News Archive Index
WinNews (tm) - The Monthly PC/Mac News Archive

Prepared & Distributed by:  Baker Enterprises

Assorted press releases  and news articles are available by subject heading in the topic areas shown below or use SEARCH  to find articles listed by company names.

SOFTWARE:	HARDWARE:

Business & Productivity  	PC Systems

Professional/Engineering  	Expansion Products

Personal & Educational  	Peripherals

Games & Entertainment  	Macintosh Specific

System Software & Utilities  	Miscellaneous Hardware

Macintosh Specific

Miscellaneous Software  	GENERAL INTEREST:

Books & Publications

Miscellaneous News

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PC Industry Database


About Press Releases
Full Text Press Releases...

Press Releases are distributed electronically with 100% of the entire text included as supplied by the company. Most material is available via the online news areas on America Online and Delphi within several days of receipt. News archives such as this are created at the end of every month. For additional information concerning any product or service mentioned, please contact the company directly. Check the end of the article for the company's mailing address and/or telephone numbers.

Note that additional Backgrounder reports may be available for downloading from our Information Download Libraries on America Online and Delphi.


About SEARCH Capabilities
Using SEARCH to Find Articles by Company Name...

1)	Click on the SEARCH button to see a list of companies referenced

within the various news articles included in the news archive.

2)	Select the desired company from the list, then click on the Show Topics

button (or double click on the company name) to see a list of relevant

articles for that company.

3)	Select an article of interest and click on the Goto button

(or double click on the article title) to display the article text.


About Baker Enterprises
About Baker Enterprises...

Baker Enterprises electronically distributes PC & Macintosh related news and full text press releases  via our New Product Information Service on America Online (Keyword=New Product) and Delphi (GO NEWS PRODUCTS). Monthly news archives such as this are created at the end of each month and include all news processed during the previous month. Besides this Windows-compatible format, the same information is also available in a PKZIP collection of standard ASCII text files with a simple index, but requires your own text file utilities to read. News archive files are available from a download library on AOL, Delphi, and selected Internet archive sites, or direct via mail from Baker Enterprises.

Baker Enterprises also maintains a reference database listing companies and products from throughout the PC industry. The database appears as an online searchable database via America Online in the PC Vendors Database within our New Product Information area. The same data is also distributed monthly on diskette by EMS Professional Software.

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News archives are available in either this WinNews format for Windows users, or optionally in a PKZIP collection of standard ASCII text files with a simple index that requires your own utilities to read. A one year subscription for either format, mailed on 3.5" 720K diskettes, is $60 for first class mail within the USA, $75 elsewhere via AirMail. Single copies are $5 postpaid. NJ orders include 6% sales tax. This material MAY NOT be redistributed for profit without obtaining prior written permission from Baker Enterprises. Contact us direct for more information.

All correspondence, including news submissions for FREE distribution  or orders for the monthly news archives, should be addressed to:

BAKER ENTERPRISES

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Electronic Mail (including news submissions) may be addressed to:

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Free Distribution
FREE News Distribution...

Our services are provided at no cost to any companies or shareware authors wishing to have their press releases distributed, or their company and product information included in our database. All submissions should be mailed, faxed or Emailed directly to Baker Enterprises. Press releases are typically processed and available nationwide within one to three days of receipt!


PC Industry Reference Database
PC Industry Reference Database...

Baker Enterprises produces a PC industry reference database that includes information on thousands of companies and authors, plus brief information on their products. More than just a software locator, the database also lists hardware, peripherals, publications, accessories, supplies, shareware and more -- just about anything and everything relating to the PC industry. Company information includes mailing addresses, telephone/fax/BBS numbers, Email addresses and more. The database is available as an online searchable database in our New Product Information area on America Online. The same data is also licensed for monthly worldwide distribution on disk and CD-ROM as the PC Products Database sold by EMS Professional Software. Individual copies on diskette are $25 plus $5 shipping within the USA (contact EMS on foreign orders).

For information on ordering copies of the PC Products Database on disk and CD-ROM, or optional quarterly and monthly subscriptions, please contact:

EMS Professional Software

4505 Buckhurst Cr.	(301) 924-3594   Voice

Olney, MD 20832 USA	(301) 963-2708   Fax


Business & Productivity Software
Business & Productivity Software News:

Over_LAZ Image Overlay Files

GetPAID In-House Collection Swr

MS Apps Bring Power to Employees

FASTAT 2.0 Statistical Analysis

TagWrite Electronic Publishing

Stanford Graphics for Windows

LifeArt Super Anatomy Clipart

Ventura Publisher 4.0 Windows Ed.

Intex Rescue Plus Utility Upgraded

ICP General Purpose Inventory Ctl

SURVEY Statistical Database

Action Plus 5.0 Contact Info Mgr

Easy Data Database for Windows


Professional/Engineering Software
Professional/Engineering Software News:

3-D Chemical Structure Databases

ASG & Vertex Design Systems Merger

Therapist Helper V4.02 Upgrade

DXF/GDS Design Tools

CADVANCE for Windows with BASIC

New Drug Info & Interaction Swr

QMR Quick Medical Ref. CD-ROM

Science & Technical Ref Set CDROM

Subsonic Wind Tunnel Design

Therapist Helper Practice Mgmt


Personal & Educational Software
Personal & Educational Software News:

Dress Shop Clothing Patterns

Computers in Physics Award Winners

Peterson College & Career Planning

On This Day V1.1 Event Database

Softball Coach V3.0

Great Literature Library CD-ROM

JOBHUNT for Job-Seekers

Martian Surface Images on CD-ROM

Wisdom of the Ages Quote Database

Word Builder 1.0 Vocabulary

IRAS Sky Survey Atlas CD-ROMs


Games & Entertainment Software
Games & Entertainment Software News:

EA Bringing Millennium to USA

Coming HoloByte Videogames

SSI Buck Rogers Matrix Cubed

Wing Commander & Ultima VI CD-ROM

Wing Cmdr Deluxe/Ultima Trilogy

Loremaster Adventure Game

LINKS Barton Creek Course

Interplay Battle Chess for the MPC


System Software & Utilities
System Software & Utilities News:

DynaMind Neural-Network Software

NSA PrintSpool

Vista 3.0 Windows Magnifier

VisiSoft VisiNet LAN/WAN Tools

DaVinci eMAIL 2.0 Virus Warning

MultiExpress Remote Control Swr

Sitka PenTOPS & PenCentral

QuickMail for MHS

Shiva NetWorld Report

EDIT*2000 Rel 1.2 for UNIX

New ISICAD Network Mgmt Services

CCF-Cursors V1.0 for Visual Basic

WizConsole Multi-line Term Emulator

File Express V5.1 Shipping

Global Speedbase 4GL Debuts

TAPCIS V5.4 Communications Package

Whitewater ObjectGraphics for C++

CaLANdar Updates & Add-Ons

ADAPTA-LAN Disabled Employee Pgms

SecretAgent File Encryption Utility

Searcher Professional for Windows

Charting Routines for C


Macintosh Specific Software
Macintosh Specific Software News:

SYSTAT 5.2 Mac Statistics Swr

Objective-C Pgmr's Workshop


Miscellaneous Software
Miscellaneous Software News:

HW Wilson Linking UMI Products


System Hardware
System Hardware News:

Poqet Licensing GRiD PenRight!

AST Premium Server & Disk Arrays

GRiD APT/425se Personal Tower

Intecolor Systems Integration Div.

NEC Notebook Price Reductions

Micro Express 386DX Price Drop

Aquiline Arima SL Notebook

AST Bravo Desktop Systems & Prices

Momenta Pen-based Systems Shipping


Expansion Hardware
Expansion Hardware News:

GTXRaster CAD with Graphics Brds

Holmes FAX/Modem for Compaq LTE

DPT SCSI Disk Mirroring (RAID)

Spectrum & Loughborough DSP Merger


Peripheral Hardware
Peripheral Hardware News:

QuadFLEXTRA 25MB Floppy Now $495

FlashXGA Accelerated Graphics

TDX 3480-compatible Tape Subsystem

SyDOS Reduces Prices

MultiExpress Comm Swr with Modems


Macintosh Specific Hardware
Macintosh Specific Hardware News:

(No entries for this newsgroup)


Miscellaneous Hardware
Miscellaneous Hardware News:

Solectron Gets IBM Supplier Award

SBC-SXLP 386SX Single Board Computer


Books & Publications
Books & Publications:

Microsoft Word for the Macintosh

David Solomon IDG Books Director

Works for Windows & C Prog. Ref.

New Peachpit Press Books

Que Macintosh Books

Latest Batch of Que Books

New Rider AutoCAD & UNIX Books

New Batch of SAMS Books

Accidental Empires - Inside Stories

Assorted Osborne/McGraw-Hill Titles

TECHbooks Journal

Que Feb Releases & Updates

Sams Feb Titles & Updates

New Riders Technical Books

Que Macintosh Publications

Osborne/McGraw-Hill Titles (Feb)

88Open Standards Reference Guide


Miscellaneous News
Miscellaneous News:

Microsoft Adds Direct TDD Service

Americans with Disabilities Act

Interopt Achievement Award in Educ

Free - See For Yourself - Video

SPA Copyright Settlements

SPA Spring Symposium March 18-21

EA & Broderbund European Dist.

Free Computer Ergonomics Brochure


3-D Chemical Structure Databases
As announced earlier, Chemical Design has the exclusive rights to build and distribute computer searchable databases ("dictionaries") of 3-D chemical structures from the 2-D chemical database compiled by the well known British publisher Chapman & Hall.

Following the successful release of the Dictionary of Drugs, with 12,000 3-D compounds, we are pleased to announce a new release of the Dictionary of Fine Chemicals, consisting of 120,000 3-D compounds. The compounds in the Dictionary of Fine Chemicals do not overlap with the compounds found in the Dictionary of Drugs.

The compounds in the Dictionary of Fine Chemicals are mainly small organics covering a diverse range of structures including approximately 62,000 six-membered aromatics; 8,000   5-membered aromatics; 12,000 six-membered heterocycles; 5,000 five-membered heterocycles; 11,000 fused six-membered aromatics and 3,000 fused five- and six-membered aromatic compounds.

As well as 3-D structures, the database contains text data, including the CAS Registry Number; compound name and synonyms; statements on a particular compound's use and importance; general comments; and cross-references to other electronic and printed publications of each compound. Searching the database can be done by using Chemical Design's ChemDBS-3D module (of its Chem-X software system) to generate 3-D search queries and to provide fast 3-D searching with the full 3-D conformational flexibility of each compound in the database taken into account.

The Chapman & Hall 3-D databases are available from Chemical Design on a yearly subscription basis.

Chemical Design is a leading supplier of molecular modeling and 3-D database systems, with over 350 installations of its Chem-X software worldwide. Customers include divisions of most major multinational chemical and pharmaceutical companies as well as many leading academic research centers. Chem-X is used for new product research in areas as diverse as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, petrochemicals, polymers and protein engineering. It is available for PC's, Apple Macintoshes, UNIX workstations and VAX computers.

Chemical Design Inc

200 Route 17 South, Suite 120, Mahwah, NJ 07430

201-529-3323


GTXRaster CAD with Graphics Brds
GTX Corporation of Phoenix, AZ and Expert Graphics Inc. of Atlanta, GA have signed an OEM agreement to integrate GTXRaster CAD with the Rasterex range of Graphics Boards. GTXRaster CAD allows an AutoCAD user to work with scanned raster files in the background of AutoCAD simultaneously with regular vector drawings at very high resolution. Contrary to alternative solutions, GTX does not rely on erase and redraw methods, giving raster overlay tools "intelligent object picking" for faster raster editing.

The Rasterex version of GTXRaster CAD maintains full functionality while adding significant performance improvements using the power of the Rasterex graphics board. These improvements include real-time zooming and panning, transparent zooms to improve object picking accuracy, high resolution and a complete set of graphical pop-up icon menus giving fingertip access to every GTXRaster CAD function.

"The GTXRaster CAD product really complements our line of raster file software and hardware solutions," says Darrell Knight, President of Expert Graphics Inc. "We can now offer a complete set of raster and vector drawing management tools including viewing, redlining, high performance raster and vector editing and automatic conversion."

GTXRaster CAD will be marketed as a part of the RxEDM (Engineering Drawing Management) solution which consists of six modular products for complete integration, management and conversion of raster and vector drawing files. Features include fast file search and view, redlining, direct printing and plotting for most popular raster devices, pixel raster editing with background processing, AutoCAD hybrid file manipulation and automatic raster to vector conversion.

All RxEDM solution products will be fully released in January 1992, including the Rasterex GTXRaster CAD product, which retails at $1,995.00.

Expert Graphics

1908 Cliff Valley Way, Suite 2010, Atlanta, GA 30329

404-320-0800


ASG & Vertex Design Systems Merger
The presidents of ASG and Vertex Design Systems of San Francisco recently signed final documents to merge the two companies. Both firms are prominent developers of Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) software applications. The combined company promises to dominate the world of AEC software applications and electronic construction databases.

ASG is the leading developer of AEC applications for AutoCAD worldwide. The original developer of Autodesk's AutoCAD AEC Architectural product, ASG is known for its pioneering work in developing and integrating CAD applications. Today it offers a dozen individual, yet fully integrated applications, including ASG Architectural, the present version of the AutoCAD architectural drawing program. The product line fulfills the design, drafting, analysis, specification, and cost estimation needs of architects; structural, electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers; and facilities managers.

In addition, ASG's strategic development group creates CAD applications for leading building product manufacturers including Pella/Rolscreen Company and Boise Cascade Company, which integrate product information with CAD drawing capabilities.

Founded in 1987 by San Francisco architects, Vertex is the dominant developer of electronic databases of building product information. To date, the company has produced Electronic CADalogs for sixteen building product manufacturers and associations, four times that of any other software developer.

Vertex also developed and markets the only AutoCAD application specifically for architectural details, The Vertex Detailer. In addition, the companion Dynamic Detail groups provide libraries of some 1,500 expertly predrawn details for major building assemblies such as roofs, walls, doors, etc. The Detailer and Dynamic Details will be integrated into the ASG line of AutoCAD-based applications, fleshing out the offering of building design and documentation tools.

ASG president Dennis Neeley, a well known industry pundit and spokesperson, stated "This merger is a major step along the path of integrating the entire design, build, and manage process through automation. Both ASG and Vertex are well respected as leaders in the development of AEC applications. Our combined product line is unequalled in the AEC CAD industry, and our expertise in development and distribution of manufacturers electronic information is unmatched."

William Botts, Vertex president states, "The merger of Vertex with ASG has resulted in the most powerful AEC applications company in the world. The combined talents and experience of the company's employees is unparalleled. This merger creates a company that is without question the preeminent developer of AEC CAD applications and electronic CADalogs."

The combined companies, 60 people strong, will operate under the ASG name, with all manufacturers' applications consolidated in the "Vertex division." They will be located at the ASG offices in Sausalito, California, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Neeley will remain president and CEO, and Botts will be head of operations.

ASG, 4000 Bridgeway, Suite 309, Sausalito, CA 94965

415-332-2123


Dress Shop Clothing Patterns
Hobbyist and professional sewers are the focus of a software package just announced by LivingSoft.

The publisher's first program to be released is DRESS SHOP, which prints custom-fitted clothing patterns for women. Designed especially for those who don't conform to a "perfect" size (isn't that just about everyone?), the program requires 13 measurements per person, then prints from a selection of 29 different patterns.

"And yes, the patterns are full-size," confirms Annette Schofield, company founder. "They print out on a dot-matrix printer with continuous-feed paper. If the printer isn't wide enough to accommodate a particular pattern piece, the pattern prints in sections and the user simply tapes the panels together."

Sewers can use the DRESS SHOP patterns as overlays for commercial patterns, to eliminate guesswork and time-consuming fitting calculations. Advanced sewers can also use the basic DRESS SHOP patterns by themselves, as building blocks to create their own styles (adding collars, pleats, etc. manually after the patterns are printed). Wearing ease and seam allowances are built in.

Not just for the home sewer, DRESS SHOP is even more valuable for professionals, storing measurements for up to 100 women on-disk. The program accepts a wide range of measurements, ranging from an "A" to a "DD" bust cup, from a 20-inch waist to a sixty-inch waist, etc., to accommodate many sizes.

Now shipping for MS-DOS computers with 640K, DRESS SHOP is hard disk installable. Both 5-1/4" and 3-1/2" disks are included in the package. The program supports IBM and Epson compatible dot-matrix printers, with either narrow or wide carriages. Suggested retail price is $99.95 for the MS-DOS version. A Macintosh version is planned for this Fall.

Future programs planned by LivingSoft include one for men ' 8 patterns and one for children ' B . The company has more craft programs in the planning stages, as well as other types of software in the field of home management. States Schofield, "We want to do for the home workplace what business software has done for the office workplace -- take away some of the drudgery and create a little more time in the day."

Livingsoft Inc

524 West Dolphin St, Ridgecrest, CA 93555

619-371-9629


Over_LAZ Image Overlay Files
Herne Data Systems Ltd is pleased to announce the release of Over_LAZ Collection #1. Over_LAZ is a collection of over 75 image overlay files for use with WordPerfect 5.0 or later and an HP LaserJet compatible printer. The overlays are automatically added to your document by WordPerfect when it is printed on a LaserJet printer. The collection includes general office forms (such as 'inter-office memo', 'notice of meeting', fax transmittal, etc.) in several different styles, as well as rubber stamp type overlays (such as 'DRAFT', 'confidential', etc.) and page frames and borders.

Over_LAZ are HP LaserJet printer command files that are used with WordPerfect 5.0 or later to give your routine office correspondence a professional look without needing expensive add on fonts. Over_LAZ can also be used to print personal and corporate letterheads automatically. All registered users are entitled to a FREE personalized letterhead overlay registration. Additional personalized Over_LAZ can be created for only $15 (US), $17 (CDN) plus $2 postage and handling.

Over_LAZ is available as shareware from most BBS's and shareware outlets. Single user registration of the entire collection is $25 (US) or $29 (CDN) plus $2 postage and handling. Unlimited user site licenses are available for $125 (US), $135 (CDN) for the entire collection.

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Herne Data Systems Ltd is pleased to announce the release of Over_LAZ for PostScript. Over_LAZ PS is a collection of over 70 image overlay files for use with WordPerfect 5.0 or later and a PostScript compatible printer. The overlays are automatically added to your document by WordPerfect when lt is printed on a PostScript printer. The collection includes general office forms (such as 'inter-office memo', notice of meeting', etc.) in several different styles, as well as 'rubber stamp' type overlays (such as 'DRAFT, 'confidential', etc.) and page frames and borders.

Over_LAZ PS are PostScript printer command files that are used with WordPerfect 5.0 or later to give routine office correspondence a professional look without the need for fancy PostScript programming. Over_LAZ PS can also be used to automatically print personal and corporate letterheads. All registered users are entitled to a FREE letterhead overlay with registration.

Over_LAZ PS is available as shareware from most BBS's and shareware outlets. Single user registration of the entire collection is $25 (US) or $29 (CDN) plus $2 postage and handling. Unlimited user site licenses are available for $125 (US), $135 (CDN) for the entire collection. Additional personalized Over_LAZ PS  can be created for only $15 (US), $17 (CDN) plus $2 postage and handling. An HP LaserJet compatible version of Over_LAZ is also available.

Herne Data Systems Ltd.

P.O. Box 250

Tiverton, ON   N0G 2TO

CANADA


GetPAID In-House Collection Swr
Software Experts, Inc. has released GetPAID, the first PC based expert system for in-house collections with an on-line interface to packaged accounting software. Companies using GetPAID have reported reductions in overdue receivables of twenty-five to thirty-five percent in the first thirty days. This is attributed to the fact that GetPAID provides a systematic method for making calls and sending collection letters and faxes. GetPAID includes the following tools to make collecting easier:

* One screen showing all the information commonly requested when making collection calls.

* A series of progressively more direct scripts listing the points to make during each call.

* A complete set of professional collection letters, faxes and excuse responses.

* Commands to print duplicate invoices, form letters and faxes while on the telephone.

* Monitoring of unlimited payment plans for each individual invoice.

* Real-time access to the accounts receivable module to check receipts and automate follow-up.

* Easy access to an automatic log of collection calls, letters and faxes sent and excuses given.

How GetPAID is used:

First, GetPAlD tells the user who to contact each day based on parameters selected. For example you may pick customers owing more than $400 for over 38 days. GetPAID's expert system flags customers by type (reliable, chronic slow payer, etc.), and adjusts the Call Guides or correspondence accordingly. GetPAID displays open invoices and any notes which have been entered. With a few keystrokes users can access the invoice detail, display a history of collection calls made, or excuses given. Equipped with current information, bookkeepers are less reluctant to request payments from overdue customers. Reminding customers about overdue invoices, sending written correspondence and removing obstacles to payment helps companies to get paid sooner.

Results Produced

Reductions in overdue receivables are immediate because there is no data to be entered. (All the information comes directly from the accounting package.) John Ernst & Company, of Dover, New Jersey a manufacturer and distributor of heating valves credits GetPAID with a reduction of 35.25% in overdue receivables in just 6 weeks. When asked about the results Mr. Ernst replied, "I think it will get even lower. We have more accurate information and GetPAID tunes the process." Linda Shilling, the bookkeeper, had another prospective. "I hated this job. It was really a chore. This way, it's more fun and it's not a chore."

GetPAID currently has on-line interfaces to the following accounting software products:

- Great Plains Accounting

- SBT Database Accounting

- Library Macola Accounting Software

- The Platinum Series

- AccountMate Accounting Software

- Champion Business Accounting

A universal batch interface is available to import information from other accounting software or minicomputer and mainframe systems.

Software Experts Inc

170 Changebridge Rd, D-6, Montville, NJ 07045

201-882-8228


EA Bringing Millennium to USA
Electronic Arts announced an Affiliated Label partnership with England-based Millennium Software Limited. Under the terms of this agreement, Electronic Arts will distribute Millennium's products in Europe, North America and Australia over the next two years. The relationship commenced on January 1, 1992, and in Europe replaces the distribution partnership previously shared with U.S. Gold

In Europe, Electronic Arts will provide manufacturing, sales, and distribution services. In North America, Electronic Arts will provide marketing, manufacturing, customer services, sales and distribution services, including providing finished goods to Electronic Arts Pty Ltd, (Electronic Arts Australia). The first two titles to be released in North America under the agreement will be Strike 2 and Global Effect.

Millennium was born from Logotron Entertainment in 1990, and has enjoyed commercial success with a diverse and innovative range of products including James Pond, Robocod, Kid Gloves, Robin Hood and Strike 2. Millennium Managing Director Michael Hayward stated, "Electronic Arts gives us an alliance with another major brand leader, and the world's biggest game software publisher. We will benefit especially by having access for the first time to the American market, selling our tides through Electronic Arts under our own brand name. The combination of European and American distribution, together with the possibilities for console publication, is an opportunity to expand our business that we could not miss."

Steve Salyer, vice president of business development for Electronic Arts noted, "Millennium is a welcome addition to our Affiliated Label program of 10 publishers in the US market. Millennium will have the freedom to fully utilize their expertise in software development and marketing and will benefit from the unrivalled worldwide production and distribution facilities of Electronic Arts."


HW Wilson Linking UMI Products
The H.W. Wilson Company of New York City and University Microfilms, Inc., of Ann Arbor, Michigan, have announced the availability of a link between Wilson's periodical indexing and UMI's full-text products. A demonstration of the link is planned for the American Library Association's Annual Conference in San Francisco in June 1992.

In a joint effort to meet the demands of their library customers for the most effective range of products and services, the two companies have agreed that a the form of UMI's article reference numbers will be embedded in the records of selected periodical databases available on magnetic tape from Wilson (WILSONTAPE). With the link between the two companies' products, users will be able to locate article citations and read abstracts, and then automatically display and/or print the complete text.

H.W. Wilson Company, 950 University Ave, Bronx, NY 10452

800-367-6770


DynaMind Neural-Network Software
DynaMind 3.0 neural network software from NeuroDynamX, Inc. (NDX) now uses extended memory to process large data sets and large networks. Network size is limited only by the memory configuration of the user's PC. Users with 8MB of RAM, for instance, can build networks with up to 5,000 neurons in size which can process 8,000 independent variables.

Exclusive to DynaMind 3.0 is the Remove Learned Patterns (RLP) training option, which can speed up training up to 40% on many problems. RLP automatically removes learned data patterns from the training data set, allowing the network to focus training on difficult patterns.

DynaMind 3.0 also features an enhanced On-Line Help, new neural network example problems, and an automatic data set formatting utility for performing multi-variable forecasting with TrueTime recurrent networks.

DynaMind runs on a 286, 386 or 486 PC with at least 640K memory, DOS 3.0 or higher and an EGA or VGA monitor. A math coprocessor and mouse are optional. Price is $145.

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New from NeuroDynamX, Inc. (NDX) is DynaMind Developer, a software tool for developing neural-network-based applications. DynaMind Developer bundles DynaMind 3.0, the latest version of NDX's neural network simulator, with NeuroLink, a library of C-code routines allowing users to embed run-time neural networks into their programs.

The biologically-inspired processing capabilities of DynaMind are best suited to applications in image recognition, process control, intelligent instrumentation, signal filtering and yield optimization. Now developers can use NeuroLink routines to modularize such complex problems by linking several neural networks, each dedicated to solving a portion of the overall problem. NeuroLink also allows developers to utilize weight sharing, in which connection weights for a single network module are utilized by several portions of the network, thus minimizing memory requirements. DynaMind Developer comes with ready-to-run neural network modules, such as discrete Fourier transforms, to perform specialized processing in modularized networks.

For user's interested in neural network hardware applications, the package also emulates the Intel 80170NX Electrically Trainable Analog Neural Network (ETANN) chip. The ETANN chip operates at 2 billion connections per second allowing real-time solutions to applications like signal processing, process optimization and robotic motion. DynaMind Developer uses transfer functions taken from the chip and connection weight filtering to prototype Intel's hardware.

DynaMind Developer runs on a 286, 386 or 486 PC with at least 640K memory, DOS 3.0 or higher and an EGA or VGA monitor. A math coprocessor and mouse are optional. NeuroLink compiles under both Borland Turbo C 2.0 and Borland C++ compilers and carries no run-time license fee. Price is $495.

NeuroDynamX, Inc. (NDX), PO Box 323, Boulder, CO 80306

303/442-3539 FAX 303/442-3539


QuadFLEXTRA 25MB Floppy Now $495
Quadram announced today that the price for its entire line of QuadFLEXRA 25 Mb very high density floppy (VHDF) subsystems have been reduced to $495, according to Frank Marks, president of Quadram. Previously, retail pricing of these full system packages ranged from $849 to $1,195, depending on the version, with the most popular external SCSI and parallel drives selling at $995.

"The new $495 system package price, along with a low $25

diskette price, positions the QuadFLEXTRA drive as the lowest cost removable, on-line mass storage system available," said Marks. "This price point gives us a strong competitive edge over other removable mass storage products and permits us to compete effectively in the traditional mass storage arena."

Removable, on-line mass storage systems are increasingly important to a microcomputer market that has become highly mobile and security conscious, yet this type of storage product has been very expensive before now, Marks indicated. The new $495 price makes the QuadFLEXTRA drive as affordable as traditional mass storage and more cost effective than other types of removable storage including removable cartridge drives, removable hard drives and CD ROM drives.

"The QuadFLEXTRA drive is an exceptional value," said Marks. Storage expansion is as simple and inexpensive as inserting another 25 Mb FLEXTRA diskette into the drive. Unlike hard disk drives, the cost per megabyte actually decreases as the QuadFLEXTRA's storage capacity is increased.

Marks indicated that this cost effectiveness, plus the drive's speed, reliability and performance make it a particularly versatile product. "Since the QuadFLEXTRA began shipping a year ago, users have reported a very wide range of applications for the drive, from primary storage on a portable computer to archiving CAD files, storing digital sound, collecting satellite data, creating a library of printer fonts and backing up networks."

"The QuadFLEXTRA VHDF technology is evolving rapidly, offering users the potential for ever greater storage capacities," said Marks. "New techniques have already enabled us to increase product performance and further boost production volumes. Our higher volumes have resulted in reduced production costs. The new $495 pricing reflects these decreased costs."

The QuadFLEXTRA VHDF is available in external and internal SCSI versions for PCs, an external version for PS/2s, a Macintosh compatible version and a version with a parallel adapter which permits the drive to be plugged into the parallel port of desktop, portable or notebook PCs. All versions are packaged as plug-and-play subsystems which come with the appropriate adapter and cabling plus driver and utility software and one 25 Mb FLEXTRA diskette. Additional diskettes may be purchased for $25 each in ten packs.

Quadram manufactures and markets peripherals and enhancements for the personal computer market. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelligent Systems Corporation (AMEX: INS) and is located at One Quad Way, Norcross, GA 30093; PH (404) 923-6666; FAX (404) 564-5528.


Microsoft Word for the Macintosh
Microsoft Word for the Apple Macintosh, Version 5

GETTING STARTED WITH MICROSOFT WORD FOR THE APPLE MACINTOSH by Michael Boom provides the fastest, easiest way to get up and running with version 5.0 of Microsoft Word, the world's most popular word processing software for the Apple Macintosh.

This complete training course lets users spend less time learning how to use software and more time doing their jobs an important consideration in today's highly competitive business environment.

GETTING STARTED WITH MICROSOFT WORD FOR THE APPLE MACINTOSH accelerates the learning process for home or office work. The book's first section puts the word processing beginner right to work--building skills needed for producing letters, reports, proposals, and newsletters with graphics. Step-by-step tutorials, screen illustrations, and straightforward examples highlight the basics of entering and editing text and of formatting, saving, and printing a document.

Subsequent sections of the book provide a gradual introduction, complete with timesaving tips and practice sessions, to a wider range of the many exciting and powerful features of Microsoft Word version 5.0 for the Apple Macintosh. Users will discover how to:

* Use keyboard shortcuts to format and edit text

* "Drag and drop" to move sections of text from one place to another

* Make documents visually appealing by manipulating type styles and incorporating graphics

* Store frequently used text for easy retrieval

* Use special symbols and characters such as trademarks and accents

* Create tables in a snap

* Streamline the writing process and fine-tune documents using the Thesaurus, the spelling checker, the grammar checker, the Glossary, and the Calculate and Sort commands

* Create, modify, and manipulate graphics using the Insert Picture window

* View facing pages of documents with Print Preview

An appendix offers complete instructions for installation of Microsoft Word version 5.0, and a comprehensive index helps users quickly find information on any topics in the book.

Michael Boom has written a number of books for nontechnical personal computer users, including Music Through MIDI, published by Microsoft Press. He has worked as a software producer for Electronic Arts, Inc., and as a music and software development consultant for Commodore Amiga, Inc. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area, where he works as a consultant for Sun Microsystems, Inc.

GETTING STARTED WITH MICROSOFT WORD FOR THE APPLE MACINTOSH joins Neil Salkind's Getting Started with the Apple Macintosh Including System 7 in the Getting Started Right series from Microsoft Press. Other books in the series include Getting Started with MS-DOS 5 and the New MS-DOS Shell, Getting Started with Microsoft Excel 3 for Windows, Getting Started with Microsoft Word, and the forthcoming Getting Started with Microsoft Windows 3.1.

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The Cobb Group's WORD 5 COMPANION from Microsoft Press is the ultimate, all-in-one guide to the powerful new version of the most popular word processing program for the Apple Macintosh.

Written with the clear, easy-to-read style that is The Cobb Group's trademark, WORD 5 COMPANION contains a wealth of tips and tricks that make learning and using Microsoft Word faster, easier, and more enjoyable. Hundreds of screen shots, practical examples, and in-depth explanations let new users, occasional users, and power users master every facet of this sophisticated word processor.

After coverning the essentials--creating, designing, editing, formatting, and printing a document--the book progresses to advanced formatting techniques, word processing utilities, and ways to customize Word. Readers discover how to take advantage of the extraordinary improvements and added features of version 5, including:

Drag and Drop--Move words, sentences, and even paragraphs by simply clicking on highlighted text and dragging it to a new location.

Integrated Grammar Checker--Instantly check spelling, usage, and punctuation.

Find File--Locate a file easily. Search by author, date, keywords, or any word in the document.

