Black & White Software Introduces OrbixBuilder
Black & White Software has announced OrbixBuilder. For Java-based development on Windows platforms, OrbixBuilder installs itself as an integrated extension to Symantec Visual Café, extending graphical Java-development capabilities to CORBA-based distributed objects. The OrbixWeb object request broker (ORB) is included in the package, offering an ORB implemented in pure Java.
OrbixBuilder supports the creation of Java database clients through Black & White’s DB/Enable, which provides a three-tier architecture for accessing relational databases through an object interface. Using OrbixBuilder for Symantec Visual Café, server interfaces are specified with the integrated IDL editor. After a server is built, it is deployed, registered, and monitored along with other servers across multiple hosts using the server management facilities. OrbixBuilder for Symantec Visual Café costs $2,000. For more information, contact Black & White Software, 408.369.7400; fax 408.369.7406; [email protected]; www.blackwhite.com.
Rational Unveils Visual Quantify for Visual Basic
Rational Software Corporation has announced Visual Quantify for Visual Basic, a performance profiler that automatically pinpoints performance bottlenecks in Visual Basic applications. Because performance data is complex and difficult to decipher, Rational developed the Quantify’d Call Graph, which gives Visual Basic developers a graphical view of procedure-call architecture.
Visual Quantify gives Visual Basic developers more control and flexibility in performance tuning with its PowerTune adjustment feature. PowerTune allows Visual Basic developers to specify how much performance data Visual Quantify collects, and the level of analysis it conducts. It also lets Visual Basic developers bypass all the complex system-level data and proceed straight to the Visual Basic code through the annotated source.
Visual Quantify costs $748 for a one-year subscription, which includes upgrades and support for one year. Visual Quantify bundled with Purify costs $1,198 per subscription. For more information, contact Rational Software Corporation, 800.728.1212 or 408.863.9900; fax 408.863.4120; [email protected]; www.rational.com.
Great Lakes Announces Wise Installation System Enterprise Edition and Wise Installation System for DEC-Alpha
Great Lakes Business Solutions has released the Wise Installation System Enterprise Edition and a version for DEC-Alpha. The Wise Installation System is a Windows-based installation editor that creates setup programs. The Wise Installation System Enterprise Edition combines the Wise Installation System with SmartPatch, WebDeploy Internet, and SetupCapture. SmartPatch creates installations that upgrade previous software versions by shipping only the changes instead of an entire product. WebDeploy Internet enables an end-user to install a developer’s application from the web with a single click. SetupCapture guides an administrator through the repackaging of an existing installation to build a fully customizable WISE install/uninstall. The Wise Installation System Enterprise Edition requirements include Windows 3.1/95/NT, Intel 386 or higher (Pentium recommended), 8Mb of memory, and 6Mb of free disk space.
For pricing and other information, contact Great Lakes Business Solutions, 800.554.8565 or 313.981.4970; fax 313.981.9746; [email protected]; CompuServe at “GO WISEINSTALL”; www.glbs.com.
SkunkWerx Debuts Class Werx and ClassX
SkunkWerx has released Class Werx and ClassX. Class Werx, a Developer Studio Custom ActiveX AppWizard, generates complete ActiveX source code. It includes all basic and advanced ActiveX features, stock and custom properties, and various “helper” function options. In addition, Class Werx automatically generates ToolTips, optionally includes two custom and three stock property sheets, generates code to register and unregister Component Categories, automatically generates HTML code for testing, and generates the files required to build a cabinet file.
ClassX contains 15 controls, including custom “thermometers” and progress bars; rocker, directional, and sliding switches; analog and digital clocks; scrolling text and LED marquees; and various LED displays (both seven segment and alphanumeric). Each control may be used in any standard ActiveX container, such as Visual C++, Visual Basic, Access, and on the web.
Class Werx costs $150. ClassX costs $90. For more information, contact SkunkWerx, 800.380.3162; fax 937.376.1898; [email protected]; www.skunkwerx.com.
