ANSWERS TO COMMON TURBOPAL QUESTIONS
-------------------------------------

Q. What is TurboPAL?

A. TurboPAL is the world's first fully compatible compiler for
   Paradox for DOS's PAL programming language. Consisting of a
   PAL script compiler, an integrated development environment, a
   symbolic debugger, an editor, and a linker, TurboPAL lets you
   transform a set of PAL scripts into a single executable
   (.EXE) file.  When you run your application as a compiled
   program, it will look and feel the same as it does running
   under Paradox or Paradox Runtime.  However, it will run much
   faster.


Q. What kind speed increase can I expect after I compile my
   application?

A. Virtually every PAL application will run faster as a compiled
   program than when running under Paradox or Paradox Runtime.
   However, the performance increase that TurboPAL provides can
   vary greatly from application to application.  The
   performance benefits of TurboPAL are most apparent in
   applications that use lots of PAL code, have event-driven
   user interfaces, or perform repetitive data base access
   operations.  TurboPAL dramatically outperforms Paradox when
   doing things like picking forms, accessing dynarrays, running
   complex wait and showdialog procs, and manipulating tables.
   TurboPAL's multi-user operations are also significantly
   faster than Paradox's since TurboPAL's architecture cuts down
   on network traffic.

   There are, however, some areas of TurboPAL that are not much
   faster than Paradox.  Queries are probably the best example.
   While we have worked very hard to maximize TurboPAL's query
   performance, Borland has spent years optimizing their query
   engine.  Therefore, it was very difficult for TurboPAL to
   improve upon Borland's raw query performance.  Most simple
   queries do run from 20 to 50% faster in TurboPAL.  However,
   some complex queries run as much as 15% slower in TurboPAL.

   In general, our users report overall performance increases of
   50 to 300% over Paradox with the average being around 75%.
   It's impossible to say for sure what performance increase
   your application will experience when compiled under
   TurboPAL, but it's likely that the increase will be
   significant!


Q. Besides speed, what are the other benefits of TurboPAL?

A. Here are just a few of the many technical and business
   advantages that TurboPAL provides:

        ROYALTY-FREE DISTRIBUTION.  You can freely distribute
        the .EXE files that TurboPAL generates at no additional
        cost.  There is no runtime licensing fee or any hidden
        costs with using TurboPAL to deliver your applications.
        Easier installation.  There is no need for Paradox or
        Paradox Runtime to be installed on the end-user's PC.
        You only have to install the tables and one .EXE file
        when distributing your application.

        IMPROVED STABILITY.  In some cases, TurboPAL avoids "GP errors"
        and other instabilities that are present in Paradox.

        32-BIT OPTIMIZATION.  TurboPAL is optimized for use on the 386,
        486, and Pentium processors.  It uses DPMI-compliant memory
        management so it is well-behaved on all versions of MS Windows
        and OS/2.

        C INTERFACE.  TurboPAL lets you extend the power of the PAL
        language by allowing you to make C, C++, and assembly language
        function calls directly within your PAL code.

        OBJECT CONSOLIDATION.  TurboPAL lets you incorporate Paradox
        forms, reports, graphs, and tables into your .EXE to maximize
        performance and minimize the number of files that need to be
        distributed to the end-user.

        CONFIGURATION.  Extensive configuration options let you
        precisely tune your application's memory management and data
        access parameters to optimize performance.

        SOURCE CODE SECURITY.  With TurboPAL, you don't need to
        distribute your PAL source code in any form to your users.  This
        maximizes your source code's security and prevents users from
        changing the application.

        ONGOING DEVELOPMENT.  Borland has announced that no future
        versions of Paradox for DOS are being developed.  TurboPAL, on
        the other hand, will continue to be improved and expanded in the
        coming years.


Q. How hard will it be to compile my application using TurboPAL?

A. It is very easy to compile virtually any PAL application in
   TurboPAL.  All you do is create a "project file" which
   is nothing more than a DOS text file that lists all of
   the scripts that comprise your application with the
   startup script listed first.  You then tell the compiler
   to compile your "project".  TurboPAL reads through each
   script and compiles each PROC  directly into machine
   language.  Next, TurboPAL's linker assembles the
   compiled scripts into a standalone .EXE.  That's it!

   The only problems you may encounter when compiling an
   application are "undefined PROCs" and "doubly-defined PROCs".
   Because TurboPAL is a compiler and not an interpretive
   environment like Paradox, it must resolve all procedure
   references at compile time.  Therefore it cannot tolerate the
   same procedure being defined more than once or a procedure
   being called that isn't defined anywhere.  These situations
   are usually the result of "sloppy coding" and are typically
   very easy to fix.

Q. I use Paradox procedure libraries in my applications.  How
   are these handled?

A. TurboPAL compiles all of your PROCs directly into the .EXE
   file.  At run time, all of your application's compiled PROCs
   are loaded in RAM.  Therefore, there is no need for TurboPAL
   to work with Paradox procedure libraries so all library
   commands contained in your scripts are ignored by TurboPAL.


