Preface

version 1.5

4D for Oracle is a set of 4th Dimension external routines that allows a 4th Dimension database to communicate with an Oracle database. Using 4D for Oracle, your 4th Dimension database can display, manipulate, and modify data stored in an Oracle database.

This manual describes how to implement, use, and modify systems that integrate an Oracle server with a 4th Dimension database.

The manual is written for users already familiar with the 4th Dimension language and with Oracle's SQL language. We recommend that new users familiarize themselves with both products before continuing with the manual.

The manual is divided into four main sections:

• Chapter 1, "Introduction," introduces the major concepts of 4D for Oracle, and explains some of the design choices you need to make when you are developing your front-end applications.

• Chapters 2 to 5 discuss two methods of managing data. The first method is to use contexts to link the data in 4th Dimension with the data in Oracle. The second method is to use low-level commands to send and execute SQL statements on the Oracle server.

• Chapters 6 to 10 are the 4D for Oracle Language Reference. These chapters describe each command in the 4D for Oracle language.

• In addition, several appendixes give you additional information: Appendix A, Type Conversions, summarizes the conversion process between Oracle to 4th Dimension. Appendix B, Values Returned by Functions, lists the values returned by 4D for Oracle functions. Appendix C, Error Codes, lists the error codes that can occur in 4D for Oracle.

This manual explains the use of 4D for Oracle both on the Macintosh and in Windows. Although the concepts and functionality of both versions of 4D for Oracle are nearly identical, the manual addresses any differences where necessary. Such differences include the graphical user interface and keyboard commands.

This manual contains graphics illustrating both the Macintosh and Windows environments.

4D for Oracle can be used with either 4th Dimension or 4D Server. When used with 4D for Oracle, 4th Dimension enables you to create a database that can become a client of the Oracle database. Each user with a copy of the database can connect to and use the Oracle database simultaneously.

4D Server allows you to create a multi-developer database application. When used with 4D for Oracle, 4D Server allows multiple developers to connect to an Oracle database.

In this manual, 4th Dimension and 4D Server are both referred to as 4th Dimension except when there is a difference between the behavior of the two products.

This manual uses certain conventions to help you understand the material.

The following explanatory notes are used:

Note: Text emphasized like this provides annotations and shortcuts that will help you use 4th Dimension more productively.

Warning: Warnings like this alert you to situations where data might be lost.

In this manual, 4D for Oracle commands are printed in all uppercase letters, for example: OD BIND TOWARDS SQL. All 4D for Oracle commands added to 4th Dimension are preceded by the letters OD.

4D for Oracle functions are shown with an initial capital letter: OD Number of columns.

In addition, all table names are shown in brackets in the text to help distinguish them from the names of fields, forms, and other items. For instance, the Companies table is written as the [Companies] table.