4th Generation Language
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The term fourth generation language (4GL) is by no means a new one [12], yet it continues to convey a variety of meanings. 4GL's have been described variously as non-procedural, end-user, and very-high-level languages. A non-procedural language is a problem oriented language in which the user specifies the results desired and the language produces the appropriate procedures or algorithms. 4GL's have been variously described as including numerous tools, for example: report writers, form generators, relational database management systems, and applications generators.[13,14] While each of these tools are generally described as being non-procedural, most of them have procedural components which can be used to enhance the capabilities of the non-procedural elements.
A set of principles which provides a broad working definition of a 4GL. This definition holds that all 4GL's include:
(1) Database structures and programming
(2) A centralized data dictionary
(3) A graded-skill interface
(4) Visual Programming
(5) An interactive, integrated, multi-function programming environment.
found in BASIC or PASCAL.
As programming languages go, the dBase language is relatively structured. The unconditional branch (GOTO statement) is not supported while structured programming elements such as DO WHILE and DO CASE are included...