Ribbon--Format text, change a font or a character case, create columns, or create a drawing with a click of the mouse.

System 7 Compatibility--With System 7's Publish and Subscribe, import and link files from other System 7-supported applications so that spreadsheets and graphics are updated automatically.

Print Merge Helper--Use this graphical tool bar to create even the most complex, personalized form letters in a simple, step-by-step fashion.

Picture Window--Create simple illustrations, combine text with graphics, or import graphics created in other applications.

Appendixes offer a summary of keyboard and mouse techniques, a table of ASCII codes, and ways to use PostScript commands, the equation editor program, and voice annotation in Word. A comprehensive index helps users quickly find information on any topic in the book.

The Cobb Group, a leader in computer training and support, is well-known for its best-selling, high quality computer books and for its series of critically acclaimed newsletters that cover popular software. Gena B. Cobb is vice president of The Cobb Group, Inc., where she serves as an author and editor-in-chief. Judy Mynhier is a free-lance technical writer, and Allan McGuffey is an assistant author at The Cobb Group. Mark Meker is a technical writer specializing in Macintosh applications.

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Microsoft Press books are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States may also order directly from the publisher at 1-800 MSPRESS.

Microsoft Press

One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399

206 882-8080


Computers in Physics Award Winners
Computers in Physics has announced the winners of its 1991 software contest, and among the 14 winning software packages are seven Physics Academic Software (PAS) programs.

MAPPER, a program on chaos and fractal demonstrations, received top honors. James B. Harold, a University of Maryland graduate student, developed the program which PAS expects to publish later this year after peer review.

CHAOTIC DYNAMICS WORKBENCH, PHYSICS SIMULATION PROGRAMS, and MAXWELL all presently available from PAS, took honorable mentions. Three other programs under peer review at PAS also received honorable mentions.

Awards were presented on 6 January in Orlando, Florida, at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physics Teachers. Winners received a certificate and $500; honorable mentions received a certificate.

Sponsored by Computers in Physics (CIP), a magazine published by the American Institute of Physics, the 1991 contest drew 69 entries. The panel of judges reported in the November/December issue of Computers in Physics that this year's competition was especially difficult to evaluate. "Every package submitted had some excellent features," wrote Denis Donnelly, Siena College and education editor, CIP.

The judges were impressed with the breadth of applications in mapping fractals displayed in Harold's winning program (MAPPER). The manual is a model of clarity and discusses 22 different maps and differential equations, all of which are included in the program," CIP reported.

In addition to those available from PAS, winning entries were: WAVEMAKER by Freeman Deutsch of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; SPREADSHEET PHYSICS WORKSHEETS by Charles Misner of the University of Maryland; MACMOTION, TEMPERATURE, EVENT COUNTER, DATA LOGGER and SOUND by Ronald Thornton of Tufts University, Priscilla Laws of Dickinson College, and others; and EM FIELD by David Trowbridge of Microsoft Corporation.

Honorable mentions went to: CHAOTIC DYNAMICS WORKBENCH, by Roger Rollins of Ohio University. The software provides nine nonlinear systems for study, including Duffing oscillators and driven pendulums. Rollins' program also recently won a 1991 Award of Merit from the North Carolina Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.

PHYSICS SIMULATION PROGRAMS by Robert H. Good of California State University, Haywood, is designed for classroom lectures, its programs include longitudinal waves, the optics of thin lens, and nuclear chain reactions.

MAXWELL, by Pieter Visscher of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, was noted for enabling students to "study the evolution of electromagnetic fields for more realistic and interesting electrodynamic problems than are accessible with common analytic solutions."

Other honorable mention winners whose programs are expected to be distributed by PAS are: David Keeports and John Furth (Mills College) for VARIATIONAL METHOD; Judah Schwartz (Harvard/MIT) for THE NEWTONIAN SANDBOX; and Roger Sipson (Moorhead State University) for DYNAMIC ANALYZER.

This year's award winners add to the growing list of PAS prize-winning software. In 1990, CIP award winners included CHAOS DEMONSTRATIONS, by Julien Sprott and George Rowlands; ORBITS, Edward Redish, James Harold, and Kenneth Hennacy; and CHAOS SIMULATIONS, Alan Wolf and Thomas Bessoir. SPACETIME, by Edwin Taylor, also won a CIP prize in addition to the 1990 Award for Distinguished Technical Communication from the North Carolina Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication.

PAS is a project of the American Institute of Physics in cooperation with the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers.

A free catalog of all PAS titles is available from Physics Academic Software, Campus Box 8202, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-8202. Telephone 800-955 TASL or 919-515-7447; FAX 919-515-2682.


NSA PrintSpool
Network Software Associates, Inc. announced new version of PrintSpool, a software product that is available as an option with any of the company's PC-DOS based communications software products to provide minicomputer-like print spooling and job management control functionality for PC-to-host printing applications.

The new PrintSpool now includes an enhanced video display driver library providing full-screen 132 column viewing of files on the following video boards: IBM CGA, EGA, VGA and 8514; Ahead VGA and Wizard; Compaq VGA; Genoa Super EGA HiRes; Hercules Mono; Paradise VGA Plus; Tseng EVA/480; and Video Seven VEGA Deluxe.

PrintSpool is designed for applications requiring printing of very large files downloaded from a mainframe. It allows such downloaded files to be temporarily stored on the PC's disk, a process known as "spooling". The PC's disk is able to accept the files at a much higher rate than the attached printer(s), thereby reducing data communications line costs and host connect charges.

The files stored on disk can be printed concurrently while additional data is being received or can be printed later after the host communications session has ended.

"PrintSpool brings to power of a mainframe or minicomputer spooling program down to the PC level," said Kelly Williams, NSA's marketing communications manager. "It's an extremely powerful memory-resident program".

PrintSpool's design is based on the capabilities of IBM's mainframe spooler, called the Systems Data Display and Spool Facility (SDSF). PrintSpool provides Function Management Header 2 (FMH2) support analogous to that provided by SDSF.

PrintSpool offers an array of advanced spooling capabilities, including support of three simultaneous printers, foreground and background mode with hot-key, unattended operation, naming and prioritization of print jobs, multiple copy printing, forms alignment, user-configurable buffer sizes, interrupt or noninterrupt printing, printing in lK increments, and the creation of spool files in DOS format.

PrintSpool supports most printer types, including character printers, laser printers, and even high-speed line printers up to 2,000 lines per minute (lpm) which are typically only supported by large mainframes or superminis.

PrintSpool is priced at $295. The enhanced version is available for immediate delivery.

Network Software Associates, founded in 1980, develops, markets and supports a wide range of PC software and hardware connectivity products for IBM networking environments. NSA is a strategic partner of both IBM and NCR/AT&T. The company is headquartered at 39 Argonaut, Laguna Hills, CA 92656. Phone: (714) 768-4013 or (800) 352-3270. Federal Systems Division: (703) 875-0444.


David Solomon IDG Books Director
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., a division of International Data Group, announced the appointment of David Solomon to the new post of Publishing Director. He will be responsible for directing all editorial and developmental activity for the company, including the acquisition, editing, technical review, and interior design of all trade computer books. Solomon will launch a new Midwest editorial office for IDG Books based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Solomon joins IDG Books after serving for two years as Director of Product Development at New Riders Publishing, a unit of Prentice-Hall Computer Publishing. In addition to directing titles for New Riders Publishing in 1990 and 1991, Solomon co-authored several books and worked as a product development specialist for Que Corporation between 1985 and 1990. He has written or co-authored over a dozen computer books within the last six years.

IDG Books has released six national bestsellers since its launch in mid-1990. IDG publishes several series of books in association with various IDG publications like PC World, InfoWorld, and Macworld magazines. Top bestsellers include Windows 3 Secrets (InfoWorld Series), PC World Paradox 3.5 Power Programming Techniques, and Macworld Guide to System 7. Many IDG authors also write for IDG's various publications like InfoWorld and Macworld.

"David is an extraordinary talent. He has been working with microprocessors since the early 1970s. His book management experience combined with his authoring credentials provide first-hand insight into the development of computer book bestsellers," said John J. Kilcullen, President and Publisher. "David will be charged with developing our global book publishing programs, in addition to managing our new Midwest and California editorial offices. He will be instrumental in shaping IDG Books' editorial vision for years to come," he said.

"It is clear to me that IDG Books will emerge as one of the stronger players in computer book publishing in the 1990s," said Solomon. "The opportunities to develop a computer book publishing office in Indianapolis are great. With the tremendous response from the marketplace, I anticipate that our editorial operation will grow rapidly."

Prior to his publishing work, Solomon spent 11 years working for a bio-medical instrument manufacturer in various computer operations positions. During that time, he directed technology transfer of technical know-how to the manufacturer's European subsidiary. Solomon resides in Indianapolis with his wife Terrie Lynn and daughter Sarah. Terrie Lynn Solomon is the acquisitions editor for IDG Books.

IDG Books publishes high quality computer books that bring extra value and skill-building instruction to the reader. The company applies the technical, market, and editorial knowledge of IDG, the world's leading publisher of technology periodicals, to provide timely and useful computer books that meet the needs of computer users of all levels.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, International Data Group is the world's largest publisher of computer-related information and the leading global provider of information services on information technology. International Data Group publishes over 150 computer publications in more than 50 countries, including such titles as PC World, InfoWorld, Macworld, LOTUS & Computerworld. Thirty million people read one or more International Data Group publications each month.


Vista 3.0 Windows Magnifier
TeleSensory's family of personal computer screen enlargers lets visually impaired people see the big picture on any IBM PC or PS/2 series computer or compatible. With the popularity of Windows increasing in most computing environments, TeleSensory researched ways to improve Vista's effectiveness with Windows.

The result is the release of the latest version of Vista that is more responsive in the Windows environment. Functions can be controlled from the Vista Control Panel, a Windows-compliant application. Scroll bars and option buttons activate or change Vista functions. And Edge Tracking automatically follows the cursor or the Windows mouse pointer as it approaches any edge of the screen.

Windows is designed for people actively engaged in implementing and using the most modern PC power computing tools available. Visually impaired computer users can now harness that same power with Vista computer screen enlargement that magnifies what's on the screen up to 16 times. And Vista supports today's vital business applications by working with networks and mainframes through terminal emulation systems.

In addition to full-screen magnification, TeleSensory's exclusive Zooming Engine technology offers other Presentation Views. Each mode displays an enlarged view overlaid on the unmagnified screen. Presentation Views can size the enlarged window, vary the enlargement within a user-defined window size and enlarge the window as you move around the screen.

TeleSensory

455 North Bernardo Ave, PO Box 7455

Mountain View, CA 94039-7455

Telephone: 415-960-0920, Fax: 415-969-9064


Poqet Licensing GRiD PenRight!
GRiD Systems Corp. announced that Poqet Computer Corp. will be the first pen computer manufacturer to license GRiD's PenRight! software platform for use on the new PoqetPad pen computer. PenRight! is an MS-DOS-based graphical application development platform specifically designed to support data collection applications.

Poqet will offer PenRight! as an option on the PoqetPad, the 1.2-pound, super portable pen computer which Poqet introduced today at the Pen Computer User Conference in Baltimore. Final details of the licensing agreement are being worked out. PenRight! contains the Application Program Interface (API) and handwriting recognition engine developed by GRiD.

Kirk Cruikshank, GRiD's vice president of marketing, said, "We are pleased that Poqet will be offering PenRight! with the PoqetPad. Once licensed, Poqet customers will have immediate access to software being developed by more than 300 software developers using PenRight! to create applications for a range of vertical markets.

"Licensing PenRight! to Poqet will do two important things: it will expand the overall pen computer market by giving these software developers more hardware options. It will also give end users the flexibility to choose from multiple platforms to meet their specific needs. GRiD is currently working with a number of other pen computer vendors who want access to the same market potential that enticed Poqet."

Richard Lull, Poqet's vice president of North American sales and marketing, said, "GRiD's products have played a significant role in delivering the benefits of pen computing in field automation applications and we are pleased to be joining them in providing systems using the PenRight! operating environment. We believe the combination of PenRight! and PoqetPad will provide vertical market developers and end users with a highly usable, easily deployed system for automating data collection and forms completion."

PoqetPad customers will be able to specify PenRight! as additional software that operates above the PoqetPad's DOS-shell software environment. This will allow organizations with existing applications and experience working with GRiD's PenRight! software to quickly port their products on to PoqetPad.

"Poqet recognizes that PenRight! is an excellent software environment for vertical market applications. For users in vertical markets, PenRight! applications provide simple forms, check boxes and buttons that make training a breeze," Cruikshank said. "The PenRight! software platform and its improved handwriting recognition engine are combined in a package that eliminates unnecessary computing overhead and has enough horsepower for adding sophisticated features."

PenRight! avoids the cryptic and memory-intensive commands that stifle the fast development of useful pen computer applications, Cruikshank said. He added, "Unlike many software platforms which require developers to start from scratch with source code, PenRight! supports a variety of development tools which enable developers to quickly and efficiently deliver a cost-effective application."

GRiD designs, manufactures, markets and services laptop, pen, desktop and multimedia computers, pen-based software development tools, electronic mail and networking systems. GRiD, located at 47211 Lakeview Blvd., Fremont, CA 94537, also has offices in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, France, Belgium and Denmark. GRiD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tandy Corporation, Fort Worth, TX, a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics and computers.

Poqet Computer Corp., founded in 1988, is a member of the Fujitsu group of companies. Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Poqet has operations and offices in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and New York. The company also has international offices in France, England, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Italy.


Microsoft Adds Direct TDD Service
Microsoft Corporation announced direct access for hearing-impaired customers through a new Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) service. The new TDD service, available Jan. 27, 1992, gives Microsoft's hearing-impaired customers access to the same technical product support and customer services as the hearing customer.

"Not two days ago I was having trouble with my Microsoft Mouse and there was nobody in the house to call Microsoft's voice line to inquire about repairing it," said Henry Kisor, book editor of the Chicago Sun Times and author of What's That Pig Outdoors, A Memoir of Deafness. "What a feeling of frustration! Now news comes about Microsoft's new TDD line, and what a feeling of liberation. Many congratulations -- and thanks -- to Microsoft for recognizing that in the United States there is a large and growing number of deaf and hearing-impaired computer users, and for addressing a real need."

Hearing-impaired customers can call Microsoft via the TDD telephone line and relay their questions to a support associate. The support associate will then set up an appointment for a support technician or customer service representative in the appropriate product group to return the call using a TDD modem. Support technicians provide technical assistance to customers while customer service representatives assist callers with specific product requests, such as special handling or rush shipments.

"TDD is the communications standard for people with hearing impairments in the U.S.," said Patty Stonesifer, general manager of Microsoft product support services (PSS). "At Microsoft we recognize the importance of TDD in our efforts to reach out to all our customers. "

Microsoft's plan for TDD service was recognized, in December 1991, as a Northwest regional winner in the Johns Hopkins National Search for Computing to Assist Persons with Disabilities for the program's technical excellence and its ability to assist a wide community of the otherly abled.

Like many Microsoft product support services, there is no charge for TDD service other than long-distance toll charges, and customers should receive a return call within four business hours.

Microsoft's direct TDD telephone line for customers is (206) 635-4948. Product support calls are handled during regular operating hours, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday. Customer service calls are received from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PST.

Microsoft receives more than 13,000 support calls per business day, serving a range of customers from individual users to commercial developers. Microsoft PSS supports a series of products from desktop applications to networking and systems applications.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ "MSFT") develops, markets and supports a wide range of software for business and professional use, including operating systems, languages and applications as well as books, hardware and CD-ROM products for the microcomputer


MS Apps Bring Power to Employees
Engineering Firm Uses Microsoft Applications

To Bring Power To All Employees

When BCM Engineers, a 100-year-old engineering consulting firm, decided to create an information system strategy to unite its fragmented computer systems, the was "mission impossible," according to MIS manager Karen Dicks. With 1,200 employees corporate-wide, BCM's divisions were scattered all over the country. Each had gone its separate way. Although some had implemented networks running character-based applications and a few used PCs, most employees had no computer access at all. A few employees had access mission-critical accounting system which ran on a centralized minicomputer.

BCM created an ambitious plan two and one half years ago to bring its oudated systems into the present and increase productivity. The plan called for a cohesive, long-term commitment to the Microsoft Windows operating system, using client-server architecture based on Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft LAN Manager, with Windows-based applications as PC front ends. Initially written by Dicks for BCM's largest division, the plan was exported to other divisions.

"What we were looking for," said Dicks, "was an integrated solution from one PC vendor."

Under a corporate directive to downsize applications from the minicomputer to the network, the client-server migration plan is now being actualized. The company has more than 350 80386 PCs running Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.0 along with Microsoft Word for Windows, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint presentation graphics program and Microsoft Mail for PC Networks. In addition, BCM is using the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system, SQL Server and LAN Manager behind the scenes for programming, database management and networking.

All BCM employees now have mailboxes in a 10-post office Microsoft Mail electronic mail system. Messages and files may be sent easily throughout the corporation. The Microsoft Mail remote client allows users who are located in remote offices to dial into mail via modem.

For word processing, standardizing on Microsoft Word for Windows has reduced some routine secretarial work, such as typing, by as much as 90 percent. Explained Dicks: "Even those few users who had PCs before had to print out their documents and give them to a secretary using a WANG-based system to retype, because the systems were totally incompatible. Now, document production is entirely PC-based, and people can share and edit files easily through the file server. All the secretary has to do is match them to the company style guide before presenting them to a client. "

In addition to standardizing word processing, BCM has developed sophisticated custom uses for Microsoft Word for Windows. In one such custom routine a macro, written in WordBasic, is used to trigger the creation of invoices in Word for Windows. The macro launches a process that includes retrieving the client file from the minicomputer, determining the type of bill (fixed fee, cost-plus, etc.) and automatically generating up to nine invoices at a time, depending on the information in the source

Another custom use for Word for Windows is a remote-access engineering specification library that contains CAD graphics files of BCM's standard engineering specifications for various types of projects. When an engineer needs to develop a spec for a client proposal, he or she simply connects to the library through the network, copies the closest existing spec and edits it to address the particulars of the job at hand.

"It's incredible," laughed Dicks, "but before, the user had to contact someone in the CAD section, ask them to print out the CAD drawing, physically cut out the required section with a razor blade, tape it onto paper, write in the appropriate headers, footers and page numbers and mail it out. Now that's paper-intensive!"

Slides and other presentation materials are now created with Microsoft PowerPoint, which is available to users of both PCs and Macintosh computers. Electronic mail allows employees to create presentations on their PCs, then send them to the graphics department for translation to Macintosh.

"Now, people can create their own slides and revise them until they are happy," said Dicks. "The graphics department only has to proof them for conformance to the style guide, add a little polish and supervise production. This has reduced congestion for our graphics people."

Project management, which is serious business at BCM, is handled in several ways, depending on the job. Many employees use Microsoft Project for those jobs that involve a large number of complex tasks requiring careful timing and critical path analysis, such as construction and municipal services work. In addition, the company has developed a custom scheduling application for project management that uses SQL Server data assembled from Microsoft Excel tables. Assigning tasks and tracking employee results, which used to take seven people all day to accomplish, is now done in an hour with the resource scheduler, which triggers Microsoft Excel-based reports.

Dicks is proud that users have taken to the Windows-based system so fast. "It has taken only half the time I estimated to maximize our use of the new equipment and software," she said. "People really hopped on and pushed, and everyone is doing so much more because they are working electronically. Even for total neophytes, it was easy to learn to use Windows, because it's so graphical. In fact, most users learned how to use the applications during brown-bag lunch sessions, since it's not cost effective to take employees away from billable client time for training. It's a tribute to Windows that so many people could learn so much in such a short time. "

Microsoft Corporation offers a complete family of applications for the Windows graphical environment and for the Macintosh. Microsoft Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Mail and Microsoft Project are designed to work well together and are integrated to provide a comprehensive computing solution. They share consistent interfaces, so once users have learned one application, they are well on their way to learning the others. Information can be shared easily between applications using cut-and-paste, dynamic data exchange (DDE), publish and subscribe or object linking and embedding (OLE). These integration capabilities allow users to mix text, numbers and graphics to produce more effective presentations, documents and spreadsheets. And with Microsoft Mail, workgroups can easily exchange messages and share information to enhance communications and leverage work throughout the group.


AST Premium Server & Disk Arrays
AST Research Inc. recently began shipping the Premium SE 4/33, the first model in its recently introduced line of upgradeable servers which are designed with a full range of scalability features.

At the same time, the company introduced the Premium SE 4/50 --expanding the server line to provide the fastest processing power available -- and the Premium XP expansion cabinet, which houses up to 16 hard drives. Also introduced were optional EISA Ethernet and Token-Ring network cards, providing a complete AST network solution.

"With the addition of the XP expansion cabinet, AST's Premium servers can support large networking or multiuser environments where high performance, maximum storage and fault tolerance is a requirement," said Larry Fortmuller, director of high performance systems.

While the powerful Premium SE line is highly suitable for the multi-user environment and supports sophisticated applications, it also is affordable as a single-user system, with prices beginning at $5,995. The new series, which replaces AST's former servers, is priced up to $5,100 less than the earlier models.

"AST's Premium servers support the widest range of scalability. The systems can be configured to support small or large workgroups and low to high-end applications," said Fortmuller.

Key scalability features include upgradeable i486 processing; up to 80MB of RAM; a high-speed SCSI disk subsystem with up to 16MB of upgradeable cache; and the XP expansion cabinet housing up to 16 hard drives per unit.

The expansion cabinet, which supports up to 6.4GB of storage per cabinet, features "hot" disk replacement, allowing maintenance or replacement of hard drives without system shutdown where operating system support exists. Slide-out trays also provide a means for quick, efficient replacement of hard drives. A maximum configured system, using four XP expansion cabinets, provides 19.2GB of external hard drive storage.

Both the Premium XP and the SE feature a highly efficient cooling system and a streamlined chassis designed for ease in servicing.

The optional 32-bit EISA Ethernet and Token-Ring networking adapters are fully tested and supported by AST to provide customers a total networking solution from AST.

Also, the Premium servers are fully compatible with Microsoft, Novell Netware, SCO UNIX, OS/2 and Banyan Vines, leading network and multiuser operating systems. Mirroring, duplexing and spanning are supported under standard Novell Netware.

Premium SE 4/33

The Premium SE 4/33, running at 33MHz clock speed, features EISA 32-bit system architecture and AST's built-in Cupid-32 upgradeable design. The unit's Intel microprocessor includes 8KB of integrated cache and a built-in 80387 math coprocessor. Standard RAM is 8MB expandable to 80MB with up to 16MB supported on the CPU board.

The Premium SE 4/33 base model, designated Model 3, includes one 1.44-MB, 3.5-inch diskette drive and six additional half-height 5.25-inch drive bays for additional storage capacity.

Ten 32-bit EISA slots afford ample expansion and the system includes a 300 watt steady-state power supply. Two serial ports, one parallel port, one mouse port, a floppy controller/connector and an IDE interface are located on the system board.

Three-level password protection, including server mode, boot mode and keyboard disable, as well as a mechanical chassis lock, secure the system.

EISA Configuration Utility, AST Diagnostics, complete documentation and a one-year limited parts and labor warranty are included with all systems.

Model 3 is priced at $5,995. Other system configurations include Model 333 with a 330-MB SCSI hard drive ($8,245), Model 663 with a 660-MB SCSI hard drive ($8,895) and Model 1003 with a 1.2-GB SCSI hard drive ($9,615).

Premium SE 4/50

Optimum system throughput is achieved with the Premium SE 4/50, which combines its 50-MHz, i486 microprocessor with 256KB of external cache and EISA architecture. The Premium SE 4/50 supports up to 32MB of memory on the CPU card with a system maximum of 80MB, using industry standard Jedec SIMMS.

The Premium SE 4/50 also comes in a variety of models and is competitively priced as follows: Model 3 base unit at $9,995; Model 333 at 12,245; Model 663 at $12,895; and Model 1003 at $13,615. The 4/50 is targeted to begin shipping in March through AST's reseller channel.

Premium XP

The Premium XP expansion cabinet, equipped to support either 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch form factor, is priced at $2,495 and also is slated to be available in March. Model XP/3 will support up to sixteen 3.5-inch hard drives and Model XP/5 will support up to eight 5.25-inch half-height or four 5.25-inch full-height hard drives.

Optional 3.5-inch SCSI hard drive kits feature 200-MB or 400-MB capacity, mounting trays and edge connectors for hot replacement capabilities. Also available are SCSI hard drives in the 5.25-inch form factor in 330MB, 660MB or lGB capacity.

EISA Networking Adapters

The EISA networking adapter options are covered under AST's one-year parts and labor warranty. The Ethernet card lists for $935 and an optional 10BaseT Micro-Mau connector, at $140. The Token-Ring adapter is priced at $1,195. Both networking solutions are scheduled for availability in February.

Service and Support

To meet its customer's technical support needs, AST joined Novell Inc.'s Technical Support Alliance to support hardware and software from various manufacturers. AST also is a Santa Cruz Operations Authorized Training Site, providing training for its reseller channels on SCO's multiuser operating system.

AST also backs its systems with a six-day-a-week toll-free technical support hot line, Info-FAX information service which provides technical documents via fax, and a worldwide 24-hour online bulletin board. Local dealer and third-party service and support with optional on-site service also are offered.

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AST Research Inc. is showcased disk array technology as well as its server, desktop and notebook personal computers running SCO UNIX at UniForum in San Francisco.

In an advanced technology demonstration, the newly introduced Premium SE server line is shown running AST's implementation of disk array RAID 5 under the SCO Unix environment. The disk array technology utilizes a Premium XP expansion cabinet with 16 200-MB hard drives.

"AST's server solution achieves disk subsystem fault tolerance on large storage systems, as well as significantly improves performance," said Larry Fortmuller, director of high performance systems.

The RAID implementation uses multiple drives as a group to improve performance, while providing redundancy for data protection.

The Premium servers combine 32-bit bus mastering, EISA SCSI controllers and industry-standard hard drives with software-based array logic to provide new levels of disk performance on a PC platform.

Also on display was AST's Premium II desktop family of PCs. The systems feature Cupid-32 upgradeable architecture, 32-bit processing, a small-footprint chassis, a choice of high-capacity hard drives, up to 80MB of memory, integrated or support for a math coprocessor and high-resolution video support.

"The award-winning line offers ideal price/performance levels for the corporate environment from the company who pioneered upgrade technology," said Fortmuller.

AST's Bravo desktop line, also shown, features high performance at a cost-effective price. The small footprint chassis houses four drive bays and five 16-bit ISA expansion slots. All I/O ports are integrated onto the system board 60 a monitor, modem, keyboard, mouse and two printers can be connected without using a single expansion slot. The system also features up to 16MB of RAM and Super VGA.

AST's Premium Exec 386SX/25C color notebook also is on display running the SCO's multi-user operating system. Priced at under $5,000, the 7-pound system boasts desktop-like features: a 9-inch diagonal backlit VGA color screen, up to 8MB of RAM, a 3.5-inch floppy drive, and a 60- or 80-MB hard drive. The unit 25 percent faster than most 20-MHz notebooks on the market and features up to two-and-a-half hours of battery life.

AST Research

16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 19658, Irvine, CA  92713-9658

(714) 727-4141 or (800) 876-4278.  Fax: (714) 727-9355 .


Works for Windows & C Prog. Ref.
Microsoft Works for Windows

The Official Software Companion

Microsoft Works for Windows and the MICROSOFT WORKS FOR WINDOWS software companion book from Microsoft Press can help users take control of home office and small business computing tasks.

This step-by-step tutorial by JoAnne Woodcock is an example-packed guide to the new Microsoft Windows-based integrated software package. It's full of helpful screen illustrations, dozens of handy tips, and lots of quick reference tables for menus and commands. Novice and intermediate users can be up and running in no time at all.

MICROSOFT WORKS FOR WINDOWS software companion is divided into four parts. Part I provides an overview of both the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Works and includes brief descriptions of their features and a crystal-clear explanation of how they work together. Readers will discover how to streamline word processing, spreadsheet, and database tasks with the Toolbar' and learn to use the WorksWizards a new feature that helps users create address books, mailing labels, and form letters quickly and easily.

In Part II, readers will learn how to create, modify, and save documents with ease in each of the Microsoft Works integrated applications:

The Word Processor--Professional looking documents can be produced in a variety of fonts and fine-tuned with the Spelling Checker and Thesaurus. Users can save document formats, use Microsoft Draw to create logos and to import clip art and see on screen exactly what to expect on paper.

The Spreadsheet--Readers learn how to develop error-free spreadsheets, use the built-in functions of Microsoft Works for Windows to create formulas with ease, format spreadsheets to best present data, and transform spreadsheet data into a variety of stunning charts and graphs.

The Database--The author demonstrates how to easily develop simple, efficient databases that can accommodate thousands of records and display information in a number of useful ways. The report generator will create database reports using either the built-in or customized formats.

In Part III, Woodcock shows readers how Microsoft Works' sophisticated integration capabilities can save hours of valuable time by sharing data among documents and applications. Data can even be transmitted via a phone system, with the aid of a modem and the Microsoft Windows communication program, Terminal.

Appendixes in Part IV offer a quick lesson for installing Microsoft Works for Windows and Microsoft Windows, a table of special characters, and a list of built-in functions to use with the Microsoft Works for Windows database and spreadsheet. A comprehensive index helps users quickly find information on any Microsoft Works for Windows topic in the book.

JoAnne Woodcock is currently a master writer/editor for Microsoft Press. She is the author of The Concise Guide to MS-DOS 5.0, coauthor of Running UNIX and Microsoft Word Style Sheets, and senior contributor to the Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary, all published by Microsoft Press.

MICROSOFT WORKS FOR WINDOWS is the second in The Official Software Companion series of books covering the Microsoft Solution Series software. The Microsoft Money software companion tide is available now while the Microsoft Publisher software companion tide will be published in the first quarter of 1992.

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ANSI and ISO Standard C Programmer's Reference

Now, professional programmers can get all the information they need to write C programs that conform to the ANSI and ISO standards for the C programming language in one handy reference. The ANSI AND ISO STANDARD C PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE from Microsoft Press, written by two eminent authorities on the ANSI and ISO C language standards, provides precise explanations of all the Standard C elements and important guidelines for proper implementation of the language.

STANDARD C is organized in two parts. Part I describes the elements of the Standard C language, including detailed syntax rules (with scores of illustrative "railroad-track" diagrams) and information on:

* Specifying characters within Standard C character set constraints

* Preprocessing of C source text

* Using declarations and specifying their types and contents

* Declaring functions, specifying their contents, and calling them from other functions

* Common rules for writing all expressions, determining their types, and computing their values

Part II is an alphabetic reference that describes the extensive Standard C library. Appendixes address the important issues of portability and of Standard C's predefined names. A comprehensive index ensures that the subtle distinctions as well as major points--can be located easily.

P.J. Plauger is Secretary of X3J11, the committee that developed the ANSI standard for the C programming language, and Convener of WG14, the committee that developed the ISO standard for C. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia He writes regularly for The C Users Journal and the Journal of C Language Translation and is a frequent contributor to Computer Language magazine.

Jim Brodie is Convener and Chair of X3J11. He is the Chief Software Engineer of the semiconductor products sector, Motorola, Inc., in Tempe, Arizona

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Microsoft Press books are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States may also order directly from the publisher at 1-800 MSPRESS.

Microsoft Press

One Microsoft Way  Redmond, Washington 98052-6399

206 882-8080


VisiSoft VisiNet LAN/WAN Tools
The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) version of VisiNet, the Windows-based active network management system developed by the VisiSoft division of Technology Dynamics, began shipping today. "VisiNet's SNMP version," said Chip Standifer, VisiSoft's president, "lets network administrators manage systems and devices that include an SNMP agent. It supports MIB I and MIB II, and can be user-expanded to support experimental and enterprise-specific MIBs. It communicates with the network using NetManage's TCP/IP kernel, which is included in the VisiNet SNMP package."

VisiNet's user-extendable capability allows it to access any information provided by a system's or device's SNMP agent. VisiSoft plans to augment this basic user definability with pre-configured MIBs beyond MIB I and MIB II. These will support the RMON MIB and other popular system or device MIBs.

