OF INTEREST

Java 1.4, the video analysis software for IBM PCs and compatibles from Jandel Scientific, allows you to capture, process, measure, and analyze video images.

Image arithmetic, snapshots, and bit-map transforms, along with enhanced macro facilities and data worksheet formatting/printing comprise version 1.4's new features. Image processing time has been reduces by automated area of interest (AOI) features. AOIs are defined using the new AOI backspace editing feature and can be saved as a template for use across multiple images. The image arithmetic feature lets you add, subtract, and average images with the current image in the frame grabber buffer; it also measures changes over time and can improve the signal to noise ratio of an image. Java analyzes data using look-up tables, linear regression, t-tests and descriptive statistics.

The program is priced at $1495. Updates from version 1.3 run $295. Reader service no. 31.

Jandel Scientific 65 Koch Road Corte Madera, CA 94925 415-924-8640 or 800-874-1888

Grafmatic, Plotmatic, and Printmatic are the three Fortran libraries now available from Jewell Technologies. Grafmatic enables you to create video graphics of two- and three-dimensional drawings, plots, or models. Printmatic and Plotmatic have identical capabilities; Printmatic executes them on various dot-matrix, laser, and inkjet printers, while Plotmatic supports HP and Houston Instruments plotters. The libraries also feature hidden line removal and shading for three-dimensional objects, as well as sophisticated spline algorithms.

DDJ spoke with Dr. Howard Garon of Aptek Inc. in Silver Springs, Md., who uses the libraries in creating software related to underwater acoustic propagation. Aptek chose the libraries because they are "comprehensive in terms of the numbers and kinds of routines available." Dr. Garon also said that he has found the libraries "well-documented and straightforward to use as part of Microsoft Fortran, QuickBasic, and Pascal."

All three libraries support the Microsoft, Ryan-McFarland, and Lahey Fortran compilers, run on IBM PCs and compatibles and require DOS 2.0 or later. Each one can be used as a stand-alone package, or they can be bundled together.

The libraries cost $249.95 apiece; discounts are available for bundling. Reader service no. 25.

Jewell Technologies 4740 44th Ave. SW #203 Seattle, WA 98116

Version 3.0 of the Professional Edition C compiler for the 8051 microcontroller family has been released by Franklin Software. The new compiler offers reentrant code generation, pointers to speed up your code, registers into which program variables may be loaded directly, and optimizations such as loops and global and local subexpressions. The new version allows you to mix different types of memory models and affords multiple CPTR and on-chip ALU support when possible as well as compatibility with code created with previous versions.

DDJ spoke with Nick Andrews of Byte-BOS Integrated Systems in San Francisco, who commented, "We've adapted our operating system to work with Franklin's large model and with the external stack. It's a very efficient compiler in terms of execution and the code size is small."

The compiler alone sells for $1195; a complete development kit runs $1995. Reader service no. 20.

Franklin Software Inc. 888 Saratoga Avenue, Suite #2 San Jose, CA 95129 408-296-8051

XREF, a multilanguage cross-reference lister for C, Pascal, and Modula-2, is now available from Amtec. The program has the capacity to handle up to 2000 different identifiers, for each of which it will recognize the first 29 characters.

XREF sells for $130. Reader service no. 24.

Amtec Software-Vertrieb Hauptstrasse 184 CH-4565 Recherswil Switzerland 41-65-443578 or 41-65-354550

ECAL is the new assembly language development system from VST Inc. ECAL generates code for all 4- through 32-bit microprocessors and features an open architecture. The package comprises an assembler with full macro capabilities, including parameter passing, local labels and conditional assembly; an integrated linker with a date-stamping make that reassembles only modules edited since the last assembly; a menu-driven editor that features split-screen mode and a file marker system; and diagnostic and context-dependent help facilities.

There is an optional EPROM emulator which replaces the EPROM in the target microprocessor and facilitates fast linkage between host and target.

Mike Appleton of Logical Devices Inc. in Fort Lauderdale said of the product, "ECAL allowed very rapid development of our product, an EPROM/PLD programmer. With most systems like this, you're limited to one type of microprocessor, but ECAL offers you full development potential across the board, and we plan on using it for other projects, as well."

The ECAL package runs on IBM PCs and compatibles and includes a source level debugger, ROM emulator, and control files for all microprocessors. It sells for $1895. Reader service no. 23.

