Better-C v2.0 boasts an OOP database library, and Top-Down Designer v2.0 has been augmented with a screen designer and data dictionary.

The Better-C package consists of a tutorial, program generator, library, source, and include files. The Top-Down Designer package consists of a tutorial and interactive designer software. Both require IBM PC or compatible with DOS version 2.0 and up. Better-C is priced at $195. Top-Down Designer is priced at $195. Better-C and TDD is $339. For a limited time you can get Better-C and TDD for $99.

For more information contact Silico-Magnetic Intelligence, 24 Jean Lane, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10952. (914) 426-2610; FAX (914) 426-3152.

Features of the STEP Excell-930:

• Non-intrusive operation up to 40 MHz
• Cache execution trace
• 8K trace buffer
• Hardware and software breakpoints
• user-defined external inputs
• Logic analyzer interface
• Microtec Research XRAY souce level debugger interface
• Remote debugging from the Sun 4
• System expansion bus for extensibility
• Non-intrusive operation up to 40 MHz

The target SPARClite processor remains in the system eliminating induced interference from high-speed signals traveling along the cable. While the system executes code, the Excell-930 passively monitors all SPARClite bus activity and records it in the 8K deep trace memory.

The MELPS 7700 toolkit consists of MCCM77, an optimizing ANSI C Cross compiler; XRAYM77, a source level debugger based upon Microtec Research's popular XRAY debugger; and ASMM77, an assembler with a linker and librarian. The components of the toolkit are designed to function together as an integrated whole and provide a superset of features found in typical development tools. The MCCM77 C Cross Compiler is a globally optimizing ANSI C standard compliant compiler. It generates code optimized for the MELPS 7700 architecture and emits debugging information necessary for use with the XRAYM77 source-level debugger. The ASMM77 Cross Assembler package converts MELPS 7700 compatible assembly language source programs into relocatable object code, integrates separately compiled modules into a composite executable module, and provides a management facility for independently developed modules.

XRAYM77 is based on Microtec Research's XRAY debugger technology. It provides both C and assembly language debugging for MELPS 7700 users. Unique to XRAYM77 is its ability to debug optimized code in a non-intrusive manner giving software developers access to production quality code and leading to smoother hardware/software integration in embedded systems. It provides a window-oriented debug environment, allowing the user to step through and simultaneously view source code, continuously monitor variables and expressions, trace procedure function calls, and set simple and complex breakpoints. Program execution environments for the XRAY77 source level debugger include an instruction set simulator and a hardware emulator.

Microtec tools run on PC compatibles, SPARCstations, Sun-3 workstations, and HP9000/300s. US list price for the complete toolkit starts at $2325 and includes the Cross Compiler, Assembler with linker and librarian, and source level debugger.

For more information contact Microtec Research, Inc., 2350 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. (408) 982-8266; (800) 950-5554; FAX (408) 982-8266.

The 300+ page annual report contains Japanese software market analysis, government study results, and over 250 charts and tables. It offers an overview of market trends for hardware, software, and distribution; describe the impact of various hardware and software products; and identifies new business software and the platform the software was developed on. Specific topics include OS and software development tools, front end processors, customer software, and UNIX software development, as well as information on markets for various types of products and applications. Software distribution channels are described and their relative effectiveness is evaluated.

The report is a tool for software developers wanting to enter the Japanese market. It can be ordered through Implements at a cost of $495. Implements, Inc., 6 Brook Trail Road, Wayland, MA 01778-3706. (508) 358-5858.

The ability to reconstruct execution with the cache on provides a distinct advantage for software designers debugging code executing in the 4K of total on-chip instruction cache.

To accelerate hardwaree debug, the Excell-930 also includes unique hardware debug features that allow the systems designer to bring up initial hardware requiring nothing more than correct power and a clock to begin. These hardware features consist of several target system tests, predefined scope loops, trigger in/trigger out, logic analyzer interface and 32 external inputs.

When coupled with the compiler, assembler, and source level debugger from Microtec Research, the Excell-930 provides a complete development platform for real-time embedded control applications.

For more information contact STEP Engineering, 661 E. Arques Ave., Sunnyvale, California 94086. (408) 733-7837. Electronic mail: jeriann@step.

