The Final Verse
Mantra: From completeness, clarity. From clarity, power.
Tagline: The first and final verse of any application.

zen_Nucleus

Overview

zen_Nucleus is much more than a component; it is a complete framework. Its purpose is to bind the ogToolsSuite and provide a full set of ORDA-based managers for lists, records, and essential development tools. Think of it as an out-of-the-box database solution that lets you focus on business logic, not the underlying engine. With zen_Nucleus, development is streamlined into intuitive widget placement and tuning.

Key Features

Complete Framework

• ORDA-Based Managers: Full set of managers for lists, records, and essential development tools.
• Out-of-the-Box Solution: Ready-to-use database solution that lets you focus on business logic.
• Proven Migration Path: Successfully migrated 10-year-old classic databases to full ORDA in just a few straightforward steps.

Core Functionality for Lists, Records, and Relations

• Relational Joins: Manages relational joins between tables and provides widgets for both one-to-many and many-to-one relationships.
• Record Picker: For selecting a single parent record (1←).
• Sublist Interface: With Add, Modify, and Delete commands for managing child records (←N).

Main Menus

Access to your Root lists and other features is provided through multiple interfaces: the standard Menu bar, a comprehensive database menu, and an accordion-style menu. A class within the Host, invoked by zen_Nucleus through a shared Formula, manages all of these menus.

Windowing System

zen_Nucleus uses the wox_Xlibrary windowing system to tile all open Lists and Records. The forms animate into place with a customizable curve (set in the preferences), ensuring your screen space is used efficiently.

Extensible Lists

Lists are highly extensible. They can be enhanced with extra buttons integrated from the Host and can even incorporate a Host subForm to function as a dynamic Business Filter. All associated assets, including buttons and icons, are also sourced from the Host.

Intelligent Widgets

zen_meta & zen_record: Each record is automatically equipped with two specialized widgets:

• zen_meta: Manages the record's Unique ID (UID) and associated metadata, including field sizes, schema generation from object fields, and audit trail visibility (creation and last modification stamps).
• zen_record: Handles record navigation, including navigation, state management, change tracking, and dialog triggers.

zen_sublist: Provides an intuitive interface for managing one-to-many (←N) relations. It automatically handles adding, modifying, deleting, and additional actions for child records. Configuration is simple: just declare the target Table, the name of the foreign key field, and the sort order field. It also provides full support for managing ordered sublists.

zen_c4ES / zen_c4ESWidget: Supports both single and multiple selection modes, configurable via the is_multiple property. These widgets can be bound to any foreign key, making them perfect for standalone use anywhere in your application. The widget includes an intelligent button with an automatically assigned table icon from Host. A click triggers a dynamic interface:

• If the related table is below a configurable record threshold, a selection menu appears.
• If the table exceeds the threshold, a dedicated zen_c4ESWidget in a form opens for more powerful, windowed selection.

Multi-Transpositions

With the beautiful Protée UI, you can seamlessly transpose data across multiple related tables in a single step—even through complex, multi-level relationships.

List Builder

Every List and sublist is defined by a JSON configuration file. This system provides an extensive set of parameters and pre-built meta-formulas — powered by ogToolsSuite — allowing you to effortlessly create and customize any list to your exact specifications.

All-in-One Interface

A full user's interface ready for all the needs: navigation, selections, sets, search, filters, export, 4DWP mailing, etc. Including:

• SearchBox, Selection, Sets manager, wob_Boxes integration
• Transpositions by menu or circular relate from tables to tables
• List editor, Export list to 4DV or Excel, Document manager (4DV), QuickReport
• Generic Column's search and filter

CRONs

Define worker to launch at specific date & time, like 5 minutes, daily, specific days in the week, once a month. Provided with a pane where you can launch, see the progress and even see when a launch occurs even in Client/Server.

Schema Management

Dedicated tables for managing the schemas of all your object fields. These schemas are automatically synchronized with the .json schema files exported to the rsc folder, facilitated by an integrated cache manager for optimal performance. All schema properties utilize the wor_Recursive class, enabling a powerful hierarchical editing interface for every object field, which simplifies complex configuration tasks.

