Newsbits

By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief

Yet another module

The ScriptIt module from FaceWare is a high-level programming interface to AppleScript. ScriptIt supports loading, editing, executing, and saving of AppleScript scripts from within C, Pascal, or Fortran-based programs. It also extends AppleScript to support access to program records, callback routines, and calls to other FaceWare modules. Scripts can be used for both intra- and inter-application communication

Use of ScriptIt with FaceIt-based programs automatically makes such programs "scriptable" (FaceIt is part of the ViewIt product from FaceWare). No knowledge of Apple events or the object model is necessary to use ScriptIt. The price is just $95, with no license fees.

For more information, contact FaceWare, 1310 N. Broadway, Urbana, Illinois 61801, Voice: 217/328-5842, Fax: 217/328-7876, AppleLink: D1323.

ACI Shipping Everything!

ACI is now shipping a number of new products including 4D Compiler 2.0, 4D Professional 3.0, 4D Insider, and 4D Write 2.1.

4D Compiler 2.0, the newest upgrade of their machine language compiler for 4th Dimension makes compiled applications run 3 to 1000 times faster. Version 2.0 permanently translates applications' scripts and procedures into machine code and provides 4th Dimension with direct addresses for variables and procedures.

4D Compiler offers script manager capability. Users can create script manager compatible applications that work with non-Roman languages such as Arabic and Japanese. Code checking in 4D Compiler alerts developers of problems which might arise from bad syntax, variable type conflicts, and inappropriate variable usage. Any errors 4D Compiler detects during compilation can be displayed with their error messages in 4th Dimension and can be directly edited or corrected.

Additionally, once compiled, 4th Dimension databases are virtually impenetrable. In compiled databases, access to the 4D Design environment is prohibited and source code is removed, ensuring database security.

ACI is also globally shipping 4D Professional 3.0, a combination of 4th Dimension 3.0 and 4D Compiler 2.0. 4D Professional packages the latest versions of two important development products together to help users create and protect their database applications.

With 4D Professional, the new features of 4th Dimension 3.0, including multi-windows, balloon help and 35 new commands are available, along with the increased performance offered by 4D Compiler 2.0.

ACI is also shipping a completely new product - 4D Insider. 4D Insider, an information referencing tool, provides a complete structural dictionary of 4th Dimension databases. Displaying various database objects and their relationships to one another.

4D Insider can print layouts, procedures, scripts, and other objects, along with a complete cross reference of the database. Even layouts used only as strings or as parameters in commands can be cross referenced.

4D Insider includes a complete browsing system which displays all structural components in a database, including files, fields, layouts, variables, commands, scripts, layouts procedures, and more. The browsing system displays each object, where it is used, and what objects it uses.

From within 4D Insider, developers can examine a database's structural components, view a formatted procedure or script, or check menus without returning to 4D. Choice lists and STR# resources are also shown.

4D Insider allows developers to convert all static text on layouts including button labels and menu items into string resources. 4D Insider can cycle through selected layouts and menus and automatically convert each item into a string resource.

Finally, ACI is shipping 4D Write 2.1, an upgrade of their integrated word processing program for 4D. This new version can be used by many different users simultaneously within the multi-tasking, client/server architecture of 4D Server. 4D Write 2.1 can be used in its own window or placed in a 4D layout .

4D Write now supports Claris XTND technology, which provides translators allowing users to read and write in other file formats.

Using 4th Dimension's built-in programming language, 4D Write can be programmed to create custom word processor applications and to automatically generate documents which reference information from a 4th Dimension database.

Users can now set preferences for their 4D Write 2.1 document, including ruler units and document mode. Style sheets can now be created and applied to text within 4D Write documents.

Version 2.1 offers an extended Find dialog box which helps users locate a series of characters, specifying if the characters should be located only when they appear as a whole word and if the search should be case sensitive. The new find capabilities also locate text featuring specific attributes or a custom style sheet.

4D Write 2.1 offers four modified and 30 new commands providing a variety of functionalities, including increased utilities, text manipulation, and area and picture control.

For more information on all 4th Dimension related products, contact ACI US Inc., 10351 Bubb Road, Cupertino, CA 95014, Voice: 408/252-4444, Fax: 408/252-0831, AppleLink: D4444.

Downsizing Mainframe Apps

Abraxas Software announces a new set of tools to assist in "Downsizing" mainframe applications. The new language application toolkit PCYACC 4.0 will provide mechanisms to port mainframe applications to the new client server environments. The Abraxas package PCYACC 4.0 will make it easier to port old RPG, COBOL, FORTRAN, PL/1, and BASIC to the new platforms of the 1990's.

Abraxas also supports developers who wish to support the languages of the 1990's like ASN.1, RTF, SQL, REXX, SGML, and Microsoft Visual Basic. These languages will be the common application development environments of the future. It is imperative that companies "downsizing" their application also support modern languages. PCYACC 4.0 supports new fourth generation data abstraction languages like RTF, ASN, and SGML. Lastly, client / server languages like DAL, SQL, DB2, and SNA/LU are supported. PCYACC 4.0 is available for MS-DOS, WINDOWS, OS/2, NT, Unix and Macintosh.

For more information, contact Abraxas Software, Inc., 5530 S.W. Kelly Ave., Portland, Oregon 97201, Voice: 503/244-5253, Fax: 503/244-8375, AppleLink: D2205.

QuickMail 2.6 is now shipping!

CE Software has released QuickMail version 2.6, CE's latest release of its cross platform e-mail package. QuickMail 2.6 encompasses clients for multiple platforms including a clients, server and added network administration tools, all in one box.

QuickMail 2.6 includes server software, Windows, DOS, and Macintosh client software, remote access, forms creation, mail filing, real-time on-screen conferencing, gateways and more. The server has been revised to address the operating system more effectively.

CE has added key network administration tools such as "Move User". Now adding, changing or deleting users can be done from any station, including remote locations. The Mail Authentication Tool provides back-up and housekeeping administration for Mail Centers.

United States and Canada users of Version 2.5 and above can upgrade to 2.6 for a nominal fee of $40/site. Call for other upgrade pricing.

For more information, contact CE Software Inc., 1801 Industrial Circle, West Des Moines, IA 50265, Voice: 515/224-1995, Fax: 515/224-4534, AppleLink: CESOFTWARE, America Online: CESOFTWARE, CompuServe: 76136,2137.

A QuickApp

Emergent is now shipping QuickApp. QuickApp is a C++ applications framework for Macintosh, designed with a structure similar to MacApp. QuickApp is not designed to replace MacApp for development of large scale projects, but as a new tool for small projects. QuickApp has the crucial features which MacApp provides, but little else. This allows QuickApp to have faster compile times, and generate applications with small code sizes. QuickApp is ideal for machines with low resources.

QuickApp was written purely in C++. It is not a re-write of a product written Pascal. QuickApp provides support for: Multiple windows and documents, Scroll Bars, Menus, Dialog Boxes, Event Handling, Standard File Dialogs, Text Edit, Off-Screen graphics buffers, Background and idle processing.

QuickApp also includes 12 sample programs. Full source code to QuickApp and all of the samples is included. Requires MPW C++, does not require MacApp. QuickApp is available from Emergent Behavior for $99.

For more information, contact Emergent Behavior, 635 Wellsbury Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306, Voice: 415/494-6763, Fax: 415/494-0570, AppleLink: Wilson6, America Online: Emergent.