New from Inmark Development is zApp, an applications framework for developing Windows applications by encapsulating the Windows API into easy-to-use C++ objects. In addition, zApp provides complete compatibility with existing C-based Windows applications, a hierarchical dynamic message handling facility, high-level printing support, simplified dialog box creation, a high-level forms package, and seamless integration with the Windows API. Also included is an optimized memory-allocation system which affords faster allocation and deallocation than with the standard Windows management routines and the ability to allocate many more objects while minimizing the impact on Windows' system resources.
zApp costs $195--$295 with source code--and is compatible with both Zortech and Borland's C++ compilers. Reader service no. 20.
Inmark Development Corp. 2065 Landings Drive Mountain View, CA 94043 415-691-9000
Base Technology has released Liana, a new C-like, object-oriented language intended for developing Windows applications. Liana is based on C and C++ and includes a suite of software tools and an easy-to-learn, object-oriented class library. The interpretive runtime environment supports dynamic typing, automatic memory management, and string manipulation. Default variable initialization, strings, Boolean values, and dynamic arrays are all defined as part of the language and supported by the runtime environment. Runtime errors are reported, making note of the source filename and line number. The class library contains over 90 classes and supports accessing DLLs and communication via DDE. The details of the Windows API are hidden by the Liana interpreter.
Liana supports fast development of dialogs and menus and simplifies development of underlying application logic. You develop applications as usual, creating source files using a text editor, compiling, linking, and running the .EXE file.
Tools are provided for foreign language localization, building libraries, displaying .EXE files, generating class hierarchy maps, screen capture, and bitmap manipulation.
The price is $495; an evaluation kit costs $49. Real, standard, and enhanced modes are supported. Reader service no. 21.
Base Technology 1543 Pine Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-440-4558
C-scape, Liant Software Corp.'s library of C routines for creating user interfaces, now supports X-Window. The new release, C-scape 3.2C UNIX, enables development of user interfaces for graphical applications under the X-Window system, as well as recompilation of existing C-scape applications under X.
C-scape's graphical features include menu systems, borders, and pop-up windows. Text editing functions include wordwrap, search and replace, and block commands.
C-scape 3.2C UNIX retails for $1499. VMS, DOS, OS/2, and QNX versions are also available. Each version comes with a set of example programs and source code. Reader service no. 22.
Liant Software 959 Concord St. Framingham, MA 01701 508-872-8700
Version 4.0 of GFA-BASIC for Windows from GFA Software Technologies now includes a visual dialog box editor and an icon editor. GFA-BASIC is also available for DOS, enabling porting of any program developed for Windows 3.0 to DOS, complete with a Windows-like GUI. The new release lets you build a dialog box by pointing and clicking: You simply select a box option from a pull-down menu, then visually position the check box, radio button, text box, scroll bar, or other option selected using the mouse. Once the screen layout is complete, GFA-BASIC automatically generates the program code.
The new icon editor allows you to visually create and edit icons: An existing icon can be displayed as a bitmap image and graphics added or deleted and colors changed by just pointing and clicking the mouse. New icons can be developed by either importing a bitmap image or drawing an image using the bitmap display, color palette, and mouse.
GFA-BASIC, including example code for developing an executive information system, costs $295. Reader service no. 23.
GFA Software Technologies Inc. 27 Congress Street Salem, MA 01970 508-744-0201
New from Chesapeake Computing is the Process Server, a development tool with its own macro-scripted language that uses event-driven, distributed parallel processing on LANs. The Process Server comes with over 200 ready-to-run commands and a relational database for report generation, audit trails, and network statistical analysis. Custom programs can be scripted for routine and spawned tasks and application servers can be built. All application servers built with the Process Server are compatible when run on the same or multiple machines.
The Process Server simultaneously controls any number of tasks and machines. A screen-mirroring feature provides a view of and remote control over all the screens of machines in the server mode and the number of machines can be increased or decreased. Tasks can be segmented, and the segments distributed among machines. Transaction tracking ensures that if any machine fails, another one takes over. The Process Server starts tasks on preassigned days and times and completes all segments in a prescribed, event-driven order. A new "pinging" technology analyzes network activity, searches for tasks assigned to Process Server programs and levels the workload, overcoming the slowness, bottlenecks, and contention of large LAN applications.
Also available is TPS/FAXServer, an add-on module that enables multiple network users to send and receive faxes online. It transmits volumes of documents, including graphics, to one or many individuals at preassigned dates and times. Supports ASCII, PCX, and Epson FX-85 formats.
The Process Server with a five-server license retails for $1995. TPS/ FAXServer costs $199. Reader service no. 24.
Chesapeake Computing Inc. 8401 Corporate Drive, Suite 560 Landover, MD 20785 800-899-2255 or 301-459-7376
Outrider Systems has released ButtonTool and EditTool, new developer aids for Visual Basic. ButtonTool lets you place graphics symbols, captions, and VCR-like symbols (fast-forward, stop, reverse, and so on) on buttons. Eighteen predefined symbols are included, and you can specify bitmaps, icons, or metafiles as the button's foreground. ButtonTool affords the ability to create shadows, 3-D effects, and the effect generated whenever the button is depressed; it can be used as an enhanced picture field or label.
EditTool's most significant feature is that it allows you to perform input field masking, an example of which is limiting characters to alphabetic or numeric. You can specify input fields for date, currency, social security number, phone number, and so on. EditTool also has the ability to control shadows, borders, and colors and provides a spin control that facilitates cycling through a specific range of programmer-definable values.
ButtonTool and EditTool are priced at $49.95 each, or $89.95 for both. Both load into the Visual Basic tool palette and contain runtime versions that can be distributed without royalties. Reader service no. 25.
Outrider Systems Inc. 3701 Kirby Drive, Suite 1196 Houston, TX 77098 713-521-0486
Imaging for DataEase, from Solana Software International, is a new development tool that allows you to combine images and documents in one database environment. Imaging for DataEase manages and outputs full-color or black-and-white images and documents as integral parts of DataEase forms and reports. Images and documents are input through scanners, video sources, and preexisting files, allowing for complete image and text database management and providing fast, high-resolution output to screen or printer.
The package comes with a scanning module that allows the user to set resolution, image size, color balance, contrast, brightness, and orientation. Video input is possible using an optional video capture board and any video source, including video cameras, VCRs, or cable television. NTSC, PAL, and SECAM are supported.
Imaging for DataEase costs $995 for a single user; $2495 for a 10-station LAN. For applications requiring high-quality halftone or graphics output and high printing speeds, an optional XLI Laser-Pix printer controller board is available for $995. Standard VGA and Super-VGA monitors and boards are also supported. Reader service no. 26.
Solana Software International 3751 Sixth Ave. San Diego, CA 92103-9804 800-748-5596
Serius has released the AppEvent Object, which provides for communication between applications built with the Serius Programmer and Developer desktop programming environments and other Macintosh applications that support Apple Events. Using the AppEvent Object allows you to incorporate support for Apple Events--integrating tools that use standardized definitions of events and data types--without understanding their implementation at the code level.
The AppEvent Object can send and receive Core Apple Events, the most common events and data types in Mac apps. It allows you to define your own Apple Events and subscribe to Events defined by others. Data types supported include text; number values; sound; color, gray-scale, and black-and-white pictures; lists of text or values, documents; tables; objects; and commands. The AppEvent Object--including the Serius Object Library, with 45 prefabricated components--costs $49.95. Reader service no. 27.
Serius Corp. 1981 East 4800 South Salt Lake City, UT 84117 801-272-7788