Tips: ORDA Data Model Classes
By now you’re aware of the availability of ORDA classes. In this blog post, you’ll learn a few handy tips to get the most out of them!
ORDA Data Model Classes and REST
In a previous blog post, you learned about ORDA classes and the possibilities they offer to make your coding experience smoother. In this blog post, you’ll see how to use them with the REST server.
Let’s see it in action!
ORDA Classes to handle your data model
In a previous blog post, we introduced you to the world of ORDA data model classes. Now it’s time to get our hands dirty and learn more!
You already know that ORDA’s structure (datastore, dataclass, entity, entity selection) is made up of objects. But they’re not just objects, they’re strongly-typed objects linked to specific ORDA classes. This means that you can write functions to hide the complexity of your data’s physical implementation.
Welcome to the world of ORDA classes
ORDA was a revolution with 4D v17. It opened a whole new world of possibilities and took you to another programming dimension. A dimension where you can easily develop applications using an object-oriented approach.
We didn’t stop there! We continued to add enhancements to ORDA through a set of features in each subsequent feature release. Now with 4D v18 R4, we’re thrilled to be going another step further with the availability of ORDA data model classes. Classes dedicated to your data model.
This will greatly elevate your code. Your applications can now easily expose services, be more manageable and easier to maintain, and seamlessly integrate with other applications.
This is another big feature made possible thanks to the projects!
An intro to object-oriented programming in 4D: Classes
Many of you have have been asking to be able to define an object type ever since the Object type became available. Thanks to object notation, many of you dream of having object functions. Dream no more and say hello to classes in 4D v18 R3 project database! In this blog post, we’re introducing one of the most interesting concepts of object-oriented programming … along with a database example and a bonus video!
The story behind 4D’s new Markdown-based documentation site
by Arnaud Schmitt, Head of Technical Documentation at 4D SAS
As many of you know, doc.4d.com has long been managed using an in-house 4D application. However, 4D’s documentation is currently in transition to a new architecture: a Markdown-based documentation site.
This was the topic a few weeks ago during a 4D Method meetup, where I shared our experience about creating and maintaining the new documentation site. You may find this information useful when you are browsing the 4D documentation site, or if you need to create your own documentation.
Apply naming conventions with Form macros
by guest author Michael Höhne, 4D developer (Munich, Germany)
There’s a feature in 4D v18 R5 that may have been overlooked, or at least hasn’t gotten much attention so far: Form macros. To be honest, I hadn’t spent much time on them either, until recently. In this blog post, I’ll show you a macro that saves a lot of time when applying naming conventions to list box columns, column headers, and footers. You can easily change it to fit your needs. A dedicated repo is also available on Github.
Scalable sessions for advanced web applications
Nowadays, web applications are essential modern tools. As machines and processors become more and more powerful, your web applications must constantly meet performance requirements. This is why with 4D v18 R6, the 4D Web Server offers a new kind of web session: the scalable Web session.
Let’s find out more!
Code editor: Write more code in less time!
With 4D 18 R4, we announced the availability of the suggested functions for classes (4D and data model). With 4D v18 R6, we’ve got more great news to simplify and facilitate the writing of code in the editor: The prototype of a function and a short description are displayed in the code editor!
Speed up your development process and avoid typos. Now, information about class functions is displayed in the code editor, helping you to write more in less time while making sure that you’re on the right track!
Let’s find out more!
Your data live … in a web interface
As a 4D developer, you may have dreamed of visualizing your data immediately and easily while you update/create it. Or maybe you’re a 4D administrator and you need to quickly find a record that causes an error due to inappropriate data. This has been possible with 4D’s built-in query interface and output form, but it can take time to customize this form and you may need a more responsive tool.
How about a modern and user-friendly web interface to view your data? And for a cherry on the top, what if this interface comes with a powerful query engine? Dream no more! All this is now a reality thanks to Data Explorer, a new tool provided as a Preview for you to evaluate it and give us your feedback.
Of course, it will be enhanced in future versions.
Let’s discover it now!
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