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VZ Programmer lets developers create a working application by constructing the application user interface graphically, then extending the function of the user interface objects. A developer's software component library, created with VZ Programmer, is a set of compound objects which may include graphical user interface (GUI) objects or multiple application objects combined into a single component. These components provide developers with greater code reusability.

Cross-platform compatibility between DOS Windows 3.1 and OS/2 PM is available through VZ Programmer's development environment. The GUI construction toolkit contains a number of pre-defined classes, letting users draw a working application interface. Developers can select from 20 pre-defined object classes for Windows or OS/2, and from 60 system, menu, and graphical functions. Developers can also call functions from Windows DLLs, including DLLs created for database applications. DDE support is also provided. VZ Programmer v2.2 is priced at $595 for both Windows 3.1 and OS/2. For more information contact VZ CORP, 175 South Main St., Suite 1550, P.O. Box 3683, Salt Lake City, UT 84110, (801) 595-1352; FAX (801) 328-4404.

ObjectTeam for Rumbaugh supports object, dynamic, and functional models; object, state, data flow, and event trace diagrams; automatic code generation for C++ and Ada; automatic generation of database definitions for ANSI SQL and Oracle 7.0 relational databases, as well as object-oriented databases from Versant, Object Design, Objectivity, ONTOS, and Raima.

ObjectTeam for Shlaer-Mellor supports the Shlaer-Mellor Object-Oriented Analysis (OOA) methodology and the Object-Oriented Design Language Environment (OODLE) notation. ObjectTeam supports all work products specified by the Shlaer-Mellor OOA method, including automatic work product generation, extensive and user-configurable checking, automatic documentation and report generation, intelligent navigation, online help, multi-user access, and C++ and Ada code generation.

Cadre also announced plans to support Solaris 2.x with its family of tools. For more information contact Cadre Technologies Inc., 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI 02903, (401) 351-5950; FAX: (401) 351-7380.

The ITL functions that control interrupt and DMA hardware can consolidate common sequences of operation into a single function call. Other functions of ITL provide control over hardware on several levels. Register-level control is provided to give applications flexibility over hardware configuration. Common code sequences are implemented in single high-level function calls. Installing an interrupt handler requires: saving the old interrupt vector, installing a vector, and enabling the interrupt mask. These operations can be carried out with a single function call from the ITL library. Also DMA transfers can be delegated to the library, allowing a DMA transfer to be setup with one function call.

The ITL library is designed for PC-compatible computers operating in real and protected 16-bit modes. Library functions are written in hand-coded assembly; an alternate function call interface is provided for applications written in assembly For more information contact Intelligent Tools Company, P.O. Box 6334, Abilene, TX 79608, (817) 725-7455.

The PostOffice is a ZINC message switch that provides communications between tasks and allows messages to be sent and received. The messages may be polled, or when used with the Scheduler, a message processing task may be designated to be activated upon receipt of a message. Included in this class is a method to register mailbox tasks during program initialization. Examples show how to use the PostOffice library, complete with a mailbox debug display window.

The third library, Scheduler, is a ZINC task scheduler that simulates multi-tasking through the use of corroborative scheduling. Tasks are scheduled on an adjustable periodic basis and tasks may change their schedule time and entry point. Tasks also may be blocked, unblocked, and resumed. CSTI is selling any two libraries for $79.95 and all three libraries for $99.95. The packages include full source and object code. For more information contact Communication Systems Technology, Inc., 3800 Concorde Pkwy, Suite 100, Chantilly, VA 22021, (703) 968-4956; FAX: (703) 968-7827.

SmartHeap Version 2.0 provides several alternative memory managers, including an allocator for fixed size blocks, a stack allocator, and an allocator for moveable blocks. Using SmartHeap Version 2.0, developers can create multiple heaps, letting them localize data structures and reduce swapping or paging. According to Thomas Marvin, MicroQuill's President, "SmartHeap is particularly well matched with C++ because C++ applications tend to frequently allocate and deallocate large numbers of small class objects." MicroQuill's release describes SmartHeap 2.0 performance as "up to 100 times faster than most commercial "malloc" implementations, especially with heap sizes of several megabytes or more." In addition, SmartHeap Version 2.0 detects and handles many memory errors, identifying the source file and line that causes errors such as leakage, memory overwrites, double-freeing, wild pointers, and invalid parameters. SmartHeap also detects errors and corruption of its own data structures at the API interfaces.

SmartHeap 2.0 source code conforms with ANSI C specifications, and is designed to be portable. The source code can be optimized for specific architectures by specifying appropriate manifest constants at compile time. SmartHeap 2.0 has been compiled with a wide variety of C/C++ compilers on a range of platforms, including 16- and 32-bit Intel 80x86, Motorola 680x0, and various proprietary RISC architectures.

SmartHeap is priced at $395 for binary or $1,495 with source. For more information contact MicroQuill Software Publishing, Inc., 4900 25th Avenue N.E., #206, Seattle WA, 98105, (206) 525-8218; FAX: (206) 525-8309.

Michael Tiemann, President of Cygnus Support, described the origin of PRMS as follows: "Having surveyed all of the bug tracking systems available, we began to understand why it was that companies opted to create their own in-house solutions. By making our in-house solution free software, we offer both the flexibility people need and the basis of a standard which will make it less expensive to maintain in the long run."

PRMS is freely redistributable software, supported on Sun3, Sun4 (SunOS and Solaris), DECStation, SGI Iris, and IBM RS/6000. There are no licensing fees or restrictions. Technical support for PRMS is available and starts at $2000 per year for two users and $300 for each additional user. For more information contact Cygnus Support, 1937 Landings Dr., Mountain View, CA 94043, (415) 903-1400; FAX: (415) 903-0122.