Currently operating under Windows 3.0, VisiNet will operate under Windows 3.1 and OS/2 2.0 when these environments become available. VisiNet's SNMP version has a suggested list price of $2495. The LAN Manager/LAN Server and NetWare versions, which are currently available, are priced at $1995. VisiSoft distributes VisiNet through a worldwide network of value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors.

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VisiSoft's new systems architecture for its Windows-based VisiNet Network Management System will be shown for the first time at NetWorld Boston. The new architecture includes the Enterprise System Platform and special Function Modules that tailor the system to a wide range of network operating systems, protocols, devices, enterprise managers and management functions.

"It's clear that better network management is critical to the continued expansion of the use of LANs and WANs," said Rich Mauro, VisiSoft's vice president, marketing. "The requirements, however, vary considerably from company to company. A single LAN user's management needs are quite different from those of the heterogenous, multi-site, wide area network user. Many of these single site networks will, of course, grow in complexity over time.

The primary design goal of VisiNet's new architecture was to allow users to tailor a VisiNet system to their initial requirements and expand it as they grow."

Under the new VisiNet architecture, users may purchase the basic Enterprise System Platform with a single module supporting one specific environment. NetWare, LAN Manager/LAN Server, NetBIOS and SNMP Function Modules will all be available when the new platform ships. The Function Modules will provide the same user interface and function as the current versions of VisiNet that support these network operating systems and protocols. A Banyan VINES Module will also be available later in the year; Banyan users, however, may take immediate advantage of VisiNet's management capabilities by using the SNMP Module. VisiSoft is also working with Novell to interface VisiNet's Netware Module to Novell's recently announced network management platform.

Companies whose heterogenous, wide-area networks employing multiple network operating systems and protocols can purchase VisiNet's Enterprise System Platform with multiple Function Modules to serve their specific needs. Administration of the entire network environment may then be done from a single network console.

"VisiNet's new structure will minimize the impact of network expansion on network management," said Chip Standifer, VisiSoft's president. "The modular approach will not only let users expand VisiNet as their network expands, but do it painlessly. They won't have to buy a new system or upgrade to a new version...they'll just add the necessary module to VisiNet's Enterprise System Platform".

Later this year, VisiSoft will introduce additional Function Modules that will allow VisiNet to operate as a hierarchical network management system. VisiNet consoles equipped with a Communicating Module in remote sites will send real-time management information to a central site equipped with a VisiNet Collecting Module. Users will have a choice of managing the remote sites solely from the central console or sharing the management duties between the remote and central site.

Future VisiNet Function Modules will expand its interface to other vendors' enterprise management systems, such as NetView, and to proprietary device information. Device support will be developed in joint development efforts with these vendors or by the vendors themselves. VisiSoft will make information on the VisiNet interface available to interested vendors to facilitate the expansion process.

"Our goal," said Standifer, "is to evolve VisiNet to the point where it not only detects problems, but resolves many common network problems. Effective network management requires both monitoring and control. We want VisiNet to help the network administrator understand the options and select the best course of action. We expect to make those expanded functions available as additional modules that companies can add to their systems."

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VisiNet 2.0, developed by the VisiSoft division of Technology Dynamics, promises to revolutionize PC-based network management with its graphic presentation and control of network information. Currently operating under Windows 3.0, VisiNet will operate under Windows 3.1 and OS/2 2.0 when those environments become available. Under any of these environments, it provides a graphical user interface and

user definable icons which allow users to create hierarchical views of each network layer. Real-time monitoring alerts the user to critical operating conditions and alarm events. World, country, state and regional maps or office floor plans may be selected as backgrounds for each view; custom images created in bit-map or DXF format may also be imported. VisiNet's database supports the creation and maintenance of up to 135 data fields and list boxes for objects within each node and link. Standard definition templates, which can later be tailored to specific network needs, help users get off to a fast start.

A comprehensive scripting language that lets users define what is monitored and what conditions will cause an alarm is a key VisiNet feature. The language was designed with ease of use as a primary objective, but standard scripts are provided for initial use and customization, allowing gradual familiarization with the language.

Because it polls the network constantly, VisiNet sends an alert immediately when it detects a potential problem. This can be a visible and audible signal; the user can then respond to the alert, clicking down to view the cause of the alarm or change in state.

The polling interval may be selected for each item within each object, allowing further fine-tuning of network performance. VisiNet builds a database of activity while it monitors the network. It maintains a historical log, from which trouble tickets and standard reports may be pulled for network analysis. Data may also be exported to any application supporting Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) or Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) for analysis or additional activity reports.

At setup, VisiNet automatically scans the network and identifies each active node and its configuration. Among the items VisiNet monitors are processor type, memory capacity, LAN adapters, device drivers and the values of environment variables. By adding the links and any other required workstation data, the user can be up and running quickly. Each time a user signs on, the station's hardware configuration is automatically scanned, allowing VisiNet to maintain a constantly updated network configuration.

VisiSoft shipped its LAN Manager/LAN Server version in August, 1991 and its NetWare version in November, 1991. Each of these products are priced at $1995. VisiNet's SNMP version is priced at $2495.

VisiSoft distributes VisiNet through a worldwide network of value-added resellers, system integrators and distributors. Inquiries are welcome, and should be directed to VisiSoft, 430 10th St., NW, Suite S-008, Atlanta, GA 30318, phone 404-874-0428, fax 404-874-6412.


New Peachpit Press Books
Your computer was never this fun before! Whether you are an occasional dabbler or a hopelessly irredeemable addict, a new book by John Hedtke, Winning! The Awesome & Amazing Insider's Book of Windows Game Tips, Traps, and Sneaky Tricks makes playing Windows games more enjoyable and challenging.

It is no secret that computer users by the hundreds of thousands--in need of diversion and new adventures--have flocked to the cornucopia of games available in the Microsoft Entertainment Packs for Windows, including such entertaining and intriguing games as Tetris, Pipe Dream, Minesweeper, Fuji Golf, and Taipei. However, each of the games is a relatively learn-it-yourself proposition, and though some online help is provided, avid game players desiring wizard status now have a place to turn for more indepth help: Winning!

This book provides the full inside story on Solitaire, Reversi, and each of the 24 games and programs featured in Microsoft Entertainment Packs Volumes I, II, and III. Included are amusing comments and anecdotes from the developers on each game's history and development--not to mention sneaky tricks to help game players rack up huge scores and super-fast times. Novices will be glad to know that the book assumes no prior knowledge beyond the basics of using a mouse and a few Windows 3.0 fundamentals. It provides hints on how to play and master each game, and, for those out to win no matter what the cost, tips on how to cheat.

John Hedkte is a prolific author and technical consultant who has written award winning manuals for many leading software products.

Winning! (ISBN 0-938151-77-0, 232 pages) has a retail price of $14.95. It is available through bookstores or directly from Peachpit Press, 2414 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.

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Throughout Publish's five-year history, its monthly "Q&A" columns and "Tips" sections have always been among the most popular parts of the magazine. These are the places where readers learn the things their manuals never tell them--the secrets, the shortcuts, the word-arounds. The same people who answered the toughest questions and refined every tip have put together an easy-to-use compilation of over 300 of their most useful and popular shortcuts, tricks, answers, and solutions. Desktop Publishing Secrets, by Robert C. Eckhardt, Bob Weibel, and Ted Nace, is a veritable encyclopedia of publishing, an important reference for anyone who uses a personal computer to create newsletters, display ads, manuals, magazines, and marketing materials.

Desktop Publishing Secrets--which is now a main selection of the Graphic Artists Book Club--covers software and peripherals used in both Macintosh and PC environments, including QuarkXPress, PageMaker, Ventura, Windows, WordPerfect, Word, FreeHand, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, and PostScript. Though the tips contained in this book originated in the pages of Publish magazine, each has been extensively rewritten, researched, enlarged, and rechecked against the current version of the software involved.

The hundreds of tips are organized into nine chapters according to subject matter. A comprehensive index helps the reader locate the relevant tips he or she needs. Chapters include "Type & Typography," "Graphics", "Word Processing," "Page Layout," "Presentations," "Paper and Printing," and "Publishing as a Business." Desktop Publishing Secrets also contains a variety of suggestions on effective environmental strategies appropriate for desktop publishers.

Robert Eckhardt is the author of Free (And Almost Free) Software for the Macintosh and a contributing editor to Macworld and Publish. Bob Weibel is the former technical editor of Publish. Ted Nace is the former co-author of the Publish "Q&A" column and the co-founder and publisher of Peachpit Press.

Desktop Publishing Secrets (ISBN 0-938151-74-6, 528 pages) has a retail price of $27.95. It is available through bookstores or directly from Peachpit Press, 2414 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.

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Peachpit Press announced the release of The Little WordPerfect for Windows Book, by Kay Nelson, a friendly and straightforward guide to WordPerfect for Windows.

With WordPerfect fans across the country elated by the release of WordPerfect for the Windows 3 environment, this new book arrives just in time! It is the perfect introduction both for users upgrading from the DOS version of WordPerfect (4.2, 5.0, or 5.1), and for those using WordPerfect for the first time.

The Little WordPerfect for Windows Book follows the philosophy behind many Peachpit Press titles--that most people find a clearly organized, well-indexed, and slender book easier to use and just as informative as a fat tome. It covers the basics of how to use Windows and switch between programs, providing a clear introduction to the core features of Word Perfect for Windows, such as revising text, spell-checking, and printing. The book contains special notes for those upgrading to the Windows version from the DOS version, as well as covering WordPerfect's more sophisticated capabilities such as creating tables, recording and playing macros, applying styles, and editing graphics.

A chapter entitled "State Your Preferences" details how to customize this versatile program from the very beginning. Included are handy summary charts of keyboard shortcuts and quick tips, with loads of advice about how to avoid traps and pitfalls when upgrading to WordPerfect for Windows.

Kay Yarborough Nelson is a recognized WordPerfect expert, with close to 500,000 copies of WordPerfect titles sold, including Encyclopedia WordPerfect, WordPerfect Macro Handbook, and WordPerfect 5.1 Instant Reference. In addition, she is the author of the best-selling Little Windows Book. Her books have been translated into nine languages.

The Little WordPerfect for Windows Book (ISBN 0-938151-444, 200 pages) has a retail price of $12.95. It is available through bookstores or directly from Peachpit Press, 2414 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710.

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Peachpit Press announced the publication of EcoLinking: Everyone's Guide to Online Environmental Information, by Don Rittner, the first guide to the use of computer technology by scientists, environmentalists, and concerned citizens to share ideas and research on environmental issues. EcoLinking documents this growing phenomenon, detailing how computer networks, bulletin boards, and online services can be put to work to save the planet.

Divided into five sections, the book gives step-by-step instructions on how to access the immense academic, bibliographic, and scientific information found on global networks and commercial online services, focusing on how to get online and on what types of data can be retrieved. EcoLinking also explains how to conduct online scientific and environmental research using bibliographic retrieval services ("Libraries that never dose"), CDROM databases, and electronic bulletin board systems, with each chapter containing case studies of pioneering "EcoLinkers." Comprehensive appendices profile a sample online session, list recommended communications software, and detail the environmental discussion lists available through Internet. Also included in the appendices is a discussion of "gateway" services that provide access to networks such as Internet, BITNET, and Usenet.

Don Rittner is an educator and activist who has been involved in studying and preserving the environment for more than 20 years. He was instrumental in the movement to preserve the famous Albany Pine Barrens in New York State, and was awarded the Nature Conservancy's Oak Leaf Award in 1977. He is an avid computer user and columnist, and is currently the editor of the MUG News Service, an informational clearinghouse that reaches more than 350,000 Macintosh users worldwide.

EcoLinking: Everyone's Guide to Online Environmental Information (ISBN 0-938151-35-5, 300 pages) has a retail price of $18.95. It is available through bookstores or directly from Peachpit Press, 2414 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710


FASTAT 2.0 Statistical Analysis
SYSTAT, Inc. announced the release of FASTAT 2.0 for DOS, an affordable and easy-to-use software package for statistical analysis, data management and graphics on the IBM PC and compatible systems running DOS 3.0 or higher.

An intermediate version of the popular SYSTAT statistics and graphics software, FASTAT 2.0 for DOS is designed to meet the statistics needs of business professionals and researchers who don't necessarily have broad statistical expertise. "FASTAT's ease-of-use lets you avoid having to ground yourself in a lot of statistical procedures to produce analyses and graphs," says FASTAT 2.0 beta tester Phillip Dunne, director of research at the Weiser Group, a public and media relations research firm based in Chicago, IL. "It's a killer package."

FASTAT 2.0 has an integrated architecture that features a full range of data analysis tools, accessible through pull-down menus. Data may be entered through a simple data editor (familiar to anyone who has used a spreadsheet), and can also be imported and exported in several standard formats, including ASCII, Lotus, Symphony, dBase and DIF. On-screen help for all statistical procedures is available throughout the program.

FASTAT has the capacity to analyze files containing unlimited cases and up to 150 variables per session. Analyses can be recorded and stored as command files to speed repetitive tasks.

Presentation-quality graphs and working drafts of analysis results can be displayed singly, or with overlaid or multiple plots on a printed page. In addition to basic charts and graphs, FASTAT offers box plots, stem-and-leaf diagrams, bivariate plots, 3-D rotating plots, scatterplot matrices, assorted smoothing and mathematical functions, plus log and power scales.

Statistical procedures offered by FASTAT include descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, t-tests, multiway crosstabulations, nonparametric statistics, correlations, simple and multiple linear regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measures, factor analysis, time series analysis, and more.

FASTAT 2.0's comprehensive documentation features detailed tables of contents and indexes that help users find information quickly. Each chapter introduces the statistical concepts behind the procedures discussed, with step-by-step instructions and sample screen displays. "Having examples appear right next to the procedures in the manual is very helpful," said FASTAT beta tester Dr. Janet Buckingham of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. The manual also provides tips and shortcuts that help new users feel like pros in a short period of time.

FASTAT 2.0 for DOS requires an IBM-compatible personal computer running DOS 3.0 or higher, on a hard disk drive with 640K RAM. FASTAT supports popular hard copy devices such as Epson printers, HP LaserJet printers, and plotters. A network version of the software is also available.

The list price for FASTAT 2.0 for DOS is $495. "Never before has there been an easy-to-use statistical package with as many features as FASTAT in this price range," says SYSTAT, Inc. Director of Marketing Ken Kornbluh. SYSTAT, Inc. also offers site licences and academic discounts.

FASTAT 2.0 is available through SYSTAT, Inc. and most dealers. For more information, call SYSTAT, Inc. at 708.864.5670, or contact the SYSTAT bulletin board at 708.492.3570. Phone sales can be reached at 1.800.428.STAT.


SYSTAT 5.2 Mac Statistics Swr
SYSTAT, Inc. announces the release of SYSTAT Version 5.2, an update to the award-winning statistical analysis, data management, and graphics software package for the Apple Macintosh personal computer, with a new implementation under Macintosh QuickTime.

SYSTAT 5.2 takes advantage of the powerful graphic and data display features of Apple QuickTime, including full MOVIE support of sound, video and animation. "Three-dimensional graphs and plots come alive when viewed in the QuickTime implementation of SYSTAT," says Ken Kornbluh, marketing director of SYSTAT, Inc. "With QuickTime's animation, it is possible to incorporate dynamic analyses for scientific visualization on the Macintosh." SYSTAT 5.2 saves data and graph files as MOVIES, and supports the cut, copy and paste functions of graphs and data in MOVIE file formats.

Better technology also permits significant improvements in both speed of processing and the responsiveness of the user interface. Menu choices are refined for faster computation of complex data sets, with fewer clicks of the mouse.

Versatile yet comprehensive data analysis procedures permit almost every possible statistical analysis, including the most complete implementation of the multivariate general linear hypothesis (MGLH) yet available on the Macintosh. Major statistical improvements include enhancements to model estimation and hypothesis testing with support of the means model. This model is useful for designs that have missing cells, or have cells with unequal n values that reflect population differences. Stepwise regression output now has options for forward, backward and interactive stepping.

Additional hypothesis tests include an intuitive method for arbitrary contrasts of effects or means, and new post-hoc methods: Scheffe, Dunnett one- and two-sided, Bonferroni, Fisher's LSD, and Tukey-Kramer. SYSTAT Version 5.2 also calculates Greenhouse/Geyser and Winfelt p-values.

SYSTAT 5.2 includes analytic improvements to graphs: you may now display graphs using spherical coordinates, plus standard errors are calculated and displayed automatically. In addition to standard graphs, plots, bar charts, histograms and scatterplots, SYSTAT 5.2 features dynamic color graphics, such as EDA plots, 3-D rotation, dimensional maps, contour plots, nonlinear scatterplot smoothing, triangular coordinate plots, kernel density estimation plots, and Voronoi tesselations.

Statistical procedures include descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, t-tests, cluster analysis, analysis of variance, multidimensional scaling, nonparametrics, correlations, linear and multiple linear regression, forecasting and exponential smoothing, common factor analysis, and nonlinear regression, with the capacity to analyze up to 250 variables.

SYSTAT 5.2 requires 2MB RAM, at least one 800K disk drive and System 6.0.2 or higher for operation. The package supports the family of 680x0 microprocessors. To access the QuickTime capabilities of SYSTAT, you must have QuickTime-compatible system software.

SYSTAT 5.2 for the Macintosh is available through SYSTAT, Inc. and most dealers. For more information, call SYSTAT, Inc. at 708.864.5670, or contact the SYSTAT bulletin board at 708.492.3570. Phone sales can be reached at 1. 800.428 . STAT.


TagWrite Electronic Publishing
As on-line documentation systems proliferate, corporate publishers demand the ability to author files in commercial word processors and then store them in tagged format. TagWrite 3.0 for Windows, from ZANDAR Corporation, addresses this demand.

This electronic publishing product transforms word processed files to Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), and to all other tagging systems like IBM Bookmaster, Ventura Publisher, Interleaf, QuarkXPress, Troff and many hypertext systems. The TagWrite engine embeds tags at about one page per second.

TagWrite reads and writes Microsoft Word Rich Text Format (RTF) and WordPerfect Series 5 Format across all platforms, including character and paragraph formatting, tables, footnotes, styles, Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) Links and others. The resulting tagged files can be output in DOS or Unix ASCII or in their native Microsoft Word or WordPerfect format.

TagWrite can untag a DOS or Unix ASCII file and write back ASCII or fully formatted WordPerfect or Microsoft Word, including styles.

The TagWrite engine is mature--now four years old. The price of the TagWrite base product is $395.00. The Styles Module, required to build applications that read and write WordPerfect and Microsoft Word styles is $49.00.

The Standardized Generalized Markup Language (SGML) is an ISO standard for the interchange of electronic documents. The SGML standard prescribes the use of embedded tags or markup within a text file. Once tagged, the files carry sufficient information to permit their storage, transfer, retrieval, display and printing. SGML and other tagging systems have achieved widespread adoption in an international electronic publishing market for corporate and government documentation, multimedia, and hypertext.

ZANDAR Corp, P.O. Box 327, Jericho, Vermont, 05465-0327

(802) 878-7710.


Holmes FAX/Modem for Compaq LTE
Holmes Microsystems, Inc., announced the immediate availability of a combination 9600bps FAX/2400bps Modem for the just-announced Compaq LTE Lite/25 and LTE Lite/20 notebook computers. The new CQ96 FAX'EM II/Lite is the newest addition to the Holmes' product line for portable computers.

The new Holmes FAX/Modem combination is designed specifically for internal installation in the Compaq LTE Lite/25 and Lite/20. The new 6-pound notebook announced by Compaq Computer Corporation Jan. 27, 1992, uses breakthrough power conservation features and the Intel 25- or 20-MHz 386SL microprocessor for extended battery life.

The Holmes FAX'EM features a 9600bps Group 3, Class II send and receive FAX, as well as a 2400bps V.42bis modem. The CQ96 FAX'EM II/Lite weighs 2.6 ounces, has received FCC certification, and is available now through Holmes' national distributor, Tech Data Corporation, Clearwater. Fla. Suggested retail price is US$497.

The 9600bps FAX portion of the product meets Group 3 and Class II FAX specifications. Group 3 is-the standard for worldwide FAX communications, while compliance with the emerging Class II standard of the Electronics Industry

Association allows Holmes to utilize advanced features found in a wide variety of third-party FAX software. The CQ96 FAX'EM II/Lite ships with Bit Software-s BitFAX FAX software and Tradewind Software-s COMit for modem communications.

The V.42bis protocol included with the CQ96 FAX'EM II/Lite allows modem users to receive and transmit data at 2400bps with an effective throughput of up to 9,600bps. The Holmes product includes a 5-year warranty.

"We are pleased to offer this product at the same time Compaq announced their newest notebook computer," Holmes President G. Clark Johnson said. 'We have made a commitment to provide quality data communication products to users of advanced portable systems such as the Compaq LTE Lite/25 and Lite/20. This new Holmes product is just one example of that commitment, with more on the way."

Holmes is a public company founded in 1985 in Salt Lake City, where all Holmes products are designed and manufactured. The Holmes product line includes modems and FAX/modem combination products for portable computers made by Compaq, Commodore, Epson, Everex, Hewlett-Packard, Hyundai, Sharp, Toshiba, Zenith, Zeos and others.

Holmes Microsystems Inc

2620 South 900 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119-2445

801-975-9929


Peterson College & Career Planning
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question that everyone has heard. It suggests that there is a simple answer and that somehow each of us should know exactly what career is right for us. According to labor experts, however, many people change jobs and careers six to seven times during their working lives. To help avoid or reduce such changes, individuals can now get personalized career direction in as little as 30 to 40 minutes from a new software program, Peterson's Career Options.

Users of Peterson's Career Options will learn to analyze themselves--their interests, skills, and work preferences--and to identify matching occupations. They'll learn what education and training is required for specific occupations, how to research those occupations, and where to go for more information. The program is appropriate for a wide range of users--from middle school through adult--and offers a step-by-step approach that will:

* Guide users through personal assessment exercises that help them recognize their interests and abilities.

* Provide personalized career suggestions listing the most suitable opportunities.

* Define occupations, related jobs, and training requirements to provide a full picture of options.

* Help users plan concrete strategies for achieving career goals.

The comprehensive database includes over 700 occupations covering all interest areas and educational backgrounds. The latest Department of Labor data on occupations that are expected to grow as fast as or faster than average is also included as is a list of emerging occupations.

Special features of Peterson's Career Options include:

* Users can get a list of career possibilities in as little as 20 to 30 minutes.

* A "Why Not?" Option helps users discover why a particular occupation was not in their list of suitable careers.

* Interest Assessment Booklets available at two educational levels - middle school and high school or older -- can be ordered separately. These are self-paced exercises in a paper-and-pencil format to help users determine where their interests are strongest. Users answer questions relating to activities they like to do and then score responses. Their scores can be entered into the software program for interpretation. Free samples of each level are included in every software package.

Peterson's Career Options is now available directly from Peterson's by calling 1-800-338-3282; IBM PC version is $295 (Item C1063).

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How do families wind their way through the maze of college and financial aid information? The huge number of schools can seem overwhelming, and many factors influence the final decision: cost, location, faculty, course offerings--plus the social scene. Two quick, easy, and cost-effective resources are Peterson's award-winning software packages, Peterson's College Selection Service and Peterson's Financial Aid Service, now available in new editions.

Peterson's College Selection Service 1992, a PC-based software program designed to simplify the search for appropriate colleges, puts Peterson's expansive database at users' fingertips by providing the accurate, concise information they need to make good choices. Derived from the same database used to develop Peterson's Guide to Four-Year Colleges 1992 and Peterson's Guide to Two-Year Colleges 1992, Peterson's College Selection Service is updated annually to provide the latest information on accredited public and private four-year colleges and two-year colleges.

Because the program is menu-driven and interactive, users learn about themselves and what they want in a college while they learn more about the colleges. The program lets users see what characteristics about the schools are most limiting--helping them to prioritize their college requirements. At each step, users see how their choice affects the remaining pool of colleges, and the vast database helps them to broaden their horizons and discover new colleges. Categories of information range from location and cost to programs available for learning-disabled students. After completing their search, students can create a Personal Inquiry Letter to admissions officers at the colleges of their choice.

"The software is not meant to replace Peterson's college guidebooks but to supplement them," says Ginger Peak, Peterson's software publishing director. "It's a way of managing large amounts of data and saving time."

Special features of Peterson's College Selection Service 1992 include:

* New for 1992: a Counselor Management feature tracks program usage, allowing guidance counselors to cost-justify the purchase of the software and show how much of their time is being freed up by using it.

* New for 1992: a Personalized Application Checklist that allows students to organize and keep track of their own application procedures. Users can get a printed college admissions checklist.

* Personal Inquiry Letters option allows students to create customized letters to admissions officers at the colleges students have selected. The letter can include the student's SAT scores, class rank, extracurricular activities, and other personal information.

* The College Snapshots feature shows students key facts about any college they select -- such as location, cost, application deadlines, and enrollment -- right on screen.

* The "Why Not?" Option tells users instantly what characteristics they chose that caused colleges to be eliminated from their final pool

Peterson's Financial Aid Service 1992

Software to Help Families Finance A College Education

As families are choosing the appropriate college, they need to take into consideration financial planning. Peterson's gives them a step-by-step approach to planning for college costs with Peterson's Financial Aid Service 1992, a PC-based easy-to-use, confidential, and reliable software program that reduces the confusion surrounding financial aid.

Peterson's Financial Aid Service 1992 takes personal financial information from the user, computes students' eligibility for financial aid, explains how to obtain both college and private-source funding, and lists many possible sources of aid. All personal financial aid information is erased after usage so that no other user may see it.

Annually revised to reflect changes in costs and aid, the 1992 edition of Peterson's Financial Aid Service is the complete early planning tool designed for use in guidance counselors' offices or for families to use on their own if they prefer.

Peterson's Financial Aid Service for 1992 features:

* Updated for 1992: Private Aid Sources -- hard-to-find, nontraditional private scholarship information.

* NEW FOR 1992: All-New Data--new need analysis formulas to calculate expected family contribution, updated college costs, 1992-93 state and federal aid programs.

* Cost and aid information for over 1,640 four-year colleges.

* Information on over 36,000 sources of private aid--totaling more than $77-million.

* Pell Grant and Stafford Student Loan eligibility information.

* Non-need-based scholarships available at specific colleges, such as academic interest/achievement awards and athletic awards.

* Peterson's College Money Handbook 1992 guidebook and Peterson's State And Federal Aid Programs for College Students 1992 are included.

In 1989 and 1990 Peterson's College Selection Service and Peterson's Financial Aid Service software packages each won an "Award of Excellence" from Technology & Learning magazine (formerly Classroom Computer Learning magazine) in recognition of excellence in educational microcomputer software.

Peterson's College Selection Service 1992 and Peterson's Financial Aid Service 1992 are available directly from Peterson's by calling 1-800-338-3282.

PC versions of Peterson's College Selection Service 1992 are $159.00 for Four-Year College (Item 0970), $109.00 for two-year college (Item 1004) editions. The Peterson's Financial Aid Service 1992 is $195.00 (Item 1039).

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For 25 years, Peterson's has been committed to education and careers. Today, the company serves people researching educational opportunities for themselves or their children, from the elementary level through executive education, and people who need career information and guidance. At the same time, Peterson's provides services for institutions--academic and corporate--that are trying to reach potential students, faculty, and employees.

Peterson's, the leading provider of information and services for lifelong education and career guidance, was founded in 1966 by Peter W. Hegener, who was then director of career planning at Princeton University, and his wife, Karen C. Hegener, who had been active in publishing. Peterson's data are available in books, on-line, and through software programs in the United States and abroad. Admissions and recruitment services for secondary schools, universities, and corporations are in place throughout the U.S. and in over 60 countries worldwide.

Peterson's traditional publishing program, consisting of such classic reference books as the Annual Guides to Graduate Study, the Annual Guides to Undergraduate Study, Job Opportunities, and other well-known trade and reference titles, is complemented by numerous electronic publishing activities, including CD-ROM, software for the PC, and online services.

Together with its subsidiaries--Quality Education Data (QED), a market research firm in Denver specializing in data on public elementary and secondary schools, and Peterson's/COG in Los Angeles, a publisher of recruitment magazines for the college market--Peterson's has created a highly specialized niche in the communications industry.

Peterson's

202 Carnegie Center, PO Box 2123, Princeton, NJ 08543-2123

609-243-9111  Fax 609-243-9150


Que Macintosh Books
Macintosh users of all experience levels find that System 7 Quick Reference allows them immediate access to the latest features and commands of System 7. This compact guide is an instant reference to the features, commands, and keyboard shortcuts of Macintosh's revolutionary operating system.

This versatile pocket-sized reference helps users become familiar with the basic terms, installation procedures, and updated features of the operating system. System 7 Quick Reference provides step-by-step instructions explaining each feature, including Balloon Help, file finding, automatic document updating, and network file sharing.

System 7 Quick Reference shows users how to successfully install and run System 7 on the Macintosh, run multiple Mac applications simultaneously, create custom labels and icons, and increase productivity with simple keyboard shortcuts.

Que, the world's leading computer book publisher, is an imprint of Prentice Hall Computer Publishing (PHCP). PHCP is a division of Simon & Schuster, which is a division of Paramount Communications.

System 7 Quick Reference

Que Development Group

$9.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-835-0; 148 pp.

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Macintosh users gain productivity and knowledge after reading Using FileMaker Pro the newest release in Que's Mac Series of computer books. Written for beginning and intermediate Macintosh users, Using FileMaker Pro teaches users how to design, create, and manage personal databases.

Real-world examples lead Mac users through this enormously flexible and powerful database. They Learn the simple concepts of database structure and then move on to more complex topics on effective database management. They also get great advice on editing, Finding, and sorting data; improving database layouts; and implementing automatic data entry.

Using FileMaker Pro teaches users how to create efficient, effective databases; find, edit, and sort records; automate data entry; work with and develop complex data-entry forms; master advanced data and information handling techniques; speed up data retrieval with scripts and buttons; and use FileMaker Pro on a network.

Que, the world's leading computer book publisher, is a division of Prentice Hall Computer Publishing (PHCP). PHCP is a division of Simon & Schuster, which is a division of Paramount Communications.

Using FileMaker Pro

by Barrie Sosinsky & Beth Houghton

$24.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-841-5; 533 pp.

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Que, 11711 N. College Ave. Carmel, IN 46032

317-573-2500;  FAX 1-317-573-2583;  800-428-5331


Latest Batch of Que Books
Beginners can now learn Excel 3 for Windows by themselves in a quick and easy fashion. Excel 3 for Windows QuickStart from Que makes it possible.

Que's easy-to-follow illustrated approach helps users learn the basics of Excel 3 quickly and easily. Just following the clear, step-by-step introduction gives users the building blocks needed to create and modify Excel worksheets right away. Excel 3 for Windows QuickStart also enables users to take advantage of Excel's intuitive and easy-to-use menu environment.

Users learn how to enter data and formulas; use Excel functions for financial, statistical, and logical analysis; produce high-profile reports and charts; plan, build, and manage a database; print professional quality worksheets; and speed up Excel procedures with macros. Excel 3 for Windows QuickStart also leaches users how exploit Excel's improved charting capabilities. Plus, dozens of illustrated examples demonstrate effective ways to insert and delete cells, manage data with Excel's database, among other topics.

Excel 3 for Windows QuickStart

By: Que Development Group

$19.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-762-1; 355 pp.

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Three new Quick References released by Que this month provide information at users' fingertips. Topics included in these new books are Harvard Graphics 3, Paradox 3.5, and Q&A 4.

Harvard Graphics 3 Quick Reference

Giving users immediate access to Harvard Graphics 3 commands and terminology, this new Quick Reference gives valuable information to users of all experience levels. This versatile reference helps users become familiar with the features and shortcuts that make graphics production more efficient and results more impressive.

Harvard Graphics 3 Quick Reference makes it easy to create personalized charts from Harvard Graphics' on-screen gallery; add special enhancements, including text and free hand drawings with Draw; create interactive screenshows with HyperShow; generate informative bar, pie, and line graphs; and produce and print enhanced business reports.

Paradox 3.5 Quick Reference

Processional database management is easy with Que's Paradox 3.5 Quick Reference. This compact guide is an instant reference for the most often used commands, options, and latest enhancements of this popular database software. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced users benefit from using this versatile reference.

