OF INTEREST

ObjectSoftware has released ObjectTrace 1.0, a profiler and tracer for C++ applications. This tool allows you to trace C++ programs using instrumentation techniques, C++ objects, C++ object-member functions, and any memory leaks by C++ objects. The tool then produces a call-graph on the C++ application that has been traced, along with a detailed report on object instances and memory leaks. ObjectTrace is currently available for SunOS 4.1.x and Solaris 2.3. A single-user license sells for $395.00. Reader service no. 20.

ObjectSoftware Inc.

1266 Hidden Ridge, Suite 1030

Irving, TX 75038

Version 2 of SQL Objects++ C/C++ Database Library from Objects++ Software supports ODBC, IDAPI, abstract SQL classes, and direct database access. The vendor claims you can gain database independence without issuing any SQL code by using the abstract SQL classes. Version 2 also supports SQL Base, Watcom SQL, ASCII files, Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server, DB2/2, DDCS/2, NetWare SQL, and Btrieve. Platforms supported include Windows, OS/2, DOS, and NT. Depending on which database drivers you want, the price of the library ranges from $695.00 to $4995.00. Source-code options are also available. Reader service no. 21.

Objects++ Software

47 Stonewall Street

Cartersville, GA 30120

Dragon VoiceTools is an SDK that lets C programmers build voice-activated interfaces for Windows or DOS applications based on the Dragon Systems speech-board system. The SDK's interface allows speech recognition to be integrated into any source code that can call C functions.

The SDK consists of DOS and Windows speech drivers; the SDAPI (Speech Driver Application Program Interface) library, C functions that work with Borland and Microsoft C/C++; an FSG (finite-state grammar) compiler to convert a text file into words and phrases your application-specific program will recognize; and speaker-independent, acoustic voice models. VoiceTools sells for $1995.00. Reader service no. 22.

Dragon Systems Inc.

320 Nevada Street

Newton, MA 02160

Pacific Communication Sciences Inc. (PCSI) has announced its Ubiquity CDPD SDK--a software-only approach for simulating an end-to-end CDPD network on a PC without resorting to cellular airlinks. The Ubiquity SDK enables software developers to create DOS- and Windows-based wireless applications for the CDPD cellular data network. The SDK includes a CDPD network simulator that permits applications to be built, tested, and demonstrated in a controlled environment reflecting the wide range of conditions that occur in normal field environments.

The Windows PC-based network simulator supports configurable serial communications interfaces for two mobile computers and one fixed-end computer. Its programmable event logs and traffic statistics provide developers a superior application debug and analysis capability. By eliminating the need for the CDPD cellular airlink, the simulator reduces both development time and the need for cellular service.

The Ubiquity SDK provides a library of communication interfaces such as the Windows Sockets API and the SLIP protocol. The SDK provides an AT emulation mode, allowing existing modem applications to operate over the CDPD-packet data service. The library includes an optimized DOS API utilizing the TCP/IP protocol stack built into all PCSI Ubiquity subscriber products. The Ubiquity CDPD SDK sells for $995.00. Reader service no. 23.

10075 Barnes Canyon Rd.

San Diego, CA 92121

The KL Group has released XRT/table, a multipurpose widget that enables OSF/Motif developers to include graphical, tabular text display and editing capabilities in their applications. All of XRT/table's attributes are programmed through resources. The widget supports programming interfaces through C, C++, UIL, and resource files. Cell values can be specified in advance or on the fly. Tables can be as large as memory allows--up to two billion rows by two billion columns. The widget also supports compound strings within each cell. XRT/table is available on Alpha/OSF, DECstation, HP 9000, IBM RS6000, SCO ODT 386/486, GI Sun Sparc Motif, and UNIX V.4 386/486. It sells for $995.00. Reader service no. 24.

260 King Street East

EsiObjects 1.1, an object-oriented application-programming environment based on the M language (a MUMPS derivative) has been released by ESI. The Windows-hosted system combines over 140 classes containing almost 2000 methods. These classes are stored in a network-based multidimensional database so that a multitude of programmers can share tools across the network. Additionally, the database can be built into client/server applications. EsiObjects runs on most M implementations that support workstation hardware and a windows interface. Run-time environments are supported on all M implementations. Single-user licenses cost $1295.00. Reader service no. 25.

5 Commonwealth Road

Natick, MA 01760

Visigenic Software has licensed the source code to Microsoft's ODBC SDK 2.0 in order to port the ODBC technology to UNIX. ODBC is Microsoft's interface for accessing data in a heterogeneous environment of relational and nonrelational database- management systems. The license covers the Driver Manager, ODBC utilities, and documentation.

In porting the ODBC Driver Manager 2.0 to UNIX, Visigenic provides a complete ODBC SDK for UNIX database programmers. Developers will be able to use the Visigenic ODBC SDK to create C or C++ programs that use the ODBC API, or conversely, create their own driver for a new data source. The SDK is also required by any other type of language or application, such as a spreadsheet or word processor, which needs to access DBMS data on UNIX, through a standard programmer interface, regardless of the brand of SQL engine. Initially, Visigenic is developing drivers for the following UNIX data sources: Informix, Oracle, and Sybase. These drivers, as well as drivers written by other data sources, are available separately from the SDK.

The Visigenic SDK will include the Driver Manager, header files, sample programs, and utilities to speed the development of applications or new drivers. Since these components are common with the Microsoft SDK for Windows, DBMS developers can write to a single database API for applications that can be executed in both Windows and UNIX environments. The Visigenic ODBC SDK will be priced at $995.00. Reader service no. 26.

