Folders can be converted to a .4dbase package by simply adding the .4dbase suffix to the folder name. Similarly, the .4dbase suffix can be removed to recover the folder. Since database files are created within a folder for newly created project databases and databases made in older versions of 4D, the ability to convert folders into packages can be particulary useful in these cases.

The benefit of converting the database folder to a package is the ability to directly open the database in 4D by double-clicking on the package (Mac only) or dropping the package onto the 4D application. This cannot be done with a folder.