Phase3 features include: Lower CASE Entity-Relationship Modeling for automated data model design, which generates the database structure, analyzes table relationships, and suggests referential integrity constraints to be enforced at run time; visual screen development with standard Windows screen objects and APIs; C or Pascal code generation and compilation from within the system; an integrated relational database management system (RDBMS) which is supplied as a Windows DLL; a data browser which allows data entry and manipulation; a report writer which includes standard report features and lets bit-maps, drawings, and photographic images be included in the report; and a Windows Help Generator with a text editor, which gives control over content, appearance, and branching logic through highlighted trigger text.

Phase3-generated applications are royalty-free and do not require a run-time engine. Phase3 supports ANSI C or C++ compilers for Windows, Borland Turbo Pascal for Windows, and Borland Pascal 7.0. Phase3 is licensed on a single-user basis at a price of $795. For more information contact Phase3 Software, Inc., 433 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001, (805) 641-9366; FAX: (805) 641-9083.

ILOG BUILDER also interfaces with ILOG's other graphic tools such as ILOG VIEWS, a C++ library of 2D objects, and MASAI, a portable GUI development tool for Unix, VMS, and MS-Windows. All interfaces built with ILOG BUILDER can be directly loaded into MASAI giving developers access to MASAI's specialized widgets and human-machine dialog management. For more information contact iLOG, 2, avenue Gallieni, BP 85, 94253 Gentilly Cedex, France, Ph: +33 1 46 63 66 66: FAX: +33 1 46 63 15 82.

The CDK runs with MS-DOS 3.1 or higher, and requires either the Zortech 386 C++ 3.0 or MetaWare High C/C++ 30 compiler in addition to the Phar Lap linker and 386/DOS extender SDK. The CDK includes C++ class libraries, documentation, diagnostic utilities, and sample applications with source code. CDK is priced at $2,495 For more information contact Autodesk, Inc., 2320 Marinship Way, Sausalito, CA 94965, (415) 332-2344; FAX: (415) 331-8093; Telex: 275946.

AFC 4.1 for Windows 3.1 includes a real-time kernel, a 4GL rules to C compiler, a real-time graphic user interface, and tools for automatic systems integration. AFC 4.1 is also available for MS-DOS and UNIX. Packages to support distributed processing and automated test generation and evaluation are priced separately. For more information contact The Real-Time Intelligent Systems Corporation, 30 Sever St., Worcester, MA 01609, (508) 752-5567; FAX: (508) 752-5491.

286/DOS-Extender is a 16-bit extender, permitting access to as much as 16MB of memory on a 286, 386, i486, or Pentium-based PC running DOS 3.0 or later. In addition to Visual C++, 286/DOS-Extender is also compatible with Microsoft C/C++ (Version 5.1. 6.0, and 7.0), Borland C++, and Microsoft Fortran. According to Richard M. Smith, President of Phar Lap, "Version 3.0 offers developers the ability to use the latest release of Microsoft's industry-standard 16-bit C/C++ compiler. Our Visual C++ support and new virtual memory option make it easier than ever for developers to build Extended-DOS applications."

Phar Lap's 286/VMM is a 16-bit virtual memory manager that lets 286/DOS-Extender program access more memory that is physically available. The virtual memory support is integrated into the 286/DOS-Extender and is invoked with a command line switch. 286/VMM aids the performance of programs that need multiple dynamic link libraries (DLLs). In addition, 286/VMM is compatible with the DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI): if a DPMI server such as Microsoft Windows is available, Extended-DOS programs use the DPMI server's virtual memory capabilities rather that 286/VMM's.

For more information contact Phar Lap Software, Inc., 60 Aberdeen Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138, (617) 661-1510; FAX: (617) 876-2972.

PCL 3.5 also includes a terminal emulator program (source) supporting ASCII, XMODEM, YMODEM, and YMODEM-G file transfer protocols, and both User's and Reference Manuals. The price for a registered version of PCL 3.5 starts at $55, which includes source code, manuals, and telephone and BBS support. The PCL 3.5 Shareware version is priced at $7.50 or can be downloaded free by calling MarshallSoft's Customer Support BBS: (205) 880-9748. For more information contact MarshallSoft Computing, Inc., P.O. Box 4543, Huntsville, AL 35815, (205) 881-4630.

IDB v2.0 adds support for several platforms: Apple Macintosh with MPW, MS-Windows with Borland C, Windows NT, and NeXTstep 486. Other supported platforms include MS-Windows with Microsoft C, Apple Macintosh with THINK C, NeXT, Sun SPARC, HP Domain/OS and HP/UX. IDB can be used stand-alone or can share data across networks among a combination of supported platforms.

Prices range from $995 for Macintosh or MS-Windows to $4,000 for HP or Sun. Quantity discounts are available. For more information contact Persistent Data Systems, Inc., 75 West Chapel Ridge Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15238, (412) 963-1843: FAX: (412) 963-1846.

NPPC functions are implemented as high-level application calls that are used to perform program-to-program communication at the message level. Message queuing, network transmission and reception retransmission in case of error, initialization, and termination of IPX or NetBIOS usage is controlled by NPPC. NPPC for Windows/IPX can be used with Novell Netware or LANs that include an IPX interface. NPPC for Windows/NetBIOS can be used with LANs that include a NetBIOS interface. The prices for NPPC for Windows/IPX and NPPC for Windows/NetBIOS, including source code, range from $195 to $729. For more information contact Softwarehouse Corporation, 326 State St., Los Altos, CA 94022, (415) 949-0203;FAX: (415) 949-0208.