Dart Communications Introduces PowerTCP Web Add-on and Java Support
Dart Communications has introduced the PowerTCP Web Add-on for Visual Basic 5.0, to support the development of ActiveX controls for custom networking applications, without writing protocol and socket library code. Protocols include FTP, TELNET, TCP, SMTP, POP3, UDP, TFTP, SNMP, VT320 emulation, REXEC, RLOGIN, RSHELL, WHOIS, TIME, and FINGER. By using this kit with Visual Basic 5.0, developers can develop and debug browser-ready web applications in a few steps. Dart’s licensing is not dependent upon LPK files, so deployed applications can operate with both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator with an ActiveX plug-in.
In addition, Dart has released a platform-independent edition: the PowerTCP Internet Toolkit for Java. PowerTCP for Java extends the Internet functionality that the Java API provides in its java.net.Socket class by providing the functionality of upper-layer TCP protocols. Version 1.0 supports FTP for file transfer applications and Telnet for online application development.
PowerTCP Web Add-on for Visual Basic 5.0 costs $149, and is sold as an add-on to the PowerTCP Internet Toolkit for Visual Basic 4.0/5.0. All PowerTCP toolkits include royalty-free licensing, with OEM licensing available for ISVs. ActiveX web samples and free trial versions of PowerTCP toolkits are available at www.dart.com. For more information, contact Dart Communications, 315.431.1024; fax 315.431.1025; [email protected]; www.dart.com.
Nesbitt Software Launches Kenn Nesbitt’s BugCollector
Nesbitt Software Corporation has released Kenn Nesbitt’s BugCollector 1.0 for Windows 95/NT, a database program for tracking software bugs and feature requests. BugCollector organizes bug reports and feature requests by status, priority, and severity. In addition, it tracks multiple projects and programs while keeping a record of user statistics, as well as problem investigation, resolution, and verification. BugCollector can also attach screen shots and other files to individual reports. Also, BugCollector includes predefined reports and graphs for summarizing and exporting in standard CSV format and HTML for transferring data to other spreadsheet and database programs and the World Wide Web.
Kenn Nesbitt’s BugCollector costs $99.95, and is available online at www.nesbitt.com. For more information, contact Nesbitt Software Corporation, 619.259.4700; www.nesbitt.com.
Pictorius Releases Pictorius iNet Developer v3.0
Pictorius Incorporated has announced Pictorius iNet Developer v3.0. This update includes support for Microsoft’s Component Object Model (COM), Design Time Controls (DTC), data binding, and Scriptlets. Support for COM gives users the choice of using the integrated programming environment included with iNet Developer or any programming language that supports the creation of COM objects. DTC support enables users to add a DTC to a web page. Support for data-binding web servers gives users the ability to download and work on groups of database records on a browser without having to return to the server.
Pictorius iNet Developer v3.0 also includes its own client-side caching feature that provides similar functionality to data binding without a data-binding web server. It works with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape Communicator.
Pictorius iNet Developer 3.0 (commercial version) costs $1,495, and includes the site and page editor, the application server, and the integrated programming environment. A three-pack of editors is available for $1,495. Free upgrades are available from version 3.0. A demonstration version can be downloaded from www.pictorius.com. For more information, contact Pictorius Incorporated, 800.927.4847 or 902.492.2880; fax 902.492.3409; [email protected]; www.pictorius.com.
ObjectQuest Offers ObjectQuest Developer 2.1
ObjectQuest Corporation has announced ObjectQuest Developer 2.1, a suite of application development tools. ObjectQuest Developer 2.1 includes a UML-compliant object-modeling tool, a GUI builder, a database schema generator, a business-logic specification environment, and testing and documentation facilities that are based on a multi-user repository.
ObjectQuest Developer 2.1 costs $2,950 per license. A free, 30-day evaluation copy is available at www.objectquest.com. For more information, contact ObjectQuest Corporation, 905.632.8000; fax 905.632.5129; [email protected]; www.objectquest.com.
