Methods Page
This page contains parameters defining the Method editor interface and it default display as well as options concerning its operation. It is divided into two sections accessed using the Theme and Options tabs.
Themes
This page allows selecting, creating, or configuring Method editor themes. A theme defines the font, font size, colors and styles of items displayed in the code editor.
Theme list
In this list, you select the theme to apply to the code editor. All available themes are displayed, including custom themes (if any). 4D provides two themes by default:
- Default Light Theme
- Default Dark Theme
Default themes cannot be modified or deleted.
A myTheme theme is automatically added if you already customized method editor styles in previous 4D releases.
Creating custom themes
You can create themes that you can fully customize. To create a theme, select an existing theme and click on the + at the bottom of the theme list. You can also add customized themes by copying theme files in the 4D Editor Themes folder (see below).
Custom theme files
Each custom theme is stored in a single JSON file named themeName.json The JSON files for custom themes are stored in the 4D Editor Themes folder located at the same level as the 4D preferences file.
If key values are not defined in a custom theme, they default to the values from the Default Light Theme. If a JSON theme file is invalid, the Default Light Theme is loaded and an error is generated.
When a theme file is modified by an external editor, 4D must be restarted to take the modification(s) into account.
Theme definition
Defining a theme means:
- setting a global font and font size for the whole code editor,
- assigning specific styles and colors to each 4D language element (fields, tables, variables, parameters, SQL, etc.), SQL language element (keywords, functions, etc.), and color backgrounds.
Combining different colors and styles is particularly useful for code maintenance purposes.
Font and Font size
The font and font size menus allows you to select the font name and size used in the Method editor entry area for all categories.
4D Language and SQL Language
You can set different font styles and colors (font color or background color) for each type of language element. You can select the element(s) to customize in the Category list.
Other Styles
These options configure the various colors used in the Method editor and debugger interfaces.
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Background color | Background color of Method editor window. |
| Border of the running line in the debugger | Color of the border surrounding the line currently running in the debugger when the "Highlight line running" option is enabled in the Options page. |
| Cursor line background color | Background color of line containing the cursor. |
| Execution line background color | Background color of line being executed in the debugger. |
| Highlight of the found words | Highlight color of words found in a search. |
| Highlight of the parentheses | Highlight color of corresponding parentheses (used when pairs of parentheses are signaled by highlighting, see Options). |
| Highlight of the blocks | Highlight color for selected logical blocks when the "Highlight logical blocks" option is enabled in the Options. |
| Highlight of the same variable or field | Highlight color for other occurrences of the same variable or field text when one of the "Highlighting variables and text" option is enabled in the Options. |
| Highlight of the running line in the debugger | Highlight color of the line currently running in the debugger when the "Highlight line running" option is enabled in the Options. |
| Selection back color | Background color of selection. |
| Suggested text | Color of autocomplete text suggested by the Method editor. |
Options
This page configures Method editor display options.
Options
4D Programming Language (Use regional system settings)
Allows you to disable/enable the "international" code settings for the local 4D application.
- unchecked (default): English-US settings and the English programming language are used in 4D methods.
- checked: Regional settings are used in 4D methods.
If you modify this option, you need to restart the 4D application so that the change is taken into account.
Indentation
Changes the indentation value for the 4D code in the Method editor. The width must be specified in points (10 by default).
4D code is automatically indented in order to reveal its structure:
Modifying this default value can be useful if your methods contain complex algorithms with many levels of embedding. Narrower indentation can be used in order to limit horizontal scrolling.
Show Line Numbers
Lets you display the line numbers by default in each window of the Method editor. You can also show/hide line numbers for the current window directly from the Method editor.
Show Lists
Lets you choose whether or not to show the lists of objects (Commands, Tables and fields, etc.) by default when the Method editor window is opened. You can also show or hide each list directly from the Method editor.
Highlight the logical blocks
When checked, the whole code belonging to a logical block (If/End if for example) is highlighted when the mouse is placed over the expanded node:
The highlight color can be set in the Theme page.
Always show block lines
Allows to hide vertical block lines permanently. The block lines are designed to visually connect nodes. By default, they are always displayed (except when collapse/expand icons are hidden, see below).
Hide collapse/expand icons
Allows you to hide all expand/collapse icons by default when displaying code. When the option is checked, node icons (as well as local block lines, see above), are displayed temporarily when the mouse is placed over a node:
Insert () and closing } ) ] "
Enables automatic insertion of () and closing braces while typing code. This option controls two automatic features:
-
parentheses pair (): Added after a 4D command, keyword or project method inserted from a suggestion or completion list, if the inserted element requires one or more mandatory arguments. For example, if you type "C_OB" and press Tab, 4D writes "C_OBJECT()" and sets the insertion point inside the ().
-
closing }, ), ], or ": Character added when you type respectively an opening {, (, ], or ". This feature allows inserting matching pairs of symbols at the insertion point or surrounding a selected text. For example, if you highlight a string and type a single ", the whole selected string will be enclosed in "":
Matching [](){}
Sets the graphic signaling of matching braces in the code. This signaling appears whenever a square bracket, parenthesis, or curly bracket is selected. The following options are available:
- None: No signaling
- Rectangle (default): Braces surrounded by a black line
- Background Color: Braces highlighted (the color is set in the Theme page).
- Bold: Braces displayed in bold.
Highlighted variables and fields
Allows to highlight all occurrences of the same variable or field in an open method window.
- No(default): No highlight
- On cursor: All occurrences are highlighted when the text is clicked
- On selection: All occurrences are highlighted when the text is selected
The highlight color can be set in the Theme page.
Debug (Highlight the line running)
Highlights the line that is currenty running in the debugger in addition to the regular yellow arrow indicator.
If you deselect this option, only the yellow arrow is shown.
Suggestions
This area lets you configure autocomplete mechanisms in the Method editor to adapt it to your own work habits.
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Automatic opening of window for | Triggers the automatic display of the suggestion window for:
 You can disable this functioning for certain elements of the language by deselecting their corresponding option. |
| Validation of a suggestion for | Sets the entry context that allows the Method editor to validate automatically the current suggestion displayed in the autocomplete window.
|