Paradox 3.5 Quick Reference offers easy-access information that makes creating databases, using Query by Example, and generating reports efficient and effective. This book makes it easy to create powerful and informative databases, produce impressive graphs, generate detailed reports, and automate tasks with scripts and keyboard macros.

Q&A 4 Quick Reference

With Q&A 4 Quick Reference, users get a quick guide to all the functions and procedures that make them productive with Q&A's extensive database and word processing capabilities. This guide is also the perfect reference for the advanced operations of macros of Q&A 4's database, Intelligent Assistant, and word processor. Alphabetical listings make finding essential information quick and easy.

Q&A 4 Quick Reference is the ready-resource for creating professional and easy-to-use databases; entering, editing, and producing written documents; file customization; step-by-step command sequences; and Q&A's extensive search and update capabilities.

Harvard Graphics 3 Quick Reference

By: Que Development Group

$9.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-887-3; 146 pp.

Paradox 3.5 Quick Reference

By: Que Development Group

$9.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-824-5; 150 pp.

Q&A 4 Quick Reference

By: Que Development Group

$9.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-828-8; 150 pp.

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Personal computer users seeking advice about PC-File and Norton Utilities will certainly benefit from the most recent expansion of Que's Using series of computer books.

Using PC-File

This shareware database package is explained in full-featured detail in Using PC-File. Whether users need to compile figures for accounts, names for mailing and membership lists, personnel records, or inventory, Using PC-File enables them to build databases right away.

Beginning and intermediate PC users will rind this combination how-to/reference book handy in learning how to compose personalized mailing lists and other flat file databases; import and export PC-File databases with dBASE, Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect, and others; create bar, line, scatter, and pie charts; and create macros with PC-File's smart keys.

Using PC-File also takes users beyond the basics so that they can generate reports, produce form letters and labels, edit databases, and automate tasks with timesaving macros. This focused, goal-oriented guide's building block approach speeds up the learning process, and soon users are managing information with PC-File like a professional. A quick reference guide included in Using PC-File provides essential information at a glance.

Using Norton Utilities 6

Protecting and recovering data is important in today's busy, high-tech world. Norton Utilities 6 is a program designed to do just that, and Using Norton Utilities 6 is an in-depth guide that shows beginning and intermediate PC users how to implement the software on their computers.

Easy-to-follow text leads users expertly through the latest power-boosting features of Norton Utilities 6 and Norton Commander. Users learn the fundamentals and commands of NDOS--a quick, enhanced version of DOS-- and how it can make data storage more reliable, safer, and better organized. Using Norton Utilities 6 also shows users how to lake good care of the hard disk--increasing safely, speed, and efficiency.

Practical examples and step-by-step instructions help users find and restore lost files, navigate directories, and respond effectively to DOS error messages. Using Norton Utilities 6 teaches users how to prevent accidental formatting, create and use menus to speed up program access, link to MCI Mail to send paper and electronic mail, and master Commander's menus and on-screen graphics. Plus, comprehensive reference sections make all DOS, NDOS, and Norton Utilities commands easy to find!

Using PC-File

Trudi Reisner

$24.95 US; ISBN 0-88022-695-1; 408 pp.

Using Norton Utilities 6

Alan C. Elliott

$24.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-861-X; 627 pp.

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Taxpayers of all income levels can benefit from computerizing their tax returns. Using TurboTax, Tax Advice & Planning: 1992 Edition, eases that all-too-common tax season pain.

Using TurboTax: 1992 Edition is packed with money-saving tax advice and practical examples. It helps guide taxpayers through filing tax returns without wasting time, and provides professional CPA advice that enables users to find all the appropriate tax deductions to which they're entitled.

This book expertly guides users through the powerful TurboTax software. During this tour, users learn how to select, collect, and enter vital tax information; how to prepare, calculate and print an IRS-approved lax return; and how to plan for next year's tax returns. Using TurboTax: 1992 Edition also offers valuable information about calculating depreciation and amortization for accurate lax returns, and offers insightful answers to "What if..." tax questions.

Using TurboTax, Tax Advice & Planning: 1992 Edition

Linda A. Flanders; $19.95 US; ISBN: 0-88022-839-3; 529 pp.

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C Programmer's Toolkit, 2nd Edition, is a code-intensive book and disk set that clearly explains hundreds of useful and expanded functions not found in the ANSI Standard Library. With this book from Que, C programmers quickly learn to write powerful programs and boost their programming skills.

This all-new collection of ready-to-run subroutines gives intermediate to advanced-level C programmers The knowledge they need to develop their own C applications. They soon discover how TO combine, modify, and extend basic functions, and apply new programming Techniques and tips for designing more versatile, generic functions. C Programmer's Toolkit, 2nd Edition, is a task-oriented guide that helps programmers exploit all the hardware and software support resources available for C programming.

C Programmer's Toolkit, 2nd Edition, teaches users how to design their own flexible library functions, configure and customize standard functions, maximize the development of menuing systems, integrate software interrupt routines in programming, work with numbers and string processing techniques, and write symmetric matrix functions.

C Programmer's Toolkit, 2nd Edition

Jack Purdum

$39.95 US (book/disk set)

ISBN  0-88022-788-5; 601 pp.

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Que, 11711 N. College Ave. Carmel, IN 46032

317-573-2500;  FAX 1-317-573-2583;  800-428-5331


New Rider AutoCAD & UNIX Books
New Riders Publishing closes out 1991 with the introduction of three new books aimed at AutoCAD and UNIX users.

AutoCAD: The Professional Reference

Serving the reference needs of all AutoCAD users, AutoCAD: The Professional Reference is a universal guide to the world of AutoCAD. It explores all the theory and background of AuloCAD's architecture and operation.

The foundation of AutoCAD: The Professional Reference is comprised of an alphabetical command reference complete with directions for accessing commands and illustrative examples. Users turn knowledge into results with the information in this one, multifaceted volume.

AutoCAD: The Professional Reference also includes tips about command usage and customization, so users' AutoCAD work exhibits efficiency as well as excellence. Each chapter of this book is designed to stand alone, so users can study only what they need to know.

This book gives users details on: the Advanced Modeling Extension; working with Model Space and Paper Space; using blocks, attributes, and external reference files; configuring and troubleshooting systems; controlling and customizing AutoCAD; and programming AutoCAD with AutoLISP.

AutoCAD for Beginners

The first source for new AutoCAD users is AutoCAD for Beginners. Now beginners can teach themselves the principles, concepts, and mechanics of Computer-Aided Design and AutoCAD. They Learn how to create and modify drawings and designs, apply drawing skills to their own projects, develop professional 2D drawings with more advanced capabilities, and work with AutoCAD's 3D drawing features.

All the most frequently used commands are explained inside AutoCAD for beginners. Users just need to follow the logical flow of the explanations and tutorials to walk themselves through the basics of AutoCAD. Covering Releases 10 and 11, AutoCAD for beginners is a comprehensive beginners guide to AutoCAD productivity featuring practical examples and step-by-step Lessons to make learning easier.

UNIX On Command

Boosting productivity fast is what New Riders Publishing's On Command series of books is all about. UNIX On Command is a task-oriented guide that provides intermediate to advanced PC users information on all aspects of the popular UNIX operating system. The convenient flip-card, spiral-bound format makes this book one of the easiest to use.

Starting with simple, easy-to-follow instructions, UNIX On Command demonstrates all the skills users need to become proficient UNIX users. Each page is full of detailed steps that present the commands--and tips, techniques, and cautions that expand UNIX capabilities. All vital elements are explained, illustrated, and then demonstrated step-by-step--so users know exactly what to do.

UNIX On Command teaches users how to: set up and customize personal workstations, access other users and information, manage and control directories and files, navigate the ins and outs of UNIX, and boost the power of their system-level work.

New Riders Publishing, a Leader in AutoCAD and operating systems book publishing, is a division of Prentice Hall Computer Publishing (PHCP). PHCP is a division of Simon & Schuster, which is a division of Paramount Communications.

AutoCAD: The Professional Reference

Kenneth W. Billing, David Byrnes, Jeffrey S. Hesler,

Robert Knight, Jeffrey Pike, William Valaski, Victor Wright,

 and Tom Boersma; $39.95 US; ISBN: 1-56205-025-7; 1237 pp.

AutoCAD for Beginners

Rusty Gesner & Jim Boyce

$19.95 US; ISBN: 1-56205-015-X; 539 pp.

UNIX On Command

New Riders Publishing & Rita F. Lewis

$19.95 US; ISBN: 1-56205-027-3; 198 pp.

New Riders Publishing

11711 N. College Ave. Carmel, IN 46032

317-573-2500;  FAX 1-317-573-2583;  800-428-5331


New Batch of SAMS Books
Novice personal computer users needing guidance about applications software often seek answers in Sams' First Book series of computer books. Four new books have been released this month. Topics include: WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows, The Norton Utilities 6, The Norton Desktop for Windows, and cc:Mail.

The First Book of WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows

WordPerfect tor Windows is the first WordPerfect word processor synonymous with user-friendly. With the release of WordPerfect for Windows and this First Book, beginning users have a combination that brings new meaning to the phrase "easy-to-use."

Following the typical First Book series format, The First Book of WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows is packed with real-world examples. It illuminates the easiest ways to create professional quality text documents. Expert step-by-step instruction from an industry word processing guru introduces users to WordPerfect's powerful editing features and customizable environment.

Users learn how to copy, move, and edit text; how to use tabs and columns; how to work With multiple document files; and how and where to add headers and footers. Through screen shots, tips, and notes, The First Book of WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows teaches users more advanced topics like creating and customizing style sheets, adding graphics to documents, and importing and exporting from WordPerfect. Users also learn how to speed up WordPerfect operations with a revolutionary Button Bar that streamlines common tasks.

Accompanied by productivity-boosting tips, The First Book of WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows helps users: change margins, columns, tabs, and page formats; perform power editing tricks including moving, copying, cutting, and pasting; merge text files and spreadsheet data; and customize the WordPerfect Button Bar to quickly access commands.

The First Book of The Norton Utilities 6

Norton Utilities 6 combines the most powerful performance tools for the PC, and The First book of The Norton Utilities 6 leads users through all the facets of the popular program. This combination quickly strengthens users' computer productivity.

The First Book of The Norton Utilities 6 combines brief explanations with tutorials for a great introduction to Norton's file-based, disk-based, and batch file utilities. Everything new is covered, including NDOS and the Batch Enhancer. Quick Steps lessons explain the basics, clearly showing users how to become more efficient.

Filled with illustrations, screen shots, and examples, this book teaches beginners how to: boost the power of the PC with The Norton Utilities, safeguard the hard disk with Norton Backup 1.2, manage disks and files, create powerful batch files, work with key utilities to bypass menus and dialog boxes, and protect important data and recover "lost" files.

After users become familiar with The Norton Utilities fundamentals, The First Book of The Norton Utilities 6 teaches users about Norton Commander, Norton Backup and Norton AntiVirus. In short, this practical approach helps users organize their daily tasks and enjoy safe, timesaving computer maintenance.

The First Book of The Norton Desktop for Windows

With The introduction of The Norton Desktop for Windows, Windows users can now add The same essentials to their systems. The First Book of The Norton Desktop for Windows guides these beginners toward timesaving and safe PC maintenance.

The First Book of The Norton Desktop for Windows teaches users how to boost computer performance. Step-by-step Lessons introduce users to each utility, so they can perform routine maintenance and keep the PC running like it should. Sporting a task-oriented approach, This complete beginner's guide shows users how to use the faster, easier file manager, The Superfind text and rile searcher, the Norton Disk Doctor, and SmartErase.

Users Learn how to: install the easy-lo-use Norton Desktop; keep organized with accessories like The Sleeper and Scheduler; manage Windows, as well as disks and files; recover from a data disaster and maintain security; navigate the friendly interface of The Norton Desktop; and design and implement new icons with the icon editor.

The First Book of The Norton Desktop for Windows helps users achieve PC expertise, in addition to receiving the best information available on Norton Desktop's disk repair and backup features. The book also includes information about the Norton Commander, Norton Backup, and Norton AntiVirus.

The First Book of cc:Mail

Tapping into the newest communications channels is easy with The First Book of cc:Mail. cc:Mail provides all types of computer users a unique and powerful way to send and receive messages, and this new book provides Quick Steps tutorials to help beginners master cc:Mail operations right away.

Users learn how to get started with cc:Mail; select and read mail messages; send electronic mail and multi-item messages; manage and secure the integrity of the cc:Mailbox; use cc:Remote, cc:Fax, and cc:Gateway; as well as build personalized electronic public mailing lists and maintain their support. The First book of cc:Mail helps users reach electronic mail productivity fast.

The First Book of cc:Mail gives users advice and answers on cc:Mail Gateway, so they can tie different electronic mail systems, fax machines, and other message services together. Plus, the book includes an administrator's guide to managing cc:Mail and shows users how to make it grow.

The First Book of WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows

Kate Barnes; $18.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-27343-8; 400 pp.

The First Book of The Norton Utilities 6

Joe Wikert; $18.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-27384-5; 372 pp.

The First Book of The Norton Desktop for Windows

Caroline M. Halliday; $18.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-27403-5; 256 pp.

The First Book of cc:Mail

Dan Derrick; $18.95 US ISBN; 0-672-27383-7; 246 pp.

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Beginning and intermediate personal computer users discover how to become proficient with 100 DOS topics after reading Learning DOS published by Sams. Offering a step-by-step introduction to the most popular computer operating system today, Learning DOS helps users become productive PC users fast!

Learning DOS covers MS-DOS 3.X, 4.X, and 5 and helps assess what users know and what they need to Learn. This text comes complete with a disk featuring a friendly Learner's Guide that encourages users to try out commands by asking questions and telling them where to find more information in the book.

Step-by-step instructions teach users how to: properly install and start working with DOS, examine and manipulate DOS files, work within the DOS 5 Shell, customize the DOS system with the DOS 5 text editor, and speed up operations with batch files. Users also Learn DOS commands and how they organize, examine, and manipulate DOS files, as well as discover facts about file and directory management, data recovery, and backup.

Learning DOS

Dan Derrick; $29.95 US (book/disk set)

ISBN: 0-672-30042-7; 459 pp.

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Excel for Windows, with its seemingly endless list Or capabilities, is a proven spreadsheet winner. Now Sams offers intermediate and advanced users a universal resource to this great spreadsheet package Excel 3 for Windows Bible.

This book comprehensively refreshes Excel for Windows essentials and explains the basics. Then users immediately Learn how to make easy Excel even easier. Users learn to identify the tools and shortcuts that are available, then put them to use. Excel 3 for Windows Bible teaches users how to get comfortable with the menus, Windows, and Toolbar so composing worksheets is almost effortless.

The advanced topics section of Excel 3 for Windows Bible shows users how to link worksheets, manage a database, customize and formal a chart, and use the Excel Solver to make calculations accurate. Plus, a Complete Reference section presents all Excel 3 for Windows' features, followed with step-by-step instructions, descriptions, reference tables, pragmatic examples, and tips and cautions for second-to-none performance.

Excel 3 for Windows Bible

James G. Meade, Ph.D.

$29.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-30092-3; 956 pp.

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Intermediate- to advanced-level programmers benefit from the newest expansion of Sams Programming Series of books. Two new Windows programming books are introduced this month, including information about Borland C++3 and Microsoft SDK.

Developing Windows Applications with Borland C++3

Windows applications development has reached a new level with Borland C++3, and Developing Windows Applications with Borland C++3 assists programmers in attaining a new level of expertise as well.

This combination how-to/reference book explores all aspects of Windows programming. Complete, in-depth tutorials lead programmers through concepts such as the graphical device interface, mouse and keyboard input, resources, and the use of dynamic link libraries. Users enhance their skills as they learn to add Windows memory management techniques to their programming palette.

Developing Windows Applications with Borland C++3 is filled with time-saving strategies that make programming sessions more efficient. Author James McCord offers complete listings of all Windows functions and classes, ObjectWindows functions and classes, and Windows printer escapes are also included in the text. Plus, users learn how to use the new Resource Workshop--helping users create and modify their software resources.

If interested, programmers can obtain a special sample code disk through an order form located inside Developing Windows Applications with Borland C++3. This book covers Borland C++ versions 2 and 3.

Developing Windows 3 Applications with Microsoft SDK

Writing Windows software is now a lucrative--although time-consuming--venture. Developing Windows 3 Applications with Microsoft SDK provides users with a ready-to-use tutorial and expert techniques that ensure Windows programming success. Author Brent Rector gets intermediate to advanced programmers up and running quickly with this complete volume.

Beginning with an overview of the Windows environment, this text dissects in detail each part of a skeletal Windows applications. During this portion of the text, programmers learn how to use WinMain, dialog functions, and the various source files. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of Windows such as display contexts, keyboard and mouse input, and dialog boxes. Programmers advance step-by-step through the process of writing their own Windows applications. Then when they are ready, they can perform more sophisticated programming operations.

Developing Windows 3 Applications with Microsoft SDK guides programmers and expertly teaches Them how to: write programs using the object-oriented Windows Programming Model and the SDK, create the different variations--including overlapped, pop-up, and child Windows, employ Windows' built-in control classes, define menu and dialog boxes within resource files, and build a personalized Dynamic Link Library.

If interested, programmers can obtain a special sample code disk through an order form located inside Developing Windows 3 Applications with Microsoft SDK.

Developing Windows Applications with Borland C++ 3

James W. McCord; $39.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-30231-4; 1362 pp.

Developing Windows 3 Applications with Microsoft SDK

Brent Rector; $29.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-22802-5; 1054 pp.

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Turbo Pascal 6, Turbo Pascal for Windows, and BASIC are the topics covered in the newest books in Sams Programming Series.

Turbo Pascal 6 Object-Oriented Programming

Object-Oriented programming (OOP) has greatly influenced the programming world. Now intermediate and advanced programmers have Turbo Pascal 6 Object-oriented Programming book/disk set to provide them with excellent programming strategies. This book/disk set covers Turbo Pascal 6 and Turbo Vision.

This book introduces programmers to the Turbo Pascal programming environment and shows them how to implement successful object-oriented programming principles within the language. Accompanied by a disk packed with sample code, Turbo Pascal 6 Object-Oriented Programming begins with a full description of Turbo Pascal's object-oriented components.

Users benefit from an emphasis on developing data structures and designing class hierarchies, as well as a unit which models memoby-based stacks of screens and screen queues. As they learn the ins and outs of Turbo Pascal 6, users also discover details on modeling generic data structures. Turbo Pascal 6 Object-Oriented Programming details all the major object types that are revolutionizing computer programming, like virtual arrays, hash tables, and many more.

Turbo Pascal for Windows Bible

Turbo Pascal for Windows Bible has the clear, hands-on instruction intermediate to advanced programmers need to become successful Windows applications developers. Programmers Learn from a structured environment built around proven programming examples and listings on a bound-in disk.

The book quickly familiarizes users with ObjectWindows, the language syntax, and other essential elements of application development. More complex aspects of Windows programming are then explored in detail, including memory management, Dynamic Data Exchange, Dynamic Link Libraries, and professional design considerations that make programming efficient and expressive.

While reading Turbo Pascal for Windows Bible, programmers learn how to create and develop Windows applications, program expert graphics with the Whitewater Resource Toolkit, design and develop personalized interfaces with ObjectWindows, share various object libraries with DLL, debug and fine tune applications, and manage Turbo Pascal for Windows projects. This book also includes a complete reference section packed with the information all programmers need to know.

Learning BASIC

First designed as an instructional tool, BASIC has expanded into a powerful beginning programming language. Now beginning and intermediate programmers are Learning BASIC quicker than ever before. Learning BASIC provides programmers with a powerful text and a fully functional run-time compiler called PowerBASIC Lite.

Programmers follow the logical text one step at a time; they Learn the components of the BASIC language and how they are used to build programs. Then they discover effective uses of numbers, strings, operators, and programming structures. After they become familiar with the fundamentals, Learning BASIC demonstrates standard programming methods that reinforce Learning. In addition, proven advice shows programmers how to effectively debug and troubleshoot their programs.

Learning BASIC teaches users how to write and edit programs with BASIC, become familiar with the BASIC menu system, write functions and design programs from "the top down," and detect and fix errors with PowerBASIC's debugging tools. In addition, programmers Learn how to manipulate numbers, operators, and data files.

Turbo Pascal 6 Object-Oriented Programming

Namir Clement Shammas

$39.95 US (book/disk sel); ISBN: 0-672-30221-7; 1042 pp.

Turbo Pascal for Windows Bible

Gary Entsminger

$39.95 US (book/disk set); ISBN: 0-672-30212-8; 932 pp.

Learning BASIC

Don Inman

$39.95 US (book/disk set); ISBN: 0-672-30007-9; 601 pp.

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The demand for digital communications and the many options for implementation have dramatically increased since the explosive growth in the personal computer industry. Data Communications, Networks, and Systems, Second Edition, explores the architecture behind digital communications and helps readers effectively manage the many communication options open to businesses today.

Organized as a professional reference with a hard cover for constant consultation, this book offers examples, illustrations, and suggestions for high-profile results. Readers get the latest information about government regulations, computer components, and the different methods of security, standards, and error control. Each chapter of Data Communications, Networks, and Systems, Second Edition, is written by an expert and includes both the basic facts and the in-depth material needed to keep professionals up-to-date.

Inside Data Communications, Networks, and Systems, Second Edition, readers will learn:

-- How data communications systems operate and what options are available.

-- The advantages and disadvantages of baseband and broadband local area networks, and PBXs as well as their various access techniques.

-- The forces shaping the structure and regulations of common carriers--and the latest laws and guidelines.

-- How modems, multiplexers, and concentrators operate.

-- The ins and outs of Integrated Voice/Data networks.

-- The latest security problems and proven solutions to avoid them.

Data Communications, Networks, and Systems, Second Edition

Thomas C. Bartee, Editor

$49.95 US (hard cover); ISBN: 0-672-22790-8; 442 pp.

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The Korn and Bourne Shells are the standard command interpreters for the growing UNIX system. Now a new series of books from Sams, UNIX Desktop Guide, explains the intricacies Or the Korn and Bourne Shells, giving users all the information they need to apply these performance-oriented tools.

UNIX Desktop Guide to the Korn Shell offers users clear, concise explanations that guide them through the concepts of these popular systems. Here, users learn the basics of the UNIX environment and how to use the Shells at their own keyboards. Information about all the features and facets of how UNIX works is offered, including l/O redirection, pipes, functions, and aliases. Making Learning even easier, UNIX Desktop Guide to the Korn Shell gives text definitions accompanied by examples and screen shots.

Written for beginning to intermediate UNIX users, UNIX Desktop Guide to the Korn Shell teaches users step-by-step how to adapt the Korn and Bourne Shells to personal computer work, build compound commands within the Korn Shell, implement personalized programs using the Shell as the language, construct and install shell scripts, and apply special tricks and techniques for UNIX productivity.

UNIX Desktop Guide to the Korn Shell

John Valley

Consulting Editors: Stephen G. Kochan & Patrick H. Wood

$27.95 US; ISBN: 0-672-48513-3; 455 pp.

Sams, 11711 N. College Ave. Carmel, IN 46032

317-573-2500;  FAX 1-317-573-2583;  800-428-5331


DaVinci eMAIL 2.0 Virus Warning
DaVinci Systems announced that a recent shipment of eMAIL 2.0 demonstration disks and 30-day kits may be infected with a computer virus known as Michelangelo.  Approximately 900 customers and potential customers were sent the infected disks.  Of these, over 600 were DaVinci resellers.

DaVinci Systems immediately notified its resellers of the problem via electronic mail and will mail a new set of disks to all recipients of the infected disks by February 6th.  DaVinci Systems also advises anyone who has received a DaVinci eMAIL 2.0 demo disk or 30-day kit between January 20, 1992 and January 31st, 1992 not to use the disks they received.

According to Bill Nussey, President of DaVinci Systems, "While there is only a slim chance of one of our customers contracting the Michelangelo virus from these disks, we wanted to take every possible precaution."

The Michelangelo virus sits passively on infected machines until March 6th (Michelangelo's Birthday) when it corrupts data on a user's hard disk.  FORTUNATELY, THE VIRUS CAN ONLY BE CONTRACTED BY BOOTING UP AN INFECTED FLOPPY.  Because the infected disks are not bootable, most users who have received these diskettes will not contract the virus on their machine even if they run the demo or install the software on their hard disks.  The only way users could catch the virus from an infected disk is if they inadvertently boot up their computers with the infected floppy in driver A while the drive door is closed.

DaVinci officials are still investigating the source of the virus. Although DaVinci's master disks are routinely checked for viruses, the virus software used apparently did not detect Michelangelo.  "We are now using multiple virus-detection products and insisting that our duplicating contractors also check for viruses", said Nussey.

The Michelango virus can be detected by Microcom's Virex version 2.l1 or later or by McAfee Associates shareware program VIRUSCAN version 7.9v84 or later.  DaVinci users and resellers can download VIRUSCAN from DaVinci's BBS at (919) 881-4342.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, DaVinci Systems Corporation is the leading independent supplier of LAN-based electronic mail applications.  The company's products run under acknowledged personal computer network and operating system standards such as MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, and Novell Netware.  DaVinci Systems is at P.O. Box 17449, Raleigh NC 27619.  Telephone (919) 881-4320, (800) DAVINCI. FAX: (919) 787-3550.


Accidental Empires - Inside Stories
ACCIDENTAL EMPIRES

How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions. Battle Foreign Competition. And Still Can't Get a Date

By Robert X. Cringely

One of the largest manufacturing industries in the world, the personal computer business, is largely controlled by social misfits with quirky work habits, questionable personal hygiene, little previous business experience, and enormous Junk food habits.

In ACCIDENTAL EMPIRES Robert X. Cringely, Infoworld's "Notes from the Field" columnist, details the high-tech success of a small, but colorful, group of mostly men from Silicon Valley to Armonk to Seattle. His scintillating expose shows how the technical hotdogs like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs accidentally transformed businesses and homes worldwide.

Cringely, one of the industry's chief followers, has been keeping the computer world honest by reporting industry secrets -- from revealing the existence of not-yet-announced products to exposing problems with bugs in software or glitches in distribution. For example, in 1989 Ashton-Tate shipped dBase IV with 3,000 bugs unaccounted for. Cringely thought the customers should know. He reported the travesty, sent Ashton-Tate into a tailspin and saved thousands of customers from computer disaster.

Cringely probes the psyche of the industry's great and not-so-great leaders, illuminating their personal and professional personalities. In ACCIDENTAL EMPIRES Cringely reveals . . .

* that Bill Gates, the billionaire chairman of the board of Microsoft, still clips coupons. He has gone, according to Cringely "from being the youngest person to be a self-made billionaire to being the self-made billionaire who acts the youngest."

* what separates industry front-runners from also-rans

* why IBM's days at the top are numbered

and much more.

Called an "informative history" by Publishers Weekly, ACCIDENTAL EMPIRES explains how one man's notion of putting a "PC on every desk, and in every home," became reality, largely because the industry's founding fathers were, and in large part still are, amateurs at heart. It is the amateur's eccentric devotion to the process and passion for the product itself that Cringely finds most in need of restoration throughout American business.

ACCIDENTAL EMPIRES

How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions. Battle Foreign Competition. and Still Can't Get a Date

By Robert X. Cringely

A William Patrick Book

Publication Date: February 18, 1991

Price: $19.95/hardcover, 336 pages ISBN 0-201-57032-7

ADDISON-WESLEY

Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867

617/944-3700


Stanford Graphics for Windows
Stanford Graphics for Windows, 3-D Visions' presentation graphics powerhouse, were to be officially released recently amidst overwhelming industry anticipation. The first "gold" copies hit the streets Monday, February 10th, and are available worldwide through all major software dealers and 3-D Visions' international distributors.

Stanford Graphics is the first presentation graphics software to combine data analysis power with the latest in Windows presentation features. Industry analysts and corporate customers are already calling Stanford Graphics a major breakthrough in presentation graphics technology. For the first time business, statistical, and technical users can view, analyze and present their data in one easy-to-use Windows package.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS:

Presentation - "Thumbnail" Slide Sorter, Outliner, Master Slide & Templates, Drawing Tools, Speaker & Handout Notes

Analysis - Curve Fitting, smoothing; On-screen data manipulation; Log, semi-log, and probability scaling; Over 160 graph types; Error bars and statistics.

Unique New Features & Capabilities

* 4-D. 70-trillion cell spreadsheet with full Windows DDE support, plus Stanford Graphics' proprietary DIL (Dynamic Import Link) to provide DDE-like "hot-links" to DOS spreadsheets and ASCII data files.

* Graphics Equalizer TM feature allows the user to move mouse-levers to adjust formulas and curves directly on-screen, to play "what if" with trends and forecasts.

* The Graph Gallery contains over 160 graph types, in 2D & 3D, all with sample data and tutorial definitions. Also included are unique graphs such as autoprocessing histograms, bubble plots, group maps, box-whisker plots, contour plots and Pareto charts.

* Intelligent Data Cursor feature lets the user simply point to identify and change data points. Move a bar or curve with your mouse and the data will update automatically in the linked spreadsheet files.

* Windows Clip-Art Shopper and MagiCORP slide service software included free, allowing access to over 20,000 clip-art images and on-line overnight slide imaging.

* Windows 3.0 and 3.1 support. This will be one of the first products to market which fully supports WIN 3.1 TrueType and common dialog boxes.

Stanford Graphics for Windows is priced at a suggested retail of $495.

3-D Visions Corp, 2780 Skypark Drive, Torrance, CA, 90505

(213) 325-1339, (800) 729-4723, FAX: (310) 325-1505.


Solectron Gets IBM Supplier Award
Solectron Corporation, a key IBM supplier, was recently selected to receive IBM's first Market-Driven Quality (MDQ) Supplier Award. While units of IBM have honored certain suppliers with awards in the past, Solectron and Zytec, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, are the first IBM key suppliers to receive such recognition from the corporation as a whole.

Solectron is a leading independent provider of customized, integrated manufacturing services to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the electronics industry.

IBM's award was established to encourage quality improvement among IBM's supplier base and is modeled after IBM's internal MDQ Award and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for excellence in quality management. Solectron is a 1991 Baldrige Award winner. The company was chosen from a group of 19 suppliers nominated this past summer by individual IBM locations and will be formally presented with the award in early February.

Albert J. Cicman, IBM director of worldwide procurement, said, "A key ingredient of IBM's six sigma defect elimination plan is to establish and maintain a set of suppliers capable of providing parts, sub-assemblies, products and services of the highest quality. We congratulate Solectron and Zytec for being an integral part of IBM's supplier strategy."

'We appreciate and value the recognition from IBM and we will strive to continue to provide the highest quality products and services to IBM and all of our customers," said Dr. Ko Nishimura, Solectron's president and co-chief executive officer. "Solectron's strong commitment toward the process of continuous improvement of quality programs at all employee levels is exemplified by our goal of achieving full six sigma defect elimination by 1995."

Solectron provides customized manufacturing for OEMs of computer peripherals and accessories, mainframe mass storage systems, engineering workstations, and portable personal computers, as well as telecommunication, medical diagnostic, avionics, and industrial electronics. Company services are provided on either a consignment or turnkey basis and involve strategic arrangements with customers where close interaction to meet schedules and quality requirements is necessary. Solectron's electronic assembly services primarily involve the manufacture of complex printed circuit boards using surface mount (SMT) and pin-through-hole (PTH) interconnection technologies, and the testing and assembly of electronics subsystems and systems. Solectron also provides other manufacturing services, including flexible cable assembly, refurbishment, disk duplication and packaging services, remanufacturing, testing and board design.

Solectron emphasizes high quality, customized manufacturing, providing surface mount and turnkey assembly. Solectron has accumulated a total of 41 superior service and quality awards, from customers such as Apple Computer, Applied Materials, Conner Peripherals, Exabyte, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Librex, Sun Microsystems, and Xerox Corporation. Solectron employs approximately 2,600 people and its domestic facilities occupy over 675,000 square feet in eight buildings centered around its headquarters at 2001 Fortune Drive., San Jose, California. Solectron opened its first overseas manufacturing site in Penang, Malaysia in June of 1991.