Multi-Language Support

Full localization in English (EN), French (FR), Spanish (ES), and German (DE).

Installation & Dependencies

Prerequisites

• 4D v21 or higher (Project mode recommended).
• wok_Krolific – Licensing component (mandatory dependency).
• wox_Xlibrary – Core utilities (mandatory dependency).
• woc_Colours – Color management engine (mandatory dependency).
• waz_Wazar – UI widgets (mandatory dependency).
• wob_Boxes – File repository (mandatory dependency).
• wor_Recursive – Hierarchical data management (mandatory dependency).
• wqr_Quickreport – Reporting (mandatory dependency).
• The 4D SVG component must be available in your project.

Installation via Dependencies Manager (GitHub)

Starting with 4D v21, the recommended way to install zen_Nucleus (and any ogTools component) is through the Dependencies Manager using the GitHub repository:

1. In your 4D project, open the Dependencies Manager (Project > Dependencies).
2. Click the + button and select Add a dependency from a Git URL.
3. Enter the following Git URL:protee/zen_Nucleus
4. Choose the desired version (e.g., main, latest, or a specific release tag).
5. Confirm the installation – the component will be automatically fetched from GitHub, placed in the Components folder, and linked to your project.

Note: For team development, commit the dependency configuration file (dependencies.json) to your source control so all team members automatically fetch the same version from GitHub.

How It Works

1. Framework Initialization: zen_Nucleus acts as the binding layer for all ogToolsSuite components, providing a cohesive framework.
2. List & Record Management: Create List and Record classes extending the ZEN__TABLES_LIST and ZEN__RECORD foundation classes.
3. Widget Placement: Drop pre-built widgets onto your forms for immediate functionality – lists, sublists, record navigation, and relation management.
4. JSON Configuration: Define all lists and sublists through JSON configuration files, with extensive customization options.
5. Automatic UI Generation: The framework automatically generates menus, toolbars, and interfaces based on your configuration.
6. Built-in Features: Enjoy automatic features like change detection (record.touched()), confirmation dialogs, user preference memory, and more.

Head of the ogTools Suite

zen_Nucleus is the complete framework pillar of the comprehensive ogTools suite – an integrated development ecosystem for 4D. It binds together all other components:

Icon	Component	Description
	wok_Krolific	License manager.
	wox_Xlibrary	Core utilities for everyday development tasks.
	{wod_DevTools}	Developer tools, instant documentation generation.
	{wom_Make}	Sophisticated builder.
	woc_Colours	Advanced, indexed color management engine.
	waz_Wazar	Intelligent UI widgets for modern interfaces.
	wob_Boxes	Secure, Dropbox-like file repository.
	wor_Recursive	Manage hierarchical data with ease.
	wqr_QuickReport	A fork of 4D QuickReport with ORDA wrapper.

Together, these components form a powerful framework that allows developers to focus on unique business logic rather than reinventing the wheel.

License

zen_Nucleus is a commercial component and is part of the paid ogTools suite. A valid license is required for use. For licensing options and trial requests, please contact the sales team directly.

Localization

zen_Nucleus supports the following languages out‑of‑the‑box:

• 🇺🇸 English (EN), 🇫🇷 French (FR), 🇪🇸 Spanish (ES), 🇩🇪 German (DE)
• More on demand

Localization affects error messages, UI prompts, and built‑in pane texts.

Support & Resources

• Official Website: https://www.protee.org
• Documentation: Full documentation and HDI (Host Database Interface) demos are included with your purchase.

For direct inquiries:

• Email: og@protee.org
• Phone: +33 6 3718 5941

About the Creator

zen_Nucleus and the ogToolsSuite are developed by Protée sarl, a company with over 30 years of expertise in 4D development. Led by Olivier Grimbert, the team focuses on delivering high‑quality, production‑grade tools that enhance developer productivity and application reliability.