Q. How compatible is TurboPAL with Paradox?
   What is not supported?

A. TurboPAL offers a remarkable level of compatibility with
   Paradox 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5.  It can compile virtually any PAL
   application without modification.  All major features of PAL
   are supported including table manipulation, on-the-fly query
   building, table and form views, edit and coedit modes,
   event-driven waits, dialog boxes, and report printing.
   Virtually all PAL commands and functions are supported
   including the use of braced menu commands.  Furthermore,
   TurboPAL provides full support for both Paradox 3.5's and
   Paradox 4.0/4.5's "look and feel".  TurboPAL also supports
   the Paradox Application Workshop, Data Entry Toolkit, and
   all third-party wait handlers.  To maximize compatibility
   with common PAL programming techniques, TurboPAL even
   supports the PLAY and EXECUTE commands!

   There are just a few areas where TurboPAL is not 100%
   compatible with Paradox:

   CREATING AND MODIFYING REPORTS, FORMS, AND GRAPHS ON-THE-FLY.
   TurboPAL can work with predefined reports, forms, and graphs.
   It just can't handle PAL code that manipulates the
   definitions of these objects on the fly.  Most applications
   don't use on-the-fly object modification.

   PRINTING GRAPHS.  TurboPAL lets you view graphs on the
   screen, but doesn't let you print them.

   IMPORTING AND EXPORTING NON-ASCII FILE FORMATS.  TurboPAL 1.0
   fully supports importing and exporting data to and from ASCII
   delimited and TEXT file formats.  However, dBase, Lotus and
   other formats are not supported at this time.

   PARADOX SQL LINK.  TurboPAL does not provide connectivity to
   SQL data bases or support for Paradox's special SQL-Link PAL
   commands.


Q. Can TurboPAL handle multi-user applications?

A. Yes!  TurboPAL has network support built right in so you can
   use it to compile sophisticated multi-user applications.
   TurboPAL's network support is fully compatible with Paradox
   4.0, 4.5 and Paradox for Windows so it can seamlessly
   interoperate with these products over any network!

Q. What are the hardware requirements of TurboPAL applications?
   How large are the .EXE files that TurboPAL creates?

A. TurboPAL requires a 386, 486, or Pentium processor to run.
   Part of TurboPAL was written in assembly language that uses
   386-specific instructions.  Therefore, it is impossible to
   run any TurboPAL application on a 286.  TurboPAL also
   requires a minimum of 4Mb of RAM to run.

   TurboPAL's .EXE files are optimized for speed, not for size.
   The smallest .EXE that TurboPAL will create is approximately
   2Mb in size.  However, the .EXE files for very large PAL
   applications usually don't grow larger than 3Mb in size.
   TurboPAL builds the entire PAL code base into each .EXE it
   builds so that commands such as PLAY and EXECUTE can be used.


Q. What kinds of technical support are available for TurboPAL?

A. Target Software provides free telephone technical support
   services for TurboPAL from 8:30 to 5 E.S.T.  Target
   Software's Bullseye BBS is also available for uploading
   files, downloading maintenance releases and utilities, and
   asking technical questions.  Target Software personnel are
   also very active in the Paradox for DOS forum on CompuServe.
   A maintenance release subscription program is also available
   to users who wish to receive regular maintenance releases of
   the compiler.


Q. What is the relationship between Target Software, Sheng Labs
   and Borland?

A. TurboPAL was developed and continues to be enhanced by Sheng
   Labs, one of the world's foremost compiler development firms.
   TurboPAL was written "from scratch" and uses its own
   high-performance data base and user interface engines.  No
   Borland code is used in TurboPAL.  While Borland currently
   has no financial ties to TurboPAL, the company is very
   supportive of the development effort and has cooperated in
   providing us with information and other resources to insure
   compatibility with Paradox.  Target Software is the exclusive
   producer, distributor, and marketer of TurboPAL.


Q. How do I evaluate TurboPAL?  Is there a demo?  How much does
   TurboPAL cost?

A. We are working on a demo version of TurboPAL.  However, it
   will not be available for several months.  For the time
   being, we recommend that you purchase the full product and
   try it for 30 days.  If you're not completely satisfied, you
   can return it under our moneyback guarantee for a full
   refund.  TurboPAL lists for $795 and is currently being
   offered at the introductory price of $499.  Reseller
   agreements, site licenses, and other special pricing
   arrangements are available.

For more information and to purchase TurboPAL, contact:

Target Software, Inc.
Hamilton Financial Center
One Center Square - Suite 403
Allentown PA 18101
Phone: 610-820-9918   Fax: 610-820-9394
BBS: 610-820-7064

CIS: 70313,1610
Internet: 70313.1610@compuserve.com