Solectron Corporation 2001 Fortune Drive, San Jose, CA 95131

(408) 942-1943    FAX (408) 262-3973


FlashXGA Accelerated Graphics
Video Dynamics, Inc. announced an upgraded version of their FlashXGA Accelerated Graphics Adapter for IBM PC/ATs and compatibles. Previously based on a combination of a dumb CRT controller plus the company's own bus-mastering hardware coprocessor, Video Dynamics has now replaced the FlashXGA's CRTC with an S3 GUI accelerator, to create an ultra-high performance PC/AT display adapter optimized for complex graphical and multi-media applications.

According to Mark Potts, President of Video Dynamics, the decision to incorporate the S3 accelerator was driven by the search for maximum performance: "The S3 chip is without a doubt the best current solution for hardware acceleration of local graphics functions such as on-screen bitblts, line drawing, color fills, etc. In combination with our own hardware bus-mastering coprocessor to speed operations to and from system memory, we are able achieve the ultimate in performance acceleration for the widest range of PC graphics applications."

The S3 GUI accelerator implements local hardware graphic drawing functions including bitblt, line draw, image transfer, hardware clipping, etc. Video Dynamics' configurable coprocessor enables the FlashXGA board to perform a further extendable range of hardware accelerated graphics functions. Like IBM's XGA Extended Graphics Array for the PS/2, the Video Dynamic's FlashXGA coprocessor operates in hardware bus-mastering mode. As a hardware bus master, the FlashXGA coprocessor is able to perform operations in both video display memory and in system memory. This capability is important for many graphical applications such as Windows, which frequently require graphics functions to be performed in and between system memory and video display memory.

Video Dynamics has also developed a proprietary bus-mastering "fly-by" transfer mode for their new FlashXGA board, which can almost double the effective transfer speed of the PC/AT bus for a variety of operations. Using the proprietary transfer mode, pixel data can be read from system memory and written to video display memory in a single bus cycle, rather than requiring the memory read cycle followed by bus write cycle needed with conventional, non-bus-mastering display boards. The company is currently exploiting this technique to implement high performance drivers for advanced GUI environments such as Microsoft's Windows 3.1 multi-media extensions.

Video Dynamics' new FlashXGA Accelerated Graphics Adapter comes as standard with a megabyte of Video RAM, and supports all display resolutions up to 1024 x 768 non-interlaced with 256 simultaneous colors (from a palette of 262,144). In addition at 640 x 480 resolution the board also supports the IBM XGA 16-bit color format for direct display of 65,536 simultaneous colors plus 15-bit TARGA format for 32,768 colors. Monitor refresh rate is programmable to 72Hz for ergonomic flicker-free operation. FlashXGA is supplied with accelerated drivers for popular software applications including AutoCAD Release 10 and 11, Microsoft Windows 3.0, Digital Research GEM, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Word, Ventura Publisher, and WordPerfect.

The new FlashXGA board is shipping now at a suggested retail price of $599 in a full one megabyte VRAM configuration. Further product information plus OEM and reseller pricing is available from Video Dynamics, Inc., 1550 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, phone 1-800/243 FLASH (1-800/243 3527).

Founded in 1990, Video Dynamics, Inc. is a manufacturer of high performance video display, graphical accelerator, and multi-media systems for IBM PCs and compatibles. The company is based in San Francisco, California and is privately held.


DPT SCSI Disk Mirroring (RAID)
Distributed Processing Technology (DPT) has started shipping a unique hardware-based disk mirroring option that offers significant advantages over traditional software-based disk mirroring schemes. DPT's SCSI Disk Mirroring, a RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) Level 1 technology, is offered as an option for its SmartCache Plus SCSI controllers. DPT's RAID 1 solution offers 100% data redundancy and in the event of a drive failure, allows the system to continue running without suffering the performance degradation introduced by other levels of RAID.

The DPT SCSI Disk Mirroring option, coupled with DPT's proven caching technology, is designed to deliver Optimized Fault Tolerance (OFT) in environments that require the highest in disk availability, reliability, and performance. "LAN managers no longer have to choose between reliability and performance, DPT now provides both," says DPT marketing director David Race. Typical applications include single user workstations, local area networks (LANs), multiuser systems, large data processing operations, or any other mission-critical application.

DPT's hardware-based disk mirroring solution, coupled with its intelligent SmartCache Plus SCSI controller, offers the following advantages over traditional software-based implementations:

* Optimized Read Performance

* Enhanced Write Performance

* Operating System Independence

"DPT has optimized read performance in three ways," says Race. "A feature called Seek Closest Cylinder (SCC) directs a read request to the disk which can supply the requested data fastest. Also, while data is being retrieved from one drive, DPT's intelligent SmartCache Plus SCSI controller performs background look-ahead reads on the mirrored drive. And, a load-balancing algorithm distributes the read requests evenly across the mirrored drives ensuring optimized read performance because each of the mirrored drives reads data at the same time."

Traditional software-based mirroring implementations hamper system performance because the operating system must perform all write operations twice. DPT's SCSI Disk Mirroring solution only requires a single write operation and enhances overall write performance by sorting the write data, greatly reducing performance hampering drive seek time.

Race says, "DPT's hardware-based SCSI Disk Mirroring is transparent to the operating system. It offloads mirroring overhead from the CPU and provides a mirroring solution for operating systems that do not offer software-based mirroring."

The SCSI Disk Mirroring option is compatible with all ISA and EISA versions of the DPT SmartCache Plus SCSI controller. It is available now at a U.S. list price of $800 and at an international list price of $960.

DPT is a private company founded in 1977. Corporate headquarters are located near Orlando, Florida, with a sales and marketing office located in London, England. DPT designs and manufactures disk controllers for a variety of micro and minicomputer systems and sells its products worldwide through distributors and OEMs.

Distributed Processing Technology

140 Candace Dr, Maitland, FL 32751

407-830-5522


LifeArt Super Anatomy Clipart
The LifeArt - Super Anatomy Collection, the fourth in an ongoing series of professional medical computer graphics from TechPool Studios, is now shipping LifeART Collections are professionally produced medical clip art created for use in desktop publishing, slide production, and animation. The illustrations are highly detailed images rendered in full color, which were originally created using Adobe Illustrator. A team of medical Illustrator, graphic artists and physicians guide the creation of each LifeART Collection.

The Super Anatomy Collection contains 158 newly created full color files and covers musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, reproductive, urinary, gastrointestinal and endocrine systems, plus special senses, external body views, regional anatomy, and joints.

The package includes a new versatile utility, the LlfeART Transverter, that enables the user to load the Images in any one of a number of popular file formats so that the clip art is compatible with most applications packages. The IBM/PC version includes EPS/AI, CGM, TIF, GlF, PCX, and WPG file formats. The Macintosh version includes EPS, PICT-vector and PICT-raster file formats. The utility converts colorized files into gray scale, line art and shadow art. Many images were created with sublevels of detail and the utility allows the user to ungroup images to reveal this detail without a draw package. This gives the package over 500 images!

The Super Anatomy Collection's retail price is $229.00. The package can be ordered directly from TechPool Studios for $149.00 plus shipping.

The three original LifeArt Collection packages, the Emergency, Human Anatamy and Dental Collections can also be ordered. The Emergency Collection includes CPR choking fire and child safety, trauma, symbols and equipment, emergency personnel, vehicles and scenes. The Human Anatomy Collection includes the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, the brain, heart, special senses and joints. The Dental Collection includes anatomy, dentition, procedures, orthodontics and hygiene.

TechPool Studios

1463 Warrensville Center Rd

Cleveland, OH

800-777-8930   216-382-1234


MultiExpress Remote Control Swr
Drawing on our extensive expertise in LAN, WAN, and mainframe communications, Multi-Tech Systems engineers have developed MultiExpress, a new, all-in-one communications software package. It lets you control your stand-alone or LAN-connected PC from the office, the home, or on the road.

Remote control -- i.e., operation of a host PC from an off-site PC, laptop, or terminal -- is a feature that improves productivity and gives companies a competitive edge. MultiExpress lets users access and utilize the vital information contained in their PCs no matter where they are, using a standard modem.

Along with remote control, you get traditional dial-in/dial-out operations, all in one easy-to-use package. And MultiExpress uses a variety of connectivity options. Examples include: Serial ports (8250,16450, and 16550A UARTs) Multi-Tech's own Intelligent Serial Interface (ISI) boards, and LANs using either IPX or NetBios.

And it also provides the most common file transfer and batch file protocols, including ASCII, ZMODEM, XMODEM, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, YMODEM BATCH, YMODEM G-BATCH, and KERMIT.

MultiExpress solves the age old problem of "Which datacomm package do I buy?" Because you only need this one program, and you may not even have to buy it.

As a special introductory offer, (from January 1, 1992 to June 30, 1992) if you purchase a new MultiModemll 2400, 9600, or 14.4K bps modem we'll throw in MultiExpress -- a $195 value -- absolutely free. Your Multi-Tech Systems representative can tell you more.

Multi-Tech Systems, Inc

2205 Woodale Dr, Mounds View, MN 55112

(612) 785-3500 * (800) 328-9717 * FAX 612-785-9874


GRiD APT/425se Personal Tower
GRiD Systems Corp. has introduced the GRiD APT/425se, the first system in GRiD's new Advanced Personal Tower family of microcomputers. The APT computers incorporate the next generation of PC technologies including a 32-bit Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a modular upgradable processor, as well as support for the Intel Processor Upgrade Socket and Multimedia PC (MPC) upgrades.

The APT product series offers the expandability of a "tower" with ergonomics that allow customers to easily integrate the system into their office environment. The APT/425se--like all members of the APT family--will support multiple storage media (floppy, hard disk and optical disks) and can operate as a departmental file server, network hub or gateway.

The APT/425se has a 25MHz 486SX microprocessor, up to 64MB of RAM, 8KB of RAM cache, seven 32-bit EISA expansion slots and five drive bays, providing the configuration flexibility needed to support up to 4GB of storage. The APT/425se will be available with a 240MB hard disk drive option. The system already has Novell certification for the latest release of Novell NetWare and will support OS/2 2.0, UNIX, the Santa Cruz Operation's SCO UNIX and Xenix and Microsoft's Windows NT.

David Claypool, GRiD's manager of desktop marketing, said that the new system blends processing power, expandability and the flexibility to run industry-standard operating systems with an excellent ergonomic design. The APT/425se's compact size--8 x 18 x 17.25--and non-smear vinyl finish create an attractive as well as powerful system.

"The API/425se packs considerable processing power, expandability and storage into one of the smallest profiles on the market," Claypool said. "We've paid close attention to protecting a customer's investment by utilizing a modular upgradable microprocessor and EISA bus, giving the computer compatibility with the vast array of Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) peripheral

"This system has the power, expandability and storage to operate multitasking and multithreading applications in any corporate department. The APT/425se's design meets the criteria for either a department or network server capable of supporting between 64 and 128 users. It also has the power and speed to serve as a single-user 'power' workstation, without forcing customers to accept performance tradeoffs."

The APT/425se utilizes ProChip technology that takes advantage of Intel's upgradable microprocessor technology. However, it allows the performance upgrade in a single socket, eliminating the need to add a socket. To further protect a customer's asset investment, the entire processor is housed in the unique ProSlot processor slot, allowing feature and speed upgrades to be included in the new system.

Users will be able to leverage future technologies without being forced to abandon well-established programs and applications. Additionally, the APT/425se's EISA configuration gives Fortune 1000 and government customers the processing power required for their mulitasking/multiprocessing applications.

Further investment protection is provided by the APT/425se's full Novell certification, giving customers full support for one of the industry's leading networking operating systems.

"We're dedicated to Novell as an enterprise networking system for our customer base," Claypool said. "Also, Novell's leading market share made it imperative for us to ship this product from the start with Novell certification."

The attention to ergonomic detail found in the APT/425se comes from GRiD designers who studied many GRiD desktop users and found that many prefer to stand the computer upright under their desks--like a tower system. Using this information, designers built a machine to fit between the desktop and upper shelf found in most standard size modular cubicles and that operates either standing up as a tower or on its side as a desktop.

The APT/425se (Model I) comes standard with a 4MB of RAM, expandable 64MB, 8Kb cache RAM, a 2.8MB 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, seven 32-bit EISA expansion slots, three 5.25-inch half-height device bays and two 3.5-inch drive bays. Model 240 comes with a 240MB hard disk drive. Both models can be configured for up to 4GB of storage and are available immediately. Model I is priced at $3,299 while Model 240 sells for $4,199.

Option include a 25MHz Intel 487sx math co-processor, additional RAM, future Intel performance upgrades and a line of GRiD's EISA peripheral products.


Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that employers may not discriminate against an individual with a disability in hiring or promotion if the person is qualified for the job. Twenty years before the passage of ADA, TeleSensory was helping visually impaired people gain access to the workplace with a portable reading device, called Optacon.

At TeleSensory we specialize in accommodating visually impaired individuals. We can arrange a custom seminar for employers to develop accessible workstations. Our products fit in a wide range of work environments, from standalone personal computer systems to a network of terminals linked to a mainframe computer. Marc Stenzel, Director of National Accounts for TeleSensory says, "With our equipment a visually impaired person can work in the same job, and have the same print and computer access as sighted colleagues. It's been our mission for over twenty years."

Today, TeleSensory's product line includes synthetic speech output systems, laptop and desktop braille output for computers, braille printers, video magnifying reading aids, optical character recognition systems and computer screen enlargers. All with the same mission: to provide effective solutions and support for the communications and vocational requirements of people who are visually impaired.

Reasonable accommodation is primarily one of modification of the job environment rather than changing the job.

TeleSensory

455 North Bernardo Ave, PO Box 7455

Mountain View, CA 94039-7455

415-960-0920,   Fax: 415-969-9064


On This Day V1.1 Event Database
On This Day -- Version 1.1

Did you know that Children's Day is the second Sunday in June? Or that November is Aviation History Month? How about that Willard Scott (NBC's "birthday boy") was born on March 7th, 1934? Confuscious was born August 27th, 551 BC? On This Day (OTD) can tell you all this and much more.

OTD is an event database printing program. The user tells OTD the date in which he or she is interested. OTD then reads a group of databases and then formats and prints the data for the specified date. Since the files are simply text files and the format is completely documented, you can make changes and additions using your favorite text editor or word processor. OTD will read an extra file if it exists so you can enter all your own personal events into a separate file or mix them in with the other data in the provided files.

OTD can handle dates in the Gregorian, Hebrew, Islamic, and Julian calendars. This makes it possible to specify Jewish and Islamic holidays as well as the ones corresponding to the calendar most of us use every day.

OTD can determine the day of the week on which the date requested falls. This enables the user to specify holidays like Memorial Day (last Monday in May).

OTD calculates the date for Easter on the year requested, allowing the specification of all the Christian holidays.

OTD calculates the phases of the moon, solstices and equinoxes, and flags lunar eclipses.

Probably best of all, OTD comes with a collection of data ready to use in the program. Upon registration, a collection of files containing data collected since 1985 (i.e. MUCH more data than the evaluation copy ... nearly 14,000 entries!) will be provided along with the latest version of the program and a collection of miscellaneous utilities we've found useful. Note that the evaluation copy of the program will handle any size database you may give it. We just do not include the larger sample databases until you register.

The documentation included with both the evaluation and registration versions provides many more details of the interesting things that can be stored in the program and the benefits of registration. For an evaluation copy of the latest version of On This Day, send $5 in US funds (refunded upon registration) to the address in the letterhead.

OTD may be used on any IBM compatible system. A hard disk is not required but IS helpful. It requires MS/PC-DOS version 2.1 and 128K of memory to operate.

The registration fee for OTD is just $25 (US funds).

The Software Construction Company

PO Box 160, North Billerica, MA 01862


Sitka PenTOPS & PenCentral
Sitka Corporation announced the availability of its new peer-to-peer, pen connectivity platform -- the PenTOPS and PenCentral products. Together, PenTOPS and PenCentral are the first mobile network solution for third party developers building pen computing applications. PenTOPS and PenCentral are immediately available from Sitka and can also be purchased separately through OEMs.

Sitka president and CEO, Deborah D. Triant, stated, "For vendors entering the burgeoning pen computing market, design issues are critical, especially pen connectivity. We believe that pen computing has spawned the need for a complete mobile network that provides users with the ability to instantly and effortlessly connect their pen system to any other mobile or deskbound system, at any time, from any location. Sitka developed PenTOPS and PenCentral to provide third parties with a platform that would allow them to build this easy-to-use, instant connectivity into their pen computers, applications, and systems. GO Corporation and IBM have already adopted our platform."

M. Kathy Vieth, vice president, tablet systems, entry systems technology, IBM Corp. said, "Our agreement with Sitka to license a pen-based networking solution is further evidence of innovation occurring within the industry that will help foster the worldwide marketplace for pen-based computing. BM believes that the availability of networking software technology solutions is imperative to the success of the pen computing industry."

"Sitka's pen connectivity solution, PenTOPS, is an important technology further enabled by the PenPoint connectivity architecture. It is available with the PenPoint operating system free of charge to OEMs, " states William Campbell, CEO of GO Corporation. "With PenTOPS and PenCentral, Sitka has developed a unique connectivity solution for networking on the go." Sitka's PenTOPS Networking Product Line

The Sitka pen networking technology is based on an architecture that will support easy-to-use, peer-to-peer connectivity between PenPoint, DOS, Macintosh, and UNIX environments.

The technology will be rolled out over the next year in two phases.

Phase one consists of PenTOPS client and the PenCentral server.

 PenTOPS client software, jointly developed with GO Corp., comes bundled with the PenPoint operating system for OEMs as a native PenPoint service. Via high speed serial port (LocalTalk), PenTOPS users can transparently access files and printers available to PCs, Macintoshes, and Sun workstations via MacTOPS, DosTOPS, and SunTOPS. Tablet vendors with a wide range of hard-wired and wireless connectivity solutions -- from parallel and serial ports to infrared, radio frequency, and cellular - will also have cross-platform connectivity via PenTOPS. PenTOPS is integrated with PenPoint's import and export facilities to translate PenPoint documents to and from other file formats such as RTF and ASCII. PenTOPS is also fully integrated with PenPoint's "Connections Notebook" and remote file system architecture, thus assuring a simple and consistent user interface for endusers.

* The PenCentral server was developed for tablet vendors who have requested pen connectivity via serial or parallel ports. PenCentral is a DOS-based server-only product that allows PenTOPS users to transparently access files and printers available to the PenCentral server via serial port, parallel port, and modem. Mobile users may take advantage of PenCentral in two ways: as a simple tablet-to-PC file transfer solution, or as a docking station to allow tablet users to access a corporate network. PenCentral supports multiple tablet connections to the server, and allows gateway access to drivers and printers on NetWare and/or LAN Manager networks.

Phase Two

Phase two of Sitka's pen networking products will include a full implementation of the OpenTOPS architecture, as well as an implementation of deferred I/O for PenPoint document transfer. An OpenTOPS-based implementation of PenTOPS will benefit end-users and developers in a number of ways:

* PenTOPS will support a variety of underlying transport protocol choices such as AppleTalk and NetBEUI. Sitka is committed to delivering the AppleTalk and NetBEUI protocols for OpenTOPS in 1992. The OpenTOPS architecture will make it easy for third parties to provide additional protocol support to suit the needs of specific computing environments.

* PenTOPS will support easy-to-use, cross-platform networking to additional hardware platforms and environments including OS/2, Windows, and Windows for Pen Computing.

* PenTOPS will support direct tablet-to-tablet file sharing.

Pricing and Availability

PenCentral is available to OEMs now directly from Sitka.

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Sitka Corporation announced a new developer's program to provide networking tools and support for third party developers building pen-based applications. These tools for developers are based on Sitka's PenTOPS family of mobile networking products which is comprised of PenTOPS, and the recently announced PenCentral.

PenTOPS, the client component of Sitka's pen-based networking family, was jointly developed by Sitka and GO Corporation and is bundled with GO's PenPoint operating system. Sitka also announced today that International Business Machines (IBM) has licensed the PenCentral networking software technology. PenCentral is the first networking server product available to connect pen computers with DOS-based PCs via parallel port, serial port, or modem.

The developer program focuses on several key factors in providing pen application developers with networking development tools. "The key to the mobile computing market will be ease of use," said Deborah Triant, Sitka's president and CEO. "Successful networking will have to be part of a total mobile computing solution, and, therefore, will have to be transparent -- built into the hardware platform or software application. Our new program will provide developers with the tools they need to build networking directly into their pen-based products."

Third party developers can sign up for the Sitka Developer Program and receive a Software Developer's Toolkit (SDK) containing: documented connectivity APIs for PenPoint; sample code; access to a technical support hotline; periodic technical updates; and a copy of PenCentral server software. This is the first phase of a comprehensive developer's program which will ultimately incorporate development tools based on all of Sitka's cross-platform networking products.

Sitka, a pioneer in the cross-platform, peer-to-peer networking market, is uniquely positioned for the pen computing arena. "With Sitka's networking framework already in place, developers will not need to reinvent the wheel'," said George Fan, Sitka's pen product manager, who is heading the developer's program. "In addition, developers will be able to count on Sitka's pen networking products as the de facto standard, as demonstrated by IBM's licensing Sitka's PenCentral server technology, and GO Corporation jointly developing and bundling the PenTOPS client networking."

"The mobile computing market is expected to boom," noted Deborah Triant. "With networking solutions already in place for workstations, PCs, Macintoshes, and tablets, the market for mobile computing networking solutions is wide open. We anticipate that with the combination of our PenTOPS products, supported by our developer's program, Sitka will lead the way in mobile computing networking."

For more information about the developer's program, please contact: George Fan, pen product manager, 510/769-9669.

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Sitka Corporation announced that International Business Machines (IBM) has licensed its PenCentral networking software technology. PenCentral, also announced today, is the first networking server technology available to connect pen computers with DOS-based PCs via parallel port, serial port, or modem.

Last year, Sitka and GO Corporation jointly developed PenTOPS, the client version of its pen-based network offering, which is bundled with every copy of GO's PenPoint operating system. Together, PenCentral and PenTOPS provide robust, seamless connectivity for mobile computer users needing to access and share files.

M. Kathy Vieth, vice president, tablet systems, entry systems technology, IBM Corp. said, "Our agreement with Sitka to license a pen-based networking solution is further evidence of innovation occurring within the industry that will help foster the worldwide marketplace for pen-based computing. IBM believes that the availability of networking software technology solutions is imperative to the success of the pen computing industry."

"PenCentral is a very significant announcement for Sitka and for all third party developers building pen-based products," states Deborah Triant, president and CEO, of Sitka. "Today's agreement with IBM, coupled with last year's technology agreement with GO Corp., puts Sitka in the unique position of setting the standard for easy-to-use, cross platform, peer-to-peer networking solutions for the pen computing marketplace."

Third party pen-based developers interested in an integrated networking solution, can contact George Fan, pen product marketing manager, at 510/769-9669, for more information on the company's new pen developer's program.

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Sitka, 950 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501

510-769-9669


QuickMail for MHS
CE SOFTWARE HOLDINGS, INC. announced QuickMail for MHS (Message Handling Services). QuickMail for MHS will allow the more than two million users attached to Novell networks, utilizing NetWare MHS, similar functionality and flexibility already enjoyed by nearly half a million QuickMail users worldwide. MacWeek recently estimated that NetWare MHS is the messaging engine for about 65% of the PC mail market. The NetWare MHS end-users' experience will be enhanced by the full featured, easy-to-use QuickMail interface and the comprehensive services offered by NetWare MHS.

Kanwal Rekhi, Executive Vice President of Novell and General Manager of the Interoperability Systems Group said, "We are very excited that CE Software is developing their market-leading E-mail package, QuickMail, to run natively with NetWare MHS. Our customers have been asking for native NetWare MHS support for the Macintosh and now users of QuickMail for MHS will gain transparent access to the more than 120 commercial applications which use NetWare MHS."

'We are pleased to announce our strategic support of MHS," said Richard Skeie, President and CEO of CE Software, Inc. "As we strive to improve our customers' computing environments, it's a natural progression for QuickMail to support NetWare MHS. NetWare users should benefit handsomely from the combination of QuickMail functionality and Novell NetWare MHS services."

CE Software

1801 Industrial Circle, PO box 65580

West Demoines, IA 50265

515-224-1995


Shiva NetWorld Report
Shiva Joins Novell Technical Support Alliance

At Networld, Shiva Corporation will announce joining Novell, Inc., and other computer industry leaders as a member of the Technical Support Alliance (TSA), which gives customers coordinated post-sales support for multivendor computing environments. Novell's choice of Shiva as a technical alliance partner was a result of an extensive survey of the large NetWare user base. TSA members include 30 leading companies such as Apple, Borland, Digital Equipment Corporation, Microsoft and others. For more details, see the enclosed press release.

Network Discussion Groups

Throughout the show, Shiva will host a series of discussion groups on issues surrounding dial-in network access. The groups of network managers -over 100 in all will air their views, led by Dr. Eric Almquist, general manager of Decision Research Corporation and Lori Underhill, also of DRC. To keep the ideas flowing, Shiva also invited industry experts who will act as discussion catalysts. For information about trends that emerge in the discussion groups, contact Criswell Communications after Networld.

Shiva Booth Demonstrations

Shiva Corporation (booth #3624) will demonstrate a variety of dial-in solutions for PC and Macintosh vendor environments, along with its popular FastPath 5 LocalTalk-to-Ethernet router.

NetModem/E

Shiva will demonstrate the award-winning NetModem/E, the only dial-in networking product that gives PC users transparent access to Novell NetWare network data and services, even using graphical programs like Lotus Notes and Windows. The NetModem/E supports Novell's IPX and AppleTalk, so PC and Macintosh users can dial into a network and access resources as if they were local nodes. Other features include shared dial-out and network-to-network routing.

The demonstration setup in Shiva's booth includes NetWare 3.11 running on a Compaq 386-33 computer along with the Mac NLM (NetWare Loadable Module). The network, based on a 10BaseT Ethernet topology, connects two Compaq workstations, a Macintosh IIsi, and Apple Computer's PowerBook. Both PCs and Macintosh computers can dial out to outside services and dial into the Shiva network in Cambridge, MA, through a NetModem/E. The NetModem/E uses Shiva's dial-in driver, which is compatible with the ODI (Open Data Link Interface) specification from Novell. The workstations can all dial out through a single NetModem/E to Shiva's bulletin board or CompuServe, or dial into a NetModem/E at Shiva for network-to-network routing.

FastPath 5

Shiva's FastPath 5, the fastest LocalTalk-Ethernet gateway, and the de facto standard for Macintosh routing, will also be demonstrated with Shiva's new routing software, called K-Star 9.1, that is faster and uses less memory than previous versions. KStar 9.1 adds more support for SNMP, including support for 311 unique MIB objects. Version 2.2.1 of Shiva Net Manager, including a new management interface and enhanced diagnostics, will also be demonstrated. The Shiva Net Manager lets users manage all their FastPaths from anywhere on the internet.

AppleTalk Remote Access Technology Demonstration

Shiva is showing one of the first third-party demonstrations of AppleTalk Remote Access. The demonstration setup includes an Apple PowerBook running System 7 and AppleTalk Remote Access client software, a 9600 bps modem, and a Shiva hardware server and modem connected to an AppleTalk network. Using AppleTalk Remote Access and the modem, the remote PowerBook dials and connects to the Shiva server, and becomes a full node on the AppleTalk network. The PowerBook user can access file servers, printers, or electronic mail, as if he or she were directly connected to the network.

User Champions

Shiva salutes its User Champions from Polaroid Corporation, McDonald's and others in its booth presentation. Polaroid Corporation uses the NetModem/E in an automated identification system that stores digitized photographs, fingerprints and data on a central server. Clients in remote locations can access identification data using the NetModem/E - a transparent, easy solution. McDonald's Corporation also uses the NetModem/E, to give regional managers in remote offices access to central databases from anywhere.

Expanded Management Team

New management joining Shiva during the last two quarters include Bill Avery, VP-Product Development; Paul Chesterman, VP-Finance; Steve Van Beaver, Director of Customer Support; Ronna Alintuck, Director of Marketing. For more information, see the enclosed release.

About Shiva Corporation

Founded in 1985, Shiva Corporation is a leading supplier of communications servers and internetworking products. According to International Data Corporation (Framingham, MA), Shiva is the leading AppleTalk internetworking vendor, with 56% of the market.

Shiave Corp, One Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142

617-252-6300


Coming HoloByte Videogames
Armed with characteristic foresight, Spectrum HoloByte is excited to announce its entry into the burgeoning videogames market. Initial emphasis will lie on Nintendo's 16-bit Super NES and the hand-held Gameboy, though development is expected to eventually include titles for the entire range of dedicated game machines.

Overseeing the launch into the video-cartridge market is A.J. Redmer. Redmer comes to Spectrum HoloByte from Lucasfilm Games where he was Director of Development for such popular titles as "Their Finest Hour" and "Loom." He was also one of the principle founders of Maxis, the company responsible for the wildly successful Sim City.

Following is a look at cartridge projects currently in the works.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" Licensing Agreement

Spectrum HoloByte has entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures to produce games based on characters and story lines of the popular syndicated TV series "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Under the agreement, Paramount grants Spectrum HoloByte exclusive rights to create video-game software for the Super NES and the anticipated Nintendo CDROM player as well as games for IBM and Apple computers. Also licensed are Phillips/CDI interactive systems. Watch for the first of these titles in early 1993.

Wordtris for Super NES and Gameboy

Scheduled for a Summer 1992 release is Wordtris, fourth in the popular series of Tetris spin-offs. Wordtris challenges you to maneuver letter blocks either horizontally or vertically to create words as the blocks fall from the top of the screen into a well. Play by yourself or with a friend.

Falcon for Super NES

Spectrum HoloBytes's award-winning jet-fighter simulation lets you experience the feeling of sitting in the pilot seat of the awesome F-16 Falcon. Dogfight scenarios will challenge you to engage in combat with several MiGs at a time. Kick in the afterburners for blurry-actioned fun. Falcon is planned for Summer 1993.

Spectrum HoloByte, Division of Sphere Inc

2061 Challenger Dr, Alameda, CA 94501

510-522-3584   fax: 510-522-3587


Interopt Achievement Award in Educ
Computer networking has become mandatory in today's university environment and within this decade every university department will find new, imaginative ways to expand its uses, said Dr. Douglas Comer, Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Comer was one of the judges at the Interop '9l Conference held recently in San Jose, California, and the only judge from a university. The State University of New York Central Administration won the Interop Achievement Award recognizing outstanding internetworking in education. SUNY uses the Racal-Datacom Omnimux 9000 Tl multiplexer system for its multi-campus backbone to transport communications and Communications Management Series (CMS) network management to control and monitor the network.

"Networking started in universities more than a decade ago," Comer said. "Back then it was a curiosity, known only by scholars in science and technology. But today it is an absolute necessity throughout the typical university. Computer networking is becoming like the telephone once was -- a new device but a device which everyone discovered they had to have immediately and constantly available."

Comer said the ubiquitous nature of networking was illustrated when the new head of his university's Education Department stated that persons wishing to communicate with her had to use electronic mail.

"If a computer scientist had made that statement, everyone would have shrugged and thought nothing of it," Comer said. "But when the head of the Education Department says computer networking must be considered a basic tool of her work now, then it becomes apparent that networking has become a mandatory communications tool for all of us, not just the people in technical areas."

Comer believes the National Science Foundation has stimulated universities' interest in networking research by NSF funding Internet, the long distance backbone.

State University of New York is one of the many users of Internet. Internet will continue to evolve into the proposed National Research and Education Network.

During the next 10 years Comer believes computer networking will become as familiar to the liberal arts departments as lt has become to Science. technology and engineering departments.

The departments starting to use computer networking will be shocked at what they can do with existing technology," Comer said. "And my prediction is that as high-speed networking becomes more prevalent, many more uses of networking in a University environment will come into familiar use."

He cited examples of teaching in technical courses, where students will be able to do exercises on computer terminals with graphs appearing as they work. Real time teleconferencing will become customary. His Purdue students already can see demonstrations of music sent via computer network. He has a compact disc player upstairs and students can hear the music through their workstations downstairs.

As fiber optics increase the available bandwidth in people's homes, the entire concept of instruction might change toward courses at home, he said.

"If you can imagine a time before we had telephones, think how a business person then would have reacted to someone suggesting they needed a little device on their desks to help them communicate," Comer said. "But the telephone came to stay. We will see computer networking become that universal."

