Newsbits

By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief

QUED/M Can THINk!

Users of QUED/M, Nisus Software's fast, capable Macintosh text editor, are now able to launch QUED/M from within the Symantec THINK C 6.0 project manager. Nisus developed the QUED/M update to provide a superior editing option for THINK C programmers.

Version 2.6 improvements allow QUED/M users to: Open a file from the project window to launch QUED/M automatically; Access the most common commands from QUED/M's THINK menu; Instantly lookup selected Mac OS commands in THINK Reference 2.0; Access all the project's include files from QUED/M's title bar; Use THINK commands in QUED/M macros to compile, link, build and name an application with a single command; Delete, move or rename files in the QUED/M Catalog without going to the Finder; and Customize applications with new QUED/M Preferences.

QUED/M runs on any Macintosh (System 6.0 or later; the THINK integrated options need System 7.0) and requires only 285K. It permits unlimited undos and redos; has 10 Clipboards; has MPW ToolServer Support and GNU Diff multi-file comparison/merge; and offers macro capability for automating repetitive operations and creating additional menu options. QUED/M's powerful Find/Change feature can even search unopened files for literal text or for regular expressions defined with a superset of GREP metacharacters.

For registered QUED/M 2.5 users, the upgrade price is $15.00 while owners of earlier versions can upgrade for $49.00. The suggested retail price of the new version is $149.00. Registered users will receive order forms by mail.

For more information, contact Nisus Software, Inc., 107 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075-1900, Voice: 619/481-1477, Fax: 619/481-6154.

Quickhelp and Quickview

Altura Software, Inc. has is now shipping QuickHelp - a WinHelp-compatible, context-sensitive help system. QuickHelp provides Macintosh software developers with a full-featured, on-line help system, complete with hypertext links and navigational tools. The company also announced the availability of QuickView--a Microsoft Multimedia Viewer compatible application for Windows creators of multimedia CD-ROM titles who want to develop titles which will play on both Macintosh and Windows.

QuickHelp is targeted at Macintosh developers who have had to rely on Apple's Balloon Help or on their own internally developed help systems-solutions that result in a less than ideal system. Altura anticipates that cross platform Windows developers will also use QuickHelp to leverage their Windows development efforts. QuickView will appeal to Windows creators of multimedia CD-ROM titles who want to quickly port them to Macintosh.

QuickView is a multimedia viewer for Macintosh that emulates the functionality of the Microsoft Multimedia Viewer 2.0. QuickView includes all of the features of QuickHelp plus: support for Macintosh sound files and Windows .WAV files, embedded panes and windows, full text search and retrieval, external commands and support for QuickTime and AVI movies.

QuickView will be available in November, 1993. The QuickView Development Kit will be $495. Pricing is based on an annual fee and the number of titles (multiple title discounts are available). Non-commercial pricing: $995 per title. Commercial pricing: $2,500 per title.

For more information, contact Altura Software, Inc., 510 LightHouse Ave., Suite 5, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, Voice: 408/655-8005, Fax: 408/655-9663.

Apple launches software dispatch

Apple Computer, Inc. has introduced an extremely convenient way for people to explore and purchase software for Macintosh and Windows personal computers. Software Dispatch - a CD-ROM delivery system as well as a new business unit at Apple - allows customers to try, compare and buy popular software applications 24-hours a day, seven days a week, in the comfort and convenience of their home or office. When customer call the Software Dispatch 800 number to order, they receive an unlocking key upon telephone purchase that lets them immediately install and use their software. Software Dispatch CD-ROM discs are scheduled to be distributed by mail, free of charge beginning November 1993 to Macintosh CD-ROM owners and early 1994 to Windows CD-ROM owners.

The first Software Dispatch CD-ROM disk features more than 80 applications, including a broad offering of productivity, utilities, education, games, fonts, clip art and other applications. Software vendors with products featured on Software Dispatch CDs include Symantec, Claris, Computer Associates, Intuit, Lotus, Spinnaker and Vividus.

