>>>Took a wild guess on something that I am uncertain how to handle in the future (automating a current browser, as automating MSHtml & ShDocVw will run into walls sooner or later, see thread Daniel started few weeks ago), and it seems Windev has similar basic capabilities worked in, as they describe a HTML control plus some methods. As Android and iOS are mentioned, could be they have integrated Chromium/Chrome via CEF or something similar. If that is the case, no wonder more disc space is needed, as Electron abilities probably are there ;-)
>>>
>>>A bit unclear if everything is available in WinDev or if sometimes WebDev is needed (specific HTML control types like alink, input...) on few first stabs, but basic navigation and JS execution seems to be supported by Windev.
>>>
>>>Have you run across some info about that topic by chance and are able to give executive summary ?
>>>If not, something to mark as research for a rainy day ;-)
>>>AT least an option to keep in mind if using Selenium or a CEF-based lib is impossible or too hard to integrate.
>>>
>
>
>>
>>WinDev produces desktop apps, desktop services, Linux executables, etc. it does not produce web-apps or websites. The HTTP controls are for accessing web content, downloading pages, posting stuff to web pages, etc.
>>
>>WinDev Mobile produces Android or Apple iOS apps.
>
>Understood - too much of my mental shorthand, sorry. I am looking at moment for a replacement for desktop app, where I drop in a OLE Control based of the Microsoft Web Browser from ieframe.dll.
>
>Offers me same interfaces as
>oie = createobject("InternetExplorer.Application")
>oie.Navigate2("someURI")
>
>....
>
>and allows me to get to the document
>loDoc = m.oIe.Document
>
>and so on to access the DOM, read out .innerHTML, get specific elements from the web site as objects and call their methods like .click()
>
>as Internet Explorer is not developed any more, I'd like to replace it with someting Chrome-based.
>
>>
>>WebDev produces web-apps / websites and has (the best way I can describe it) a "dual mode" coding interface where every form, control, etc. has 2 codes sections; (1) for code that executes on the server, and (2) code that executes in the browser. WebDev can handle all state issues, memory variables, database connections, table positions, etc. which means you can build a web-app / website much like building a desktop app but where the front-end is browser based and the back-end is server based. Same programming language used in WebDev and WinDev so single coding learning curve AND a lot of code can be re-used between desktop and web-based application development - not always 100% because some functions are platform specific and may not have an equivalent usage on the other platform.
>
>That is what I feared - I probably could work on a local browser via (2) loading/hooking some own JS after browsing/wrapping URI from the server, but desktop functionality prefered.
>
>>
>>WebDev can also integrate 3rd party code like PHP or JavaScript alongside WinDev language. So in the same way that a WinDev app can call and use .Net assemblies or Java code, WebDev can also use PHP or JavaScript. I believe, but not 100% sure, that WebDev code actually is converted to JavaScript code ... but I might be wrong about that as I did not investigate ... it is something I might have read?
>
>snipped and defined as WINdef:
>
>

ExecuteJS (Function)
>In French: ExécuteJS
>Runs Javascript code in the context of the Web page displayed by an HTML control.
>Caution: The option "Forbid the execution of JavaScript scripts" must be unchecked in the "General" tab of the description window of HTML control.
>Example
>JSCode is string = [
>var now = new Date();
>alert( 'Today is: ' + now);
>]
>ExecuteJS(HTM_MyHTMLControl, JSCode)
>JSCode is string = [
>var now = new Date();
>now;
>]
>
>ExecuteJS(HTM_MyControl, JSCode, ResultJSExecution)
>
>
>    Javascript code to run. This code is run in asynchronous mode. The result of code execution can be retrieved via the <Procedure Name> parameter.
>    The value returned by the Javascript code corresponds to the value of the expression found on the last line of Javascript code.
>
>Procedure Name: Character string (with or without quotes)
>

>so basic ability is there. "Just" have to find out other capabilities ;-)
>
>
>//upd: found your answer to JR, clears up insofar "old" versions can be used later, but without current fixes.
>
>
>>>And 1 other question: Is license cost for just ***using*** the package for a year or cost for newest updates ad some dev support ?
>>>
>>>Say I pay license cost for 2 years for a project, but after release only minimal maintainance is expected: can I fix their issues in 2021 with the license of 2019, but without anything added after license ran out and no dev support ?
>>>
>
>
>>License fee is upfront, once-off payment for WinDev. Same again for WebDev. Same again for WinDev Mobile. You can pick any or all 3 or any combination. We use only WinDev and WebDev as we currently have no mobile app projects.
>>
>>Annual upgrade fee is a few hundred dollars per development platform. It is recommended to upgrade because PCSoft will not provide support for older versions and if you skip a year (or more) it will just catch up when you decide to finally upgrade in the future (if you ever do).
>>
>>A future version supports all previous version code and projects and website etc. Although PC Soft will not support older versions there is a community and many experts who help either for free or as a servcie they provide. There are several in US, UK, EU, Australia, etc.including some very knowledgeable people in France and Germany.cost for 2 years
>
>Say I enter a contract to develop a 50K$ app during 2019 and 2020 (some basic features/screens in 2019 to be rolled out, for 2020 signed letter of intent speccing remaining xxK$, currently expected scope, but both sides clear that specs & cost for 2020 might change a bit.
>
>I calculate license cost for 2 years WinDev, no problem get version xx.19.yy in 2019 and xx.20.yy in 2020.
>Such a program might run with minimal maintainance (new VAT levels, data classifications) on the data side if developed correctly,
>probably including small text changes if designed in a data driven approach for screens and reports. No need to change Windev app code.
>
>Chances are that there is "code-level" work for ~1K$ per year as well. If I can use the Windev version xx.20.yy I downloaded in 2020 and licensed in 2020 (without bugfixes and new features available in 2022) to build newq version of my old app showing modified existing screens to show 2 or 3 added fields and minimal branching changes like an additional MsgBox:
>maintainace cost clear, based only on my personal effort and adequate as seen from customer POV.
>
>If changes due to feature request are substantial, new license might be factored in to put/keep me on current level.
>
>But if my effort "in Windev" is only about 1 day, changes in data-driving tables is 1 day as well, I would NOT want to get a license for 2022 - which might be needed if "creating WinDev apps" is only licensed for the particular year license is paid for..
>
>If still unclear, I'll have to look up myself and force the legalese through my brain ;-)
>
>thx for your effort
>
>thomas

You might also want to consider the cost of learning the new language.
In my case that cost far exceeded the cost of acquiring the software.
I make my choices based on the likelihood that I would be using the language long enough to recover my startup costs.
Fox was clearly a winner. I wrote my first Fox program in 1987, and just this week I billed a couple of days for VFP programming.
So that's clearly a good return on my startup costs.

The startup learning curve for.NET was much steeper, but the return has been good and the future prospects seem good.

When I look at a language, after I see that it might meet my needs, I consider how likely it is that I'll be able to recover all those startup costs.
Few meet that test.