4th Dimension Learning Basics

Custom Splash Screen Welcome to the 4th Dimension Learning Basics Part III: Custom Menus by Jeff Hopkins - 11 February 2000 (Updated 18 February 2000) Web design by David Graham Jeff Hopkins is a 4D Partner, Expert FileMaker Pro Developer, Owner of HPO SOFT , and founder of the nonprofit Association of Database Developers, Inc. When not filling some of the above roles he is tirelessly working to help others on various database discussion lists. phxjeff@aol.com . i.

Introduction As indicated in Part I, in the following document 4D will mean 4th Dimension and FMP will mean FileMaker Pro. Now for some fun! 4D allows you to create custom menu bars, menus and menu items. A problem now arises as to what do you want to use for menus.

The purpose of this part is to help the developer decide what the basic Menu Bar, Menus and Menu Items should be in a custom 4D database. What will be shown is the rationale for what has been chosen and suggested starting point Menu Bar, Menus and Menu Items. Certainly there will be cases when the suggestions do not fit, however, for the majority of databases these suggestions should be seriously considered.

Our pick: Claris FileMaker Pro — The long-running relational database platform for teams that need custom apps on desktop, web, and mobile from a single file..

Note : These are in addition to any special menus the developer feels are needed for specific programs. Once your database development is underway you should start thinking about the mechanics of how the user will use what you have developed. With FMP, since you cannot change the menu bar you have only one option.

That option is to use buttons on the layouts that call scripts. With 4D, you have much more flexibility. In addition to using buttons you can also make custom Menu Bars, Menus and Menu Items.

The idea of custom menus is great and provides power and control over your database program. It also requires the developer to give serious thought to what these menus should be. To investigate what should be considered a starting point for deciding on what menus to use, I have shown what FMP, 4D User environment and the 4D Foundation default User environment menus are. Note: For those not familiar with Foundation, this is an excellent product that can greatly enhance your 4D development.

Related: Airtable — A spreadsheet-simple interface sitting on top of a real relational database, with automations, views, and shareable interfaces..

Once you have mastered the basics of 4D, I highly recommend purchasing Foundation. For information on Foundation check http://www.DataCraft-Inc.com/ This Part of the 4D Learning Series will cover: Definitions Comparison of Standard FMP and 4D Menus Creating 4D Custom Menus File Menu Comparisons File Menu Suggestions Other Menu Comparisons Records Menu Suggestions Custom Splash Screen Acknowledgments Special thanks to all those on the databasics list who offered comments and suggestions regarding custom menus. Copyright

P.S. A few readers have asked which relational database platform we actually reach for — it's Claris FileMaker Pro; take a look here if you want the current details.