Argus Productions Inc.

01/05/2026

Been sitting on the sideline of updating from Windows 10 to v11.

Has it got better in the last 3 months - NO.

Microsoft’s push to embed AI deeply into Windows 11 is backfiring as users report real-world failures, performance issues, and features that don’t work as ad...

03/08/2025

New BLOG section at Argus Productions.

Follow along here, or on our website.

Building custom software solutions to help you deliver Excellence.

10/19/2024

Drop by our new web page.

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Building custom software solutions to help you deliver Excellence.

09/04/2024

Working on the new version of Argus Development Tools in 20R5. We are enjoying updating from classic 4D to ORDA 4D code through out.

Though throughout the new version methods are getting total rewrites. The Application Statistics is a great example of the speed of ex*****on, and reduction of lines of code to write.

In the example of the Statistics display, we are taking advantage of a Collection listbox with all it's speed, and placing of an object in each row (that is how it is accomplished).

In this case we can very quickly calculate most anything contained the the listbox. In the example here in the Total method Stats area we provide stats on the whole application. The processing Time is how long it takes to generate these stats. Remember this is uncompiled, so in a compiled component it will be much faster.

You can see the various information we are providing about the code. The 'To Polish' is the indicator of code that we have indicated we want to add functionality to the method. The 'Compulsory' is the indicator of code that we have indicated we must add functionality to the method. The Linter will always flag the Compulsories.

In the bottom section we provide the same statistics on what ever is in the current selection of methods in the Method Finder listbox. This permits you to view these stats on an infinite subset of methods based on your interest.

This all occurs in milliseconds of code ex*****on.

Of linked interest take a look at the auto generated manual for a method in an earlier post here.

At the top of the popup menu, note that you can generate complete documentation for the Developer using the Update manual - Dev. This option uses the code in each method to create the documentation for developers. All with just a click every method's documentation is updated to the very latest.

This documentation is available in the Method Finder, and in 4D's Method Explorer - Documentation Tab.

NO MORE EXCUSES for not having the documentation done for each and every method.🥳

08/20/2024

Argus Development Environment (ADE) gives you access to hundreds of powerful methods. Of course every method we give you access to has clear and precise manuals. This documentation is available right in the component, in the Component Method Explorer. Remember a previous post, all our documentation is written by our code based on the code within the method. Therefore it is always correct and up to date. It only takes a method call and ALL documentation for the whole component is refreshed. We really like making things precise and easy to do! We are lazy that way...

Who reads documentation though! Not a problem we have you covered there too. The attached little video shows you how ADE will guide you through selecting what attributes are available and the possible options for each attribute are. This way you do not need to refer to the documentation as often.

Type the method name in, and highlight the method name. From the Macro button select the appropriate macro. In this case it is the default.

Right away ADE analyzes the code in the component method, and walks you through adding in the attributes available for the method you have highlighted. Easier, less thinking, accurate code, with far less mistakes. All fantastic things for developers.

If you have been following the development of ADE, are you getting excited about trying ADE out? ADE is being rewritten in version 21 of 4D using the latest features of 4D. Objects, Collections, ORDA, etc. Keep watching here to learn about more of the features, and when it becomes available for purchase.

08/02/2024

Getting the developers to document the code they write is a challenge. In past articles we have discussed how Argus Development Tools helps you know what is done and what is not done.

The Argus Development Tool includes a Documentation tool. This is code written in 4D. The developers place some code at the start of each method. This code is all part of the items needed for the rest of Argus Development Tools needs. Change some items to indicate the function names, and a description. Developers get to work in code. They do not need to think about formatting, appearance, fonts, font size etc. That is all handled for them.

They can then choose to generate the documentation right there. The documentation for the method is generated right on screen and displayed in their chosen Mark Up Language editor. In my case Typora.

They can look over the clear, standard formatted documentation to ensure it is correct. If there is a mistake, or something missing, just add it into the code.

When the documentation is generated it is automatically placed in the correct folder in 4D. Therefore when multiple developers are using GIT, they automatically get all the nicely formatted documentation for all the methods from all the developers.

Here is an example of Documentation for a method:

07/18/2024

Check out how ORDA can enhance your application.

ORDAAn Innovative Way to Access your Data. Bring your Data and Business Logic Together with Style Imagine accessing your data with an object-oriented approach without worrying about its physical structure. Imagine interacting with the whole database as if it was a single object rather than writing c...

07/16/2024

07/16/2024

The software development company that I started, and eventually our whole family was involved in sold, supported, and trained people to use it around the world.

We did this before there was a 'public' internet. Therefore at the beginning we had to go to all new sites to install. Soon our software got so comprehensive that we would go on site to train everyone to use it.

In Hospitals and medical clinics the Schedulers, transcriptionists, billing staff, nursing, physio, and MDs would use the software extensively. Therefore we would go on site to train everyone on using the software so that they could be productive from day one.

One of the sites we went to was in Kyrgyzstan. We installed the software at the main clinic in Bishkek, as well as at the work stite at the Kumtor Gold Mine.

The is one of the largest gold mines in Central Asia. The mine has been producing gold since 1997 and has produced over 13.8 million ounces of gold as of June 30, 2022. At 13,000 feet, the mine is the second-highest in the world, behind only Yanacocha in Peru.

While on site, one worker was lost as his D-9 cat fell down a crevice on the Glacier.

07/13/2024

If you have gone through ISO 9000 Certification you know that they go through the organization from top to bottom, and to every corner of the organization. They talk to all levels of people in the organization, check documentation, and procedures.

This is not a certification that is a weeks work to go through. You need to ensure that your organization People, processes, records, and products have truly using the processes you claim.

Having taken a Medical Software Vendor through the whole process I understand the how, why, and what to accomplish this.

If you software company does not have tool(s) like the ARGUS Development Tools you will likely not pass the certification. With all people involved in the software development, testing, release of the software using ARGUS Development Tool you can have high confidence of the quality of your released software. As well, you can prove that you have high quality.

The ARGUS Development Tool gives you tools to ensure quality, that you have documented the needs, tracked who did it and when, that each requirement has been tested. The ARGUS Development Tool is more than a documentation tool. It actually reviews the code. It examines each graphic element of the application. It ensures that the code meets your standards with the Linter tool, the graphic analysis lets you find where graphics are not correct, and to correct them quickly.

There is so much more than can be mentioned in a FaceBook post. Software projects are complex with millions of pieces.

With the ARGUS Development Tool, and related products you can rest easy that the team is achieving your goals. The Customers can use the software trusting that it does what they have been promised.