SUNYNET

Interop's award to State University of New York Central Administration noted that SUNYNet "is a comprehensive telecommunications network that electronically links 34 state-operated campuses and eight county-supported community colleges with each other and to the university's central administration. The network is oriented to provide data and, to a lesser extent, private line voice services. Applications include SUNY business administration, academic and research activities, software distribution, training support, electronic mall, and file transfers."

SUNY uses the Racal-Datacom Omnimux 9000 Tl multiplexer system for its multicampus backbone to transport communications and Communications Management Series (CMS) network management to control and monitor the network. The backbone provides a ring for 56 Kbps SNA, 128 Kbps DECNEt and TCP/IP, and 56 Kbps Doelz services.

"Anything a user needs, we can support on our physical network," said Tom Neiss, manager of telecommunications planning for SUNY Central Administration. "The T1 backbone offers a highly sophisticated network management system and meets our statewide needs."

Neiss agrees with Dr. Comer's comments. "Many of SUNY's campuses are well on their way to providing full LAN access to students, faculty and staff," Neiss said. "What encourages me most is that these services are being planned or provided in the dormitories. This is an obvious indication that LAN services are becoming new basic infrastructure support requirement at the collegiate level."

The network also provides services by reaching beyond the State University of New York. Currently SUNYNet has gateways to the: New York State Department of Labor for student employment job searches; State Department of Motor Vehicles for drivers license checks by the university's public safety officers and by the Student Loan Services; State Higher Education Services Corp. for tuition assistance inquiries; State Education Department for the Bitnet connection; State Audit and Control for accounting services; DECnet to SNA Gateway for business Administration; and NYSERNET for Internet Services.

Racal-Datacom is the global union of 15 individual companies in 10 different countries. The company is a leading independent provider of data communications products, systems and services. The firm offers business solutions for the implementation, management and support of enterprise networks from the desktop through local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs).

Racal-Datacom Inc

1601 North Harrison Parkway, Sunrise, FL 33323-2899

305-846-1601   fax: 305-846-3935


Intecolor Systems Integration Div.
Intecolor Corp. announced it has formed a systems integration division to provide custom designs, fabrications and configurations of its computing systems to meet special requirements for plant floor applications. The new division will offer a wide range of industrial computing systems and devices including industrial workstations, X-stations, monitors and terminals.

Intecolor's systems integration division combines engineering expertise and custom design capabilities and uses high quality system components to offer customers a timely, turn-key computer system specific to the plant floor's harsh needs.

"We ask our customers what problems they face on the plant floor, then provide them with a customized solution," said David Deans, president of Intecolor. "Because most of our competitors are unable to provide this depth of customization, our systems integration division is taking off at an astonishing rate."

The new division serves a wide range of industry segments including food processing, military, process industries, marine instrumentation, transportation, primary metals, utilities and other manufacturing applications.

"Our customers' varied and specialized environments often prevent them from buying computer systems off the shelf," said David Affolder, systems integration manager for Intecolor. "In response to our customers' needs, Intecolor now provides 'one stop shopping' for computer systems appropriate for most environments to systems integrators and end-users alike."

The new division will combine high performance computers with proprietary 14" and 20" high resolution color displays housed in rugged enclosures providing NEMA 2/4/4X/12 and IP66 protection. For explosion-proof applications, purged enclosures for NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) with heat exchangers or air conditioners are available.

Intecolor's optional computer systems can accommodate ISA, Micro-channel (MCA), EISA and VME bus architectures. Available operating systems include DOS/OS/2, Windows 3.0 and UNIX/X-Windows. Supported communications include RS232/422, Ethernet, Token Ring and ARCNET.

Multiple I/O is available utilizing the latest touchscreen technology, and other input devices such as full environmental keyboards, function keypads, along with mice and trackballs to provide customized solutions for specialized or complex industrial automation problems.

"We build our systems rugged from the ground up," said Affolder. "Each system begins with the operator interface, our industrial monitor. Then, we tailor a computing system to the customer's specifications and build an enclosure to meet the particular environment's needs."

Pricing depends upon configuration, quantity and labor. Discounts are offered for volume purchases.

Founded in 1973, Intecolor has pioneered many of the display standards in the industrial control market. Its complete line of X compatible products, workstations, monitors and terminals is available in a wide range of enclosures and resolutions.

Intecolor, 2150 Boggs Road, Duluth, GA 30136

(404) 623-9145. FAX: (404) 623-9163.


TDX 3480-compatible Tape Subsystem
TDX has just introduced its own 3480-compatible subsystem for the PC and Workstations.

This half-inch cartridge technology, if you haven't been tracking the progress of mainframe technology, has just about taken over as the peripheral of choice for data archiving, information interchange and mass storage back up. Nine-track tape drives are now in the minority, if they exist at all, on most large company's computers.

While IBM is seeing a decline in its influence in most areas, it is still the trend setter in the area of data interchange by virtue of its development of a the one cartridge technology that is programmer compatible with nine track tape. Because of this user transparency, the space saving 3480 cartridges are gradually replacing the bulky archival and backup open-reel media in most large data centers.

Since government and other large data centers are sources for most of the data that is sold, published or exchanged by computer users worldwide, the presence of the 18-track "square" cartridge is becoming much more noticeable these days.

In fact, during the past year or so we have received an increasing number of inquiries about these new drives, and our intentions with respect to offering them for use on a PC.

AS a result, I am pleased to report that we have just completed the modification of our software, and can now offer the drive as a subsystem for any ISA/EISA-bus 286, 386, or 486 PC operating under DOS, and soon under Unix.

Since the price for one of these drives starts at $20,000, you might question why anyone would want one on a $5,000 computer. The answer is this: its the only cartridge drive in existence that combines nine track compatibility, with high performance, data interchange and most recently, high capacity.

Since most cartridge drives, regardless of their read/write technology, trade off performance for capacity, the 3480-compatible drives now becoming available offer the corporate PC user, especially those in networks, a tape device that is usable for a lot more than just overnite back up.

TDX Peripherals Inc, 80 Davids Dr, Hauppauge, NY 11788

516-273-5900   800-842-0708    fax: 516-273-6476


SSI Buck Rogers Matrix Cubed
Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) today released BUCK ROGERS Matrix Cubed, its latest sequel to BUCK ROGERS Countdown to Doomsday. Matrix Cubed is designed with an enhanced version of SSI's award-winning AD&D gold box computer fantasy role-playing game system. Suggested list price is $49.95 and $14.95 for the associated clue book.

"Fans of the Countdown to Doomsday, will now be able to continue the exciting BUCK ROGERS adventure in Matrix Cubed," says Bob Lindsey, SSI Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "We expect the popularity of the first adventure to spill over into the excitement about Matrix Cubed as well."

Both game players new to computer science-fiction adventure games, as well as seasoned gamers will enjoy this new BUCK ROGERS adventure, Matrix Cubed. This expanded sequel to Countdown to Doomsday takes place in the 25th century after the earth's population has been enslaved, its natural resources exhausted, and its cities wiped out by warfare.

In this science-fiction adventure game the player must assemble a group of scientists in order to build a Matrix machine. This machine can transform the earth's resources into precious energy -- energy needed to save the enslaved earthlings. The Matrix machine is their last remaining hope for survival.

The game features multiple character classes and races, skills and levels. There are more monsters than ever before. Players encounter dinosaurs, gigantic robots, wasphoppers, man-eating plants, cyborgs and more. Players can also transfer characters developed in Countdown to Doomsday to begin the game at higher levels, with more advanced skills and equipment.

In addition, enclosed in each specially marked box is a chance to win a powerful 80mm Meade telescope, plus other out-of-this-world prizes like stellarscopes, beautifully illustrated astronomy books, BUCK ROGERS Role-Playing boxed sets and BUCK ROGERS T-shirts.

Strategic Simulations Inc

675 Almanor Ave, Suite 201, Sunnyvale, CA 94086-2901

408-737-6800


EDIT*2000 Rel 1.2 for UNIX
Computer Innovations, Inc., announced the availability of EDIT*2000 Release 1.2 for 386/486 based UNIX operating systems, including those from AT&T, Bell Tech, Dell, ESIX, Intel, Interactive, MicroPort, NCR, SCO, Solaris, UHC, Unisys, VentureCom, Wyse and others. UNIX SVR3.2, UNIX SVR4 and QNX operating system versions are available. A proven and popular programmers Editor under QNX, this release adds significant new capabilities, and extends availability to new platforms, notably QNX4, UNIX SVR3 and SVR4.

EDIT*2000 gives you advanced, windowing interface that supports concurrent editing of multiple files, as well as multiple views into files.

Undo/redo to multiple levels makes editing safer and more pleasant.

Redefinable keys let you personalize the system to your taste. A single keystroke invokes most commands.

Block operations include cut and paste (including across tiles,) write block to file, and word wrap. Special features for C and C++ programming include autotab, and find matching brace.

Finally, EDIT*2000 is remarkably easy to learn and use. You can learn all the basics of text editing quickly, and the index oriented online help system lets you look up concepts under a variety of names.

Contact Computer Innovations Sales (908) 542-5920 or 1-800-922-0169 for further information.

Computer Innovations Inc

980 Shrewsbury Ave, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724


Ventura Publisher 4.0 Windows Ed.
Ventura Software Inc. announced it began shipment of Ventura Publisher 4.0, Windows Edition on January 16, 1992. Version 4.0 is the latest upgrade to the award-winning desktop publishing package.

"Ventura Publisher 4.0 and its color extensions, reflects our on-going commitment to fulfilling the promise of Desktop Publishing by bringing advanced pre-press capabilities to the desktop," said David Hanna, president of Ventura Software Inc.

Ventura Publisher, long recognized for its advanced publishing capabilities, now includes client support for Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) of Windows 3.0 applications. It also features enhanced color support, including PANTONE's 700 spot color and 3,000 process color palettes. Other new features include a spelling checker, undo/redo, and search and replace for text, attributes and tags. In addition, Ventura Publisher 4.0 allows users to integrate Ventura Software's new color extensions.

"This new version, with its color extensions, provides the first one-vendor solution from scan to film on the PC," said Anne Galdos, director of product marketing.

Ventura Publisher 4.0, Windows Edition is available at a suggested retail price of $795. Registered users of any previous Ventura Publisher DOS/GEM or Windows Edition can upgrade for $129.

Distributors carrying the new 4.0 Edition include Ingram Micro, Merisel and Software Resources. Resellers-of the product include Egghead Discount Software, Softmart, 800 Software, Corporate Software, Software Spectrum, CompUSA, and GTSI.

Ventura Software Inc., a Xerox company, is a leading supplier of publishing solutions. Ventura Publisher is available in DOS/GEM, Windows, OS/2 and Macintosh Editions. Ventura DataBase Publisher, the software package that enables users to easily style and prepare database information for Ventura Publisher, PageMaker and Interleaf, is available in Windows and DOS/GEM Editions. Ventura Software Inc. has its headquarters in San Diego, Calif.


Free - See For Yourself - Video
Free Video "See for Yourself" provides low vision information

TeleSensory has just completed a brief, eight-minute videotape called "See For Yourself." It explains the benefits of state-of-the-art video magnifiers by interviewing low vision patients and simulating a patient's visit to a doctor's office. Its aim is to help over 2 million Americans who have a vision loss, many of them with age-related eye disorders.

The video introduces video magnifiers to low vision people and their family members. They will listen to firsthand experiences of people living and coping with vision loss. Activities that many people thought were no longer possible - like reading bills and newspapers, writing checks and letters, and pursuing hobbies - are all possible again with video magnifiers. Patients explain how insignificant the cost of a video magnifier is compared to the value of independence and privacy these machines provide.

Video magnifiers are available in a wide range of models. A solid state camera enlarges printed material up to 60 times and provides color or black and white pictures on the screen.

TeleSensory is offering "See for Yourself" free. For more information, please call 1-800-227 8418.

TeleSensory

455 North Bernardo Ave, PO Box 7455

Mountain View, CA 94039-7455

415-960-0920,   Fax: 415-969-9064


Intex Rescue Plus Utility Upgraded
Spreadsheet users who have lost or damaged Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets will find that recouping that valuable corporate data is much easier now, thanks to the latest version of Rescue Plus from Intex Solutions, Inc.

The new release, Rescue Plus, Edition II, version 3.1, now sports a full-screen menu in addition to its former command-line interface. The full-screen menu prompts users to enter the name of their damaged file and for other recovery options, making the entire process simple and automatic.

Rescue Plus restores lost, damaged, erased or corrupted files on a hard disk or a floppy disk. It also recovers file allocation table errors and even forgotten passwords. The program excels at recoveries involving a severe level of damage.

With this latest improvement to Rescue Plus, Intex demonstrates its ongoing INTEX SOLUTIONS INC commitment to the spreadsheet user community. Rescue Plus remains the only recovery utility to offer a complete set of tools for the Lotus spreadsheet user. According to a recent PC Magazine report, "Rescue Plus is the top performing file recovery program for Lotus spreadsheets and continually bests Norton Utilities."

Compatibility and Pricing

There are two "editions" of Rescue Plus in order to support the two different file formats of Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets. Rescue Plus, Edition II ($149.95, plus shipping) supports Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3.0, 3.1, 3.1 +, 1-2-3 for Windows and 1-2-3 for Sun, all of which are .WK3 file format. Rescue Plus, Edition I ($129.95, plus shipping) supports Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.0, 2.01, 2.2, 2.3 and Symphony, which are .WK1 file format. Edition I already features the full-screen menu described above.

The upgrade to version 3.1 from any earlier version of Rescue Plus, Edition II, is $45, plus shipping.

Intex Solutions Inc, 33 Highland Circle, Needham, MA 02194

617-449-6222


Assorted Osborne/McGraw-Hill Titles
FoxPro 2: The Complete Reference

by Edward Jones & David Nesbitt

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of FoxPro 2: The Complete Reference co-authored by database experts, Ed Jones and David Nesbitt. With this new complete reference, FoxPro users of versions 1.0 through 2.0 can take full advantage of everything this popular relational database program has to offer.

This information-packed book contains detailed descriptions of every FoxPro command, function, and parameter so users, both beginners and pros, can find what they need quickly. Jones and Nesbitt provide users with a clear understanding of the new features in version 2 including -- Screen Painter, Menu Builder, SQL access, and enhancements to FoxReport. The authors also include sections on programming in FoxPro and using FoxPro effectively on a network.

Packed with examples, screen displays and illustrations for easy understanding, FoxPro 2: The Complete Reference is a MUST for every FoxPro 2 user.

Ed Jones, author of FoxPro 2 Made Easy, has also written several other best-sellers covering dBASE, Paradox, and Excel. He is a consultant specializing in microcomputer applications and database design for law firms and government agencies. David Nesbitt is a consultant specializing in microcomputer application development.

$29.95       ISBN:  0-07-881688-2      819 pages

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Simply WordPerfect for Windows

by Kris Jamsa

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Simply WordPerfect for Windows by Kris Jamsa, author of two other best-selling Simply guides -- Simply DOS and Simply WordPerfect.

Written for the tens of thousands of new WordPerfect for Windows users, this compact book is filled with hundreds of illustrations along with short, clearly written chapters that will get absolute beginners on the fast track to learning this exciting new product.

By following the simple instructions in Jamsa's user-friendly format, users will soon be producing professional-looking letters, memos, and reports. Simply WordPerfect for Windows covers the most important features of the program including -- how to edit a document; working with the built-in menus and button bar; using the spell checker and thesaurus; using WordPerfect for Windows' online help; changing fonts to highlight important text; enhancing printed output; how to use frames and boxes; working with WordPerfect for Windows formatting codes; and a special section is included on installing the program.

Simply WordPerfect for Windows includes Osborne/McGraw-Hill's special lay-flat binding that allows users to keep their book open at any chosen page.

With this handy guide, anyone can become a confident user in just a few short chapters.

$14.95          ISBN:  0-07-881781-1      193 pages

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Harvard Graphics 3: The Complete Reference

by Cary Jensen & Loy Anderson

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Harvard Graphics 3: The Complete Reference by Cary Jensen and Loy Anderson. With this new book, both beginners and pros will have the most comprehensive and time-saving reference available that explains every Harvard Graphics 3 feature and function.

In Part I, the authors present an overview of working with the program's features and functions including discussions on creating a wide variety of charts, such as pie, XY, organization and text charts; importing and exporting files between Harvard Graphics and other popular software; developing time-saving macros; and mastering the new and sophisticated drawing tools for creating customized charts.

In Part II, users will find a wealth of information on creating effective presentation graphics with tips on making better charts, and advice on avoiding common mistakes. Part III delivers a complete alphabetized reference to forms and pop-ups. To round out this unbeatable reference, the appendixes include valuable information on installation, menus and tables, and how to effectively use Harvard Graphics with Harvard Draw.

Harvard Graphics users are sure to find this new book a one-stop resource to all their questions on Harvard Graphics 3.

$29.95              ISBN:  0-07-881749-8      672 pages

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PC Tools: The Complete Reference, Second Edition

by Hy Bender

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of PC Tools The Complete Reference. Second Edition by Hy Bender. In this second edition, Bender provides users from beginners to pros with a fast start to using versions 7.0 and 7.1.

Through step-by-step instructions, this new complete reference provides valuable data protection and recovery techniques that include -- how to back up and restore a hard disk, recover deleted files, recover accidentally formatted disks, repair defective disks, safeguard a system from viruses and much more. Bender also helps PC Tools users perform general purpose tasks, such as managing files and directories, composing and editing documents, organizing information in dBASE-compatible databases, transmitting faxes and electronic mail, scheduling appointments, and running Microsoft Windows programs.

All the features of PC Tools 7.0 and 7.1 are described in detail and are accompanied by a wealth of illustrations and examples. This new book is the perfect hands on resource for taking full advantage of Central Point Software's popular utility package.

Hy Bender, author of the acclaimed first edition of PC Tools: The Complete Reference, is an experienced PC consultant and trainer. He has been a contributor to PC Magazine, PC World, and PC Week.

$29.95                ISBN:  0-07-881748-X      827 pages

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PC Tools 7 Made Easy

by Bryan Pfaffenberger

Foreword by Michael Brown, CEO, Central Point Software

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of PC Tools 7 Made Easy by Bryan Pfaffenberger. In his foreword, Central Point Software's CEO, Michael Brown, has described this book as, "an excellent introduction to utilities and a fine companion to Central Point Software's PC Tools..." versions 7.0 and 7.1.

With the latest edition of this compact guide, users can quickly cut a swath through the complexity of this versatile program. Step-by-step instructions cover all the basics of installation, using the PC Shell, organizing a hard disk, backing up and restoring data, recovering deleted files, and much more. With its expanded coverage, the book discusses all the features a single-system user needs including -- managing DOS files and directories, securing access and protecting data from viruses, controlling memory usage, and speeding hard disk operation. Complete coverage of the Windows version of CP Backup and Windows Undelete is included, along with detailed illustrations and examples.

Bryan Pfaffenberger who specializes in writing for first-time users, is the author of more than twenty computer books. He is an associate professor in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia.

$19.95       ISBN:  0-07-881744-7      382 pages

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NOVELL NetWare Troubleshooting: The Pocket Reference

by Robert Scarola

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of NOVELL NetWare Troubleshooting: The Pocket Reference, a handy find-it and fix-it guide for all NetWare systems administrators.

With this little book in hand, NetWare users will quickly find the solution to common problems encountered while working with versions 2.1, 2.12, 2.15 and 2.2.

Organized to save time, this Pocket Reference lists error messages and symptoms followed by appropriate solutions that are guaranteed to get users back on track. The book is divided into six parts covering -- Systems Management, Printing, The File Server, Workstation Bootup and NetWare Shell Issues, Workstation Hardware, Cabling, and an Appendix of Useful Hardware Tools.

Plus, there's a special bonus -- this Pocket Reference has a lay-flat binding that keeps the book open at any chosen page.

Robert Scarola has been working with NOVELL Corporation and LANs since 1985 and is a Certified NetWare Instructor and Certified NetWare Engineer. He makes his living installing, troubleshooting, and teaching about LANs of all sizes. Scarola has written manuals, hardware and software reviews, and feature magazine articles on computer and LAN technology.

$9.95        ISBN:  0-07-881765-X           212 pages

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Osborne/McGraw-Hill

2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

415-548-2805


Softball Coach V3.0
Have you ever played for or coached a softball team? Is your son or daughter (or you, yourself) involved in Little League baseball or a school baseball or softball team? If the answer to any of these questions is "yes" or you are simply interested in keeping track of statistics for baseball or softball, Softball Coach may be Just the program for which you've been looking.

Softball Coach is a statistics database manipulation program for softball and baseball statistics. It can be used to keep track of the members of a team throughout the season or an individual player across multiple seasons. The built-in merge facility allows multiple databases to be merged together. This gives you the ability to have each season as an individual database and combine them to get lifetime statistics or keep each game during a season as a separate database and merge them together for a look at season totals.

Complete definitions of all supported statistics are included in an appendix included in the documentation.

The statistics that Softball Coach can track and display are: At Bats, Game Winning RBIs, Hits, RBIs, Slugging Percentage, Triples, Batting Average, Games, Home Runs, Runs Scored, Stolen Bases, Walks, Doubles, Hit by Pitch, On Base Average, Sacrifices, Strikeouts

In addition, the following statistics can be kept for each game played: Average errors per game, Date played, Home/Away, Average hits per game, Errors for each team, Opponent, Average runs per game, Hits for each team, Runs for each team

A report generating facility allows you to sort each player by any statistic(s) you like, filtering allows you to exclude players who are below a threshold in any statistic(s). Reports can be sent to the screen, printer, or a disk file.

Softball Coach requires MS/PC-DOS version 2.1 or greater and 128K of memory to operate. It works with either color or monochrome monitors. Softball Coach can be run on "floppy-only" systems, however, increased performance can be expected with a hard disk. Mouse support is included for any Microsoft compatible mouse.

There is no limit to the number of games that can be recorded. The current maximum number of players in a single database is 1024. This limit can be increased if it is a problem. We are working on eliminating it entirely so that you may have as many players as you have memory to store. Please let us know if this limitation is particularly annoying to you.

The registration fee for all this is just $25.

The Software Construction Company

PO Box 160, North Billerica, MA 01862


New ISICAD Network Mgmt Services
The new CADVANCE for Windows software package will include an industry-standard BASIC language for internal macro programming, announced ISICAD, Inc., the Anaheim, California-based developer of the package. The incorporation of this standard scripting language, common to many Microsoft Windows applications packages, means that users will be able to customize this computer-aided design package and automate routines using the same macro programming tools available with other packages in the Windows environment. This common language also eliminates the need to learn a proprietary macro language, as is common with most CAD packages.

The inclusion of this standard programming tool is part of ISICAD's strategy to make CADVANCE for Windows an integrated part of the Windows environment. In this environment, sharing information across applications is an important part of improving personal and organizational productivity. The company has previously announced that its new Windows version, expected to ship by Summer of 1992, will offer complete support for Windows interoperability features such as the Clipboard, Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).

According to Michael Upp, ISICAD vice president of marketing, "We are committed to delivering extra value to our customers by making CADVANCE for Windows the industry's most robust implementation of CAD in the Windows environment. The incorporation of this standard macro programming tool will help break down the barriers between applications and make CADVANCE a customizable component of larger solutions."

Broadening the Appeal of CAD

According to Dr. Joel Orr, prominent international CAD consultant, "The move towards standardizing on a common programming language in the Windows environment will help CAD make the leap from being strictly for the 'heads-down' drafter into being another desktop tool for the casual user. It will create a user environment that spans many applications. Users will be able to think more in terms of their work and less in terms of a particular application. A common programming language will undoubtedly also be regarded as a move in the right direction for vendors of add-on software products who will gain a larger market by it than they had before."

Market Situation

Macro languages allow users to customize applications software and automate routine or complex tasks. These tools are aimed at both power users as well as average end users who want a simple way to automate their routine keystrokes.

ISICAD's adoption of BASIC as CADVANCE for Window's macro programming language reflects the move of many mainstream Windows applications developers towards incorporating this same standard language as their own programming environment. This means that each application will present a common, consistent set of general-purpose commands, augmented by specialized commands necessary to access the program's unique, application specific routines.

Autodesk, Inc.'s Autocad, on the other hand, the main competitor to CADVANCE, utilizes a proprietary macro programming language called AutoLisp. Applications with unique macro programming languages present a steep learning curve and create problems for those who must learn several different macro languages.

"Many CAD packages are designed as if they are the only game in town," according to Yoav Etiel, ISICAD's manager of personal systems marketing. "However, we wanted to make CADVANCE for Windows a well-respected member of the 'United Nations' of Windows applications. This is an effort to maintain consistency between products in the Windows environment, where interoperability across the desktop is an important factor. We believe that users will seek out products that incorporate standard features, in order to leverage their existing knowledge and expertise."

ISICAD has licensed the BASIC scripting language technology from Softbridge Technologies, the same company responsible for the macro recorder technology included in Microsoft Windows 3.0. Other companies licensing this BASIC scripting language include Software Publishing and Wordstar International.

Background

ISICAD, Inc., is a leading developer of graphics-based, information management solutions serving a worldwide customer base that represents all major industrial and service sectors. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Anaheim, California, the company offers solutions for the UNIX, MS/DOS and Microsoft Windows environments. The company can be reached at 1920 West Corporate Way, Anaheim, CA 92803-6122, telephone (714) 533-8910, FAX (714) 5338642.


CCF-Cursors V1.0 for Visual Basic
Desaware announced CCF-Cursors version 1.0, a companion product to Microsoft Visual Basic, which permits the user to create and use custom cursors (or MousePointers) in their Visual Basic applications.

In addition to supporting standard cursor files, cursors may be created from any icon using the ICON2CUR.EXE conversion program. This program and two other sample programs are provided with full Visual Basic source code. Over 50 sample cursors are provided including the cursors needed to create an animated hourglass.

CCF-Cursors also features the CCMOUSE.VBX custom control. This control supports detection of mouse events (MouseUp, MouseDown, MouseMove and DblClick) for any Visual Basic control, including those that do not normally detect mouse events (such as text controls and frame controls).

CCF-Cursors is designed to fill two gaps in Microsoft's Visual Basic: the lack of support for custom cursors and the inability to detect mouse events in many controls.

CCF-Cursors lists for only $35 and is available now.

Desaware, 5 Town & Country Village #790, San Jose, CA 95128

408-377-4770


NEC Notebook Price Reductions
NEC Technologies, Inc., announced price reductions for its UltraLite SL/20 series of notebook computers and the UltraLite Cellular Workstation configured with the UltraLite SX/20 and the UltraLite III notebook computers. NEC also announced the availability of the UltraLite Cellular Workstation with the UltraLite SL/20 notebook computer.

NEC's UltraLite Cellular Workstation, the first totally integrated and fully configured product to combine notebook and cellular technology, can now be purchased with an UltraLite SX/20, the 4.8 pound UltraLite III or UltraLite SL/20 notebook computer. With three notebook configurations, mobile professionals can choose the optimal system for their needs.

Lower suggested retail pricing on the UltraLite SL/20 series of notebook computers and UltraLite Cellular Workstation packages will give users' added value and more portable options.

Suggested retail prices for all products are as follows:

Product                            Old SRP     New SRP

UltraLite SL/20                    $4,199      $3,799

UltraLite SL/20P                   $4,499      $4,099

UltraLite (SX/20) Cellular

  Workstation with P200 phone      $5,599      $5,199

UltraLite (SX/20) Cellular

  Workstation without P200 phone   $5,199      $4,499

UltraLite (III) Cellular

  Workstation with P200 phone      $5,299      $4,999

UltraLite (III) Cellular

  Workstation without P200 phone   $4,599      $4,299

UltraLite (SL/20) Cellular

  Workstation with P200 phone       N/A        $5,799

UltraLite (SL/20) Cellular

  Workstation without P200 phone    N/A        $5,099

The UltraLite SL/20 series includes two powerful notebook

computers, the UltraLite SL/20 and the UltraLite SL/20P. The UltraLite SL/20 notebook computer incorporates the leading edge technology of i386 MSL processing, extensive power management capabilities and a large capacity 80 MB hard drive to provide users with desktop functionality in a notebook computer. As NEC's first entry into the pen computing market, the UltraLite SL/20P combines all the benefits of notebook computing with the option for pen input.

NEC Technologies Inc

1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719

508-264-8000


TECHbooks Journal
Q: What is the TECHbooks Journal?

A: It's published 10 times a year.  The goal during a year is to cover every new technical book that's published and many valuable older books.

We also publish category collections listing every book available on a certain subject, like Emacs, neural nets, and fractals.

See below for what we consider "technical".

Q: How much does it cost?

A: It's normally $15/year, but we have it on special for only $10/year. How much do you make an hour?  If you find out about one book that saves you one hour of time, have you made your $10 back?

If that's not good enough, see below for an unbeatable deal.

Q: Bookstore A sends me a newsletter twice a year.  Why do I need yours?

A: Bookstore A probably does a good job of picking the fifty hottest titles.  For some people, that might be enough.  But from what we've seen of bookstore newsletters, they're not very detailed in their descriptions, they don't have very much depth, and they don't come out very regularly.

There's a book on the shelf that will save you hours of time.  But how do you know it's there?  We'll tell you.

Q: So what's that "unbeatable" deal?

A: On receipt of your subscription, we'll mail you three coupons.  Each coupon is good for $5 off the price of any single book you order, plus you get free shipping for that order and you don't pay sales tax. How good is your math?  (3 * 5) - 10 = 5.  You make $5 on your subscription.

The coupons are good for two years from the time of your subscription, and are valid on specials, closeouts, or any other special prices.  You just can't use more than one on a single book.  You can order three books in one order, or you can order them one at a time.

We guarantee that you'll be happy with the TECHbooks Journal.  If, at any time, you're not completely satisfied with your subscription, just let us know and we'll return the balance of your account.

Q: How do I subscribe?

A: Send your check or credit card (Visa, AmEx, Mastercard) number to us.

   TECHbooks Journal

   12600 SW 1st Street

   Beaverton, OR  97005

     fax: +1 503 248-6320

   Voice: +1 503 646-8257

We need your name and mailing address.  A daytime phone would be useful for us in case we have problems as well as an e-mail address.  Credit card subscribers remember to put the expiration date down as well as the name on the card if it's different than your own.

We will mail you out a receipt and your coupons when we receive your subscription order.

Please contact us for specific rates for overseas or first class postage.

Q: Why aren't you doing an electronic version of this?

A: The files can be massive, and the job of administering a large mailing list are pretty frightening.  The combination of the two, and what it might do to our system, has convinced us not to do an electronic version at this time.   We might change our minds later.  It's much easier to print labels, even with our cranky daisywheel.  We use recycled paper and soybean ink because it's easier on the environment.

We <are> working on the TECHNOID, our books database.  Now in alpha-test, this program will let you specify keywords and/or subjects that you're interested in.  TECHNOID will then send you information on those items as new books are entered.

Q: So what are technical books?

A: Computer science; applications (DOS, Excel, WordPerfect); user interface design; intellectual property and copyright laws; business books, particularly about entreprenuers or high-tech management; quality  control; physics; electrical and electronics engineering; mathematics, especially applied mathematics; writing in general and technical writing in particular; and even some fiction that's related to the computer industry in some way.


WizConsole Multi-line Term Emulator
Network Wizards has announced its latest product, a multi-line terminal emulator.  The WizConsole provides up to eight RS-232 based simultaneous and independently operating terminal emulators on a PC platform.  The WizConsole also provides printer logging, output timestamping and remote dialup access, along with other system administration features.

The WizConsole replaces eight separate terminals in the space of one and is especially useful in large computer facilities.  It can be connected as a console for fileservers, minicomputers, gateways, data communications and test equipment, or any other type of RS-232 based system.  Output logging and timestamping are especially useful in tracking system error and status messages.  The remote access feature allows dialup access to all eight system consoles from a remote location, as if operating the WizConsole locally.

Each terminal has separate scroll memory and can be set to one of six different emulation modes.  A split-screen mode allows viewing and operating multiple terminals at the same time.  Serial ports support speeds up to 9600 baud with hardware and software flow control.

The WizConsole is available now in two forms: a software package and multiport serial card, or a complete ready-to-use system.

For more information contact Network Wizards via Internet email to info@nw.com, by phone at (415) 326-2060, or by mail to PO Box 343; Menlo Park, CA 94026.  Please send a physical mail address so we can mail you our literature.

