OF INTEREST

PKWARE recently began shipping a Windows version of its Data Compression Library, which provides a small set of compression functions allowing developers to add data compression to their applications. The library provides an implode() function which encapsulates the data compression engine and an explode() function to handle decompression. These functions allow for compression and decompression of either ASCII or binary data from virtually any data source. The library also includes a 32-bit CRC function, provides support for error handling, and supplies a mechanism for handling user-defined callback functions. Two additional functions are provided explicitly for Visual Basic support. Other languages supported by the library include Microsoft C, Visual C++, and Turbo Pascal for Windows 1.5. Although the implode() compression format is not compatible with the company's PKZip format, it is compatible with the DOS and upcoming OS/2 versions of the compression library. The library is provided both as a DLL and as a static .LIB file. PKWARE claims that the DLL version requires only 36 Kbytes of memory for compression and 12.5 Kbytes for decompression. There are no royalties for DLL distribution. Both the Windows and upcoming OS/2 versions are priced at $350.00. Reader service no. 20.

9025 N. Deerwood Drive

Brown Deer, WI 53223

Watcom has begun shipping Watcom C/C++ 10.0, which provides a new, graphical IDE. The environment includes a C++ class browser, GUI debugger, text editor, and profiler. Additionally, Version 10.0 provides Windows resource editing tools for icons, bitmaps, dialogs, and menus; it also includes the Spy, Heapwalker, and Dr. Watson debugging utilities.

Watcom C/C++ 10.0 is, for the most part, C++ 3.0 compliant, supporting both templates and exception handling. It also supports MFC, OLE, and SOM/DSOM. Application targets includes 16-bit DOS, Windows 3.x, OS/2 1.x, 32-bit DOS (with extenders), OS/2 2.x, Windows NT, Win32s, 32-bit Windows 3, and NetWare NLMs.

For a limited period, Watcom C/C++ 10.0 is available on CD-ROM for $199.00, although the regular retail price is $350.00. Reader service no. 21.

Watcom International

415 Philip Street

ILOG has announced two new tools. The first, ILOG Broker, is a tool that lets you turn any existing C++ application into a distributed app by changing header files. The second, the ILOG Server, is a tool for building dynamic servers of C++ objects so that programmers designing complex C++ applications can simultaneously access objects and the ILOG Broker.

ILOG Server is based on the concept of view coherence and is an extension of the Smalltalk Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. ILOG Server provides a C++ preprocessor and a set of libraries with two types of services: Object Model classes and Object Server classes.

ILOG Broker is designed for C++ programmers who need to develop distributed, object-oriented applications without leaving C++ or learning a new programming language. It is a light, distributed programming tool that can be used at several levels in cooperative processing environments. Its core technology utilizes the RPC protocol and can be used, for example, to effectively implement both C++-based Object Request Brokers and transparent C++ support for CORBA/IDL applications. Since ILOG Broker is an extension of the C++ language, you can revamp any existing C++ application. Both tools are currently available for UNIX-based systems and sell for $5000.00 each. Reader service no. 22.

2105 Landings Dr.

Mountain View, CA 94043

Greenleaf Software has provided a major upgrade to its asynchronous communications library, CommLib. The latest release, Version 5.0, provides over 350 C functions and support for the Win32 API and 32-bit DOS extenders, including Phar Lap's TNT DOS-Extender and Rational Systems' DOS/4G. CommLib 5.0 will also include language-independent DLLs for Windows NT and Windows 3.x.

The library provides a set of both high-level functions for quick development and low-level functions to fine tune communications apps. CommLib provides support for multiple multiport boards in the same PC; 16550 UART FIFO modes; numerous file-transfer protocols (including the addition of CompuServe's B+ protocol); and XON/XOFF, RTS/CTS, and DSR/DTR flow control. The library supports all of the popular C compilers, including Borland C/C++, Microsoft C/C++, Symantec C++, and Watcom C/C++. Additionally, the library is callable from any language that supports DLLs and Pascal calling conventions, including Visual Basic, Pascal, and Smalltalk. CommLib is priced at $359.00. Reader service no. 23.

Greenleaf Software

16479 Dallas Parkway, Suite 570

Dallas, TX 75248

Archimedes IDE for Windows is a point-and-click embedded-systems development environment for 8-, 16-, and 32-bit microcontrollers. The Windows-hosted environment includes an editor, ANSI C compiler, intelligent linker/loader, librarian, C libraries, real-time debugger, simulator debugger, and the make utility. The toolset is currently available for the 680x0, 683xx, 68HC16, 68HC11, 68HC08, and 68HC05 controllers. The Archimedes IDE toolset sells for $1595.00. Reader service no. 24.

Archimedes Software

2159 Union Street

San Francisco, CA 94123

CommTouch has announced Pronto/IP, a PC-based e-mail client to TCP/IP hosts, which enables Windows users to directly (that is, without a gateway) exchange e-mail with UNIX-based TCP/IP hosts. The tool also makes it possible for text and binary attachments to be sent internally, as well as through the Internet, using UNIX or other TCP/IP-based hosts as mail servers.

Pronto/IP uses the Windows Sockets (Winsock) API to interface with TCP/IP stacks such as those built into Windows for Workgroups or other commercial offerings. Pronto/IP uses the standard POP and SMTP protocols for exchanging incoming and outgoing mail with the host mail server. Pronto/IP sells for $69.00 in single quantities. Reader service no. 25.

CommTouch Software

1206 W. Hillsdale Blvd., Suite C

San Mateo, CA 94403

A consortium of computer companies have teamed up to define a common speech- recognition API for Windows. The Speech Recognition API Committee, which includes WordPerfect, Dragon Systems, IBM, Kolvox, Kurzweil, Lernout & Hauspie, Philips, and Novell, is developing an open standard to enable the integration of speech-recognition technology into their Windows applications. The Speech Recognition API is promoting a consistent user interface, along with features and interactions that can be done more easily and efficiently by voice rather than by keyboard or by mouse.

