Question

Differentiate between 3 GLs and 4 GLs.

Answer 1

A 4GL language is a programming language having language features that makes it particular suitable for a certain type of programming. So the event orientation is certainly one of the baan 4gl features. However, I would also count the language that Baan calls "3GL" under the 4GL languages, because of the inline sql and very tight integration between the 3GL languages features like variables and the database accessing. Writing smething like temp=tiitm001.item for getting the value of a database record field into a program variable is already 4GL in my opinion.
Technically, the difference between a Baan 4Gl and a Baan 3GL script is that a 4GL script is treated by a special precompiler first. This precompiler translates it into a Baan 3GL script, which then is compiled into the final baan object. The sections of the 4GL script are mapped to functions in the 3GL script. During runtime, that script gets linked to a standard DLL which does the basic user interface handling and calls the methods of the created object. may this help u

Answer 2

3GLs (Third-generation programming languages) are categorized as procedural languages, because the program instructions are procedure-oriented and contain a series of steps that not only tell the computer what to do, but how to do it. On the other hand, 4GLs (Fourth-generation programming languages) are non-procedural languages; they enable users and developers to write programs that only specify what the computer is supposed to do and not how it is meant to do it.