VST Inc. 6600 NW 12th Avenue, Suite 203 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 305-491-7443

Oasys has introduced the Green Hills C++ Compiler. The compiler includes object-oriented features such as multiple inheritance, classes with scope, and operator overloading. It is compatible with AT&T's C++, Version 2.1 but supports cfront Versions 1.2 and 2.0, ANSI C, and Kernighan and Ritchie C as well. The compiler offers optimizations such as procedural inlining, register caching, and loop unrolling and provides pragma extensions to permit flexible control over runtime error checking and virtual tables. The product can be used as a native development tool or as a cross-compiler for cross or embedded development.

Green Hills C++ will run on Sun-3, 386 Unix/System V, and 88open compliant machines. The compiler comes with ANSI C header files, a single-step post-link program and a name mangler/demangler utility. Prices begin at $1000. Reader service no. 28.

Oasys One Cranberry Hill Lexington, MA 02173 617-862-2002

The Guide to Debugging Embedded Code, a reference for debugging code in 8- and 16-bit embedded systems, has been released by Softaid. The guide instructs you on how to set up your debugging environment and describes solutions to problems commonly encountered when using conventional tools. Also included are design recommendations to forestall debugging problems.

The guide is provided free of charge. Reader service no. 26.

Softaid Inc 8930 Route 108 Columbia, MD 21045

GFA-Basic for Windows 3.0 and GFA-Basic for MS-DOS are now available from GFA Software Technologies. The DOS product includes over 70 commands and functions for specific graphic and operating system operations, allowing you to write applications that contain menu bars, windows, alert boxes and pop-up menus, and are portable to Windows 3.0, OS/2 and Unix. MDA, HGC, CGA, EGA, and VGA graphics modes are supported; EMS can be used to allow access to more than 640K of memory; and 8087/287/387 math co-processors can be utilized, if available.

GFA-Basic for Windows has over 400 Windows-specific commands and functions that allow you to load bit-map files, run DLLs, and use the Multiple Document Interface, Clipboard, and DDE. This reduces the amount of coding required and renders the SDK unnecessary.

This product also permits use of EMS and runs in real or protected mode, depending on the Windows installation. C and Assembler routines can be bound into your GFA-Basic programs.

GFA-Basic for both Windows and MS-DOS costs $449 for the 286 version and $495 for the 386. Reader service no. 27.

GFA Software Technologies Inc. 27 Congress St. Salem, MA 01970 508-744-0201

Alpha RPL is the new development language just released by Alpha Software. This resident programming language allows you to create complete memory-resident applications, integrate DOS applications, automate tasks for time sensitive applications, and update user interfaces to give them a modern look and feel. For existing applications, the RPL can intercept keystrokes and read screens so that you can add functions or change commands.

Multiple DOS applications can exchange data while integrated under a single user interface. While running such applications, Alpha RPL can also read records from .dbf files. The environment includes a symbolic debugger, librarian, and editor, and is memory-resident, permitting you to debug and test Alpha RPL programs on top of the application they control.

Alpha RPL for DOS costs $595. With extended or expanded memory, as little as 36 K of conventional memory will suffice. Reader service no. 29.

Alpha Software Corp. One North Avenue Burlington, MA 01803 617-272-4876

Linnaeus, Version 1.0 is the new stand-alone DOS C++ class browser and application development tool from Zircel Software. It builds application information databases from subsets of any C++ source and requires no third party software. You can select classes or lists of classes based on regular expression searches, class characteristics, or parent/child classes. Linnaeus provides tree displays of selected classes, along with a window containing such information as the class's data members, methods, comments, parents, children, and source filespec. Clicking on a class name or icon in either the tree, the window, or the source listing will change that class and display its Detail window.

Also included are the ZLIST utility, which can list any information found in the browser database in any order, and a utility to preload your text processor with the proper source file when you indicate which class you want to edit.

Linnaeus costs $195 and runs under MS-DOS with an EGA/VGA. Reader service no. 30.

Zircel Software 2285A S. Jasper Way Aurora, CO 80013 303-750-9543

Software Engineer, a Lisp implementation for Windows 3.0, is now available from Raindrop Software Corp. Using Software Engineer's new ability to call routines in Dynamic Link Libraries, you can call previously coded C or assembly language code from within Lisp. This, plus the product's support for all Windows-compatible sound boards, yields a high-level environment for creating multimedia applications.

By supporting DDE, the clipboard, and GDI, Software Engineer brings Lisp programming with Windows to a level identical to C.

The retail price for Software Engineer is $249.95. Reader service no. 22.

Raindrop Software Corp. 845 E. Arapaho, Suite 105 Richardson, TX 75081 214-234-2611