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About ATL

ATL (for Administration Table List) is a powerful and intuitive data visualization and editing tool for 4D developers.

For several decades, 4D's Use Mode provided a useful service to all developers and database administrators. It was a great maintenance tool, with its “Apply formula” function that at one time or another got us out of a complicated situation on a production application, but it did have several limitations:

  • only 1 window and 1 table displayed at a time
  • you had to remember to add new fields created in the list form, or create a new one using the form wizard
  • a strange bug that prevented the last field on large tables from being displayed, forcing you to rework the list form
  • inability to access data in Volume Desktop or Client-Server executable mode
  • impossible to view the contents of object fields or calculated fields
  • primary keys could not be edited or focused without modifying the list form (or at least copying and pasting them)
  • etc.

The Data Explorer has now supplanted the Use mode, especially since the Form Wizard has disappeared (v20). This new tool is extremely practical, providing immediate access to data, both for reading and editing (since 4D v20R4). The big advantage of the Data Explorer is that it allows remote access to data, even for Faceless applications (in service mode, for example). However, the Apply formula function is not available, at least for the time being.

BSPOKE's ATL offers an alternative or complementary solution to the Data Explorer, depending on individual preferences. Its main features are as follows:

  • it is a 4D interface, accessible from any type of deployment, including executable client-server,
  • multiple windows can be displayed at the same time, including multiple windows of the same table,
  • data creation and editing is instantaneous, with no need for confirmation,
  • ORDA links make it easy to navigate from table to table, from a record or from a manual selection of rows,
  • ORDA formulas can be applied to a selection of entities,
  • The “classic” search editor is available, as is an “ORDA” or “ORDA in selection” search.

ATL works with 4D v19 LTS and higher. It is totally free of charge, both for development and deployment.

In principle, ATL is for the use of the developer and has no limitations. However, it is possible to restrict certain aspects to allow use by certain users (administrators, advanced users).