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Version: v18

Creating a 4D project

Requirements​

New 4D projects can only be created from 4D Developer (see Developing a project).

Note: 4D Server can open .4DProject files in read-only mode, for testing purposes only. For deployment, 4D projects are provided as .4dz files (zipped files). For more information, please refer to Building a project package.

You can create project databases by exporting existing binary databases. See "Export from a 4D database" on doc.4d.com.

Creating the project files​

To create a new database project:

  1. Launch a 4D Developer application.
  2. Select New > Database Project... from the File menu: OR Select Database Project... from the New toolbar button: A standard Save dialog box appears so that you can choose the name and location of the 4D database project main folder.
  3. Enter the name of your project folder and click Save. This name will be used:
  • as the name of the main project folder (named "MyFirstProject" in the Architecture of a 4D Project section example),
  • as the name of the .4DProject file at the first level of the "Project" folder. You can choose any name allowed by your operating system. Warning: if your database project is intended to work on other systems or to be saved via a source control tool, you must take their specific naming recommendations into account.

When you validate the dialog box, 4D closes the current database (if any), creates a project folder at the indicated location, and puts all the files needed for proper operation of the database project into it. For more information, refer to Architecture of a 4D Project.

Next, the 4D application window is displayed with the Explorer in the foreground. You can then, for example, create project forms or display the Structure editor and add tables, fields, etc.