Network Wizards produces unique hardware and software solutions for the computer and communications industry.


SPA Copyright Settlements
The Software Publishers Association (SPA) and Discovery Toys, Inc., a toy manufacturer with headquarters in Martinez, CA, announced that they have agreed to a negotiated settlement of a software copyright infringement suit brought by SPA members Lotus Development Corporation, WordPerfect Corporation, Symantec Corporation, and Fifth Generation Systems, Inc. The lawsuit, filed in United States District Court in San Francisco alleges that Discovery Toys, Inc. operated illegal and unlicensed copies of the plaintiffs' software products.

As part of the settlement, Discovery Toys has agreed to distribute company-wide policies aimed at avoiding illegal software copying. Discovery Toys also has agreed to ensure that all illegal copies of computer software have been eliminated from its personal computers.

In announcing the settlement, Ilene Rosenthal, the SPA Director of Litigation, said, "We recognize that managing software inventories can be a difficult task. We are pleased that Discovery Toys, which also depends on intellectual property protection to protect its products, has implemented a comprehensive software management program." A spokesperson for Discovery Toys stated, "Discovery Toys is very satisfied with the accommodation with the SPA. Such an amicable resolution was due, in part, to SPA's recognition that Discovery Toys has independently begun its own software copyright compliance program several months before the suit was filed."

Since 1988, the Software Publishers Association has filed over 100 lawsuits on behalf of its members and obtained numerous search and seizure orders against businesses, computer dealers, bulletin board services, and educational institutions that have violated its members' copyrights.

The Software Publishers Association also has distributed free of charge self-audit materials designed to help businesses, government entities, and educational institutions manage their internal software practices. To obtain a copy of the SPA Self-Audit Kit and SPAudit, a software inventory management program, companies should write to:

SPAudit

Software Publishers Association

1730 M Street, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the personal computer software industry. Its over 850 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education software markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris La Defense, France.

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The Software Publishers Association (SPA) announced that 1991 marked the most active year for its anti-piracy activities to date. The SPA, working on behalf of its members, investigates cases of copyright infringement involving corporations, educational and non-profit institutions, commercial dealers, and bulletin boards.

Most investigations begin with a call to the SPA anti-piracy hotline (1-800-3887478). Information gleaned from telephone conversations are then reviewed by the in-house litigation staff. Depending on the strength of the information and the severity of the case, legal action can be taken using cease and desist letters, corporate audits, or Ex-Parte seizure orders.

In 1991, phone calls flooded into the hotline at a rate of up to 30 per day. Based on these leads, the SPA took action against over 650 companies. This included sending out over 75 audit letters and 561 cease and desist letters. In addition, 33 lawsuits were filed; 81% were corporate cases, while the remaining 19% comprised bulletin board services (BBS), training facilities, and schools. Also in 1991, the SPA recovered the largest settlement to date in an action against Parametrix, Inc. of Seattle. The company paid $350,000, plus attorneys' fees in settlement.

The SPA's Director of Litigation, Ilene Rosenthal, commented, "The SPA is keeping a vigilant watch on how its members' software is being used. We are encouraged that many companies in the United States are hearing our message and voluntarily taking steps to become software legal."

Illegal copying of software costs the PC software industry over $2 billion in the United States and $10 billion worldwide each year, hurting publishers and end users alike. Piracy leads to higher prices and less incentive for innovation.

The SPA also engages in an active public awareness and prevention campaign. To date, over 60,000 copies of SPAudit, the SPA software inventory management tool, have been distributed, 30,000 of them in 1991. This product allows an organization to take stock of software already installed on their computers in an effort to become software legal. Nearly 20,000 copies of a 12-minute informational videotape entitled, "It's Just Not Worth the Risk" have also been distributed. Lastly, the association maintains an active anti-piracy speakers bureau. Last year, SPA representatives delivered 95 anti-piracy presentations across North America.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the personal computer software industry. Its over 850 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education software markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris La Defense, France.


SPA Spring Symposium March 18-21
The Software Publishers Association announced its plans for the 1992 Spring Symposium to be held March 18-21, 1992, at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, Washington. Over 1000 industry leaders are expected to attend.

Keynote speakers include Bill Gates, chairman, chief executive officer & cofounder,. Microsoft Corporation; Paul Brainerd, president, Aldus Corporation; Trip Hawkins, chairman and founder, Electronic Arts; David House, senior vice president, Intel Corporation; Patrick McGovern, chairman, International Data Group; and Nathan Morton, president and CEO, CompUSA.

Over 40 sessions of interest to publishers of consumer, education, and business software will be conducted, covering issues such as distribution, marketing issues for running a small business, public relations, international, financial, and technical development.

In addition to the sessions, the conference features the annual SPA Excellence in Software Awards ceremony, to be hosted by comedian Jon Lovitz. Over 330 products are nominated for the 23 industry awards recognizing outstanding software products introduced in 1991. Winners are selected by the SPA members .

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its 900 members represent business, consumer, and education software firms around the world. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris La Defense, France.

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St Northwest, Suite 700

Washington, D.C. 20036

202-452-1600


Great Literature Library CD-ROM
The Bureau of Electronic Publishing announces the shipment of its newest multimedia title, Great Literature -- Personal Library Series. With the full text of over 900 classic works for only $99, it's a fantastic value for any researcher, student or literature lover.

Great Literature on CD-ROM contains the complete text -- not abstracts or summaries -- of over 900 classic literary works, including:

 31  biographies, journals and letters

 21  literary criticisms

 72  dramatic works

 32  historical documents

 75  essays

461  poems

199  fictional works, fables and stories

 10  religious documents

 27  science and education works

 15  accounts of voyages and travels

And Great Literature is much more than a huge collection of books on disc. This single disc -- which works on any PC, Macintosh or MPC computer with a CD-ROM drive -- also has:

o  Hundreds of color illustrations and etchings integrated with the text, many from original collector's editions or specially commissioned for this disc.

o  Period music performance excerpts

o  Powerful search and browse software that allows you to easily and comfortably read the text, and find any word, passage or quote in seconds.

o  CD-quality narrations by well known TV and movie stars (including George Kennedy, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier) that add to the multimedia impact of these literary works.

You'll hear George Kennedy's stirring rendition of Marc Antony's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen.." speech, and Dave Coulier's witty interpretation of segments from "The Witch Returns" in the "Tragedy of Faust." Or listen to Bob Saget's eery introduction to Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven." And all of this material -- text, pictures and sound -- is integrated with powerful PC and Macintosh search and browse software included on the disc.

According to Larry Shiller, CEO of the Bureau of Electronic Publishing, "Comparable PC-only products cost over $500, and do not even include the multimedia features of Great Literature. The fact that Great Literature works on both the PC and Mac with one stock unit is a dream come true for distributors and retailers. And it's surprisingly easy to actually read these works on the screen."

Great Literature is also the perfect companion product to the widely acclaimed Monarch Notes on CD-ROM. With the two together you have all of the critical commentary along with the full text of many original versions. And both discs share the same easy-to-use software. Great Literature is available now from computer and software dealers, distributors, and direct from the Bureau. Call if you are interested in a review copy.

The Bureau of Electronic Publishing publishes popular CD-ROM, MPC and multimedia titles, including U.S. History, Countries of the World Encyclopedia, Multimedia World Factbook, CIA World Tour, Between Heaven and Hell, Movie Database and Monarch Notes. For more information about Great Literature -- or any other commercially available CD-ROM product -- contact the Bureau of Electronic Publishing, Inc., 141 New Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054 (800) 828-4766.


File Express V5.1 Shipping
Version 5.1 of File Express is shipping now. Upgrade notices have been mailed to the users of Version 4 in the United States. US users of File Express 5.0 will receive upgrade notices in early January. Recent purchasers of File Express 5.0 will be upgraded free of charge in mid January.

International users of File Express will receive upgrade notices in late January. The price quoted will be the same for US users, $24.95. International users will be urged to purchase their upgrade from their local dealer. The upgrade notice will contain the phrase "Upgrade pricing may differ in some areas - call your dealer for details."

The upgrade kit, containing new diskettes, a 40 page Supplemental Manual and two gold foil stickers ("Upgrade" and "File Express 5.1"), are available from Expressware for US $14.95 each.

Major Selling Points: File Express 5.1 now runs 20% faster than Version 5.0 with enhanced ease of use.

If you have questions or need more information, please call -- 206-788-3774 (Phone) 206-788-4493 (Fax) or through MCI Mail at "Expressware"

Expressware Corporation, PO Box 1800, Duvall, WA 98019

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New Features - File Express 5.1

-Auto Dial. You can press <Ctrl-D>ial when viewing any record and File Express 5.1 will dial the modem using the contents of the field the cursor is on. This can be done while in Add, Edit, Quick Scan or in the Pop-Up Calculator.

-File Locking can now be turned off in the Setup program.

-Shell to DOS. You can now press <Shift-F10> and File Express 5.1 will shell to DOS from anywhere in the program. A nice feature with this code - it frees up all but about 10K of RAM for the DOS shell. File Express 5.1 is saved to expanded memory, extended memory or to disk if neither of the above is available.

-More Quick Scan fields. Earlier versions were limited to just 8 fields. This has been increased to 20. Data can be edited or tagged without having to display the entire record.

-Integrated Quick Scan, Find Records, and Add Records. You can now jump from one mode to the other with only one keystroke. Search for record while in Quick Scan and then jump to full screen record display mode and continue searching and displaying records or jump to Add mode from either Quick Scan or Find Records.

-Search in Quick Scan. When in Quick Scan you can press <Alt-S> to pop up a window that allows you to enter search criteria to jump to. If criteria contains the first field of the Primary index this is really fast.

-Define and save 9 different Quick Scan layouts.

-Define and save 9 frequently used Search criteria.

-Pop up the Field List window from anywhere in the program by pressing <Ctrl-F>.

-File Express 5.1 is completely DOS 5.0 compatible.

-File Express 5.1 is now Windows 3.0 compatible - it will now run properly in a DOS session under Windows 3.0 control. There's even an FE5 icon.

-New printer drivers (including Postscript 10pt Courier and ASCII) have been added.

-Formula capacity increased by 50%. (IF THEN ELSE)

-Advanced Totaling and Subtotaling of other totals

-<Ctrl-R> & <Alt-R> now copy fields/records from previous database's last record.

-Blank lines in Form Letters can be removed with new '.' command.

-Added an <Alt-S>earch command to Dedupping databases so you can stop in the middle and then later resume by having the ability to jump to a starting location. You can also use this for the ability to jump to something like STATE="WA" and then dedup until there are no more records where STATE="WA".

-Indexes build in 1/5 less time.

-Faster screen displays.

-File Express now remember the values of all increment fields.

-Selective Indexes. You can now enter selection criteria for records to be included in an index. This is nice for Quick Scan where you only want to look at records where STATE=WA or other selective type of items. Just create an index where only records that meet your selected include criteria are added to the index.

-Smart Indexes. If you enter a search string for a search that could be done faster if a different index were set to Primary, File Express 5.1 pops up a list of indexes that would work better. Selecting one of the indexes greatly increases the speed of the search.

-Automatic Field Spacing for Labels has returned.

-Duplicate Search has been enhanced. It now analyzes the comparison fields and recommends the fastest Index available.

-Lookup and Update functions have been speeded up by using the Primary index of the other database. These functions are now up to 1000 times faster.

-Format Reports. Print out a descriptive list of the fields contained in the current report by pressing <Ctrl-L>.

-Support for International characters. File Express 5.1 can now display accents, umlauts and other characters.


JOBHUNT for Job-Seekers
JOBHUNT by Scope International, is a computer program that helps job-seekers find jobs, and career services increase their revenues.

A successful job search depends heavily on the law of averages. The more applications you can send, and the better you can target them, the higher your chances of landing the right job. This is where JOBHUNT Software can help!

It gives you the names, addresses, phone/fax numbers and brief company profiles of leading potential employers nationwide. You can search and display by region and/or job function.

Then, you can type a sample cover letter (or follow-up letter, or any other letter) into JOBHUNT's built-in word processor, and automatically and quickly mail-merge it with the addresses you select, to print personalized letters to the employers.

Just attach resumes, and you are ready for a targeted mass mailing of your job applications. JOBHUNT prints mailing and return address labels, too. Saves a lot of time and researching effort!

If you are applying to the newspaper classifieds or have your own list of addresses, you can also enter those into JOBHUNT and quickly print personalized letters and labels to them.

You can use JOBHUNT to look for executive, entry-level or administrative positions. It is very useful in searching for opportunities in Accounting, Computer Science, Engineering, Finance, General Business/Management, Healthcare, International Business, Liberal Arts, Marketing/Sales and other fields.

Job seekers are not the only people using JOBHUNT. Career services use it to increase their revenues by printing letters and labels for clients. If in the past, a career service would have sold just one resume to a client, it can now sell, say, an additional thousand copies of the resume, a thousand cover letters to go with them, a thousand envelopes and two thousand labels. Many of them also sell JOBHUNT, or rent computers on premises to job-seekers who want to use JOBHUNT software. Employment agencies use it for prospecting.

JOBHUNT runs on all IBM/Compatible computers, uses only 256K RAM and a single floppy disk drive, and is extremely easy to use. Both sized disks are included.

It retails for $49.95, and comes with a 30-day, moneyback guarantee. One free update is included.

To order JOBHUNT, contact your local computer store, or directly:

Scope International

P.O. Box 25252, Dept. PR

Charlotte, NC 28229-5252

Orders only (Call 24 hours): 1-800-843-5627

All others (Phone & Fax):    (704) 535-0614


Martian Surface Images on CD-ROM
MARS MIDM CD-ROMs

Six new Mars CD-ROMs have been released to the public.  The Planetary Data System (PDS) at JPL, the Mars Observer project and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has put together Mosaicked Digital Image Models (MIDM) of the Martian surface taken by the Viking Orbiter spacecraft.  This CD-ROM set is not to be confused with the Viking Orbiter CD-ROM set released earlier. The Viking Orbiter CD-ROM contains raw Viking images only.  The MIDM CD-ROMs are images compiled from the raw Viking images which were further processed to reduce radiometric and geometric distortions, and to form geodetically controlled mosaicked images.  The data are stored as digital maps at 1/256 degree/pixel resolution (231 meters) and 1/64 degree/pixel resolution (943 meters).  Also included are air-brushed maps of the entire planet of Mars at 1/16 degree/pixel resolution (3.69 km).

The CD-ROMs can be obtained from the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) at the Goddard Space Flight Center.  The "nominal" charge is $20 for the first CD-ROM, and $6 for any additional CD-ROM in an order.  However, NSSDC may waive this charge for a small amount of data requested by bona fide research users, government laboratories, etc.  School teachers who are unable to pay may be helped on a case by case basis, and/or as resources permit. Researchers funded by NASA's Solar System Exploration Division can also obtain the CD-ROMs through the Planetary Data System at JPL.

NSSDC's address is:

        National Space Science Data Center

        Goddard Space Flight Center

        Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

        Tel: (301) 286-6695

The set of six MIDM CD-ROMs have the following contents:

Volume 1: Vastitas Borealis Region of Mars.  373 images convering the entire north polar region southward from the pole to a latitude of 42.5 degrees North.

Volume 2: Xanthe Terra of Mars.  412 images covering the region from 47.5 degrees North latitude to 47.5 degress South latitude, and 0 degrees longitude to 90 degrees West longitude.

Volume 3: Amazonis Planita Region of Mars.  412 images covering the region from 47.5 degrees North latitude to 47.5 degrees South latitude, and 90 degrees West longitude to 180 degrees West longitude.

Volume 4: Elysium Planitia Region of Mars.  412 images covering the region from 47.5 degrees North latitude to 47.5 degrees South latitude, and 180 degrees West longitude to 270 degrees West longitude.

Volume 5: Arabia Terra of Mars. 412 images covering 47.5 degrees North latitude to 47.5 degrees South latitude, and 270 degrees West longitude to 0 degrees West longitude.

Volume 6: Planum Australe Region of Mars. 373 images convering the entire South polar region of Mars northward from the pole to a latitude of 42.5 degrees South latitude.

Also, the following software is included on the MIDM CD-ROMs to display the images:

        o IMDISP (IBM PC)

        o MDIMDISP (VAX)

        o Image (Macintosh)

        o Reader (Sun)


Global Speedbase 4GL Debuts
BOS National, Inc. has announced the introduction of a fourth generation programming language called Global Speedbase at Comdex-Spring in Chicago. According to the manufacturer, Speedbase has been designed to enable software developers to rapidly produce high-performance multiuser and network business applications based on relational database technology.

Along with the 4GL, the Speedbase environment includes Speedquery, a menudriven, user-friendly SQL database query system with fast report production facilities. In addition, Speedbase includes a System Manager which allows any Speedbase program to run under industry-standard operating systems without recompilation or modification.

Included among the operating environments are DOS, Novell, Windows, BOS, plus most Unix versions for IBM RS-6000, HP-9000, Sun SPARC, Motorola 88000, MIPS, and SCO Unix. System Manager accommodates the differences between each target platform, providing a consistent user interface for Speedbase applications.

According to Ron Moore, Vice President of Development for BOS National, "The Speedbase System Manager eliminates the cost of porting to various environments and the constant updating or fixing of different application versions. Developers need to maintain only one version of an application, thus minimizing overhead and resulting in highly stable code."

Speedbase programs are automatically multiuser with file-sharing and record-level locking. Data index definitions, record structures, and inter-record relationships are defined in a dictionary which determines the overall structure of the database. Operator dialogue is consistent throughout an application with the utilization of overlayed windows, and context-sensitive "Help" is always available. A high-level print format construct is used to define report layouts.

Although Speedbase is a high-level language, it does not preclude the use of lower-level languages for special applications such as data capture and communications. In a Unix environment, C-ISAM file structures are supported.

Commenting on what Speedbase can bring to the programmer, Mr. Moore stated, "With its various components, Speedbase provides a synergistic development environment anchored in an industry-standard framework. Programmers are able to organize, construct and code complex applications many times faster than with conventional languages. As a result, programmers are able to focus on creating business solutions, and far less time is spent writing tedious, redundant code."

According to Mr. Moore, Speedbase has already been used in creating a variety of complex software applications, including a full line of standard accounting products called Global 3000. These fully-integrated products are intended to be the foundation for third-party vertical applications development. Speedbase was also selected as the primary development engine for the complete automation of Thamesport, Britain's newest seaport near London. Using radio and magnetic swipe card links, the Thamesport system tracks and supervises the movement of all containers and machinery, including eighteen 250-ton "robot" cranes. Using nine networked 386 computers supporting 160 terminals, this system handles over 100,000 movements and transactions per week.

Speedbase is currently available for purchase and is priced from $995 to $9,995, depending on the number of users and hardware platform. For more information, contact: BOS National, Inc. 2607 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229 or call (214) 956-7722. A free demonstration version of Speedbase is available upon request.

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Global Speedbase 4GL.

Speedbase is an integrated fourth generation programming environment designed for the development of high-performance multiuser and network business applications. Based on advanced relational database management technology, Speedbase dramatically reduces application development time while producing compact, reliable code that is easy to maintain and modify.

An important consideration for multi-platform developers is that an application developed using Speedbase will run on any target computer without modification or recompilation. This multi-platform capability is achieved through the Global System Manager, the runtime component of Speedbase. The System Manager accommodates the differences between each target platform while providing a consistent user interface for the Speedbase application.

The Speedbase environment also includes a database query system called Speedquery that goes beyond traditional SQL products. Query by example eliminates the need for users to understand complex language syntax, providing a friendly user interface with on-line context-sensitive "help" facilities. Results of an inquiry can be displayed on the screen or printed as a complex report.

Speedbase programs are automatically multiuser with file-sharing and record-level locking. Data and index definitions, record structures and inter-record relationships are defined in a dictionary which determines the overall structure of the database. Operator dialogue is consistent throughout an application with the utilization of overlayed windows, and context-sensitive "help" is always available. Automatic inquiry mode facilities allow data records to be searched for and retrieved by up to sixteen indexes for each record type. A high-level print format construct is used to define report layouts.

Although Speedbase is a high-level language, it does not preclude the use of lowerlevel languages for special applications such as data capture and communications.

With Speedbase, programmers are able to organize, construct, and code complex business applications many times faster than with conventional languages. As a result, programmers are able to focus on creating business solutions, while spending far less time writing tedious, redundant code. Combining high-level functionality with low-level control, plus industry-standard compatibility, Speedbase is the logical choice for corporate MIS departments and third-party software developers.

Global System Manager

Global System Manager is the runtime component which allows Speedbase developers to maintain a single object code, thus minimizing overhead and resulting in highly stable software. It eliminates the continual cost of porting to various hardware environments and the constant updating or fixing of different application versions. It also reduces the developer's investment in various software tools since the same copy of Global Speedbase is used to generate applications for all System Manager environments.

System Managers are currently available to run under DOS, Windows, Novell, VMS, and most Unix environments, including MIPS, IBM RS-6000, HP 9000, Sun SPARC, Motorola 88000, and SCO Unix v5.3.

System Manager provides consistent database management and presents an identical user interface across different operating systems. It also brings a number of added features to each environment, including print spooling, pop-up system requests, and system-wide concurrency at any screen. A wide variety of color and monochrome terminals are supported, each making full use of function keys which may be customized for individual requirements. File-sharing and record-locking facilities are automatically provided across large multiuser or networked systems supporting hundreds of screens.

All applications are driven by a flexible menuing system which can be defined and customized for particular user requirements without any code changes. Menus may be altered to restrict sensitive options to specific operators or terminals. Extra menu lines for special reports and inquiries may be added along with industry-specific terminology. Context-sensitive help facilities are automatically provided by simply keying the HELP function key.

The relational integrity of the database is maintained by the Database Access Method. In case of computer failure, a rebuild utility provides total database recovery. Full, partial or incremental backups are available. In Unix environments, the database consists of C-ISAM files, the most widely used Unix standard for integration and development.

Global Speedbase, in conjunction with System Manager, combine to provide a synergistic development environment anchored in an industry-standard framework.

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BOS National, 2607 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas, TX 75229

(214) 956-7722 Fax: (214) 350-6688


ICP General Purpose Inventory Ctl
Spirit7 Software Ltd. is now shipping ICP

The ICP is a general purpose inventory control program with modules to sell, order, and receive inventory. The system tracks stock levels, orders, purchase orders, sales history, and vendors. Items with a count (on hand) less than the minimum acceptable stock level are automatically added to the Inventory Order Report.

The system features complex filtering (segmenting) of the inventory data base using logical (and/or) operators. This function makes it possible to locate a record by finding a match for the target data in any field or combination of fields.

Record "pattern templates" facilitate the rapid and efficient entry of data.

The ICP system can be upgraded to the full-featured point-of-sale inventory control package called PICS (Positive Inventory Control System).

This is the seventh "major" revision of the ICP system since it was introduced in 1986. This revision is the result of the suggestions of thousands of registered ICP users as well as the continuing research of Spirit7 Software. The following features are new to version 7.0...

1. This revision features the addition of a second program to the registered version distribution diskettes which enables the user to create new reports and labels and to modify existing report and labels forms. The report generator is capable of creating complex reports (employing calculated fields) and simple forms.

2. The addition of a memo (MMO) indicator on the status line to alert the user to the presence of a memo for the displayed record.

3. The repricing function has been modified to include a reprice by formula option rather than reprice by percent.

4. The system now has the capability of direct editing of the Purchase Order Report .

5. The Backup utility has been modified to archive the data files into a separate directory ("/bak") on the hard drive.

Spirit7 Software, Ltd. PO Box 777 Waynesboro, VA 22980

703-943-4635


SURVEY Statistical Database
Raosoft SURVEY, Version 2.0, introduced at COMDEX/ Fall'91, is a new DOS-based statistical database for surveys and questionnaires of all types. The update released today provides access to both extended and expanded memory, additional graphical printer support, plus new additional features.

The Version 2.0 number will be maintained, with the update free to all current owners of Raosoft SURVEY and its introductory version Raosoft SURVEYFirst. The update will be shipped automatically to all registered owners of these products. Raosoft SURVEY is $495 with introductory pricing of $395 through February 29. Raosoft SURVEYFirst is $195.

One important improvement is that extended and expanded memory can be utilized if available, which speeds large database analysis. Also, printer support for graphics, before available for PostScript printers, has been expanded to support HP III printers with two or more megabytes of memory.

A useful new feature is that the Query option will now accept multiple write-in selections, as many as will fit in the input window. For example, if average-sized last names were wanted, this means that about 30 last names can now be queried in one request.

Other improvements also reduce analysis time and improve presentation, such as the option to print only questions which have been filled with data, rather than including all questions-- empty as well as answered. As well, the new database management command of Create Query Database gives additional capacity for selecting out and handling subgroups of data. It both speeds and makes easier the handling of large databases that have long written comments.

A brief overview of Raosoft SURVEY itself:

It will run on single or multiple floppy or hard disk drives and needs 512K memory, DOS 2.0 or higher. It is compatible with the major word processing, spreadsheet and database files. It directly accesses dBase III datafiles. It is networkible and runs under the Windows environment. There is no limit to database size except system capacity.

Raosoft SURVEY provides a new level of support for questionnaires to allow custom databases to be easily designed. Users with market research projects, management and employee reviews, and project evaluations now have the ability to design and statistically analyze their data in easy-to-use fashion.

Data entry is forms-based and data can be entered by mouse. Statistical analysis is accomplished with a single stroke, including graphical analysis. Presentation graphics are present. Reports and Mailmerge are straightforward. The questionnaire itself is easily written within the program. A hot-key program is included for periodic data entry. (A more complete description of Raosoft SURVEY is attached.)

Users of Raosoft SURVEY come from a broad spectrum that includes business, market research departments, advertising departments, and personnel departments of businesses, government agencies, consulting firms, and the academic world.

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Businesses and government today run surveys for diverse reasons--to learn about their customers, to evaluate products and programs, or to conduct internal reviews. Raosoft USURVEY provides new capacity for management review as well as for surveys in general. Raosoft SURVEYFirst provides new power for surveys carried out by small business or those with less extensive survey needs.

USURVEY is a DOS-based add-on to Raosoft SURVEY. Raosoft SURVEY is a new DOS-based statistical database designed for market research that was successfully introduced in October at COMDEX. (A description is attached.) USURVEY extends its capabilities.

USURVEY is a Run-Time program that allows multiple surveys to be sent out on disk as though the disk were paper. Either single or multiple surveys can be put on the disk and multiple individuals can fill the surveys in. The capacity of the disk is the limit to data entry. Price: $30 each, sold in multiple batches for duplications. The size of the batch depends on individual firm needs.

One example of USURVEY's usefulness is for management reviews. Different survey forms for varying employee groups can be put on the USURVEY disk and the disk sent to firm branches. An employee will fill out the survey appropriate to him or her and then pass the disk to the next individual. When all the employees in the branch have finished, the disk is returned and the data appended to the master database files on SURVEY. The analysis is performed on SURVEY.

SURVEYFirst is a new stand-alone product designed for small business or as a research tool. It is the full Raosoft SURVEY program confined to 150 questionnaires (cases) and lacks the hot-key program, yet provides the full SURVEY program with all the powerful statistical and database features of SURVEY. It allows for unlimited number of questions. Price: $195. An upgrade to Raosoft SURVEY is available for the amount of the price differential. A 30 day unconditional money-back guarantee is available.

As with Raosoft SURVEY, SURVEYFirst helps the user determine the correct sample size for a survey. The user provides the values for the assumptions involved, and the Sample Size option calculates the appropriate sample size needed for the survey. A researcher can instantly try out alternative scenarios.

As always with Raosoft SURVEY products, data entry is on to a form-based screen. Mouse support, pull-down menus, pop-up dialog boxes, push-button and single keystroke commands make SURVEYFirst easy to use.

SURVEYFirst provides for survey design, form-based data entry, single keystroke analysis, presentation graphics, and reports and mail merge.

It will run on single or multiple floppy or hard disk drives and needs 512K memory, DOS 2.0 or higher. It is compatible with the major word processing, spreadsheet and database files. It directly accesses dBase III datafiles.

Raosoft Inc, 6645 NE Windermere Rd, Seattle, WA 98115

206-525-4025


TAPCIS V5.4 Communications Package
Support Group Inc announces the release of version 5.4 of TAPCIS, a communications package designed for saving time and money on the CompuServe Information Service. With the release of 5.4, it's now possible to send electronic mail to an unlimited number of people on a distribution list with any combination of addresses on CompuServe, Internet, FAX, MCI Mail, TELEX, and so on. TAPCIS uploads the message once and then splits the mailing into groups to stay within CompuServe limits. This feature is especially attractive for businesses as an economical means for staying in contact with customers and staff. CompuServe charges only 10 cents for each address after the first one (that's less than sending a postcard by US Mail).

TAPCIS 5.4 also supports CompuServe's new across-library searching feature which enables users to search on a key word across all the libraries within a given forum. Other improvements include support for more than 25 screen lines, editable input prompts, an increase in the individual message size from 35 lines to 64K, message reading sped up by 400%, expanded limits on messages to 5000 per forum, ability to easily import the original message into a reply, address specific return receipts, a TAPCIS.CFG file to store standard command line options, and totally new communications routines that support configurable COM ports (1-8) and FIFO buffers for more reliable communication at speeds of 9600 and above.

Although 5.4 has many new features, it is designed so that existing TAPCIS users can get up to speed right away. The dramatically improved help function should also be of assistance.

TAPCIS was first released in 1986. TAPCIS costs $79 and comes with a no-risk 90-day full money back guarantee. Most people find that the program pays for itself in the first few months of use. TAPCIS includes a 200+ page manual, disk, user ID and password for CompuServe, plus $15 of free connect time for new accounts. Registered users of earlier versions can update to TAPCIS 5.4 for $20. Toll-free telephone support and online help through the TAPCIS forum (GO TAPCIS) are also available. For more information or review copies call (800) 872-4768 or (301) 387-4500.

Support Group, Inc., Lake Technology Park, McHenry, MD 21541

(301) 387-4500 -- Fax (301) 387-7322


Micro Express 386DX Price Drop
Micro Express is dropping the prices on all of its 80386DX-based PCs in reaction to the radical drop in microprocessor prices by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. "Prices have dropped so steeply, that a 386DX, 25-MHz PC is now virtually as inexpensive as a 386SX, 25-MHz PC," according to Art Afshar, president of Micro Express.

"If they hold the 386SX prices at the current levels," notes Afshar, "this signals the end of the 386SX as a viable choice." New pricing for the Micro Express 386DX line is as follows: For a configuration of 4-MB of RAM, 100-MB hard disk drive, both 3-1/2" and 5-1/4" highdensity floppy disk drives, Super VGA Color graphics card and monitor, 1 parallel and 2 serial ports, compact desktop case, 200-W power supply, keyboard, mouse, DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.0...the ME 386-25 drops from $1750 to $1499; the ME 386-33 drops from $1899 to $1699; and the ME 386-40 drops from $1999 to $1699. Although the 33-MHz ME 386-33 and the 40-MHz ME 386-40 are now the same price, they differ in that the ME 386-33 includes a 128K RAM cache and the ME 386-40 includes a 64K RAM cache.

A full 2-year warranty is included on parts and labor for these PCs, with shipping for the first 4 months paid both ways by Micro Express. A 30-day moneyback guarantee is included. Optional on-site service, through TRW, is also available. If a board fails, Micro Express offers 24-hour express board replacement service. As with all other Micro Express computers, this machine is burned in for 72 hours before shipping to eliminate early failures. In addition, a toll-free number is provided for free unlimited technical support. When technical documents are required, Micro Express offers Automated FAX-back service. Using this service documents can be requested through voice-mail and will be FAXed directly to the customer without human intervention.

Micro Express is an award-winning manufacturer of notebook, laptop, portable and desktop microcomputers that are fully IBM compatible. Micro Express offers extremely high quality and a wide range of additional features at a very competitive price. Micro Express personal computers are regularly rated at the top of comparative reviews in computer trade magazines, having won such honors as PC Magazine Editors' Choice, PC World Best Buy, Computer Buyer's Guide Best Buy, BYTE Magazine One-To-Watch, PC Week Analyst's Choice and many others. The company also offers a selection of high-performance add-in peripheral boards.

For further sales information, contact Micro Express at 1801 Carnegie Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705. Phone: (714) 852-1400 or (800) 989-9900.

