Sending HTML Email?
Hi All, I've sent a lot of email generated by 4D over the years, but it is time to up the game and send crisper looking stuff. So I've been playing with sending HTML. The problem is that when the email arrives, it displays all the tags in the mail client! For some reason, the mail client (I've tried several) doesn't "know" that the email is to be displayed in HTML. Other emails are displayed in HTML (just not mine), so I know it is not a mail client setting to render all email as text only. I've tried a variety of headers (I've omitted the greater than and less than signs so it doesn't mess things up on your display) html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml; meta content="text/html;charset=3DUTF-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" / and even plain and simple old: html All produce email that when saved as a text file and viewed in a browser, look great. But when they are received by an email client, look like...raw HTML code. What to do? Or should I forget about it and use an API to some service? many thanks, Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
RE: What happened to 4D documentation in R releases?
Yes, v16 brings a somewhat frustrating "new" approach to documentation. In fact, I postponed looking at v16 until there were PDF docs, which were not released until several _months_ after v16 came out (there were html docs, but no PDF docs). I am also frustrated by how the documentation has been handled with the R-releases; if you look at the website right now, there are pages (I won't call it documentation) for "What's New" for both v16R5beta and v16r4, which is great - but there's nothing on v16r3 and v16r2. Why would I be interested in those docs, since those features are included in r4? Because the Upgrade manual is so useful to describe the incremental changes in that release. Without it, I have to really dig to find out what I might have missed in r2, r3. Richard brings up another frustration: Starting with v16 r-releases, there really have not been Upgrade manuals, there have been "What's New" pages, and I agree - this is NOT documentation. While one can jump into the documentation guided by the "What's New" page, just try to find "What's New" page for v16r2 and v16r3...they just aren't there anymore. I respecfully request that when any version, R-release or not, is released, that an Upgrade manual is released in tandem that describes each new feature in detail -eg. "real" documentation" - and that these Upgrade manuals remain posted in perpetuity just like they have been for pre-v16 versions. My $.02 - Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Object fields (Was: Re: QUERY BY ATTRIBUTE is slow af)
Along the lines of, "what is an appropriate use of an object field", I've been considering this: We are a manufacturing company with lots of tools and lots of products. Each tool has various attributes, but each tool type has a different set of characteristics. Silly example that I hope everyone can follow: if the tool type is "screwdriver" then the attributes might be: Tip Type (blade, Phillips, Torx, etc.) Tip Size (#1 or #2) Shank length (in mm) Handle diameter (in mm) ...If the tool type, however, is "hammer" then the attributes might be: Head type (claw, peen, sledge, etc.) Claw shape Head weight Shank material Shank length Grip Type ...and many more Common to all tools, regardless of tool type are attributes such as: Tool ID Tool Type - which determines the format and contents of the object field that contains the attributes Storage Location Purchase Date Condition (good, fair, poor, unusable) Status (ready to use, in use, lost) 90% of the time users want to enter a Tool ID to retrieve the Storage Location, Condition, and Status. 10% of the time they know the tool type but don't know the tool ID and want to query for a tool to do the job, using one or several attributes. I've been thinking that because there are so many tool types and so many attribute "collections", an object field might be a good place to store the attribute data in name-value pairs. This way I don't have to have a table with every single attribute name, which would be a problem because I don't know them in advance (users want to be able to specify the attributes themselves, along with the attribute value of course) and many tools do not share many attributes, so a big mostly-empty record would result if I used fields. The object field on a record with Tool Type = "screwdriver" would contain attributes for a screwdriver, while the object field on a record with a different Tool Type would contain a different set of attributes. A table for "Tool Type" would have one record for each tool type and could also use an object field to contain the attribute names, since this would be more handy than having multiple records for each tool type, one for each attribute name. The normalized, relational model isn't really needed here, though of course it could be used. An object field seems ideal for this kind of application, and 'Query by Attribute' certainly makes it possible. There are always LOTS of ways to solve a problem, but do you agree that an object field is a good way to solve this one? If it is a mediocre way to solve it, I'd like to hear your comments! Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
[Off] Remote backup
