Workshop4 IDE PRO
Workshop4 IDE

Workshop4 IDE PRO

Workshop4 IDE is a comprehensive software IDE for Microsoft Windows that provides an integrated software development platform for all of the 4D Systems family of processors and modules. 

It combines Editor, Compiler, Linker, and Downloader and offers four Development Environments for designing modern user interfaces and developing 4DGL applications. It is an all-in-one solution tailored for users of any skill level.

FREE
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4D Systems Workshop4 PRO IDE for intelligent display and HMI development

A DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE

Workshop4 IDE is a comprehensive software IDE for Microsoft Windows that provides an integrated software development platform for all of the 4D Systems family of processors and modules.It combines Editor, Compiler, Linker, and Downloader and offers four Development Environments for designing modern user interfaces and developing 4DGL applications. It is an all-in-one solution tailored for users of any skill level.

Designer, ViSi, ViSi-Genie, Serial

Choose the Right Environment for Your Needs

Workshop4 is not one-size-fits-all; it provides four distinct development environments. You can choose based on the specifics of your project or your familiarity with the tools, ensuring that there is an environment that’s right for you.

In addition, Workshop4 also provides Arduino-compatible environments, enabling you to easily create a project using both a 4D and an Arduino product.

Designer Icon

Designer

The Designer environment provides the user with a simple yet effective programming environment where pure 4DGL code can be written, compiled, and downloaded to the range of 4D Systems intelligent display modules. The Designer is a very powerful environment for those used to developing without any form of GUI aid, or for those developing complex systems where no aid is required.

Enables users to write 4DGL code to program the display module.
4DGL syntax is similar to C — no need to learn a new language.
4DGL is optimized for GOLDELOX, PICASO, PIXXI, and DIABLO Controllers.

Visi Icon

Visi

It is often difficult to design a graphical display without being able to see the immediate results of the application code. ViSi is the perfect software tool that allows the user to see the instant results of their desired graphical layout. Additionally, there is a selection of inbuilt dials, gauges, and meters that can simply be dragged and dropped onto the simulated module display. From here, each can have properties edited and at the click of a button, all relevant code is produced in the user program.

Aptly named, a visual programming experience as you develop the display.
Enables drag and drop of objects in a WYSIWYG editor.
Software generates 4DGL code for the graphics.

Visi-genie Icon

ViSi-Genie

ViSi-Genie is a breakthrough in the way 4D Labs’ graphic display modules are programmed. It provides an easy method for designing complex Graphics User Interface applications without any coding. It is an environment like no other, a code-less programming environment that provides the user with a rapid visual experience, enabling a simple GUI application to be ‘designed’ from scratch in literally seconds. ViSi-Genie does all the background coding — no 4DGL programming language to learn, it does it all for you.

An advanced environment; no 4DGL coding required.
Everything is automated.
Drag and drop objects on the display.
Code written automatically.

Designer Icon

Serial

A Serial environment is also provided to transform display modules powered by 4D Labs processors into a slave serial module, allowing the user to control the display from any host microcontroller or device with a serial port.

Transforms the module into a serial slave.
Control the module from any host microcontroller with a serial port.
All serial protocols and documentation are provided.

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Smart & Magic

The Workshop4 IDE PRO includes the Genie Magic for the ViSi-Genie environment and the Smart Widget Editor for both ViSi and ViSi-Genie. New features and additions are continually being developed, and updates are made available for free.

Smart Widget Editor

Smart Widget Editor

The Smart Widget Editor is a comprehensive tool which allows you to create and animate Gauges, Sliders, Knobs and more, using the tools provided. This allows you to easily add custom graphics and build customised widgets, exactly as you want them.


  • Users can create complex widgets with up to six layers, including the layer for the base image. The order of the layers can be arranged as desired.

  • Each layer can contain one or more images arranged in sequence that can be manipulated in a variety of ways. Image manipulation options include horizontal motion, vertical motion, and angular motion. Additionally, the transparency of a layer can be set.