SureHand Software Debuts ViCiouS Pro
SureHand Software has released ViCiouS Pro, a version-control system for Delphi and C++ Builder that provides an interface for recognition, customization, and creation of logical file families. For example, ViCiouS Pro recognizes that a C++ Builder form consists of .DFM, .CPP, and .HPP files. Without one of the files, the others are useless. When performing version-control operations, ViCiouS Pro automatically recognizes and uses each file within the file family. In addition to C++ Builder file families, ViCiouS Pro includes file family definitions for Delphi Projects, Delphi Forms, Paradox Tables, and dBase tables.
ViCiouS Pro costs $76 per user license, plus $3.96 for shipping and handling. For more information, contact SureHand Software, 314.963.1935; [email protected]; www.surehand.com.
Vigor Unveils MapperJ++ for Java
Vigor Technology has released MapperJ++, an enterprise-class visual-development environment. MapperJ++ hides the complexity of building the data-services tier by automatically generating the required code to allow Java objects to persist in relational databases. MapperJ++ gives developers the ability to visually map Java classes, variables, and their relationships to any JDBC/ODBC-compliant database, so objects can persist and information is brought into the application as objects rather than raw data.
As an add-in to Visual J++, MapperJ++ allows developers to view and update Java projects and classes. Further, the developer has the option to use relationship information from the Rational Rose object model. Using the MapperJ++ visual-programming interface, developers can map classes and their relationships to any relational database. Once the mappings are defined, MapperJ++ provides a set of automatic operations to store, retrieve, delete, refresh, and query for objects.
MapperJ++ Professional Edition costs $249; MapperJ++ Enterprise Edition costs $999, and offers advanced functionality support for stored procedures, concurrency management, distributed component architectures, and transaction support. For more information, contact Vigor Technology, Inc., 404.233.4411; fax 404.233.4414; [email protected]; www.vigortech.com.
Software Productivity Research Announces SPR KnowledgePLAN 2.0
Software Productivity Research has announced SPR KnowledgePLAN 2.0, an upgrade of its project estimation tool. SPR KnowledgePLAN 2.0 includes wizards and templates that help the user map out the entire project.
A project-sizing wizard supports the sizing process with a step-by-step interface that offers sizing by analogy and function points. A goals wizard helps the user identify and achieve key project goals of schedule, cost, productivity, and quality.
Two new templates allow the user to quick-start a project. A team that will repeat several steps of the development process can employ the new iterative template. A team working on a maintenance project can base an estimate on a scaled-down work breakdown structure by choosing the new maintenance template.
SPR KnowledgePLAN 2.0 costs $2,900 to $5,900 based on quantity. Upgrades for current customers are free of charge. For more information, contact Software Productivity Research, 781.273.0140; fax 781.273.5176; www.spr.com.
Metrowerks Releases CodeWarrior Discover Programming Edition 2
Metrowerks Inc. has announced CodeWarrior Discover Programming Edition 2, an intuitive software-development learning environment designed for novice programmers and experienced developers interested in learning a new language. Metrowerks has two versions of the Discover Programming Edition 2, one for Windows 95/NT and one for Macintosh.
CodeWarrior Discover Programming Edition 2 contains the tools found in Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior Professional 2, including the updated IDE 2.1 with project manager, code editor, code browser, compilers, linkers, debuggers, and other tools. Discover Programming Edition 2 adds books and tutorials that provide all the information needed to learn programming, from basic introductory-level exercises to advanced programming techniques. A quantity of sample code is also provided to help make learning fun and easy.
CodeWarrior Discover Programming Edition 2 costs $79. For more information, contact Metrowerks Inc., 800.377.5416 or 512.873.4797; fax 512.873.4900; [email protected]; www.metrowerks.com.
Sheridan Offers Data Widgets 3.0
Sheridan Software Systems, Inc. has announced Data Widgets 3.0. Data Widgets 3.0 offers printing direct from the DataGrid, publishing a grid on the web, masked-edit capability for data validation, custom grid designer for designing reports, persistent DataGrid layout at runtime, and Intellimouse support.
Data Widgets 3.0 costs $295, with upgrades for $129. For more information, contact Sheridan Software Systems, Inc., 800.823.4732 or 516.753.0985; fax 516.753.3661; [email protected]; www.shersoft.com.