Because some of the concepts of C++ are better explained by examples, rather than syntax diagrams or other formal methods, the card uses a mix of examples and specifications. These topics are explained by example: statement formats, functions, constants, variables, preprocessor commands, objects and classes, I/O classes, user-defined conversions overloading, and inheritance. Suffixes, escape sequences, storage class, operator precedence, standard conversions, and scope are explained more formally.

The 16-page reference is priced at $4.50. For more information, contact Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. (SSC); P.O. Box 55549, Seattle, WA 98155. (206) FOR-UNIX or (206) 527-3385; FAX (206) 527-2806. bel@ssc.wa.com or uunet!nwn-exus!ssc!bel

For more information contact EMS, 4505 Buckhurst Ct., Olney, MD 20832. (301) 924-3594; FAX (301) 963-2708.

Wx2R's client-server architecture conserves CPU resources by having editing windows operate as clients of a central server. Editing takes place directly in real X windows, as opposed to the terminal emulation windows used in character-based solutions. There are no limitations on Wx2R file sizes, widths or lengths.

Other key features:

• online help;
• unlimited windows;
• split windows on a single buffer;
• customizable Motif-compatible accelerator keys for creating keyboard shortcuts;
• dialog boxes for easy navigation through the system;
• undo facility;
• regular expression search and replace facility, including wild card characters, ranges and sets and code strings;
• mouse-click copying of regions and blocks within and between files;
• unlimited depth stacks for storing copied items;
• macro processor for macro creation/storage/access;
• user-definable editing modes for frequently used programming languages, with pretty printing facilities;
• user-definable aliases and abbreviations;
• comprehensive documentation, with indexed users manual.

For information, contact Non Standard Logics, Inc., 4141 State St., Suite B-11, Santa Barbara CA 93110. (805) 964-9599; FAX (805) 964-4367.

The MakeForm user is provided with a menu-driven environment that supports the mouse and has a tool palette and status bar that can be hidden if desired. The programmer can customize the MakeForm environment by changing color attributes for the menu, tool palette, dialog boxes and message boxes as well as setting and resetting processing options. "Hot keys" are provided for most menu items. Key bindings of hot keys are also user definable through the Customize MakeForm feature. Dialog boxes and list boxes are used when defining the following form objects: PROMPTS, FIELDS, ATSAYS, MEMO FIELDS, TICKER-TAPE FIELDS and SCROLLABLE SUB-FORMS. General form editing features are included for defining physical and logical window size, frame and background attributes, screen clear characters, frame and linedraw characters, and default field flags.

With MakeForm 2.0, the user can create elaborate form backgrounds with flexible color and character selection, plus a special linedraw mode gives one the ability to customize screens. Three forms can be defined concurrently with cut, copy to and paste from scrap to interchange form elements. Copying, deleting, moving and editing an object or multiple objects is accomplished by simply selecting the object or multiple objects with a click of the mouse or the push of a key. Form templates can be created and saved which allows the programmer to establish a base for each new form created. By customizing the templates, the programmer can produce a library of forms that can be easily accessed.

The user has the ability to define up to four titles for forms and specify title justification and color attributes. By defining form shadows and specifying its orientation, shadow character and color attribute, a 3-D effect can be realized. The capability to compose a user defined attribute set on an individual form basis or as the default attribute set is provided also.

Prototyping your forms is easy since MakeForm 2.0 allows the programmer to immediately execute the font being defined for a test run of its data entry functioning. This institutes all the necessary structures for DataWindows data entry processing. Changes can be made to the form as a result of the testing without ever leaving MakeForm. The programmer may also create an ASCII description of the contents of the form that can be written to disk and later printed.

Once a form has been created using MakeForm, the form can be saved to disk as a resource file. This file can be optionally compressed using a proprietary, compression algorithm that is included with MakeForm. DataWindows readtran() function reads the form description in the resource file to create a form that can be used for a customer's data entry needs. readtran() has various options which allow you to choose only portions of the resource file, such as using only a subset of the fields contained in the file, using a different window than the one described in the file, or using a different set of attributes than the one contained in the file. readtran() has been enhanced so it can read compressed resource files.

