Re: please revive project 4GL++, using 4gl for Windows and New Era

Anytime you take procedural code (where the program assumes that the user will enter fields 1,2,3 in order and may perform some validation or task based on the fields entered you will have to re-write the input portion to work on AFTER INPUT checks iso AFTER FIELD checks for running a majority of the validation checks. Selection Windows/Pop Up windows must still be in the appropriate place but are still called by a Function Key (or by clicking the little down arrow next to the field if you are using 4Js products, etc.) Consider your input screen to be more like a web page - all the checks have to be done after the web user presses the SUBMIT button (or some such). It has it's pluses and minuses but it is not that hard a re-write. Now if you have 2000 user entry programs it is still a bit of an undertaking. P.S. My services are available - 4GL Certified - Some just say Certifiable but we won't go there. Will work quite reasonable remotely (via the net) with an occassional trip for sanity checks, project milestones, etc. Or I can work in UK for lots of Single Malts + T&E. You may also consider otsourcing this type project to a group of 4GL developers if you no longer have the expertise on your IT staff. Rob Vorbroker Vorbroker Consulting, Inc. > In message <bact7b$2fv$1@terabinaries.xmission.com>, Rodney Sheppard > <rod@transmit.com.au> writes >> >>I believe the most important thing for the future of >>4GL is that any compiler remain 100% backward compatible. >> >>If I have to go thru every line of code in every module looking for >> code that no-longer works, then the decision to move to another >> language is made for me. >> > > Please forgive me if my out-of-date knowledge of I-4GL is about to > show... > > We had (a very long time ago, I-4GL on DOS PCs) an application written > in I-4GL that attempted to do 'intelligent' screen navigation, for > example: > > Are the next 2 fields relevant? [] > Dependant field 1 [] > Dependant field 2 [] > Next question [] > > and used lots of 'AFTER FIELD' and 'NEXT FIELD' (iirc) to navigate > appropriately. > > When we tried to use 4GL-for-Windows, the users were able to point and > click into the dependant fields irrespective of the answer to the > preceding question. Had we moved at that time we would have had to re- > validate all our entry screens. I guess the same situation would exist > today. > > > -- > Andrew Lennard > andy@kontron.demon.co.uk