Data Collection Insights
Last October 2022, 4D introduced a unique feature called Data collection in 4D v19 R6.
Perhaps the best way to understand how we use this is to show you the questions this feature allows us to answer. So after a few months of watching it run, we’re glad to share some of the interesting insights it gives us.
Which Operating Systems for 4D v20?
4D v20 is around the corner! In a few weeks, you will be able to get your hands on this wonderful new 4D LTS release. We thought it is the perfect moment to share with you what you can expect in terms of OS support for this new release.
ORDA – From Beginner to Expert
ORDA, which stands for Object Relational Data Access, is a method of accessing data that combines the advantages of object-oriented programming with those of relational databases, allowing developers to focus on solving business problems rather than managing data access.
Whether you are new to ORDA or already familiar with it and want to expand your knowledge, consider this blog post a road map to guide you through the learning process.
This blog post includes the following:
- ORDA benefits
- ORDA overview
- Main concept
- ORDA APIs
- ORDA abstraction layer
- Working remotely
- Requests optimization
- Permissions system
- Sharing data between process
Without further ado, let’s get down to business!
Tips & Tricks for your 4D Apps – February 2023 Edition
by Add Komoncharoensiri, Director of Technical Services at 4D Inc
Here we go with another set of tips and tricks.
The 4D Knowledge Base is a library of information about 4D technology where weekly tech tips and monthly tech notes are actively published. If you missed the last tips on the KB, that’s fine; here is a compilation from the past few weeks.
This blog post covers 20 tips:
4D for Mobile Tutorial – Choose an Input Control
Formatters allow you to format the displayed data or to define behavior when the user touches the data. The input controls follow the same principle. They allow you to select the type of keyboard, define the behavior, or format the data in an action form.
For example, for image data, you have by default two types of control, the first one allows you to select an image or to take a picture, and the second one displays a zone to sign.
There are 3 types of input controls:
4D for Mobile Tutorial – Create actions
Actions allow users to interact with the application to change the customer’s address, add a new contact and modify a picture.
In the 4D language, an action allows you to add, edit, and delete an entity or a selection entity. But also, it can simply execute a method of your 4D server.
4D for Mobile Tutorial – Include relations
The data of your application are linked together by two types of relationship: Many to One or One to Many.
In this blog post, we will show you how to include relations. With 4D for Android and 4D for iOS, you can easily navigate between your related data. We automatically generate the transition between views in your application.
4D for Mobile Tutorial – Using Formatters
A data formatter allows you to map a data type from your database to a specific display on the mobile side. For example, you can define a date, percentage, or currency format. Data formatters can also call some code to create intelligent interfaces.
For example, you can attach a data formatter to phone numbers that open an action menu on the mobile app when the user touches the number (e.g., to call the person or save them in contacts).
You have three formatter types:
4D for Mobile Tutorial – Sort your list view
To facilitate the use of an application, the data presented to the user is usually sorted alphabetically, chronologically, or a combination of several criteria.
4D for Android and 4D for iOS allows you to define multiple sorts for each list view.
Catch errors everywhere
Error management is often a constraining part of development in all languages. In 4D, if you forget to call an error-handling method in a new process/worker or use components that don’t handle errors, the built-in 4D error dialog can appear to the final user. 4D developers would like to catch all errors in all contexts to avoid displaying this built-in 4D error dialog.
Let’s see how we can manage this behavior with 4D v19 R8.
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