  • Two or more layers can be linked to produce synchronized movements of images. This enables the generation of complex widgets with multiple moving parts. Clockwork feature is also supported. This enables users to quickly generate clock widgets.

  • Each layer can have a numeric part which can display numbers in various fonts and formats. Alternatively, the numeric part can be a fixed sequence of text.

  • The output frames can be utilized using any of the supported Workshop4 environments.
ViSi-Genie Magic

ViSi-Genie Magic

Genie Magic is an extension to ViSi-Genie, which is available in Workshop4 PRO. Genie Magic allows the User to add 4DGL code to various points in the ViSi-Genie backend code, which allows Users to take full advantage of the power of 4DGL, while retaining the speed and convenience of ViSi-Genie and its defined communication protocol.

Genie Magic allows you to enter 4DGL code in the form of Events, Code and Objects, along with various touch related additions too, giving you to the power to achieve advanced GUI’s in ViSi-Genie without having to write the full code yourself.

Genie Magic is fully supported by the genieArduino and geniePi libraries, making communication with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi host even more powerful.

When using Genie Magic in combination with the Smart Widget Editor, it is possible to use the Smart Widgets Editor tool and Smart Widgets to create other graphical user interface elements such as:

  • Dropdown Menu

  • Side Menu

  • Carousel Slider

  • List Box

  • Dock Menu

  • Quarter-Rotary Menu

  • Fading Slide-To-Unlock Button

  • Spectrum With Transparency

  • And Many Others…
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Technical Resources

Workshop4 IDE product brief

WORKSHOP4 IDE

PRODUCT BRIEF

An overview of the Workshop4 IDE features, tools and capabilities.

Build or buy white paper

BUILD OR BUY

WHITE PAPERS

Key considerations to help you decide whether to build or buy solutions.

Airinspace case study

AIRINSPACE

CASE STUDY

How Airinspace integrated 4D Systems displays into their aerospace and medical solutions.

Environment & Documentation

Downloads

Workshop4 General Documentation

Workshop4 User Manual icon
Workshop4 User Manual
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 ScriptC Utility Reference Manual icon
ScriptC Utility Reference Manual
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 Workshop4 IDE Installation Guide icon
Workshop4 IDE Installation Guide
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 Workshop4 Product Brief icon
Workshop4 Product Brief
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 Workshop4 IDE Release Notes icon
Workshop4 IDE Release Notes
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 Workshop4 IDE User Guide icon
Workshop4 IDE User Guide
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Need Help?

Can't find the document you're looking for? Visit our Support Center or contact our technical support team for additional assistance.

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Serial Environment Documentation

DIABLO Serial Command Set Reference Manual icon
DIABLO Serial Command Set Reference Manual
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 GOLDELOX Serial Command Set Reference Manual icon
GOLDELOX Serial Command Set Reference Manual
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 PICASO Serial Command Set Reference Manual icon
PICASO Serial Command Set Reference Manual
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 PIXXI Serial Command Set Reference Manual icon
PIXXI Serial Command Set Reference Manual
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Need Help?

Can't find the document you're looking for? Visit our Support Center or contact our technical support team for additional assistance.

Visit Support Center →

Libraries for use with PIXXI Serial Environment

Arduino Serial Library icon
Arduino Serial Library
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Need Help?

Can't find the document you're looking for? Visit our Support Center or contact our technical support team for additional assistance.

Visit Support Center →

Resources

1
Workshop4 is a Windows Only product. It is compatible with Windows 8 through to Windows 11.
2
Some older OS such as Windows ME, Vista, XP and 7 have not been tested for some time and are not supported by Microsoft anymore; however, may still work. Legacy support updates for the older OS may not be possible, depending on what issues are found. For best results, run a current Windows OS.
3
It is possible to run Workshop4 under a VM on Linux or macOS, however, it is up to the User to set this up.
Workshop4 IDE PRO Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers about our display modules, embedded integration, customization capabilities, and system compatibility.

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4D Systems customer support and frequently asked questions