With Software Dispatch, customers can now compare applications on their desktop, as well as order and install software immediately without waiting for overnight delivery. Technical support for purchased products can be easily referenced via a consolidated list of vendors and telephone support lines on the disk.

For more information, contact Apple Computer, Inc., 20525 Mariani Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014, Voice: 800/937-2828 ext-600.

System 7 Pro

Apple Computer, Inc. has unveiled System 7 Pro, an advanced version of the System 7 operating system for Apple Macintosh personal computers. System 7 Pro incorporates three technologies - PowerTalk, AppleScript and QuickTime.

PowerTalk, available to customers for the first time, is personal communications software based on the Apple Open Collaboration Environment (AOCE), a technology framework for providing collaboration services to users of personal computers. PowerTalk's built-in electronic messaging capabilities make it easy for an individual to communicate and work with other individuals or groups. AppleScript, which has been available separately since its introduction in April 1993, provides System 7 Pro with a system-level scripting capability for automating routine tasks. Together, PowerTalk and AppleScript can be used to create affordable custom solutions. QuickTime is Apple's software for creating and playing dynamic data - such as sound, video and animation - on a personal computer.

System 7 Pro is available immediately in the United States through software resellers and Apple authorized resellers. The suggested retail price of the single-user product is US$149, and the suggested retail price for the 10-user product is US$999.

For more information, contact Apple Computer, Inc., 20525 Mariani Avenue, Cupertino, CA 95014, Voice: 408/996-1010.

Neuron Data’s smart elements

Neuron Data Corporation has announced Smart Elements. Smart Elements is the third Neuron Data product to integrate components of the company's new Elements Architecture, an integrated set of application development tool modules and integration layers announced in June. Smart Elements = Objects + Rules + GUI + Script.

Smart Elements combines and enhanced version of Neuron Data's NEXPERT OBJECT knowledge-based application development tool with a new, extensible script language for rapid application development and with the GUI design facility from the company's Open Interface tool. The new product's objects module enables developers to simplify the modeling of complex problems through a semantically rich set of object-oriented organizing principles. The objects module features enhanced message-passing capabilities. The rules capability within Smart Elements, meanwhile, helps developers to efficiently represent complex logic and business rules. An enhanced version of NEXPERT OBJECT'S database connectivity bridge software is also provided.

These elements are integrated with a GUI design facility through an extensible script language. With the GUI design module, developers can build fully portable, graphical front-ends to their Smart Elements applications. Applications are portable across more than 35 hardware platforms and their native operating and windowing systems. The extensible script then enables developers to describe the behavior of any graphical object on screen and to link these interface objects to application logic without programming. Priced at $5,000 for a developer's license, Smart Elements is shipping now.

For more information, contact Neuron Data, 156 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, Voice: 415/321-4488, Fax: 415/321-3728, AppleLink: NEURON.DATA

case essence

AGPW, Inc. has shipped version 1.1 of CASE Essence - an electronic book that teaches Information Engineering and Object Oriented Analysis concepts. The book teaches fundamental concepts to all audiences. CASE Essence provides a thorough explanation of the subtleties of data analysis.

This update features a reorganization of the curriculum to improve the progression of ideas for the non-technical audience. This version teaches first: Domains, Objects, Predicates, and Classes - forming the core of the course.

A new section that provides more practice in identifying Predicates has been added to give even more depth to the courseware. Using a number of short case studies, this final section allows the student to work through trade-offs between real-world and real-budget issues.

In addition, CASE Essence v1.1 features a brief section explaining the rationale for omitting any reference to methods or CASE tools. This version also increases the size of the sample conceptual design to more than 400 pages of examples.

For more information, contact AGPW, Inc., P.O. Box 11784, St. Louis, MO 63105, Voice: 314/721-4884, CompuServe: 72060,2511.