Newsbits

By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief

Metropolis Server

Palo Alto, California (Jan. 6, 1993) - Metropolis Software, Inc. is now shipping MSI Access for 4th Dimension version 1.6. This tool enables the development of extremely fast multi-user applications with clients written in 4D, HyperCard, ProGraph, Pascal, or C. Version 1.6 provides compatibility with 4D 3.0, the latest release of 4th DIMENSION from ACI US.

MSI Access helps 4D developers take advantage of the speed and flexibility of the client-server database architecture. It is perfect for use with AppleTalk Remote Access since only the data that is being requested is transferred over the network. It is now possible to build client applications that access information remotely from a 20,000 record database. Even at 2400 baud it takes only a few seconds to retrieve a record.

MSI Access also allows applications created in other development environments to access 4D data including applications written in HyperCard, ProGraph, MPW Pascal, MPW C, THINK Pascal, and THINK C.

List price: $495 per database server. A development version is available for $95 which provides a complete development environment, but may not be used in production applications. Upgrades available.

For more information, contact Metropolis Software, Inc., 505 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 305, Palo Alto, CA 94301, Voice: 415/322-2001, Fax: 415/327-5579.

More FORTRAN Tools

Language Systems continues to expand its suite of FORTRAN programming tools. The latest additions are: TSiGraphics and 3D Graphic Tools.

TSiGraphics is a full-featured plotting library. Line, Bar, Scatter, Pie, Contour, 3D Mesh, and Real Time plots are supported. Up to 10 graphics windows can be opened at once and each may contain multiple plots. Windows are fully integrated with the Language Systems application shell, and may be copied, resized, saved, or printed. Retail price is $195.

3D Graphic Tools supports high performance 3D rendering, multiple light sources, transparency, texture mapping and shadows. The new FORTRAN version of 3D Graphic Tools is optimized for speed and is fully integrated with the Language Systems applications shell. Retail price had not been set as of press times.

For more information, contact Language Systems Corp., 441 Carlisle Drive, Herndon, VA 22070, Voice: 800/2-LANGSYS, 703/478-0181, Fax: 703/689-9593, AppleLink: LANGSYS

Ehelp for Hypercard

Foundation Solutions, Inc. has announced the availability of its EHelp Multimedia Documentation System for use with HyperCard 2.1 Stacks.

EHelp provides time-saving features for both application developers and documentation specialists. With EHelp, developers can create multimedia documentation that can be used in many different environments. For example, the same EHelp online document can now be used with Macintosh and Microsoft Windows applications as well as HyperCard stacks.

EHelp documents can contain any combinations of text, graphics, audio, and QuickTime video. Balloon-style help is supported, with or without System 7, as is support for bookmarks and notes. Built into EHelp is a sophisticated search facility that enables users to search by keyword or by regular expression. In addition, users can browse through as EHelp online document by selecting topics or by following hypertext links.

The HyperCard version of EHelp enables developers to integrate an EHelp online document into a stack by using the EHelp XCMD. EHelp for HyperCard can be installed in a HyperCard stack in a matter of seconds.

For more information, contact Foundation Solutions, Inc., 2000 Regency Parkway, Suite 345, Cary, North Carolina 27511, Voice: 919/481-3517, Fax: 919/481-3551.

New DataPak Engine

DataPak Software has announced a Word Solution Engine (WSE) upgrade which will allow developers to quickly update their product to support WorldScript. WorldScript lets users create documents using multiple languages and multiple language directions in the same document.

WSE is a set of THINK and MPW object libraries to provide word processing capabilities to their applications. This upgrade will help developers enhance their products to include Kanji capabilities when Apple's upcoming Japanese WorldScript language modules are released.

Apple's WorldScript modules will add multiple language functionality to System 7.1 and is expected to be released within the next couple months. The WSE upgrade includes most of its extension modules, including Rulers, Pagination, Picture Graphics, and Search & Replace.

Applications using the WSE upgrade will still run correctly on older systems such as System 6. Upgrades range from $120 to $500 depending on what WSE extensions are involved and are free to those under certain Extended Technical Service plans. WSE retails for $1500 with Extensions ranging from $600 to $1200.

For more information, contact DataPak Software, 9317 NE Highway 99, Suite G, Vancouver, WA 98665, Voice: 206/573-9155, Fax: 206/573-9269, AppleLink: D0142, America Online: DATAPAK1, Compuserve: 76424,3027.

HyperHIT shipping soon

South Dartmouth, MA - 16 FEB 92 - SoftStream International, Inc. announces a new release of HyperHIT, its database engine specifically designed to use with HyperCard. HyperHIT DELUXE and HyperHIT DELUXE/Multi-User.

HyperHIT DELUXE adds 25 new commands to the product. HyperHIT DELUXE features powerful data search capabilities and fast data retrieval, even in large files. Data held in HyperCard stacks is easily imported into HyperHIT databases. Several HyperHIT files can be open concurrently, allowing for flexible design with a HyperCard front end. Multiple relations (tables) per database are supported, and selections (read-only tables) may be created from the data, for field lists or reports. There is no limit to record size or number of records per file.

HyperHIT DELUXE/Multi-User uses the same file structures as HyperHIT DELUXE, and provides read-write ability on any AppleTalk network, with multi-threaded client/server design. Other features include record-level locking, read-write or read-only access, optional password protection. The product includes its own data server, which has been improved over version 1.0 to make it more efficient and robust.

For more information, contact SoftStream International, 10 Twin Ponds Drive, S. Dartmouth, MA 02748, Voice: 508/991-4011, AppleLink: D3033.

Open Interface & OS/2

Palo Alto, CA - Neuron Data today announced its support of IBM's OS/2 2.0 operating system. Neuron Data Open Interface and NEXPERT OBJECT are both shipping on OS/2 2.0.

Open Interface and NEXPERT on OS/2 2.0 exploit the features of the operating system, such as IBM's 32-bit Presentation Manager and C Set/2 compiler. This effort has resulted in a performance increase of up to 40% over the company's 16-bit OS/2 product.

Neuron Data Open Interface is a GUI development tool that provides application portability and extensibility across all standard windowing environments, including: Presentation Manager, Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, Motif, Open Look, and the Macintosh. Open Interface has an installed base of more than 800 development licenses and 160,000 end users worldwide.

NEXPERT OBJECT is an expert system development tool that provides powerful features for integrating corporate data and corporate knowledge, for embedding intelligent systems in wide variety of applications, and for building critical core business systems.

For more information, contact Neuron Data, 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301, Voice: 415/321-4488, Fax: 415/321-3728.

DeeMaker for DeeManager 1.2

Aptos CA -- January 15, 1993 -- n Dimensions today announced that it is shipping an update to DeeMaker for DeeManager 1.2.

DeeManager replaces a large segment of the Macintosh Toolbox. Hiding, dimming, grouping, moving, structured modality, and value exchange are simplified, as software developers are presented with an extensible, high-level, object-oriented model of the human interface. The DeeManager model offers programmers a different viewpoint for human interface programming.

Version 1.2 includes: enhanced styles, private TextEdit Usage and scrolling frames for Text types, multiple styles per text item, an enhanced list type, a tip tool for viewing object content in the Objector windoid, three more Windoid frames, preview modes, and more draw power item editing.

The price for DeeMaker for DeeManager 1.2 is $299.

For more information, contact nDimensions, 7000 Soquel Drive, Suite 403, Aptos CA 95003, Voice: 408/662-9703, Fax: 800/462-9777, AppleLink: N.DIMENSIONS.