Volume Number: 13 (1997)
Issue Number: 2
Column Tag: Newsbits

Newsbits

By Jessica Courtney

Conix Graphics announced the release of OpenGL version 1 for the Macintosh. OpenGL assists graphics developers in CAD, Mechanical implementation, Architectural Design, Medical and Scientific Imaging, Geophysical Sciences, Animation, Photorealism, Data Visualization, and Simulation.

OpenGL is the premier 2D and 3D graphics library that allows developers to build geometric models, view models interactively in 3D space, control color and lighting, manipulate pixels, and perform such tasks as alpha blending, anti-aliasing, depth cueing and texture mapping.

Early benchmark testing shows that OpenGL for the Macintosh out performs OpenGL offered by Microsoft and IBM.

Cross platform capability enables programmers the flexibility to transition code easily and smoothly from one platform to another.

OpenGL for the Macintosh by Conix also supports C, ADA, and FORTRAN. Integration with Tenon's MachTen UNIX and Hardware acceleration through RAVE (Rendering Abstract Virtual Engine) will be available first quarter of 1997.

http://www.conix3d.com

Developers are able to incorporate PKZIP implode and explode capabilities into their programming. The PKZIP DCL provides a library of routines for the compression and decompression of data on a Macintosh or Power Macintosh. It allows programmers to compress and decompress data using their own file handling routines to read and write their data.

Other features include: an all purpose, patented data compression algorithm that compresses both ASCII and binary data quickly, application controlled input/output and memory allocation for the utmost flexibility, and adjustable dictionary size that allows the software to be fine tuned for maximum speed or compression.

ASi is the global leader in compression solutions. Their line of compression utilities includes such names as PKZIP, MultiZip, NetSqueeze, and Nico Mak Computing Inc.'s WinZip, and supports AS/400, DOS, Macintosh, MVS, NetWare, OS/2, UNIX, VMS, VSE, and Windows platforms.

http://www.asizip.com

MathSoft, Inc. announces shipment of Mathcad Plus 6 for the Macintosh. An advanced version of the Mathcad technical calculation software package that offers a wide range of new features making it even easier to use for Macintosh customers.

In addition to its technical calculation capabilities, Mathcad Plus 6 for the Macintosh now features built-in Internet connectivity that will benefit users in the technical and academic markets

Mathcads distinctive live document interface lets users integrate text, calculations and graphs, then document and share results in an easy-to-use environment. Mathcad Plus 6 also allows users to link and hyperlink worksheets over corporate intranets, WWW or local web servers for applications such as workgroup sharing in a corporate or scientific environment and distance learning in education.

While Mathcad Plus 6 for the Macintosh includes all the features of Mathcad Plus for Windows, and is compatible with the Windows version, the new product also includes several new features including: improved editing and formatting capabilities; simpler menu structures; the ability to create and embed animation within a worksheet; and QuickPlot, a new intelligent formatting capability allowing easy, direct graphing of formulas and expressions. The software, designed for the PowerMac, also provides support for 68030- and 68040-based systems.

http://www.mathsoft.com

Claris Corporation announces the expansion of the Claris Solutions Alliance (CSA), a consortium of software professionals, publishers, authors and trainers who use and recommend Claris software products. Spurred by the fast growth of the CSA, which has risen to nearly 1,500 members worldwide, Claris is adding two new tiers to the organization.

Claris Partners, a new CSA membership, is for highly experienced software development professionals who will work closely with both Claris Corporation product development and sales teams to better address the needs of Claris software customers. In addition to access to beta versions of Claris software, direct technical support, special sales incentives, and numerous co-marketing opportunities, Claris Partner CSA members will undergo reference verification and annual testing by Claris and will receive an official Claris Partner logo for use within all promotional materials.

CSA Enterprise membership, another new category of CSA membership, is designed for a wide variety of professionals within businesses and corporations who are responsible for in-house database development, administration of FileMaker Pro databases, and help desk personnel supporting FileMaker Pro users.

CSA Associate membership, formerly known as the single CSA membership, has been expanded to a include wide scope of users, including software consultants, publishers, trainers and the novice developer/consultant.

