Infor LN 4GL for VS Code
Syntax highlighting, snippets, completion, Outline, Go to Definition, hover, and signature help for Infor LN / Baan 3GL and 4GL.
This is a notepad for scripts you copy out of LN Tools (ttadv2530m000) or edit in an LN Studio workspace over Remote-SSH. It does not replace LN Studio: no check-out, no bic compile, no forms, no JCA adapter.
Install
From VSIX (recommended)
Build a package, then install it in VS Code or Cursor (on a Remote-SSH host, run Install from VSIX in the remote window):
npm install
npm run package
That produces infor-ln-4gl-0.1.0.vsix. Command Palette → Extensions: Install from VSIX… → pick the file → reload.
Open examples/print-session.ui.bc. The status bar should show Infor LN 4GL.
Development symlink
For local editing of this repo without repackaging:
# VS Code
ln -s /absolute/path/to/this/repo ~/.vscode/extensions/infor-ln-4gl-0.1.0
# Cursor
ln -s /absolute/path/to/this/repo ~/.cursor/extensions/infor-ln-4gl-0.1.0
On Windows (the machine you SSH into):
cmd /c mklink /J "%USERPROFILE%\.vscode\extensions\infor-ln-4gl-0.1.0" "C:\path\to\this\repo"
To debug: open this folder and run Launch Extension (F5).
Conflict with jeffersyuan.baan
The Marketplace extension bc / jeffersyuan.baan also claims .bc and .cln. If both are enabled, language mode may flip to Baan. Prefer Infor LN 4GL (Command Palette → Change Language Mode), or disable bc.
What you get
| Feature |
Notes |
| Highlighting |
3GL, 4GL sections, SQL, DAL hooks, table.field, table.*, table ids, :hostvar, attr.* |
| Completion |
Context-aware (SQL / sections / general); frequent functions with snippets |
| Snippets |
High-value only: sel, dalnew, upd, fld, … Control blocks: wh / forn / onc (not if — type the keyword) |
| Outline |
4GL sections (field.*, choice.*, …) and functions; nested events under parents |
| Go to Definition |
Jump to function in the same file; #include resolves beside the file or via ln-4gl.includePath |
| Hover |
Short notes for sections, DAL hooks, common functions, attr.* |
| Signature help |
Parameter hints for frequent calls (message, stpapi.*, DAL1, …) |
| Keyword pairs |
Highlight matching if/endif, select/endselect, for/endfor, … |
| Word pattern |
dots count: tdsls401.orno and before.input are one word |
Files: *.bc, *.cln, *.ln4gl. For Studio dumps without an extension, run Change Language Mode → Infor LN 4GL, or add a file association.
Suggested workflow on a Mac
- Copy a script from LN UI (
ttadv2530m000) into a .bc file, or Remote-SSH to the Windows box and open the LN Studio workspace.
- Edit here (highlighting + snippets).
- Paste back into Tools, or in Studio press Build so the dirty local file is compiled on the LN server.
Do not turn on files.trimTrailingWhitespace for these files; LN is picky about what it stored.
Language notes
4GL (UI / report scripts) uses event sections with a colon:
field.tdsls401.orno:
before.input:
| UI only
3GL (DLL, function main, most DAL) is procedural. DAL hooks are functions, not sections:
function extern long before.save.object()
{
return(0)
}
The preprocessor (#include, #ifdef) exists only for 3GL. bic compiles 3GL; 4GL goes through std_gen first.
Regenerating the grammar
Keyword lists were extracted from Vim runtime/syntax/baan.vim. Pattern layout follows SublimeBaan.
python3 scripts/build-grammar.py
That rewrites syntaxes/ln-4gl.tmLanguage.json and data/completions.json. The VSIX does not include scripts/ or test/ (see .vscodeignore).
Development
npm test # parse / outline unit tests (node --test)
npm run test:grammar # TextMate token fixtures (vscode-tmgrammar-test)
npm run check:grammar # rebuild grammar; fail if committed artifacts drift
npm run ci # all of the above
What this will not do
- Talk to LN Studio, BW, or
JCAAdapter4ERPln.jar
- Check out / check in VRC components
- Compile or type-check against domains and tables
Those stay on the LN server. For the language itself see Infor ES Programmers Guide (Support Portal KB2924522).
License
MIT. Keyword inventory derived from the Vim runtime syntax file baan.vim (Erik Remmelzwaal, originally Erwin Smit / Her van de Vliert). TextMate layering inspired by SublimeBaan.