Visigenic Software

951 Mariners Island Blvd., Suite 460

San Mateo, CA 94404

IBM has announced that its Mwave DSP-based multimedia technology now supports the OS/2 2.1 Multimedia Presentation Manager (MMPM/2). Mwave has also been extended to support V.32bis protocol for 14.4 Kbs modem transmission, V.17 protocol for 14.4 Kbs fax transmission, Video for Windows JPEG, wave-table sound synthesis, and voice capabilities. Qsound special effects have also been added. There is no charge for the audio functions. The V.32bis and V.17 protocols sell for $5.00/copy, while the wave-table synthesis and Qsound sell for $3.00/copy. Reader service no. 27.

IBM Microelectronics

Hopewell Junction, NY 12533-6531

800-426-0181 ext. 500

Three C programming tools have been released by Interactive Instruments. The first, Data-Organ, is a data-management tool which serves as a base for multi-instance B*-trees and a record-set manager for keyed or direct access. Keyed access is performed by extendable hash in the foreground or by B*-tree indexing.

The second tool is KeyPoint, which contains AVL-balanced binary trees, a keyword-table manager that allows access by abbreviations or synonyms, and a constructor and interpreter for languages of the operator/operand type.

The third tool, TextMatch, consists of a finite-state pattern translator and context-free macro-substitution processor. Both work as character pipelines with user-supplied input/output handling.

DataOrgan sells for $450.00, KeyPoint for $130.00, and TextMatch for $180.00. As a set, the three packages, which are supplied in source-code form with no run-time royalties, are available for $680.00. Reader service no. 28.

Interactive Instruments

Beethoven Platz 14

53115 Bonn Germany

The NetWare Client SDK for Visual Basic, which makes it possible for Visual Basic programmers to implement NetWare client APIs into applications, has been released by Apiary. The SDK consists of a Windows help file covering the entire NetWare API with prototypes in C, Pascal, and Visual Basic; numerous examples in NetWare 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x; functions such as drive mapping and directory services; and several Basic files containing the NetWare Client data structures and DLL prototypes. The NetWare Client SDK for Visual Basic sells for $395.00. Reader service no. 29.

10201 W. Markham, Suite 101

Little Rock, AR 72205

Aritek Systems has released Arisoft CornerStone, an SDK that allows you to incorporate CAD functionality into Windows applications. At the heart of the toolkit is a CAD engine around which you can build your CAD application. To work with this engine, you use a C-like macro language (called "Ariflex") and the accompanying compiler. The SDK also includes a converter for translating AutoCAD .DCL files to Windows .RC format so that you can create customized interfaces. CornerStone sells for $2800.00. Run-time royalties are also required. Reader service no. 30.

10 Inverness Drive, Suite 105

Englewood, CO 80112

Novell has announced support for the VIM (Vendor Independent Messaging API from the VIM consortium), CMC (Common Mail Calls from the XAPI Association), and Simple MAPI (from Microsoft) messaging APIs. Applications based on these APIs can be used to interoperate with native NetWare MHS programs that run on SMF, Novell's messaging API.

The VIM API is a procedural, cross-platform messaging, transport-independent API developed by a consortium of industry vendors, including Novell, IBM, Apple, Borland, Lotus, MCI, Oracle, and WordPerfect. Applications developed with VIM include Borland's Quartro Pro for Windows, Central Point Tools for Windows, Microsoft Office, and WordPerfect InForms.

CMC was designed to offer basic mail-enabling capabilities in a procedural, cross-platform messaging, transport-independent environment. Applications developed with CMC include Collabra Share, MS Word, and Excel.

Simple MAPI was originally provided as a subset of the MAPI 1.0 API. Microsoft has since replaced it with CMC as its recommended basic mail-enabling API. Simple MAPI is a basic mail-enabling API for Windows upon which a variety of older mail-enabled solutions are based.

SMF provides full access to all features of the NetWare MHS product line, including NetWare Global MHS, NetWare Basic MHS, and NetWare Remote MHS.

All these API libraries are available free of charge as a set of DLLs for Windows. The libraries will be distributed on NetWire, included as part of the next NetWare SDK release, and integrated with all NetWare MHS product revisions. Reader service no. 31.

122 E. 1700 South

Provo, UT 84606

Motorola's Microcontroller Technologies Group has introduced the RMCU500 family of 32-bit RISC microcontrollers, which is based on the PowerPC architecture. The first chip to be made available is the 3.3 volt, 25-MIP RMCU505. The microcontroller family is targeted at consumer electronics, computer peripherals, communications, and a variety of control applications. Supporting the RMCU505 is an SDK which includes an optimizing C compiler, macro assembler, debugger, linker, archiver, and SRecord generator. The SDK is designed to support the development of embedded code and to facilitate operation with ROM and RAM. In 100-quantity, the RMCU505 will sell for $75.00. Reader service no. 32.

Microcontroller Technologies Group

6501 William Cannon Drive West

Austin, TX 78735-8598

A new 80-minute video by William Hall provides tips for successful software internationalization. The video, called Software Internationalization: Theory and Practice, discusses necessary program changes ranging from modifying time, date, and currency displays, to changing how lists of words are alphabetized and formatted for display. Other topics include working with non-U.S. keyboards and using colors preferred by various localities. (Hall recently launched an article series entitled "Internationalization in Windows NT" in the May 1994 issue of Microsoft Systems Journal.) The video sells for $299.95. Reader service no. 33.

Scotts Valley, CA 95066

TeachFuzz is a fuzzy-logic learning tool from Impatiens Publications. The software, available for both PCs and Macs, lets you define a system composed of two inputs, one output, and up to 25 rules. TeachFuzz sells for $24.95. Reader service no. 34.

Impatiens Publications

4028 Pleasant Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55409-1545

Copyright © 1994, Dr. Dobb's Journal