MakeForm 2.0 provides a conversion utility to convert form files created by MakeForm 1.0 to the MakeForm 2.0 format. Online context sensitive help is included along with a complete reference manual. A comprehensive tutorial is also included. Form files made with MakeForm 2.0 will be compatible for all Greenleaf DataWindows platforms.

Greenleaf MakeForm 2.0 is available immediately for S249. MakeForm 1.0 users may purchase an upgrade for $80 by calling Greenleaf Software, Inc. For more information and a free demo disk, contact Greenleaf Software, Inc., 16479 Dallas Pkwy., Suite 570, Dallas, TX 75248-9968. (800) 523-9830; (214) 248-2561; FAX (214) 248-7830.

ArchiText is a powerful high-level tool for manipulating and viewing structured documents, such as programs, specifications and technical or administrative reports. It was designed to relieve computer users from the need to worry about language structures.

ArchiText features a Graphical User Interface, based on the Motif GUI standard, which makes it possible to manipulate complex structures quickly. A simple mouse click selects a structural block of a document; commands such as "cut", "copy" and "paste" apply to entire structures, instead of acting just on streams of characters as in textual editors.

ArchiText caters to the needs of both beginning and advanced users of a programming language or other notation. Structures can be built both from system-generated templates, a favorite with inexperienced users, or simply by typing partial or complete phrases which are then parsed and completed by ArchiText's sophisticated built-in parser.

A unique feature of ArchiText is its ease of adaptation to any context-free language. You can build an ArchiText editor for a specific language (programming language, design language, or even the description of the structure of standardized technical documents) by describing the language's grammar in a simple notation called LDL (Language Description Language). The standard delivery of ArchiText includes basic LDL grammars for Eiffel, Ada, FORTRAN, and C. Users have access to these grammars and may adapt them to support their specific needs, and may develop their own quite simply. This makes ArchiText a useful tool to support variants of a language, such as enforcing local programming or documentation standards.

ArchiText also provides semantic facilities for executing programs, even not completely refined ones, for software prototyping and program testing. For more information contact Interactive Software Engineering, 270 Stork Rd, Suite 7, Goleta, CA 93117. (805) 685-6869.

The ADC system enables a software development organization that may be using a variety of tools to archive their requirements, specifications, design models, source code, executables and documentation files. A systems integrator can manage contracts along with software and hardware engineering documents. With the ability to extract only the material which has changed from one release to the next, it is now practical to keep an entire project history online and accessible to the engineering development and support organizations.

Aide-De-Camp saves significant disk space by storing only the differences between one release and the next. More importantly, all vital engineering documents are always accessible and reproducible.

For more information contact Software Maintenance and Development Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 55,; Concord, MA 01742. (508) 369-7398; FAX (508) 369-8272.

The Network C Library is a collection of over 300 functions useful for writing utility programs or commercial applications. The Network C Library provides the C programmer with access to NetWare services for accounting, bindery management, connection, directory and file management, file server, locking, message, printing, queue management, security and rights, semaphore, transaction tracking and workstation services. Functions are provided for nearly all versions of NetWare including versions 2.2 and 3.11.

Version 1.1 enhancements include the addition of IPX function calls and support for the Turbo C++ compiler.

The network C library includes over 400 pages of documentation explaining the use of each function and providing general discussions of software development with NetWare. Over 100 sample programs, including source code for most NetWare command line utilities, illustrate the use of each function.

The Network C Library for NetWare now supports Microsoft C, Turbo C and Turbo C++ and is available for $245. Source code is available for an additional $325. Upgrades from version 1.0 are available for $20.

For more information contact Automation Software Consultants, Inc., 8188 S. State Route 48, Maineville, OH 45039. (800) 669-0842 or (513) 677-0842.

MEIJIN++ allows developers to reduce complex models to a collection of interacting entities configurable at run-time. The main features are:

• Exception handling mechanism and debugging
• Persistent data collections (lists, balanced heaps, hash tables, calendar queues...)
• Statistics and math tools such as least squares, Fast Fourier transform, times series, splines, differential equations, analysis of variance, random number generators
• Discrete event simulation with polymorphic scheduling structure

MEIJIN++ is priced at $279 with an introductory offer at $225. Educational discounts are available.

For more information contact Network Integrated Services, Inc., 221 West Dyer Rd., Santa Ana, CA 92707-3426. (714) 755-0995; FAX (714)433-2347.