Re: 4GL/GX calls to C programs?

> 1) Does 4 GL/GX have the capability to connect to our existing C > programs? Specifically, after selecting data from the database, we > want to send the selected data to a function. This means that our > interface needs to allow us to link our C programs in a compile > time. Can 4 GL/GX do this? How? 4GL/GX is essentially just a 4GL-RDS runner for the graphical environment. So, you'd hook up to C routines in the same way as you would with RDS, ie. link them into the runner. If you want a *real* graphical product though, I'd wait for NewEra which should be fully shipping in a couple of months now. GX was a nice idea but it's pretty limited in what it does with Windows and, by definition it has an irritating character-based look and feel. > > 2) Will we be limited in the number of C routines used? (There are > not many, maybe 5 to 10). What are the performance/design > considerations/concerns? I don't know of any limits in numbers. > > > 2) Does 4GL/GX require any additional products like ESQL-C in order > to link it in with our applications? No. Just a C compiler, and of course a data engine and/ or network interface (Informix-Net) if your database isn't local to the PC. > What other products can 4GL/GX > use? Can C-ISAM be used? You could access an existing C-ISAM database, but you'd still need Informix-SE (Standard Engine) to access it from any flavour of 4GL. Given the right network interface software, there's nothing to stop you accessing any other Informix back-end. akent@cix.compulink.co.uk (Andy Kent) -------------------------------------