4th Dimension Developer 6.5

by ACI US

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00002S6ZC
• Item model number: 4PU-0000-65
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 10, 2002
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

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If Claris FileMaker doesn't quite meet your database needs, you may want to check out this offering from ACI. In the past, 4th Dimension (4D) has been primarily a developer's tool, but the company has made it much more accessible to the average user. ACI didn't remove any of the powerful development tools; it just made 4D easier to use. The program is even cross-platform, so you can use it on your Mac in your Windows-based office.

The 4D database is just one of several products in a suite of database development tools and add-ons. The database alone is within a hundred dollars of FileMaker's $199 price tag, and you get a whole lot more for your money. A bundled package called 4D Desktop ($499) includes a compiler and a database object management tool called 4D Insider. Both of these tools are indispensable for 4D programming.

It isn't hard to set up a simple database in 4D (the included tutorials are clear and useful). The program simplifies the process of automatically generating input forms and report forms, and it offers a range of form styles. After you choose your fields and the kind of information they will hold, you're ready to start using your new database. Many people could solve all their database problems without ever writing a line of code.

Although previous versions of 4D were not known for their speed, version 6 is quick - not as quick as FileMaker Pro, but close, especially considering the greater data overhead in 4D.

The real power of 4D is in the world of development. This version is much more object oriented in nature and a good deal more intuitive. The language is compatible with previous versions but includes many more commands and a vastly improved debugger.

One of the most compelling new features of 4D is built-in Web publishing. Any database you create can automatically be translated into and served as HTML on the World Wide Web. The application becomes the Web server; all you have to do is run it on a Mac with a TCP/IP connection to the Internet and you're in business. The server allows up to five simultaneous connections, which is more than adequate for personal use. If you want to scale up to business use of 4D, there are upgrades that allow for unlimited connections.

The built-in HTML for the forms and navigation aren't the prettiest, but you could write your own HTML instead. When 4D's Web features are turned on, it works just like a regular Web server as well, allowing you to serve regular files from any directory on your computer. You even can have an HTML link trigger a 4D procedure, in effect giving you the ability to perform superfast CGIs without the need for a "glue" program. (A glue program acts as an intermediary between a Web server and database that cannot communicate directly, which can cause a decrease in performance.)

ACI 4th Dimension has come a long way since version 3. The combination of a competitive price, improved user interface, extended programming capabilities, and automatic Web publishing puts this relational database system in a class of its own. - Wade Albright

Good News: Fully relational, powerful development tools. Automatic Web publishing. Easy user interface.

Bad News: Learning curve is still steeper than that of Claris FileMaker. Little control over the look and feel of the Web interface without writing your own HTML.

Rating:4/4

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