Hi Jeff, This is a great idea, I had not thought of it. Let me repeat it back to see if I have it: [Server#1] Runs 4D Server that users are actively using. Code in a loop on the 4D Server calls "New Log File" every 10 minutes. Code in the loop then calls LEP to a script to transfer the last journal file to [Server#2]. [Server#2] Runs 4D Server that users aren't aware of. Code in a loop on the 4D Server detects that a complete journal file has arrived (as it will every ten minutes, my uncertainty is how it knows the file transfer is complete) and integrates it using INTEGRATE MIRROR LOG FILE. Code in the loop then calls LEP to a script to transfer this journal file to [Server#3]. 4D Backup runs on this machine and sends its backup file to [Server#3] [Server#3] This is a repository, nothing is actively running on it, it could be iCloud, Amazon S3, etc. Do I have this basically correct? Then some technical questions: It would seem that Server#1 never runs 4D Backup, because any restoration would be done using Server#2. Nevertheless, if Server#1 started up and somehow choked, a "normal" behavior would be to restore from backup and integrate the log file. Since this behavior would be turned off, what is the procedure you use if Server #1 won't start? Do you copy the mirror on Server #2 to Server#1? How do you handle the timing, so that [Server#2] knows that the file transfer is complete and it is OK to integrate the log file? Does [Server#1] somehow send a 'I'm Done' message to [Server#2] in your implementation? What do you do if [Server#1] dies to now point users to [Server#2], assuming the Server application is a built application so that the server address and port number are built into the (built) 4D Client? Many thanks! Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Re: Restricting a query
RE> I have a table which contains records for 10 different clients. I'd like to give a client the ability to search the table for only his records and not be able to see any of the other clients' records. Is it possible to do this using the standard 4D Query editor by always applying an additional search criteria eg clientID=xxx? Or do I need to build my own custom query editor? I'm using 4D 15.4. Michael, I *wish* you could use this with Views, but today Views only support SQL. Please vote for my feature request (when you open the request, you'll see a row of stars - click on the starts to give the request a 1-star, 2-star, or preferably 4-star rating). This feature requests asks that since views are virtual tables, to allow all 4D query commands to point to the view as if it were a table: http://forums.4d.com/Post/EN/13716634/1/13716635#13716635 In the meantime, you can certainly add a QUERY SELECTION line after calling the 4D query editor. Best regards, Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Re: Someone help me out, how do you get good information out of 4D
RE> The people I meant to write to know perfectly well my history and what I'm talking about - and know that it's form a quarter of a century ago. (By now, virtually no one from those days is even around.) David, Virtually no one? Really? Come back to the US for the next Summit and you'll see all of us :) Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Using a custom icon in Confirm dialogs
Hi Everyone, Someplace I read that you can take an .ico file (icon) and place it somewhere so that when you build a 4D app, that icon is used instead of the 4D icon on the 'Confirm' dialog. I had this working, then rebuilt my system and obviously things moved around, because now it doesn't work. Worse, I can't find in any of my notes or in the KB what this technique was. Does this ring a bell to anyone who can steer me in the right direction? Many thanks, Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Securing ODBC Connections?
Hi Everyone, I've been digging through the docs and not finding answers to my questions, which might be under my nose, but I'd appreciate help: > An outside application (non-4D; "real world" stuff) - needs to pull data from our 4D Server (Win, v15.x) via an ODBC connection. I can see how to turn ODBC on, but it is not clear how the 4D password system works for authentication (how is the userid and password passed inside the SQL query from the outside system?) > I don't quite get the concept of 'Schemas' - it appears that I need to put the tables I will allow access via ODBC into a Schema, but it is not clear what I need to do with the other tables (that should not be accessible via ODBC). This is the source of confusion, from the 4D Design Ref (v15), talking abtout setting types of access to schemas: "More specifically, if you only assign Read Only type access to one group this will not have any effect since this group as well as all the others will continue to benefit from Read/Write access (assigned to by default). In order to set a Read Only type access, you also need to configure the Read/Write access." I"m not clear at all about why "this will not have any effect...") > Ideally I'd like to create a view and only allow the ODBC connection to query on the view. I'm not clear on how this works with the Schema idea. Anyone have some experience they are willing to share? I most appreciate it! Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Re: USE DATABASE from 4D client
RE> rather activating the "execute on server" method property, I would recommend using the REMOTE keyword: http://doc.4d.com/4Dv15/4D/15/USE-DATABASE.300-2288124.en.html I don't understand how this would make any difference; the REMOTE database would still be held open until AUTO_CLOSE was called, or the calling process ended - so the database would remain locked to other users. How does REMOTE allow the database to remain open (so there is minimal overhead to call USE DATABASE) to other users? Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Re: Query selection by example.
