Cross-platform document management

4D View, like 4D and 4D Server, is cross-platform. In other words, a database using 4D View created under Mac OS can be opened and used under Windows without any modification and vice-versa. Of course, these combinations are only possible if you have the corresponding software versions.

However, managing cross-platform 4D databases and 4D View documents requires following certain guidelines related to differences between the Mac OS and Windows operating systems.

The following table illustrates correspondence between Mac OS and Windows files for standard 4D View documents.

The following guidelines are important to keep in mind:

• Under Mac OS, 4D View uses the type and creator to recognize documents (for example, type 4DPV, creator 4DSP = 4D View document). To describe pathnames, the disk contains a name and the ":" symbol is used to separate folders (example: "MyDisk:Folder1:Folder2:MyBase").
• Under Windows, 4D View uses the extension to recognize documents (for example: extension .4PV = 4D View document). To describe pathnames, the disk has a letter and the “\” symbol is used to separate directories (for example: "D:\Directory1\Directory2\Mybase").
• A 4D View document created under Mac OS and copied under Windows can open directly if it was saved with its extension. For example, the document "MyDoc" saved as "MyDoc.4PV", copied to PC, will be opened without any changes.
• A 4D View document created under Windows and copied under Mac OS will open without any changes.

4D View manages templates in a totally transparent manner for the user under both Mac OS and Windows client machines regardless of the server platform.

• If the server is under Mac OS, the template will be named “AreaName_”.
• If the server is under Windows, the template will be named “AreaName_.4PV”.