BeCubed Software Launches VBTools 6 and Subscription Service
BeCubed Software, Inc. has announced of VBTools v6, a diverse collection of over 60 custom, 16-bit controls designed for use with any visual-programming tool that supports type 1 VBXs. Version 6 is “Year 2000 Compliant” and includes new controls, as well as enhancements of VBTools v5 controls. Users also have the option to purchase the yearly VBTools v6 Subscription Service, which includes at least one major enhancement or new control per quarter, quarterly updates on a master CD-ROM, a quarterly newsletter, quarterly knowledge base, access to pre-release betas, and more.
VBTools v6 costs $129; upgrades from VBTools v5 are available directly from BeCubed Software for $69. VBTools v6 Subscription Service costs $69 per year. For more information, contact BeCubed Software, Inc., 770.720.1077; fax 770.720.1078; [email protected]; www.becubed.com.
Northeast Data Announces NED Image ActiveX Control v2.0
Northeast Data Corporation has announced the NED Image ActiveX Control v2.0. The NED Image ActiveX Control can display, print, and save images. It supports JPEG, TARGA, PCX, BMP, TIFF (CCITT G3, CCITT G4, color, multi-page), and PCD (read only). Images can be rotated and scrolled, and the control supports multiple types of color reduction for the best possible display on an image-by-image basis. NED Image ActiveX Control also provides full image clipboard support for all native images formats, including metafiles; and URL download capability for Internet and intranet document-management applications.
NED Image ActiveX Control v2.0 costs $249. A demo is available from www.frontiernet.net/~ned1/index.htm. For more information, contact Northeast Data Corporation, 716.426.7334 (phone or fax); [email protected]; www.frontiernet.net/~ned1.
Agave Software Introduces SQml-Web 1.0
Agave Software Design, Inc. has announced SQml-Web 1.0, a web-to-database application-development tool. SQml-Web 1.0 provides access to SQL database information from an organization’s website, and dynamically updates website information as corporate databases are updated. It supports database query functions for any ODBC data source, including multiple queries in the same document, multiple nested queries in the same document, and queries to different databases in the same document.
With SQml-Web 1.0, familiar CGI protocols are used to retrieve database information and generate HTML documents containing realtime information. To improve information security, SQml-Web 1.0 allows developers to hide database connection information from users. Versatile memory management provides complete server control for reliable operation.
SQml-Web 1.0 pricing starts at $495 for the five-user NT edition, and $995 for the five-user Unix edition. A free, 60-day trial version is available at www.agave.com. For more information, contact Agave Software Design, 972.424.6662; fax 972.424.1644; [email protected]; www.agave.com.
CYRANO Unveils CYRANO WinScope 2.2
CYRANO Inc. has integrated its CYRANO WinScope 2.2 application development optimizer with its automated testing environment. CYRANO’s new product integration uses CYRANO WinScope to validate that the regression tests, developed with CYRANO Robot and managed with CYRANO Manager, are complete and test all aspects of an application. In addition, CYRANO WinScope automatically analyzes the impact that any application changes may have on the regression tests. CYRANO WinScope 2.2 also includes new extended referencing capabilities to DataWindows, events, and dynamic references.
CYRANO WinScope 2.2 starts at $1,000. For more information, contact CYRANO, Inc., 800.714.4900 or 508.462.0737; fax 508.462.4755; [email protected]; www.cyrano.com.
Snowbound Releases RasterMaster/Grayscale
Snowbound Software Corporation has released RasterMaster/Grayscale, its extended gray-scale, medical-imaging support for the RasterMaster line of products. RasterMaster/Grayscale provides the ability to display and manipulate sophisticated medical images previously possible only with dedicated medical-imaging hardware. Snowbound also announced support for the DICOM CAT scan.
The new RasterMaster tools enhance the desktop’s abilities to support sophisticated medical-image manipulation by permitting imaging functions such as contrast enhancement, brightness, cropping, rotation, and saving to be applied to gray-scale images from 8 to 16 bits. Now CAT scans, MRI, cell dissection images, and other sophisticated images can be handled on a standard PC, MAC, or Unix workstation.