RE> Is there a way of doing a query by example, on an aleady queried
selection
of records? I want to create a selection of records, based on some
internal criterea,
and then present that selection, in the form of Query by Example, to the
user.
Sure, I use this method with great results (the argument is a pointer to
the table you want to query, where there is already a current selection)
CREATE SET(vDefaultFile->;"TempSet")
QUERY BY EXAMPLE(vDefaultFile->;*)
If (OK=1)
If (Records in set("TempSet")>0) //new 11/19/2014 - don't prompt
to search in selection if there were no records in the selection
CREATE SET(vDefaultFile->;"ResultSet")
INTERSECTION("TempSet";"ResultSet";"ResultSet")
USE SET("ResultSet")
CLEAR SET("ResultSet")
Else
//do nothing
End if //`records in set("TempSet")>0
End if //`OK=1 on Query by Example
CLEAR SET("TempSet")
Bob Miller
Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation
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4D World Tour - Go!
Hi Everyone, I'll pitch in here, too - I attended the World Tour in Chicago earlier this week (yeah, I live in Boston where it is also offered, but that's another story). I was impressed with the amount of preparation the 4D team did for the tour, with many good examples on the USB key and good, practical presentations. I got a lot out of the demo on the use of subforms and how they have their separate 'scope' - the idea of modular form design, reusing various bits by using subforms - is a game changer for me. Also JPR's commentary on what's coming and what you should do now to get ready for it was illuminating: get on the CALL FORM and CALL worker bandwagon, sensibly prepare for 64 bit, start getting rid of interprocess variables and MODIFY RECORD, etc. JPR always has good insights into what you should be doing now to make life better later. The second day to me was worth the money with just the demo database that showed how to use objects to create user-created "fields". There's a lot of new good stuff in this realm, such as being able to query within an objects contents and such. If you are not using objects yet, or even if you are, this is a great day of learning. So I can recommend from my own experience that your time will be well spent. Go when it is in your area. You get a USB key for each day that is loaded with stuff, including a 42 page "Moving to v16" manual written by JPR. Hope this helps some folks! Bob Miler Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Re: Host Structure in a component-Enhancing 4D Code-you really want to see this
Hi Nigel, One word: Niice! How did you insert an event 'on object method close', when you added code to the button? Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Re: 4D Server - Not letting go of users
RE> If a client/user does a force quit (i.e. Task Manager) Just yesterday I had a problem where we had some 'license count exceeded' messages - very rare - and I noticed that we had people who were logged in for days. Some had force-quit and others had simply closed their remote desktop sessions, but 4D Server never released them. This is with Windows v15r4. Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Weird variable (non-)refresh issue
Hi Everyone, I have a situation where I have a variable on an input form that I set programmatically immediately before opening a dialog window (using the "Plain Window" window type). When I move the dialog to the side (to see the input form, now in the background), the variable still has its "old" value. I know the variable is being set because I tried setting the variable value to the clipboard before opening the dialog (the new value gets there). When the dialog is closed, the variable is updated with the new value. I've tried throwing in a REDRAW(variablename) and even a DELAY PROCESS(Current process;60) - but neither has any effect. I noticed that the same effect happens even when an ALERT is called instead of opening a dialog - the variable does not display its new value in the background. All of this is in the same process, of course. I've tried using process variable displayed on the form as well as an object without a variable name (using Object Get Pointer to set the value) - same results. It is important that the screen properly show the "new" value in the input form so it is visible in the background when the dialog is open. Any thoughts? Anyone seen this? How to get a window to refresh before opening another window? I was quite surprised that even the Delay Process didn't do it Many thanks! Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Adding fields to tables using SQL
