4D combines a powerful relational database application, a high-performance SQL engine, a complete multi-platform development tool and a dynamic Web server.
You can use 4D to manage your own data or develop custom applications for different kinds of database management tasks.
For example, using 4D you can:
- Create a database structure with tables and fields,
- Design forms for entering, modifying, and displaying records,
- Search and sort records,
- Create reports and labels from information in the database,
- Import and export data between 4D databases and other applications,
- Publish your database on the World Wide Web.
With 4D, you can enhance conventional data management tasks with the following features:
- The powerful Form Wizard that lets you create sophisticated forms and reports with only point-and-click operations,
- A password access system to protect sensitive data,
- An integrated environment for generating charts that lets you produce a number of different chart types, extracted from the data,
- The capability to create custom applications with your own menus, dialog boxes, toolbars, and buttons; these applications can be compiled and distributed to other users,
- The possibility of using innumerable Web Services published on the Web within your database,
- A full-featured programming language that lets you incorporate commands or functions written in other languages.
- An SQL engine in compliance with standards which permits the creation of tables and fields as well as the handling and query of the database data.
- A centralized application verification and administration window.
Novice users can quickly create databases and begin managing their data. Experienced users can customize their databases with 4D’s development tools. More experienced developers can use 4D’s powerful programming language or SQL to add sophisticated features and capabilities to their databases, including file transfer, communications, and World Wide Web capabilities.