data
Transfer (UDT). Know the uses of uses for non
visual DataWindows. Know how to automate ActiveX
controls. 8. Pipeline Understand the uses for a
Pipeline, and how to implement one.
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What do I study? (Associate)
POWERSCRIPT 9 a. DataWindows Another highly
tested subject a) Understand uses for non
visual DataWindows. b) Make sure to understand
code involving DataWindow events and functions.
c) Know techniques for manipulating DataWindow
Buffers. d) Know sequence of events when a
DataWindow button is clicked. e) Know how to
debug datawindows. f) Know the techniques
involved in managing transactions and concurrency
in a DataWindow. g) Know how to handle dB
errors involving DataWindows. h) Know which
file types are available when using the SaveAs( )
function on a DataWindow.
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What do I study? (Associate)
POWERSCRIPT (contd.) 9 b. Object Oriented
Another highly tested subject
Know your A.P.I.E. Abstraction Creating a class
from a real world object. Polymorphism Same
interface different implementation. Inheritance U
sing the methods and properties of one class to
create another. Encapsulation Enclosing all
related methods and properties into a single
class.
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PB - 8 Sample Questions
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Sample Questions - Painters and Tools

• The Standard Class User objects that can be
  created to handle errors in script are
• Throwable
• Message
• Exception
• DWRuntimeError
• RunTimeError

Correct Answers A, C E
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Sample Questions - Painters and Tools

• Where is the library list for a PowerScript
  application stored?
• PB.INI
• Windows registry
• Workspace (.PBW)
• Target (.PBT)
• PowerBuilder Library (.PBL)

Correct Answers D
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Sample Questions - PowerScript

• The FindItem() function is used in which of the
  following controls?
• Tab
• Graph
• TreeView
• DataWindow
• HProgressBar

Correct Answers C
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Sample Questions - PowerScript

• Creating a self contained class, defined with its
  own methods and properties where the
  implementation of the class is hidden from other
  classes is called
• Polymorphism
• Encapsulation
• Inheritance
• OverLoading
• Abstraction

Correct Answers B
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Sample Questions - PowerScript

• Which control is used for multiple selections?
• DropDownListBox
• Radio Buttons
• ListBox
• TreeView
• Multilineedit

Correct Answers C
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Sample Questions - PowerScript

• In order to locate the position of the final
  occurrence of the string , in the string
  variable ls_fullname you would use which
  function?
• LastPos()
• Find()
• Pos()
• Left()
• Match()

Correct Answers A
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Sample Questions - Components

• The Concurrency property on an EAServer component
  is synonymous with which of the following terms?
• Instance Pooling
• Thread Safe
• Shared
• Automatic Demarcation
• StateFull

Correct Answers B
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Sample Questions - Components

• What is the distributed architecture standard for
  invoking methods remotely that is both language
  and platform independent?
• IIOP
• DCOM
• HTTP
• Corba
• Java RMI

Correct Answers D
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Sample Questions - 4GL Web Pages

• Which event on a Button placed on a 4GL Web Page
  can be used to execute the DataWindow function
  Update()?
• a. OnClick
• b. AfterAction
• c. ServerAction
• d. FirstTime
• e. OnLoad

Correct Answers C
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Sample Questions - 4GL Web Pages

• Select the correct items from the list that can
  be part of a Web Target.
• Cascading Style Sheet
• User Object
• HTML page
• .GIF file
• DataWindow

Correct Answers A, C D
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Sample Questions - 4GL Web Pages

• A component can be bound to a single line edit of
  a 4GL Web, page if which of the following
  conditions is true
• The component has at least one public instance
  variable.
• The component has at least one public method.
• The component has a method that starts with the
  word set or get.
• The component must be statefull.
• The single line edit must have the same name as
  an instance variable on the component.

Correct Answers D
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PB - 7 Professional What do I Study ?
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Introduction to the examsPowerBuilder 7
Professional
PB 7 Professional The PowerBuilder Professional
Exam will assess whether a PowerBuilder
developer has the knowledge to be in the top of
their field. A developer should have at least
1.5 year of PowerBuilder experience. Also, a
developer should be able to demonstrate
competence in the subjects covered in the
following classes Fast Track to PowerBuilder
7.0, Using the DataWindow, Advanced PowerBuilder
Controls 7.0, and Building Applications using
PowerBuilder and EA Server. A developer should
also be able to implement the objectives outlined
in his document.
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What do I study? (PowerBuilder 7 Professional)
1. Language Techniques 2. User Interface
Techniques 3. Data Access Techniques 4.
Developing Multi-tier Applications 5. DataWindow
6. Internet Techniques 7. General
Techniques 8. Menu 9. Pipeline
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What do I study? (PowerBuilder 7 Professional)

• 1. Language Techniques
• a) Know the different components and
  functionality of scripting tools provided in
  PowerBuilder.
• b) Know the expressions for DataWindow and
  external objects using dot notation.
• c) Know the different scopes and access levels
  of methods and variables.
• d) Describe how to construct DataWindow
  expressions and the implications of using them.
• 2. User Interface Techniques
• Know how to use a Tab Control, TreeView, or
  ListView control to solve a specific business
  problem.
• b) Identify the Drag and Drop features of
  PowerBuilder