Claris Solutions Alliance was founded in 1991. Last June, Claris sponsored the organization's first worldwide developer's conference held in Santa Clara, Calif. The CSA plans to hold its second annual conference this Spring in the San Francisco Bay area. Further details on the 1997 CSA Worldwide Developer's Conference will be provided at later time.

http://www.claris.com

MultiQuest announces the release of S-CASE 3.0 (rev. 1.9) with enhanced support for Unified Modeling Language 0.91. This new version reaffirms MultiQuest's commitment to the UML notation proposed by renowned object-oriented methodologists Grady Booch, Ivar Jacobson and Jim Rumbaugh.

S-CASE 3.0 was designed from ground up to provide the true UML metamodel as its foundation. This metamodel is fully accessible using Tcl scripts, thus providing hooks for code generators, report writers and other useful tools. Additional enhancements in this new version include improved code generation and reverse engineering.

http://www.multiquest.com

Claris Corporation announces the availability of Claris Home Page 2.0, the next version of the company's popular web-authoring software for MacOS and Windows 95/NT users.

Claris Home Page 2.0, designed for novice-to-expert web page authors, is the essential WYSIWYG, web-authoring solution that provides the ability to design and develop powerful, customized web pages in minutes - without having to learn HTML or programming.

Claris Home Page 2.0 also delivers all the capabilities and tools web masters need - frames, tables, libraries, multimedia plug-in support, built-in remote site publishing, the ability to edit raw HTML, and more. Also, in a cross-platform solution that provides incredible ease of use as well as the flexibility and power that experienced users want.

Claris Home Page 2.0 delivers important new capabilities and features designed to enhance both the look of web pages and the productivity of web authors.

A new feature that novice users will especially appreciate are the 25 site templates provided for the creation of a personal page, calendar, newsletter, presentation, or small business presence. These easy-to-use templates increase productivity, offering multiple style variations for a total of almost 100 individual pages.

Other new features include built-in remote site publishing, with auto-consolidation of files and one-step uploading to a designated server; support for popular multimedia plug-ins, including QuickTime, Java and Shockwave; spell checking and support for multiple fonts within web pages via the FONTFACE tag; client-side, as well as server-side, image maps for easy linking to other pages and sites; and HTML editing enhancements such as syntax coloring.

Claris Home Page 2.0 users will also be able to dynamically re-size and reposition frames by pointing and dragging with their mouse; preview background GIF images from within Claris Home Page; drag and drop tab-delimited text from spreadsheet and database documents to automatically create tables within their web page; and specify row heights and column widths within tables by typing values or dragging cell borders.

Version 2.0 provides concurrency or "selection preservation" between WYSIWYG and HTML modes, allowing users to go to the precise location they were working in the previous mode.

Claris Home Page for MacOS requires a Macintosh, Power Macintosh, or compatible computer with a 68020 processor or higher; 8 MB memory; System 7.1 or later; and 2MB free for minimum installation (6MB for full installation).

For Windows users, Claris Home Page requires an Intel 486 or higher compatible PC System; Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.5.1 or newer; 8MB RAM (16 MB for NT); and 4 MB free hard disk space.

http://www.claris.com

Blue World Communications, Inc. announces the release of Lasso 1.1, an advanced tool for integrating Claris Corporation's FileMaker Pro 3.0 for Macintosh databases with the web server.

Lasso is designed for fast performance. Searching FileMaker Pro Macintosh relational databases with tens of thousands of records in under a second is now possible with Lasso.

Lasso operates by recognizing special commands placed in standard HTML files. These commands define all interaction between FileMaker Pro and a MacOS web server. Lasso functions as the "glue" between FileMaker Pro and the web. Lasso HTML files (or format files) are easily edited in HTML authoring programs such as Claris Home Page with drag-and-drop control of data using the supplied FM Link tool. Template files are provided for setting up web databases in minutes.

Lasso allows complete flexibility in how FileMaker Pro data is formatted without requiring any changes to the actual database. Lasso facilitates remote administration of web database configurations from anywhere on the Internet. Lasso also provides routines for security, thus allowing greater control over how databases are served and administered in shared environments.

Lasso offers many features including support for relations/portals, repeating fields, dynamic population of value lists, built-in email forwarding, If... Else... conditional statements, built-in remotely configured security and more.

Version 1.1 adds support for serving images directly from FileMaker Pro, passing tokens (critical for user tracking schemes such as online shopping carts), ScriptMaker scripts, dynamic control of user and browser information, field and record level security, operation as a WebSTAR plug-in and provides enhanced capabilities throughout Lasso's core features.

http://www.blueworld.com/lasso/