For pricing and other information, contact Snowbound Software Corporation, 617.630.9495; fax 617.630.0210; [email protected]; www.snowbnd.com.
Softstar Systems Offers Costar 5.0
Softstar Systems has released Costar 5.0, a software estimating product that implements the new COCOMO II estimation model. Costar provides software managers with estimates of a software project’s cost, schedule, and staffing. Costar can compare alternative project plans side-by-side, allowing managers to perform tradeoffs, sensitivity analyses, and what-if experiments. These features allow a manager to test different strategies until the optimum project plan is formulated.
COCOMO II is an update to the original model, developed to describe modern software-development life cycles, including Incremental, Spiral, and Rapid Prototyping projects. Costar 5.0 provides full support for the latest COCOMO II software-sizing and reuse models. As in previous versions, Costar 5.0 supports Function Points, traditional COCOMO, Ada COCOMO, and Incremental Development COCOMO.
Costar 5.0 for Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 costs $950 for a single CPU license; a site license costs $5,000. For more information, contact Softstar Systems, 603.672.0987; fax 603.672.3460; [email protected]; www.SoftstarSystems.com.
IDEAL Software Announces Virtual Print Engine v2.2
IDEAL Software has released Virtual Print Engine v2.2, offering control over printed output from Windows applications. Virtual Print Engine v2.2 gives developers using Visual Basic, Delphi, C/C++, FoxPro, and other languages the ability to dynamically create, preview, and print reports, documents, and drawings by calling functions.
Objects such as text, lines, polygons, bitmaps (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, GIF, BMP, PCX, WMF, EMF, DXF), and 21 different barcodes can be positioned, rotated, and scaled with 0.1mm precision on any number of pages. The fast vector graphics offers a free scalable WYSIWYG preview and printer-independent output, which can also be used for creating and filling in forms.
The package includes the OCX, VCL, DLL, and over 600Kb of sample sources for all common programming languages. It is available in 16- and 32-bit versions.
Virtual Print Engine v2.2 costs $548, with no runtime fees or royalties. For more information, contact IDEAL Software, 49.2131.9800.23; fax 49.2131.9800.24; [email protected]; www.IdealSoftware.com.
ViaTech Introduces VT Protect 5.0
ViaTech Inc. has announced VT Protect 5.0, its software-based, anti-piracy product. VT Protect 5.0 introduces an adaptive fingerprint technology that provides a secure, node-locked licensing solution. Based on developer requirements, a balanced level of flexible license compliance can be enacted. In addition, VT Protect 5.0 includes a secure clock, anti-tampering mechanism.
VT Protect features a “multi-pass” encryption scheme. This method gathers a piece of system or hardware information (i.e., IP address, operating system information, BIOS ID) and scrambles it, then gathers a second piece of information and scrambles it with the first, then finds a third piece of information and combines that with the first two, and so on until it creates an identifier completely unique to the system.
VT Protect 5.0 costs between $800-$1,000 for administration tools and an initial 100 keys. Volume-based pricing is available for additional keys. For more information, contact ViaTech Inc., 508.647.0465 or 508.647.0464; fax 508.647.0463; [email protected]; www.viatech-inc.com.
Imagix Debuts Imagix 2000
Imagix Corporation has released Imagix 2000, a product designed for fixing Year 2000 problems in C and C++ software. Imagix 2000 locates date-related symbols in the source code, assesses the symbols’ potential for creating a problem, and analyzes the extent of the symbols’ usage throughout the software. Imagix 2000 presents this information in three-dimensional displays that allow programmers to comprehend the source code and determine the best corrective action. Reports and documentation may be generated in a number of formats, including HTML.
Imagix 2000 uses Imagix 4D, a general-purpose, reverse-engineering and documentation tool designed for working with legacy C and C++ software. A compiler-independent, full semantic parser loads in C and C++ source code, regardless of the platform on which the code runs. An object-oriented, entity/relationship/attribute database tracks symbols according to their classification and level.