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What do I study? (PowerBuilder 7 Professional)
3. Data Access Techniques a) Know the correct
use of Embedded SQL in PowerScript. b) Know
methods for dynamic manipulation of DataWindows
c) Know DataWindow query capabilities for users.
d) Know how to use a DataStore object e)
Describe ActiveX properties, methods, and
events. f) Demonstrate how to automate ActiveX
controls. 4. Developing Multi-tier
Applications a) Know how to build business
objects, which are separate from the user
interface. b) Know the lifecycle of a component
on Jaguar. c) techniques to troubleshoot a
PowerBuilder component on Jaguar d) Know
features of the Object Browser
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What do I study? (PowerBuilder 7 Professional)
5. Internet Techniques a) Describe the use of
a component server in an internet application.b)
Describe the HTML DataWindow and how it can be
utilized in an internet application. c) Know how
to create an HTML page that displays a report d)
Evaluate the correct architecture for a specific
business application. f) Identify the properties
of the DataWindow object that are related to
HTML generation 6. General Techniques a)
Identify the components that define different
PowerBuilder projects. b) Identify ways to
manage application settings using initialization
files and the registry
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PB - 7 Professional Sample Questions
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PowerBuilder 7 Professional Sample questions
What is the effect of changing the DBParm
StaticBind from 0 to 1? A) The object is forced
to remain in memory cache. B) Performance may
improve when retrieving DataWindows. C)
Performance may improve when updating
DataWindows. D) Input parameters are not bound
to the SQL statement. E) None of the above
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PowerBuilder 7 Professional Sample questions
Question Identify one statement below that is
NOT true for a child window a. Can have a
title bar b. Can be minimized or maximized c.
Can be resized. d. Can be considered the active
window
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PowerBuilder 7 Professional Sample questions
Which of the following are ways to deploy a
PowerBuilder component to a Jaguar Server? a.
Save the user object with Live Editing enabled.
b. Copy the PBL containing the user object to
the Jaguar server. c. Build the Jaguar Component
Project. d. Generate and execute the IDL file
from the Project Wizard. e. Run the Jaguar Proxy
Wizard.
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PowerBuilder 7 Professional Sample questions
Which of the following is not an inherent
advantage of distributed computing a.
Consolidation of business logic on application
servers b. Ease of design and implementation c.
Partitioning and reuse of application
functionality d. Scalability of solutions to
large numbers of users e. Increased security via
centralization of access to data
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Secrets on the Questions
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Questions on the exam

• Can have multiple answers.
• Will NOT ask a question that identifies a
  weakness of PowerBuilder
• No intentionally trick questions.
• No true/false - everything is multiple choice.
• Will NOT have answers that have made up
  functions, properties, or object names.
• Cover the materials of the listed courses plus
  your own experiences.

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Bad question

• This type of question will not be on the exam
• The Rows of a DataWindow can be saved in which of
  the following formats
• A. Static HTML
• B. XML
• C. Spreadsheet
• D. Tab delimited text
• E. HTML and JavaScript

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Better Question

• This is the kind of question you could have on
  the exam
• The Rows of a DataWindow can be saved in which of
  the following formats
• A. Static HTML
• B. Spreadsheet
• C. Tab delimited text
• D. SQL
• E. All of the above.

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Exam Taking Strategy

• Time your answers. If you find yourself spending
  too much time on a question mark it and move on.
  Sometimes another question will help you remember
  the answer to it.
• If you are not sure of the correct answer, mark
  the question and move on. At the end of the exam
  count the number of marked questions to get an
  indication of your score.
• Read each question and answer carefully. Make
  sure you read each answer, even if you think the
  first one is the obvious choice.
• Dont waste your study time on memorizing method
  arguments and return codes.
• Take the exam in the morning, while your mind is
  most alert.

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Study Techniques

• Find a study partner that knows more about
  PowerBuilder 8.0 than you do.
• Practice exams are an invaluable tool for
  assessing how you will perform on the exam.
• Exam the questions you got wrong, find the answer
  and study it.
• Build a practice application from start to
  finish. Many experienced developers have spent
  years writing code without working through an
  entire application.
• The answers on the test are never wrong. If you
  think you know the answer better than the exam -
  count that as a wrong answer towards your score.
• Remember you dont have to print your grade on
  your business card.

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Exam Secrets

• There are no trick questions, however.
• The questions had to leave very little ambiguity.
  Some questions became wordy to achieve this.
  DONT see this technique as a question that is
  trying to fool you, when the opposite is the
  case. The exam was not created to test your
  memorization skills. The creators of the exam
  tried to make it about your working knowledge of
  PowerBuilder.
• Frequently practice exams are created from
  questions that were rejected from the main test,
  mainly because they covered topics that were in
  existing questions.

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Relax!

• Taking is an exam is a stressful process, so try
  to limit your distractions during your study and
  test taking time. The more stressed you are the
  worst you will do.

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Summary

• Start studying for the exam!
• Schedule to take the exam in the morning on a day
  that nothing else is due.
• Remember, no one has to know your score as long
  as you pass.
• Mark all difficult questions.
• Check your marks to get an idea of how many
  questions you got wrong.

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Closing Thought
The CSP test is one of the better
certifications to obtain for a programmer. It is
the responsibility and the duty for all who take
it to keep the exact questions confidential. The
CSP certification should be EARNED by all. Never
reveal the contents to anyone. Should the
questions leak out, and inexperienced programmers
start obtaining this certification, it
diminishes the value of the certification for
all who have obtained it legitimately, through
hard work and studying. Keep the faith and good
luck!!!
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Information and Contacting Us

• On Partner.Net
• http//www.sybase.com/partner/educationpartner
• On the Internet http//www.sybase.com/education
  /profcert
• Sam Lakkundi (Certification Technical Manager)
• email lakkundi_at_sybase.com (781-564-6270)
• James Riley (Certification Manager)
• email jriley_at_sybase.com (281-373-1500)