Newsbits

By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief

EHelping yourself

Foundation Solutions, Inc. has announced the availability of EHelp Multimedia Documentation System for use with 4th Dimension version 2.2.2 and 3.0 databases.

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, HyperCard stacks, as well as 4th Dimension databases.

EHelp documents can contain any combination 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 search facility that enables users to search by keyword or by regular expression. In addition, users can browse through an EHelp online document by selecting topics or by following hypertext links.

The 4th Dimension version of EHelp enables developers to integrate an EHelp online document into a 4th Dimension database by using simple EHelp procedures. EHelp for 4th Dimension can be installed in a database in a matter of seconds, using the EHelp installation application.

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

More Inside Macintosh!

Apple Computer, Inc. and Addison-Wesley Publishing Company have announced the new Inside Macintosh, a completely revised and restructured edition of Apple's definitive guide to developing software applications for Macintosh computers. Inside Macintosh is a series of books documenting the tools and resources incorporated into the Macintosh system software that enables programmers to develop creative and intuitive applications.

The next two volumes of the new Inside Macintosh are now available. They are Inside Macintosh: Text and Inside Macintosh: QuickTime.

Inside Macintosh: Text contains vital information on all aspects of text handling, from simple character display to complex, multi-language text processing. It shows programmers how to draw characters, work with fonts, format numbers and dates, and handle text in any language.

Inside Macintosh: QuickTime provides information on QuickTime fundamentals and shows how to manipulate video data, use the Movie toolbox to load, play, create, and edit video data, and use image compression to enhance the performance of QuickTime movies.

The new Inside Macintosh provides greater cohesiveness of organization and a whole new dimension to the document. Because each volume is now organized by the subject, readers have all the information on a single programming topic in one book, rather than scattered throughout the original six volumes. This new organization makes it easier to find and utilize information vital to Macintosh development.

In addition to the reorganization, the new Inside Macintosh is expanded with information about the newest technologies, many more programming examples, and greater explanation of how the various parts of the Macintosh technology work together as a whole.

As changes occur in the system software, individual books in the new Inside Macintosh will be revised and re-released. However, when completely new and distinct technologies come out, new books covering that topic will be added to the series.

The new Inside Macintosh comprises the following fifteen volumes:

• Inside Macintosh: Files, $29.95, 544 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: Memory, $24.95, 312 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: Processes, $22.95, 208 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: Overview, $19.95, 176 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: Macintosh Toolbox Essentials, $34.95, 880 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: Imaging, $29.95, 640 pages, October 1993

• Inside Macintosh: Text, $34.95, 848 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: QuickTime, $29.95, 608 pages, Available now.

• Inside Macintosh: Interapplication Communication, $29.95, 688 pages, [Should be available when you read this. - Ed.]

• Inside Macintosh: More Macintosh Toolbox, $34.95, 912 pages, October 1993

• Inside Macintosh: QuickTime Components, $34.95, 848 pages, [Should be available when you read this. - Ed.]

• Inside Macintosh: Operating System Utilities, $22.95, 256 pages, November 1993

• Inside Macintosh: Networking, $24.95, 544 Pages, November 1993

• Inside Macintosh: Sound, $26.95, 352 pages, December 1993

• Inside Macintosh: Devices, $24.95, 400 pages, November 1993

For more information, contact Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1 Jacob Way, Reading, Massachusetts 01867, Voice: 617/944-3700.

[To purchase any of the available Inside Macintosh volumes at prices discounted from what is listed here, see the MacTech Magazine Mail Order Store, page 93 in this issue. - Ed.]

Stepping Up!

StepUp Software has announced several new tools for installer script writers. All of these tools will be supported by StepUp’s ScriptGen Pro™ - their upcoming script generation utility. StepUp Mode technology is incorporated into all of these products to save time and effort for the script writer by working "intelligently".

Extractor Action Atom is an Installer extension that gives the Installer script writer the ability to decompress files in the familiar Compact Pro™ format during an installation using Apple's Installer. The atom will decompress multi-segmented and non-segmented archives. Archives may include multiple files and folders. Developers will also need to license ExtractorCR from Bill Goodman, author of Compact Pro™.

StepUp Software has also announced XDiamond Action Atom - an Installer extension supporting decompression of Diamond™ archives. XDiamond Action Atom gives the Installer script writer similar features to the Extractor Action Atom but with support of Diamond archives. Developers will also need to license XDiamond Extern Soft Technologies.

StepUp Software is now shipping InstallerPack™ - a collection of Installer enhancement action atoms. InstallerPack™ includes atoms to display graphics, play sounds, decompress files, and install custom folder icons.

The ShowPICT Action Atom will display any PICT graphic included in an Installer script in its own window. The graphics can be any size, color or black-and-white. ShowPICT can be used to provide additional information for the user. The PlaySound Action Atom will play any sound included in an Installer script. Sounds can be used for effect or for informative messages to the user. The CustomFolderIcon Action Atom gives the developer the ability to install custom folder icons, a feature lacking in Apple's Installer. Also included are the XDiamond Action Atom and the Extractor Action Atom described earlier.

Extractor Action Atom and XDiamond Action Atom sell for $100. InstallerPack™ sells for $219. All StepUp products are sold directly by StepUp Software.

For more information on StepUp’s products, contact StepUp Software, 3883 Turtle Creek Blvd, Penthouse 10, Dallas, TX 75219, Voice: 214/520-7717, AppleLink: STEPUP

For more information on Compactor Pro products, contact Cyclos/Bill Goodman, P.O. Box 31417, San Francisco, CA 94131-0417, 415/821-1448, AppleLink: CYCLOS

For more information on Soft Technologies product, Mas de Gaillac, 46100 Beduer, France, 65 40 05 05, AppleLink: SOFT.TECH

Solving problems from 1 place

Teknosys, Inc. is shipping a network version of their Macintosh problem-solving utility. Help! Network is a configuration management and support tool for support personnel. Network administrators can remotely analyze networked Macintoshes and pinpoint specific configuration problems that exist on users' machines.

Help! Network remotely collects system profiles through a probe installed on supported Macintoshes. The Program than uses its expert system and built-in knowledgebase to analyze each user's configuration. The knowledgebase contains information about 7,600 different problems covering more than 3,000 third party products to detect both actual and potential problems. Once problems are detected, Help! Network creates a report about each Macintosh describing all problems with specific instructions for fixing each one. The report also lists the configuration information collected about each system which can be exported and used for tracking assets. Like Help!, the network version also has a simulation feature which allows administrators to test proposed system upgrades.

Help! Network is available in a 25-pack: $520, 50-pack: $989, and 100-pack: $1,656. Monthly and quarterly update plans are also available.

For more information, contact Teknosys, 3923 Coconut Palm Drive, Suite 111, Tampa, FL 33619, Voice: 813/620-3494, Fax: 813/620-4039, AppleLink and America Online: TEKNOSYS, CompuServe: 71333,710.