Hello, I'm tired of the structure editor and how it requires you to add fields one at a time and how the field palette disappears each time 4D loses focus. I created my own little "Field Adder"utility where I can specify a table, then drop a list of field names and data types from two rows in Excel into a listbox. I then spin through it and do the following: > Check if that field name exists in the table > If not, create it using the specified datatype > If an index is requested, add it, too. This SQL works great (using Execute Immediate with this value as the parameter): ALTER TABLE GlobalPricebook ADD TRAILING PB_LTPrefix01 VARCHAR (20) The problem is that newly created fields do not have the attribute, "Map NULL values to blank values", so I still have to return to the structure to check this property. I've tried this with SQL: ALTER TABLE GlobalPricebook ADD TRAILING PB_LTPrefix01 VARCHAR (20) NOT NULL ...but this will fail, giving this error message: // Begin Error Message Failed to execute ALTER TABLE command. Error code: 1058 Failed to execute ALTER TABLE command. component: 'dbmg' task -1, name: 'Application process' Error code: 1808 Failed to execute ALTER TABLE command. component: 'SQLS' task -1, name: 'Application process' 1058 Cannot add field in table GlobalPricebook 1052 Cannot update definition of table GlobalPricebook 1118 Cannot set field to mandatory for table GlobalPricebook // End Error Message I've also tried this after creating the field: ALTER TABLE GlobalPricebook MODIFY PB_LTPrefix01 ENABLE NOT NULL ...but this fails, too - the error is 'parsing error' after the '01' in the field name. I don't understand why this is failing. I'm also not 100% sure that NOT NULL gives me what I want, because in the SQL reference is says that "Reject Null value input" corresponds exactly to the NOT NULL attribute. Is there a way to set this property programmatically? Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Structure and Data File do not match
Hi Everyone, During a recent upgrade where I created a compiled/merged app with 4D Server, when I deploy the new compiled/merged app I get this message: The structure and data fiels to not correspond to each other. The data file cannot be opened with the structure. This is in v15r4, and I swear this brings back memories of the old WEDD resource, now long gone. For the life of me I can't figure out what's going on. > The 4D Developer I'm using is the same exact version and release as the 4D Server I'm merging with > I've done this hundreds of times to deploy to "Server A" and a few times already to a new "Server B" - this is happening on "Server B" > The data file was created using the compiled/merged app when it was first deployed on "Server B" > If I copy the data file from "Server B" to my developer machine, I get the same error. I'm not aware of what ties a structure file to a data file and I've never seen this before. Any ideas? many thanks!! Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
Detecting field properties that can take nulls
Hello All, In troubleshooting a recent problem, I found that I had inadvertently unchecked "Map NULL values to Blank values" on a field definition. I'd like to scan the database to see if I may have made the same mistake for any other fields. I'm coming up short on a way to do that using Get Field Properties. I don't want to scan every record of every field of every table, all I want to do is find whether my structure definition is wrong. I've also dug through the SQL reference, and I'm not seeing any way to see field attributes. Any ideas? Many thanks - Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
RE: iNUG List "From" Change
Per Tim Penner > The new behavior you see is called munging the address Wow, a new tech word! Actually not new at all - the origin per Wikipedia is actually in 1958 at MIT. Geez, where was I? "Mung or munge is computer jargon for a series of potentially destructive or irrevocable changes to a piece of data or a file. It is sometimes used for vague data transformation steps that are not yet clear to the speaker. Common munging operations include removing punctuation or html tags, data parsing, filtering, and transformation." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mung_(computer_term) Hmmm...sounds like a counterrevolution to the guys who promote data quality... Bob Miller Chomerics, a division of Parker Hannifin Corporation ** 4D Internet Users Group (4D iNUG) FAQ: http://lists.4d.com/faqnug.html Archive: http://lists.4d.com/archives.html Options: http://lists.4d.com/mailman/options/4d_tech Unsub: mailto:4d_tech-unsubscr...@lists.4d.com **