Imagix 2000, with the prerequisite Imagix 4D, costs $3,480 per seat. For more information, contact Imagix Corporation, 805.781.6002; fax 805.781.6003; [email protected]; www.imagix.com.
MKS Delivers MKS Toolkit 6.1
Mortice Kern Systems Inc. has released MKS Toolkit 6.1, an NT scripting and migration solution. Every MKS Toolkit 6.1 order also ships with a $10 Domino’s Pizza gift certificate.
MKS Toolkit 6.1 features include chacl and lsacl to view and change the access control lists of files, directories, and any NT object; db to send SQL instructions to any ODBC-compliant database without the need for complex database tools; groupinfo, userinfo, and member to add, delete, or update group information on NT from the command line; and mapimail/smtpmail to send mail to any MAPI- or SMTP-compliant mail server from the command line or a script file.
For pricing and other information, contact Mortice Kern Systems, Inc., 800.265.2797 or 519.884.2251; fax 519.884.8861; [email protected]; www.mks.com.
HyperAct Releases eAuthor Help
HyperAct, Inc., has released eAuthor Help, a tool specifically designed to assist online-help authors and developers. eAuthor Help provides the rapid authoring and design of HyperAct’s template-based, PAD-authoring tools. eAuthor Help adds a set of enhanced HTML Help templates, help development templates, and a set of software components that help application developers to deploy, call, embed, and use HTML Help as a context-sensitive engine in their applications. The components are available for Delphi and C++Builder in native VCL format, and as an ActiveX component for Visual Basic and other environments.
eAuthor Help Costs $250. For more information, contact HyperAct, Inc, 515.987.2910; fax 515.987.2909; www.hyperact.com.
Nombas Announces ScriptEase:Integration SDK 4.0
Nombas, Inc. has released ScriptEase:Integration SDK 4.0, a developers’ kit for applications and embedded systems. The kit is designed to enhance, extend, and customize applications using the JavaScript-compatible ScriptEase scripting language. The ScriptEase:Integration SDK allows developers to embed a fully functional script-language interpreter into any C/C++ application.
ScriptEase:Integration SDK provides an interpreter engine without the time, engineering, or hardware resources required to develop a proprietary macro language. ScriptEase:Integration SDK allows for more flexible applications, improved code reuse, easier portability, and significantly reduced application development times.
ScriptEase:Integration SDK 4.0 costs $995. For more information, contact Nombas, Inc., 781.391.6595; fax 781.391.3842; [email protected]; www.nombas.com.
Mystic River Unveils Mystic Power Pack 3 for Visual Basic
Mystic River Software, Inc. has announced Mystic Power Pack 3 for Visual Basic, a tool that integrates VBA into programs developed in Visual Basic. Power Pack 3 for Visual Basic lets developers using VB add VBA to their applications and link their VB-based applications with other VBA-enabled software packages.
Included in Mystic Power Pack 3 for Visual Basic is the VBA Integration Pilot, a development tool that integrates VBA into any standard VB application. Visual Basic applications that integrate VBA take advantage of VBA’s key features, including an integrated development environment, IntelliSense technology, Microsoft Forms, and support for ActiveX Controls.
For pricing and other information, contact Mystic River Software, Inc., 978.371.1100; fax 978.371.1818; [email protected]; www.mysticriver.com.
ProtoView Offers ActiveX Component Suite
ProtoView has released the ProtoView ActiveX Component Suite, a bundle of three ActiveX component products: Data Explorer, DataTable, and WinX Component Library. Data Explorer allows developers to display and edit application data in the Windows Explorer interface. Data Explorer consists of a left-hand TreeView pane and a right-hand ListView/TextView pane. Built for handling large data sets, DataTable features an enhanced virtual-memory management scheme. The WinX Component Library includes 17 ActiveX components that enhance both the design and the data-entry features of an application.
The ActiveX Component Suite costs $299. For more information, contact ProtoView Development, 800.231.8588 or 609.655.5000; fax 609.655.5353; [email protected]; www.protoview.com.