The Speech Recognition API will support continuous and discrete command and control speech capabilities (that is, individual voice commands such as "File Print") as well as continuous and discrete dictation capabilities for inputting of text and data (natural-language input such as "Print five copies of this document"). Reader service no. 26.

WordPerfect Corp.

1555 N. Technology Way

CardTrick FFS, a flash file system that's compatible with Microsoft's FFS2 linked- list, installable file system, has been released by Datalight. Flash memory is read/write, nonvolatile memory that can retain information without power.

In addition to being compatible with FFS2, Datalight says that CardTrick FFS is about 10 percent smaller and less expensive when it comes to license fees. The company also claims that CardTrick FFS does not accumulate speed degradations (leading to increasingly slower access times) when files are changed, as does FFS2. Reader service no. 27.

307 N. Olympic Ave., Suite 201

Arlington, WA 98223

The MIDI Programmer's Toolkit for Windows, available from Music Quest, is a kit that allows multimedia and music-program developers to create applications ranging from sequencing, music notation, and music instruction to live performance using MIDI instruments and sound cards. The Toolkit hides much of the Windows API while providing a complete library of functions. The library allows content developers to read and write songs in Standard MIDI File form; receive and transmit MIDI events to and from MIDI instruments and sound cards; filter events; and synchronize to either a MIDI clock, internal timebase, or SMPTE time code. The library is provided as a DLL and supports Microsoft and Visual C++, Borland C/C++ and Visual Basic. The MIDI Programmer's Toolkit sells for $99.95. Reader service no. 28.

1700 Alma Drive, Suite 300

Plano, TX 75075

The Open Mail System C++ Class Library has been released by Raindrop Software. The library is designed to provide C++ programmers a straightforward means of writing e-mail support into Windows applications using protocols such as VIM, MAPI, and MHS. Future releases will provide support for CompuServe, MCI mail, and SMTP. The company also provides Open Mail System support in the form of VBXs. The royalty-free C/C++ libraries sell for $995.00. Reader service no. 29.

Raindrop Software

833 Arapaho, Suite 104

Richardson, TX 75081

Durand Communications Network (DCN) has released DC Genesys, a relational multimedia-database toolkit for electronic bulletin-board systems (BBSs). The software, which is dBase and FoxPro compatible, supports JPG, CMP, PCX, BMP, FIF (fractal), TIF, TGA, and GIF image formats. The database search engine is based on query-by-example via custom forms as well as the command line. In addition to the database engine, the package includes an application engine, DOS and Windows terminal software, DOS and Windows compression software, and a sample phonebook application. The royalty-free software sells for $995.00. Reader service no. 30.

Durand Communications Network

147 Castilian Drive

Santa Barbara, CA 93117

Apiary recently began shipping Version 2.0 of its NetWare Client SDK for Visual Basic. The development kit, which includes the NetWare API, allows VB programmers to create NetWare client applications. The product also includes a Windows Help file that documents all versions of the API and includes function prototypes for C and Visual Basic. The NetWare Client SDK additionally supplies example programs demonstrating various functions in NetWare 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x, as well as Novell's new Directory Services API. The SDK sells for $395.00. Reader service no. 31.

10201 West Markham, Suite 101

Little Rock, AR 72205

Taligent has announced the start of its Partners Early Experience Kit (PEEK) program, which will provide Taligent code, documentation, and training to qualified developers. In addition, the company stated that developers will receive a prebeta release of its Taligent Application Environment (TalAE), which the company describes as an open, portable application system that is operating-system independent. The environment, which is based on Taligent's Task-Centered Computing model, provides the foundation for both functionality and interoperability. TalAE will initially run on IBM's AIX operating system. The program will include six one-week training courses and participation in the Taligent Developer Technical Services (DTS) program. Reader service no. 33.

10201 N. De Anza Blvd.

Cupertino, CA 95014

In a related announcement, Taligent has licensed the SNiFF+ development environment from TakeFive Software. SNiFF+ is a C++ portable programming environment that runs on UNIX workstations, including Sun SPARC, IBM RS/6000, HP 9000/7xx, DEC RISC, DEC Alpha, and SCO ODT. SNiFF+ provides browsing and design visualization, cross referencing, editing, and documentation support for any C++ compiler. For portability reasons, debugging support is delegated to the C++ compiler. The product features an extractor which retrieves information from the source code, making use of a fast fuzzy C++ parser to parse source files and send a tokenized stream of extracted information to client applications. An execution component either compiles and executes or interprets the source and provides debug information. The product also features an information repository based on a symbol table kept in main memory and provides tools to browse and manipulate information in the data repository. SNiFF+ is priced at $2990.00. Reader service no. 32.

TakeFive Software

20823 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 440

Cupertino, CA 95014

Versions 1.1, a version-control system for Windows and Windows NT, is now available from StarBase. The versioning software, which is based on a project-library concept, allows for any number of files to be checked in or out of the project library and provides access to both current and previous versions of a given file. The product supports all file types, including binary files, allowing users to collaborate on anything from source code and resource files to word processing, graphics, or spreadsheet files. Versions 1.1 includes a feature called "delta versioning" that allows side-by-side comparisons of ASCII files. Other features include a DOS command-line interface for batch operations, automatic schedule check-in, a Project Wizard for project setup, user-definable build and test commands, drag-and-drop support, and more. Versions 1.1 retails for $279.00. Reader service no. 34.

18872 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 400

Irvine, CA 92715

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