Extending Informix 4GL Programming Capabilities Using

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Extending Informix 4GL Programming
CapabilitiesUsing

• FourGen CASE Tools

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FourGen CASE ToolsHighlights

• Form Painter
• Screen Code Generator
• Featurizer
• Report Generator
• Menuing System
• Enterprise/iDeskTop aka ED8
• Source Code Control System
• Object Oriented Design
• XML based Schema Management Tools

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FourGen CASE ToolsCode Generation Path
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Advantages of using FourGen CASE Tools

• 4 to 10 times increased productivity over 3GL
  development
• 5 to 10 times faster than other 4GL coding
• Speeds up initial development AND reduces ongoing
  cost of program maintenance
• Over 80 of the cost of software is ongoing
  maintenance
• Facilitates user/developer communication

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• Why FourGen CASE Tools?

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Why FourGen CASE Tools?

• Structured Code
• Automatic Code Documentation
• Code Design Standards
• User Interface Standards
• Version Control
• Generated code is Modifiable By Design (MBD)
• Multi-language Code Generation

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Why FourGen CASE Tools?
GUI Character user selected interfaces
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• FourGen CASE Tools
• Highlights

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FourGen CASE ToolsForm Painter

• Create new or update existing forms
• Creates 100 Informix 4GL compatible .pers
• Various types of forms supported header,
  header/detail, query, zooms etc.
• Easy to define zooms, lookups validation
  functionality
• Link many forms easily effectively
• Developer-friendly interface
• Detail Explosion Present additional detail data
  on same screen

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FourGen CASE Tools Screen Code Generator

• 100 Informix 4GL Code
• Hooks in generated code allows developers to
  add custom code
• Organizes code into separate .4GLs namely
• globals.4gl, main.4gl, header.4gl, detail.4gl,
  midlevel.4gl for input screens
• Dynamic arrays for line items no more arr_max
  hassle
• Automatically generates GUI Code

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Screen Code Generator
Program Main Header
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Screen Code Generator

• Program Main Header / Detail

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Screen Code Generator

• Browse Form

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Screen Code Generator
Zoom
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Screen Code Generator
Query
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Screen Code Generator
Extension Form
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Screen Code Generator
Add-on Detail
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Screen Code Generator
Add-on
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FourGen CASE Tools Featurizer

• Merges generated code custom code
• Generated code remains untouched
• FourGen Featurizer reads instructions in
  extension files to modify source code
• With Block commands you place code based on the
  inserted block tags
• Add new business logic or customize flow logic
  without modifying original source code
• Change in a screen or schema, just regenerate
  code to reapply your changes

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FourGen CASE ToolsReport Generator

• Create Informix 4GL reports programs using report
  image file
• Organizes code into separate .4GLs namely
• globals.4gl, main.4gl, report.4gl, midlevel.4gl,
  lowlevel.4gl for report programs
• Includes the following sections
• Layout
• Attributes
• Select
• Language
• Schedule
• Concurrency

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FourGen Reports presented in a browser
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FourGen CASE ToolsMenuing System

• FourGen Menus
• Menu options can be single or multiple characters
  with description
• Flexible menu option format
• Each menu submenu has its own directory
• Menu option can use hotkey option
• Predefined structure can be utilized for
  Enterprise Application
• Windows Explorer-like Menu interface available
  via iDesktop for GUI

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FourGen Menus
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FourGen CASE ToolsEnterprise Desktop

• Windows based GUI generator
• Reads database for screens that make up a program
• Generates VB Forms from Informix Forms
• Creates GUI Executables from VB Forms
• GUI menu program presents menus in Explorer-like
  format

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FourGen CASE ToolsEnterprise Desktop
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FourGen CASE ToolsSource Code Control System

• FourGen SCCS originally developed in mid 1980s
• Builds on top of sccs utilities in UNIX
• Advantages
• Extremely robust
• Easy to use
• Tight control of code
• Included in FourGen CASE Tools

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FourGen CASE ToolsSource Code Control System
FourGen SCCS primary programs
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FourGen CASE Tools Schema Management Tools

• FourGen DBmerge
• Allows you to control schema
• Provides audit trail of schema changes when used
  with FourGen SCCS
• All schema information standard data stored in
  XML format

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FourGen CASE Tools Schema Management Tools
FourGen Dbmerge programs
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• NEW FEATURES in FourGen CASE Tools V8.1

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NEW FEATURES in FourGen CASE Tools V8.1

• Dynamic Array Model No more hard coding of of
  array elements.
• User Defined Notes on Screens Multiple note
  types and notes for each line of detail.
• Add-on hdr/dtl, add-on view hdr/dtl, extension
  hdr/dtl etc. are few of new Form Types
• Detail Explosion Detail to Detail line for
  hdr/dtl screens
• Zoom picker function standardized
• Grids replace temporary tables index em,
  random access em, unload em even in .csv
  formats
• Primary Keys instead of Row IDs
• Global elements reduction scratch, sql_filter,
  sql_order removed p q variables moved to
  header.4gl detail.4gl files
• Function Metrics Trace your program control
  within functions
• DB Merge Utilities Made Easy Supports XML
  formats
• Defer or force referential constraints using
  Library Functions
• Encryption Functions available handy for
  securing your info
• SIGNAL Trapping
• Archive Purge - Set your own selection and
  rejection rules and save them as catalogs for
  successive runs or run these programs as batch
  jobs.
• iDesktop GUI Front-End now available with
  secure shell (SSH) communication protocol for
  added security.

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FourGen CASE Tools

• Gillani iDistribute v8.1
• A complete end-to-end Supply Chain Management
  solution
• A unique combination of planning, execution,
  collaboration and monitoring capabilities
  delivering extraordinary business results for its
  users.
• Delivered via the web
• The system provides advanced Order Management
  capabilities, integrated with a comprehensive
  Warehouse and Branch Inventory Management and
  Replenishment System.
• WRITTEN USING FOURGEN CASE TOOLS.

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• Questions?
• Contact Sales sales_at_gillani.com
• Phone [phone]
• URL www.gillani.com