How to automate the compilation
Since 4D v19, you can start the compilation of a project with a simple command. You might be wondering what you can use this for!
Your team may consist of several developers, so why not automate the compilation at each code push on your source control server? It is always easier to identify an error when it is quickly detected.
Another case is when your project consists of several components. You can write a method that compiles, builds, and then copies the component to the host database.
This blog will discuss the different technical points that are very useful to create your own automation tools, along with an example application.
More enhancements to the 4D debugger!
4D v18 R6 comes with new features in the code editor to make things easier for you when writing code.
The same goes for the debugger. We know debugging an application can be difficult, that’s why we never stop working to help make your experience better. This time, we’ve added some options and additional information that will make it easier to trace and analyze your code.
Keep reading to see what’s in store for you:
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!
4D Language – String comparison improvements
The 4D language offers 20+ commands to handle strings. And with 4D v18 R6, 4D introduces a new command: Compare strings. And yet another command has been improved: Position. Both of these commands allow you to use options for more accurate results. Let’s learn more!
4D View Pro: Find and replace with code
Sometimes when you initialize a 4D View Pro document, you need to find some values or tags in it and replace them with data issued from 4D. Now it’s a breeze with the VP Find command. Thanks to this command, you can find data, a formula, or a tag and replace it in the entire sheet or only a specific part of it!
Let’s find out how.
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!
Type ahead made easy
If you’re interested in the user interface, you may have already used the On before keystroke and On after keystroke events. You’ll certainly be happy to know that the handling of these events has been greatly enhanced with 4D v18 R5. In addition, a new command has been created to determine if there is ongoing input when the On before keystroke event is generated. Let’s find out more!
A new command to open a Form in the Form Editor
4D v18 R5 provides a new 4D command to open a form in the form editor. This can be especially useful for analysis or introspection tools.
Coder-friendly syntax for class functions and methods
Using $1, $2, and $n variables in your code not only makes the code less readable, it can also increase confusion since the human brain can find it difficult to remember what these variables correspond to. The solution is to create a variable with an understandable name and assign it the value of $1, $2, or $n.
4D v18 R5 has good news, you can now name your parameters when declaring:
- a project method,
- a trigger
- a database method
- a form method
- a constructor of a class
- a function of a class.
Let’s see how!
New declaration syntax for an intuitive autocompletion
Have you ever wondered about 4D’s autocompletion feature or asked yourself why 4D suggests all functions used in the code? Since an object is a very generic type, 4D only knows what it’s really storing at runtime. However, that doesn’t help much when you’re writing your code.
4D now offers a new, alternative syntax which will greatly enhance autocompletion when declaring your variables.
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