Improved FORM EDIT Command: Access Form Objects Easily
The 4D language allows you to develop outstanding business applications. Many of you have taken the initiative to create tools that streamline specific tasks: code, validating links to external elements like images, converting legacy code to ORDA, managing XLIFF resource files, or facilitating refactoring. These custom solutions enhance productivity and foster innovation.
In 4D 20 R8, the FORM EDIT command has evolved. You can now open a form and select a form object.
For instance, you can list the objects in a form from an analysis and introspection tool. Double-clicking on an element in the list will open the form, and you can select the form object to modify one of its properties using the new syntax of the command.
Enhanced Session Management for Development and Testing
With the latest 4D updates, we’ve extended the Session command to the Client/Server connection, enabling access to session storage at the Client level. Pairing this functionality with the new ‘Restrict’ event in ORDA classes makes filtering results based on session data—such as privileges, roles, or even geographic areas—easier than ever.
Developing an application in 4D meant working in a local environment, such as a single user. In standalone mode, the Session command always returned Null. This meant that you had to write complex code, checks whether the Session object was Null to read from “Storage” or “Session.storage”. This workaround, while functional, was not elegant.
With 4D 20 R8, this is no longer an issue. The Session command now returns a valid object, even in standalone mode, simplifying application development and testing.
Empower Your Development Process with your forms
During the development phase, early detection of syntax errors is important for producing quality code. Real-time code checking is a valuable aid to developers. Not only does it improve efficiency, it also enhances quality and boosts productivity. By correcting errors immediately, you can concentrate on the functional development of your application, rather than on annoying bugs that crop up during compilation.
With 4D 20 R8, we’re delighted to introduce two new features that will transform the way you work.
- The first is the ability to associate a class with a form, enabling syntax checking with expressions such as Form.myProperty.
- The second is a real-time check of expressions in the property list, with a description of the error or warning displayed.
Access Qodly Studio for 4D directly from your 4D server to test and debug your code
Qodly Studio for 4D allows you to extend your 4D applications with web pages. Development is integrated into 4D Developer Edition.
During the development phase, there are often times when specific features or bugs can only be replicated on a server or in a production environment. This poses a challenge for developers, who require direct access to debugging tools to efficiently resolve issues.
With the latest release of 4D 20 R7, Qodly Studio for 4D is now accessible directly from your 4D server, you can debug and test your Qodly application like never before.
Here’s a quick guide on how to make the most of this new feature.
Exciting enhancements for managing processes and sessions
Managing processes and sessions is essential for optimizing and monitoring your 4D applications. You can easily manipulate and retrieve crucial information about these elements thanks to different commands.
With 4D 20 R7, we are pleased to announce a series of enhancements that make these functions even more accessible and effective. These new features are designed not only to simplify your work, but also to boost the performance of your code. The improvements include:
- Getting the process info in an object to make it easier to manipulate the properties,
- Allowing direct access to session info using a session ID for easier management,
- Making it easier to get a process number directly from its ID,
- Accessing the creation date of a process
- Optimized filtering of the results returned by the Process activity command to obtain all processes in a session.
Find out how these updates can transform your development experience and improve the efficiency of your applications!
Define a different icon for each window
We are excited to announce a new feature that will enhance the user experience in multi-window applications in 4D 20 R7. With the introduction of the SET WINDOW DOCUMENT ICON command, you now have the ability to define an icon for each type of window, making it easier for users to identify and navigate through different windows.
Enhanced Session Storage Access
You can store information in the storage of various session types, such as Client/Server, Web, or Mobile, allowing for easy reuse across different processes.
Now, in 4D 20 R6, you can access the storage of a specific session. This enhancement enables users to easily maintain the continuity and consistency of information across multiple sessions of the same user. Imagine being able to pull up the same customer record across different applications such as Client/Server or Web.
Customize App Appearance with New Windows Types
With 4D 20 R5, unlocking new possibilities in application customization, two additional window types now offer flexible modal or non-modal windows without title bars. This means complete freedom to tailor your application’s appearance to your exact specifications. Imagine redesigning the title bar to match your desired aesthetics, integrating features like a customized search box or other elements seamlessly.
But that’s not all! We’ve also introduced several new commands designed to streamline your development process:
- Reduce a window in the title bar on Windows or the dock on macOS,
- Know if the window is reduced in the title bar on Windows or the dock on macOS,
- Know if the window if the window is maximized.
New 4D remote session object with Client/Server connection and Stored procedure
In 4D applications, four types of sessions exist 4D Remote session, Stored Procedure session, Mobile session, and Web session.
The Session command already returns Web or Mobile sessions. This gives you access to a wealth of information about the session and an object shared by all processes in the session.
In 4D 20 R5, the Session command has been extended to the Client/Server connection and stored procedure.
How to Implement Continuous Integration with 4D: A Step-by-Step Guide
In the world of software development, a new concept has appeared in recent years called “Continuous Integration.” The definition we see or hear everywhere is :
“CI is a process that automates the compilation, testing, and delivery of an application on a regular and frequent basis.”
Having understood this definition, which expresses an interesting and promising process, what do I need to do to implement it in 4D? If you search the Internet, you’ll find that there are many CI tools and frameworks available.
However, there are several prerequisites before using these CI tools.
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