| Modeling the application / BA diagram entities and properties | |
A CRUD Form entity generates the user interface for the program. CRUD forms are used to Create, Read, Update, and Delete data from a database.
A CRUD form entity is represented as a 4fdm file which can be opened and edited in Form Designer.
When a CRUD form entity is implemented from the diagram, the 4fdm file is created as well as 4gl source files containing the program logic to access and manipulate the database tables contained in the form.
Any changes to the CRUD form entity properties in the BA diagram or in the 4fdm file are included in the subsequent re-generating of the program code.
The generated code can be customized.
Properties can be set specify how the form should behave during the various states (DISPLAY, MODIFY, ADD, SEARCH).
If your form has a valid relation on the BA diagram to a Report entity, additional actions are generated for the Toolbar and TopMenu to launch the report. The Report Option properties are used to define which report actions should be generated.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| quickPrint | Defines if print action is available. |
| quickPreview | Defines if preview action is available. |
| quickPDF | Defines if export to PDF action is available. |
| quickHTML | Defines if export to HTML action is available. |
| quickXLS | Defines if export to XLS action is available. |
| quickRTF | Defines if export to RTF action is available. |
| canExport | Defines if the PDF, HTML, XLS, and/or RTF print actions are available. If canExport is checked and quickPDF, quickHTML, quickXLS, or quickRTF are also checked, the action will be available. |
Right-click the Form entity in the diagram to display a context menu of options.
| Menu Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Implement CRUD Form | Creates a new blank managed form definition file (4fdm) to design from scratch. |
| Implement CRUD Form from Database | Provides a wizard to create a managed form definition file (4fdm), allowing you to pick the columns and general display of your form. This option is generally preferred. The form can be modified after it is created. |
| Open Form | Opens form in Form Designer. |
| Convert to | Converts entity from one type to another. |
| Locate in Project | Locates and highlights the selected item in the project. |