GEMBASE

[edit] Overview

Gembase is a 4GL programming language used to program the process manufacturing ERP system iRennaisance developed by Ross Systems.

Gembase allows the developer the use of five different types of forms for various user functions. These are:

QUERY_FORM - used to facilitate a user querying records in a database
TABLE_FORM - used to facilitate display of data in a tabular format
FORM - 'normal form' used to facilitate interaction between the user and the system via a visual display unit
REPORT_FORM - used to facilitate outputting information to a print (.LIS) file
PROCEDURE_FORM - used to facilitate some processing of records that generally do not require user interaction or output to a print file.

There are numerous options and switches that the developer may use to obtain desired functionality out of these forms.

Each of these forms may contain one or more of several different types of blocks. These are:

INPUT_BLOCK - used to allow the user to input values e.g. textbox in .NET
OUTPUT_BLOCK - used to allow the system to write to screen or to file e.g. label in .NET
YESNO_BLOCK - used to facilitate user input in a binary manner e.e. checkbox in .NET
PAUSE_BLOCK - used to pause processing until user provides keyboard input
BEGIN_BLOCK - used to factor processing code into a manageable chunk for readability

There are numerous options and switches that the developer may use to obtain desired functionality out of these blocks.