Re: Code generator

Nils Myklebust wrote: > > jojean@aol.com (Jojean) wrote: > > :Hi, > : > : I am trying to find a software package that will generator 4gl code for > :informix. > : > : Someone told me about a package called Informate, but I can't find any > :information on the product. > : > : If anyone knows of a code generator for informix please let me know. > : You can e-mail me at jojean@aol.com. > > There are also some simple code generators available in the software > libraries at http://www.iiug.org and at Tim's site at > http://www.inxutil.com > These are all freware, but may work well for you. > I haven't realy tested any of these as I have allways been my own code > generator. I have too high demands for the results of regular code > generators to be satisfactory. > > Nils.Myklebust@idg.no > NM Data AS, P.O.Box 9090 Gronland, N-0133 Oslo, Norway > My opinions are those of my company > The Informix FAQ is at http://www.iiug.org Thanks Nils for the kind words. :-) For what it's worth, a few observations... I haven't used my own code generator in at least two years, but I think for what it is, it works quite well. It was/is a simple one-table maintenance 4gl code pump, with a few frills thrown in. "bas_4gl1" actually passed a QA test team evaluation! It requires understanding by someone willing to spend the time with it. But once you get past the ugly shell script, it does work quite well. The concepts behind the coding of the code generator relies on one main screen, and the ability to build pop-ups around the main screen. Very simple, and not well suited to multi-table screens with complex logic. But for many mundane or simple screens, it works quite well. Template-based coding is the foundation behind all the GUIs on the market. Quite honestly, even for the limitations of bas_4gl1, I would still use it for many reasons, mainly to reduce the time to create simple interfaces. In the grand scheme of things, many application tools produce enough of a working app that the real creativity of the developer will ultimately win out by customization of the template code. With all the GUIs out there, 4GL seems kinda outdated, but a code pump can make it more enjoyable or at least workable and marketable. Come to think of it, if there were a tool that could use a property dialog with 4GL it might be part of a new era. :-) Tim -- Tim Schaefer \\\\|// tschaefe@mindspring.com 6 6 -------------------------oOOo---( )---o00o---------------------- http://www.inxutil.com - My Ezine http://www.informix.com - Informix Software Inc. http://www.iiug.org - International Informix User Group/FAQ news://comp.databases.informix - Newsgroup for Informix Users ================================================================