What Kinds of Programs Can I Define?

(ADW) You can define six kinds of programs with Application Development Workbench: online inquiry, online update, menu, batch report, batch update, and import/export.

(4GL) You can define only three kinds of programs with Environment 4GL: online inquiry, batch report, and import/export.

• An online inquiry program retrieves data from the database and displays it in a form. For instructions, see Online Programs.

• An online update program (Workbench only) retrieves data from the database and displays the data on a form. It can also add records to the database, delete records from the database, and update records in the database. For instructions, see Online Programs.

• A menu program (Workbench only) is an online program that can access forms, reports, and other menus in a system. Menu programs do not interact with the database; they only provide transfer between forms. For instructions, see Defining a Menu Program.

• A batch report program retrieves data from the database and writes it to a printer or to a file. For instructions, see Batch Programs.

• A batch update program updates data from the database and produces a report. (Workbench only.) For instructions, see Batch Programs.

• An import and export program exports data from a file in one database (data area/data ID), allowing you to import it to a file in another database (data area/data ID).

  You can define record selection conditions and parameters for an import/export program, making the program export only the records that satisfy the conditions and parameters. If you do not define conditions or parameters, the program exports all file records. For instructions, see Defining an Import/Export Program.