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Summary Of Pricing Changes

Model           Old Price    New Price

ME 386-25        $1750        $1499

ME 386-33         1899         1699

ME 386-40         1999         1699

System Configuration For All Three PCs

4-MB of RAM

100-MB Fast Hard Disk

Both 1.44-MB 3-1/2" and 1.2-MB 5-1/4" Floppy Disk Drives

Super VGA Color Graphics Card and Monitor

1 Parallel and 2 Serial Ports

Compact Desktop Case

200-W Power Supply

Keyboard

Mouse

DOS 5.0

Windows 3.0

In addition, the ME 386-33 has a 128K RAM cache and the ME 386-40 has a 64K RAM cache.


Que Feb Releases & Updates
Users Build Computer Confidence with Easy DOS

Once properly introduced to DOS, most computer users have little trouble getting the most from their computer. With a solid understanding of DOS basics, it's easy to learn other programs and functions.

Que's Easy DOS is the fastest, easiest way to get to know DOS. It's filled with practical facts and useful tips on how to use a personal computer -- and DOS -- to complete common computer jobs. The streamlined format of Easy DOS gives instructions one simple step at a time.

Users learn the secrets behind the "mysterious" DOS code; what is, what it does, and how it can make computing fun. There are step-by-step instructions on how to copy files, create directories, and work with floppy diskettes. DOS tasks are explained in plain English and illustrated with actual screen graphics. User-friendly "Oops" tips tell users what to do if they make a mistake.

Users can follow along with the chapters for a beginning course in DOS or skip around -- they're bound to find new tips, tricks, and answers to questions. Easy DOS is an ideal reference manual to keep by the computer.

Que is so certain users will agree Easy DOS is the fastest, easiest method of learning DOS, they guarantee it. If Easy DOS doesn't help users get to know their computer, they can return their copy with receipt to Que for their money back.

Easy DOS

Que Development Group

$19.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-854-7 198 pp.

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Utility Programs Make Computing Easier,

Que Books Increase User Efficiency

Utility programs assist PC users in maintaining and improving the efficiency of computer systems. In some cases, that's easier said than done. To help, Que introduces three new books aimed at increasing utility users' efficiency.

Using PC Tools 7.1

Beginning and intermediate users find that this combination how-to/reference book adds peace of mind and power to their personal computing. Giving users the necessary information about files, directories, and disk management with PC Tools, this book makes it possible for users to become sure-handed with the methods for gaining complete control of the PC.

Using PC Tools 7.1 provides clearly focused examples and in-depth advice that assists users with each PC Tool, including PC Shell, Central Point Backup, File Fix, Rebuild, PC Secure, Central Point Commute, and updated Windows capabilities. They learn how to back up the hard disk, organize files and directories, add security and power to hard disk performance, recover accidentally deleted files and inadvertently formatted disks, run PC Tools within Windows 3, and speed up work with PC Tools macros.

Special tips, notes, and cautions inside Using PC Tools 7.1 help users improve performance. The book teaches readers how to use the latest PC Tool companions to organize thoughts, manage information, streamline schedules, communicate through the computer and a telephone, send fax, and perform numeric and financial computations. The book covers PC Tools versions 6 and 7.1. In addition, Using PC Tools 7.1 helps users fix damaged 1-2-3, Symphony, and dBASE files.

Norton Utilities 6 Quick Reference

This pocket-sized, alphabetically-organized reference book addresses concerns of all Norton Utilities 6 users. Norton Utilities 6 Quick Reference provides an instant reference for the most often used commands, options, and latest enhancements of this best-selling utilities program.

Versatility makes this Quick Reference a powerful tool for users. It clearly explains the features and shortcuts to Norton Utilities that can make PC maintenance more efficient and effective. Norton Utilities 6 Quick Reference covers NDOS, file management, and data recovery commands. It makes it easy to secure and protect vital information on disk, detect viruses, and prevent accidental formatting.

Que's Guide to XTree

Covering XTree Gold, version 2, 2.5, and XTree Easy, this compact how-to/reference book makes efficient computer performance simple. Que's Guide to XTree is an instant source for managing files and directories with XTree's potent mix of commands, options, and enhancements.

All of XTree's most powerful interactive features are covered, from installation procedures to advanced file management. Que's Guide to XTree offers easy access information and time-sensitive tutorials that streamline computer files and directories. Users of all experience levels benefit from this book's instructions about finding command information fast, managing files, performing advanced management techniques, and customizing applications menus.

Using PC Tools 7.1

Walter R. Bruce III with Jodi Schroth

$24.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-733-8 844 pp.

Norton Utilities 6 Quick Reference

Edmund X. DeJesus

$9.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-858-X 148 pp.

Que's Guide to XTree

Brian Underdahl

$12.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-777-X 21 1 pp.

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Latest Que Books Highlight Two Popular Software Programs

The popular word processing package, Word for Windows 2 and the popular financial management package, Quicken 5, are the topics of two new books from Que. Using Word for Windows 2, Special Edition, and Quicken 5 Quick Reference apply different approaches to help users be more proficient.

Using Word for Windows 2, Special Edition

This comprehensive book is loaded with information. It is appropriate for beginners or experts, as it walks users through the dynamic features and functions of Word for Windows 2.

Users advance from basic word processing operations to elaborate and detailed desktop publishing tasks. Using Word for Windows 2, Special Edition, provides clear and easy instructions, as well as reference material that allows them quick progress. The book explains how to apply Word to daily jobs -- such as formatting style sheets, creating form letters, integrating Word for Windows with other programs, and speeding up daily operations with templates and macros.

Using Word for Windows 2, Special Edition, includes extensive sections on how to get the most out of WordArt, Microsoft Draw, Microsoft Graph, and the Equations Editor. These applications allow users to create desktop published documents, draw or import art, create charts and graphs, and insert equations.

Users of Word for Windows quickly learn about the new features of Version 2 in Using Word for Windows 2, Special Edition. The book also features a QuickStart tutorial and a tear-out command chart for essential information at a glance.

Quicken 5 Quick Reference

Designed to give Quicken 5 users essential information at their fingertips, this compact, easy-to-use guide provides all the information needed to manage money with Quicken 5's personal accounting features.

Users learn the most important Quicken commands, as well as benefit from the latest coverage of innovative procedures that track investments and securities. Quicken 5 Quick Reference is intended as a companion text to Que's more comprehensive Using Quicken 5.

Using Word for Windows 2, Special Edition

Que Development Group

$27.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-832-6 844 pp.

Quicken 5 Quick Reference

Linda A. Flanders

$9.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-900-4 150 pp.

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Programmers Find Increased Value In Two Newest Que Programming Books

Two of Que's best selling programming books have been updated to include the newest software versions. With these revisions, programmers find increased value in both of these how-to/reference texts.

Using Borland C++ 3, 2nd Edition

Ranked as the number one international best-selling book about Borland C++, Using Borland C++ 3, 2nd Edition, takes the C++ evolution one step further. The C language remains programmers' language of choice, and this book gives them even more knowledge to make them proficient with the latest features and utilities of Borland C++ 3.

Focusing on results, Using Borland C++ 3, 2nd Edition, teaches programmers of all experience levels how to program in both the DOS and Windows environments. It makes sure they understand the essentials before moving upward and onward to Borland's prestigious Integrated Development Environment. Along with all the easy object-oriented capabilities, programmers discover how to use source code and object files, load modules, add flow to program logic and execution, and write both simple and sophisticated C programs.

Programmers learn how to write prototypes for functions and pass arguments, successfully implement loop control statements and strings, design and write impressive Windows applications with Borland C++ 3, and complete high-grade, object-oriented programming projects. In addition to addressing the functions of Borland C++ versions 2 and 3, Using Borland C++ 3, 2nd Edition, includes coverage of Turbo C++ for Windows, Turbo Debugger, and Turbo Profiler.

Using Clipper, 3rd Edition

Clipper is the ultimate database programming environment, and Using Clipper, 3rd Edition, is the ultimate how-to and reference book for beginning and intermediate programmers. This refined tutorial introduces programmers to powerful Clipper basics and shows them how to create easy-to-use database applications.

Divided into three sections that help decipher Clipper's functions, Using Clipper, 3rd Edition, helps programmers become proficient quickly. Step-by-step text explains how to put efficient, powerpacked applications together while focusing on the subtle, yet important, difference between dBASE and Clipper. Then programmers advance to learning how to compile, link and debug code; write "networkable" multiuser programs; and blend their expanding knowledge into Clipper with the Clipper Extend System.

Close-up looks at specific applications that are featured in the second section, giving programmers real-life program code. The third part consists of a complete reference section that shows programmers all compiler directives, object classes, functions, and commands. Using Clipper, 3rd Edition, covers Clipper versions 5 and 5.01.

Using Borland C++ 3, 2nd Edition

Lee Atkinson & Mark Atkinson

$29.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-901-2 1,158 pp.

Using Clipper, 3rd Edition

W. Edward Tiley

$29.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-885-7 776 pp.

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Que Offers Windows Users All They Need To Build Productivity with WordPerfect

Windows users of all experience levels find all they need to build their word processing productivity with three new books from Que. Using Que's proven and popular hands-on tutorial and reference style, Windows users receive complete instruction and insight into the newest version of WordPerfect.

Using WordPerfect for Windows, Special Edition

Getting impressive word processing results with WordPerfect for Windows is easy after applying Que's popular and proven learning methods used in Using WordPerfect for Windows, Special Edition. Users of all experience levels benefit from this comprehensive how-to and reference book.

Beginning with the basics, the book moves on to focus on the unique "personality" of WordPerfect's powerful Windows word processor. Easy-reading tutorials written by a team of industry leaders take users through the development of documents. Steps like planning, creating, editing, formatting, and printing are detailed inside Using WordPerfect for Windows, Special Edition.

The book introduces new ways of working with graphics, fonts, and styles so documents are as attractive as they are functional. Desktop publishing operations are covered in depth, and the book offers a brief primer on page layout, typography, design, and graphics. With Using WordPerfect for Windows, Special Edition, users learn how to master the procedures for footnotes, endnotes, and tables of contents. Plus, quick and easy appendixes on installation/setup and a comparison of the DOS and Windows versions of WordPerfect make this book the most complete reference available today.

WordPerfect for Windows QuickStart

Especially for beginners, WordPerfect for Windows QuickStart uses its award-winning illustrated teaching approach to prompt successful word processing. Self-instruction is the focus of this book, and Que's easy-to-follow illustrated approach helps users learn the basics of WordPerfect for Windows quickly.

WordPerfect for Windows QuickStart guides beginners through this software's intuitive and easy-to-use environment; dozens of illustrations and examples reinforce learning. Speeding up word processing tasks is easy after WordPerfect for Windows QuickStart talks users through the fully customizable Button Bar and graphics capabilities of this version of the software.

Users learn how to improve accuracy with the built-in spell-checker and thesaurus; create and import graphics; merge and print documents; build efficiency with macros; create, save, retrieve, and modify written documents; and format characters, paragraphs, and pages.

WordPerfect for Windows Quick Reference

Great word processing results come easy when WordPerfect users refer to WordPerfect for Windows Quick Reference. A compact and complete reference guide to the most often used commands, options, and features of the Windows version of WordPerfect, this book provides fast access to information that makes for professional-quality documents.

The alphabetical command listing makes it simple to use WordPerfect's powerful editing features, streamline WordPerfect operations with the revolutionary Button Bar, and import and export information and text.

Using WordPerfect for Windows, Special Edition

Que Development Group

$29.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-556-4 1,184 pp.

WordPerfect for Windows QuickStart

Greg Harvey

$19.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-712-5 539 pp.

WordPerfect for Windows Quick Reference

Margaret D. Hobbie

$9.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-785-0 150 pp.

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Introduction to UNIX Starts On Ground Floor,

Teaching Basics of Operating System

Beginning and intermediate UNIX users find important information inside Introduction to UNIX. Starting on the ground floor, this new book from Que teaches users the basics and gives them perspective on how UNIX fits into the world of computing.

Introduction to UNIX helps newcomers learn how to work with the UNIX interfaces, become proficient with the UNIX shell, perform both simple and complex text processing within UNIX, send and receive electronic mail through UNIX, as well as work with and understand the internal structure of UNIX.

Chapters explain communications and networking capabilities, expanding users' UNIX knowledge. Introduction to UNIX also presents advanced concepts, introducing users to system administration. Plus, a glossary and listing of commands enables users to find vital information fast.

Introduction to UNIX

Mark Schulman

$24.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-745-1 458 pp.

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Que, 11711 N. College Ave., Suite 140 Carmel, IN 46032

1-800-428-5331


EA & Broderbund European Dist.
Electronic Arts announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Broderbund Software, Inc. The agreement grants Electronic Arts the rights to distribute Broderbund's line of disk based software products in Europe.

Broderbund Software, founded in 1980 and based in Novato, Calif., is a personal computer software publisher of a broad range of products for the home, school and small business markets. Broderbund has released dozens of successful programs, including The Print Shop and the Carmen Sandiego series.

"As a leading European software distributor, Electronic Arts is well positioned to distribute our products," said Doug Carlston, chairman and chief executive officer of Broderbund Software. "We believe Broderbund will benefit from Electronic Arts' strong European distribution channels, and we look forward to working with them."

"Electronic Arts is very pleased to enter into this Pan European distribution relationship with Broderbund," said Mark Lewis, managing director of Electronic Arts' European business. "The quality of Broderbund's software, their commitment to localization and their increasing focus on the edutainment market will complement our distribution system in Europe and allow us to further develop our MSDOS and Macintosh channels."

Electronic Arts is a diversified entertainment company that develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide.


Sams Feb Titles & Updates
New Reference Books Clearly Explain Various Windows Software Packages

Three new, easy-to-use reference books for Windows software are now available. Sams recently introduced guidebooks for two popular Windows word processing programs: 10 Minute Guide to Word for Windows 2 and 10 Minute Guide to WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows. Also available is The First Book of Microsoft Works for Windows for users of this versatile, multifaceted, integrated software package.

10 Minute Guide to Word for Windows 2

In short, 10-minute lessons, users can learn about the essentials of the latest version of this popular word processing package. The lessons are presented quickly and conveniently, to be used as a quick start for beginners or a handy reference for frequent users.

Twenty-five "mini-tutorials" cover the basic tasks needed to become proficient with the program. The book is filled with no-nonsense text and helpful screen illustrations. "TimeSaver Tips," "Plain English" definitions, and "Panic Button" advice help users become an expert in record time.

10 Minute Guide to WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows

The 10 Minute approach uses short, goal-oriented lessons to allow beginning word processors to use WordPerfect almost immediately or improve the efficiency of more experienced users.

All essential editing, entering, moving, and copying text fundamentals are taught in 23 short, easy-to-follow lessons. Each lesson includes a clearly-defined goal and a short tutorial to reach that goal in 10 minutes or less. As with all 10 Minute books, 10 Minute Guide to WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows includes "TimeSaver Tips," "Plain English" definitions, and "Panic Button" advice.

The First Book of Microsoft Works for Windows

Microsoft Works is the number one integrated software package because of its combined power and ease of use. It is a sophisticated word processor, spreadsheet, and database manager all in one. It is amazingly easy to use, but like any complex software package, there is much to learn to become proficient with each Works tool.

The First Book of Microsoft Works for Windows eliminates unnecessary detail, providing easy-to-understand operational instructions, application ideas, and examples. Because the book focuses strictly on the tools of Microsoft Works, it assumes readers have a basic understanding of Windows operations.

Users learn how to use each of the tools, including integrating output from applications into unified files and documents. "Quick Steps" introduce the features step-by-step, while notes, tips, and practical examples make learning easier.

10 Minute Guide to Word for Windows 2

Peter G. Aitken

$9.95 US ISBN: 0-672-30044-3 144 pp.

10 Minute Guide to WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows

Debbie Walkowski

$9.95 US ISBN: 0-672-30031-1 162 pp.

The First Book of Microsoft Works for Windows

Clayton Walnum

$18.95 US ISBN: 0-672-27374-8 245 pp.

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Help is Here for New Users of Quicken 5, Microsoft Publisher

If users need a guidebook to help them through new software, Sam's First Book series of computer books is the answer. Two new titles, The First Book of Quicken 5 and The First Book of Microsoft Publisher are a must for new users.

The First Book of Quicken 5

Quicken 5 makes budget planning a snap -- and The First Book of Quicken 5 makes it user friendly. As with all First Books, this text is packed with sound advice. Users get practical examples, tutorials, and advice for home and small business budgeting. The book explains all the new features of Quicken 5, including mouse support, improved reporting capabilities, and the loan calculator.

Users learn how to operate each of Quicken 5's major features. Step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and tips show how to track investments, mutual funds, stocks, and bonds -- plus how to organize bank accounts and check registers.

Whether using Quicken 5 for the home or small business, users can streamline their finances and get up-to-speed faster with The First Book of Quicken 5.

The First Book of Microsoft Publisher

Beginning desktop publishers now have a quick, valuable introduction to this new and affordable desktop publishing program for Windows called Microsoft Publisher. With typical First Book simplicity, The First Book of Microsoft Publisher takes users by the hand and leads them through the steps needed to create professional-looking publications.

This book is filled with tips, ideas, and illustrations to help users get comfortable in Microsoft Publisher's innovative environment. It shows how to produce newsletters, sales flyers, ads, brochures, and other business forms. The practical, task-oriented chapters clearly define the software's fundamentals and explain design ideas.

Users also learn how to work with all the Microsoft Publisher tools to easily create columns, wrap text, use special effects, and add borders and clip art. Real-world, hands-on explanations and examples are what make The First Book of Microsoft Publisher the ideal companion to the software.

The First Book of Quicken 5

Paul McFedries

$18.95 US ISBN: 0-672-27405-1 420 pp.

The First Book of Microsoft Publisher

Ralph Roberts

$18.95 US ISBN: 0-672-27399-3 350 pp.

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Data Communications Basics Explained In New 'Understanding' Book From Sams

Computers play a vital communications role in today's working world. A basic understanding of their form and function is becoming a must for almost everyone.

Understanding Data Communications, Third Edition, takes the vast, complex world of computers and condenses it for the layperson. This popular book uses plain English and clever illustrations to explain how various computer hardware and software components work and communicate.

An overview of data communications introduces readers to the basics and how they are connected to the real-world. Understanding Data Communications, Third Edition, discusses database services, information utilities, electronic bulletin boards, and other up-to-the-minute technologies. These concepts and principles are accompanied by a thorough look at the world of digital communications. Here, the book spells out the advantages and disadvantages of local area networks, packet networks, and network design and management.

The book is arranged somewhat like a textbook, with chapters that start and end with a summary, plus a short multiple-choice quiz on each chapter's contents. Like other books in this Sams series, it builds understanding step-by-step, chapter-by-chapter.

Understanding Data Communications, Third Edition

Gilbert Held

$24.95 US ISBN: 0-672-30005-2 368 pp.

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New Sams Book Helps UNIX Users Achieve Unparalleled Programming Success

UNIX Desktop Guide to OPEN LOOK is a fast and easy how-to/reference book that helps intermediate and advanced UNIX users achieve unparalleled programming success. Taking advantage of the highly customizable UNIX interface is easy after reading UNIX Desktop Guide to OPEN LOOK.

Clear, concise explanations guide users through the concepts of X and the OPEN LOOK graphical user interface. After grasping the easy accessibility of OPEN LOOK, users can focus on learning how to configure the OPEN LOOK Window Manager (OLWM) and how to use and write X applications. UNIX Desktop Guide to OPEN LOOK offers users examples based on Sun Microsystem's popular OpenWindows environment. These examples define each function and its result.

Author Naba Barkakati works extensively with C, assembly language, and UNIX. This latest book, UNIX Desktop Guide to OPEN LOOK, expands on his expertise. Users learn details about programming with the Xt Intrinsics, as well as when and where to use the OLIT functions and widgets. With the rest of this in-depth guide, users can effortlessly find the calling syntax for a function and verify the name of a widget's resource. An extensive quick reference for the OLWM, the OLIT widgets, Xt Intrinsics, and X events is also included inside the book.

UNIX Desktop Guide to OPEN LOOK

Naba Barkakati

$27.95 US ISBN: 0-672-30023-0 490 pp.

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SAMS, 11711 N. College Ave., Suite 140 Carmel, Indiana 46032

1-800-428-533 1


New Riders Technical Books
Beginning Graphics Users Add Dazzle to Design With NRP's Best-selling CorelDRAW! Book

Beginning graphics users add dazzle to their desktop design with this newly updated best-selling book from New Riders Publishing. Inside CorelDRAW!, Third Edition, is a handy book and disk tutorial that shows users how to produce impressive artwork with their PCs. Inside the book, readers find 16 full-color pages that prove what CorelDRAW! can do for them.

The free disk comes packed with sophisticated fonts, a font organizer, imaginative clip art, and a Windows Caching Program. The book takes users step-by-step through the creation of various eyecatching design projects. Inside CorelDRAW!, Third Edition, spells out all the fundamentals of this software. Editing, typesetting, and drawing techniques are taught to readers, while dozens of practical examples make learning efficient and effective.

Inside CorelDRAW!, Third Edition, covers versions 1, 2, and 2.1. It guides beginning and intermediate users toward designing their own type styles and importing text, importing graphics and art from other programs, fine-tuning Windows for CorelDRAW!, using spot and process color for the best results possible, and printing images on paper, slides, or vinyl.

Inside CorelDRAW!, Third Edition, updated by original author Daniel Gray, gives users practical lessons for professional computer-aided graphic design, as well as special tips and graphics tricks.

New Riders Publishing, a leader in computer-aided graphics and design book publishing, is an imprint of Prentice Hall Computer Publishing (PHCP). PHCP is a division of Simon & Schuster, which is a division of Paramount Communications.

Product Information

Inside CorelDRAW!, Third Edition

Daniel GRAY

$34.95 US (book/disk set) ISBN: 1-56205-039-7 588 pp.

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Beginning 'Networkers' Gain Support, Advice With Inside Novell NetWare from NRP

Beginning network users and system administrators gain support and advice from Inside Novell NetWare, a new book released by New Riders Publishing. Focusing on sharing and maintaining data on a network, this combination tutorial and reference covers Novell NetWare 2.X and 3.X.

All the information beginning and intermediate users need to successfully run applications and share data on networks is provided by author Debra Niedermiller-Chaffins. Her book, Inside Novell NetWare, teaches users the basics like logging on and off the system, then it quickly proceeds to sharing system printers and other network resources. Concise, practical advice helps users utilize NetWare to manage files and directories while maintaining data integrity and security.

Inside Novell NetWare helps users smooth out the rough spots in networking. It builds users' understanding of power-boosting, timesaving networks. Then it examines and exploits NetWare's benefits, while giving users solid system administration advice. Readers learn about symptoms that are key to troubleshooting and ways to fix problems. They also find out how to add users and user security to the network, as well as automate daily NetWare operations.

Inside Novell NetWare

Debra Niedermiller-Chaffins

$29.95 US ISBN: 1-56205-022-2 696 pp.

New Riders Publishing

11711 N. College Ave., Suite 140 Carmel, Indiana 46032

1-800-428-5331


Que Macintosh Publications
Users Master MacDraw Pro's Functions Easily With New 'Using' Book From Que

Regardless of one's artistic talent or computer capabilities, Que's Using MacDraw Pro helps make computer graphics even better.

Following the easy-to-use, hands-on format of other Que books, Using MacDraw Pro tells users everything they need to know about MacDraw Pro -- whether they are beginners or power users. The book clearly shows how to handle the many functions of this popular drawing package, such as how to create pictures and captions, as well as measuring elements to scale. Plus, users learn the basics of drawing in layers, creating solarizations of scanned images, and animating clip art for slide shows.

To make commercial applications easier, Using MacDraw Pro offers chapters on designing announcements, creating brochures, and making floor plans. It also contains a unique Product Guide that introduces additional Macintosh programs and utilities. Using MacDraw Pro maximizes the features of the software by giving users expert information and examples in one easy-to-use volume.

Using MacDraw Pro

Que Development Group

$24.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-830-X 488 pp.

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Mac Users Find That QuarkXPress 3.1 Quick Reference

Helps Make Macintosh Publications Shine

Macintosh users of all experience levels can use QuarkXPress 3.1 Quick Reference to make Mac publications magical. This compact guide highlights the most important commands, options, and features of the premier electronic publishing software for the Macintosh.

Covering QuarkXPress 3.1, this fingertip reference provides quick access to information about this popular graphics software. Step-by-step explanations of tasks and topics help users work with QuarkXpress more effectively. QuarkXPress 3.1 Quick Reference covers the QuarkXPress interface, palettes, and tools.

Users learn how to create full-color, high-powered publications; control typography, text, and graphics; streamline desktop publishing operations; create personalized XPress character-formatting tags; and add personal graphics with the QuarkXPress drawing tools. In addition, QuarkXPress 3.1 Quick Reference offers timesaving keyboard shortcuts.

Que, the world's leading computer book publisher, is a division of Prentice Hall Computer Publishing (PHCP). PHCP is a division of Simon & Schuster, which is a division of Paramount Communications.

Product Information

QuarkXPress 3.1 Quick Reference

Barbara Assadi

$9.95 US ISBN: 0-88022-769-9 150 pp.

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Que 11711 N. College Ave., Suite 140 Carmel, Indiana 46032

1-800-428-5331


Wing Commander & Ultima VI CD-ROM
Two of 1990's most popular arcade and role-playing titles are now available on CD-ROM: Wing Commander CD-ROM Edition and Wing Commander/ULTIMA VI: The False Prophet. These are the first in a licensing agreement with The Software Toolworks, Inc. of California to transfer ORIGIN games to the CD platform.

"The successes of both companies and our close relationship will make this a winning effort," says Bob Goldberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager of The Software Toolworks. ORIGIN President Robert Garriott agrees. "Our games are packed with detailed graphics, animation and sound," Garriott says. "Compact disc technology gives us a new, efficient way to deliver our products. We're looking forward to the rapidly approaching day when we can offer unbelievable CD-enhanced games, including a substantial increase in the use of speech and digitized film footage."

Wing Commander CD-ROM Edition includes the original Wing Commander plus its add-on modules, Secret Missions and Secret Missions 2: Crusade. Wing Commander swept computer industry awards, picking up such honors as "Game of the Year" from OMNI, Compute, and Computer Gaming World magazines as well as "Best Arcade/Action Game of the Year" from Game Players, Games Magazine and the Chicago Tribune. Purchasing each of the three titles in floppy disk format would total $129.85. Suggested retail price for the CD-ROM product is $79.95.

The Software Toolworks has also teamed Wing Commander with ULTIMA VI: The False Prophet. The PC version of Ultima VI has drawn worldwide acclaim and garnered honors such as "Best Role Playing Game of 1990" from OMNI magazine and the "1990 Excellence Award" from Game Players magazine. Purchased separately, both games would total $139.90. Suggested retail price for the CD-ROM version is $99.95. Soon, CD-ROM owners will be able to enjoy the entire Ultima library. The ULTIMA I-VI Series is slated for release in the first quarter of 1992. Created by ORIGIN co-founder Richard Garriott, Ultima is the top-selling line of fantasy role-playing games in the history of entertainment software.

ORIGIN Systems Inc

110 Wild Basin Rd, Suite 230

Austin, TX 78746

512-328-5490


Wing Cmdr Deluxe/Ultima Trilogy
Collections of ORIGIN's top-selling arcade/action and fantasy role-playing product lines will arrive on retail shelves in March with the release of Wing Commander Deluxe Edition and ULTIMA The Second Trilogy. The Wing Commander Deluxe Edition includes the original Wing Commander, plus its additional mission disks, Secret Missions 1 & Secret Missions 2: Crusade. ULTIMA: The Second Trilogy includes Ultima IV, V and VI.

In Wing Commander, deep-space dogfights are combined with a cinematic storyline and fully-orchestrated soundtrack. The player is pitted against a tiger-like race known as the Kilrathi in a tale of bravery, intrigue and deception. Secret Missions 1 & 2 propel the plot even further with four new spacecraft, two new wingmen and 32 additional sorties. Players can also use the mission selector feature to replay favorite parts of the game. Creator Chris Roberts' new 3-D technology and highly-detailed VGA graphics made Wing Commander the blockbuster hit of 1990, garnering Game of the Year honors from OMNI, Compute, and Computer Gaming World magazines as well as Best Arcade/Action awards from Games Players, Games Magazine and the Chicago Tribune. The Wing Commander Deluxe Edition suggested retail price is $79.95. Each component purchased separately would total $129.85.

ULTIMA: The Second Trilogy is subtitled Avatar Trilogy of Virtue. In ULTIMA IV Quest of the Avatar, the player strives to become the Avatar by achieving the eight virtues: Honesty, Compassion, Valor, Justice, Sacrifice, Honor, Spirituality and Humility. In ULTIMA V Warriors of Destiny, the Avatar travels deep beneath the surface of Britannia to rescue Lord British from the three Shadowlords: Falsehood, Hatred and Cowardice. In ULTIMA VI The False Prophet, the Avatar staves off a violent--and misunderstood--race of Gargoyles to save Britannia. The award-winning Ultima series, created by ORIGIN co-founder Richard Garriott, is the top-selling line of fantasy role-playing games in the history of entertainment software. Suggested retail price for ULTIMA The Second Trilogy is $79.95. Each game in the trilogy purchased separately would total $189.85.

System requirements for The Wing Commander Deluxe Edition are:

* IBM-PC/Tandy & 100% compatibles

* Required: 640 K (760K Tandy); dual floppies or hard drive

* Recommended: 12 MHz or higher; joystick or mouse

* Graphics: 256-color VGA/MCGA, EGA, Tandy

* Music (optional): Ad Lib, Roland MT-32/LAPC-1,

  Sound Blaster

System requirements for ULTIMA The Second Trilogy are:

* IBM-PC/Tandy & 100% compatibles

* Required memory: 640K

* Recommended: Hard disk, 10MHz+ processor, mouse

* Graphics: EGA, Tandy 16 color, CGA. Plus 256-color

  VGA/MCGA on Ultima VI. Plus Hercules support on

  Ultima V and VI.

* Music in Ultima VI only (optional): Ad Lib,

  Game Blaster (CMS), Roland MT-32/LAPC-1

ORIGIN Systems Inc

110 Wild Basin Rd, Suite 230

Austin, TX 78746

512-328-5490


Loremaster Adventure Game
Creative Software Corporation announces the unveiling of a new fantasy role-playing game strategically designed to experience a 3D gameworld! The game combines the highest quality 256 color VGA animation and super VGA static images with digitized sound.

Loremaster is a thrilling game, created for experienced players to test their sharpened skills, and for beginners to create new worlds of excitement. The course of events, and your character's destiny are controlled by YOU! YOU are the master of your own fate!

Experience the mysteries of the gameworld, as you unravel the secrets of the seven kingdoms! Slay the Dragon! Deal with the Merchant! Trick the Sorcerer! Fight with the Wraith! Philosophize with the Oracle! Survive the ominious Caverns of Carthos as you battle strange creatures in the subterranean catacombs. All this ...and more for the spirited adventurer! .

Loremaster by Creative Software retails for $59.99. Special 40% discount to our first five thousand customers!

Recommended:

Hardware requirements:

  ...80286 or greater

  ...DOS 3.3 or greater

  ...15 MB of free disk space

  ...a minimum of 1 MB of EMS

  ...VGA (normal game play and animations are

     in standard 256 color VGA)

  ...Super VGA (SVGA)

  ...Thundercard, Soundblaster or compatible

  ...2 MB of EMS with diskcache installed

Creative Software, is also planning a multi-user/multi-player uersion of Loremaster for the winter of 1992 with special incentives for the registered customer.

Creative Software, 766 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109

415-563-9309


Whitewater ObjectGraphics for C++
Whitewater introduced ObjectGraphics for C++, a high-level, object-oriented graphics library that extends the power of Borland C++ with Application Frameworks and Turbo C++ for Windows to create comprehensive, platform-independent support for graphics, including diverse shapes, bitmaps, icons, multiple fonts and text styles in a Microsoft Windows application.

ObjectGraphics for C++ completely masks the graphics engine in Windows, and allows users to develop graphical applications using a simple set of graphic objects rather than using scores of primitive function calls. With ObjectGraphics, users can create and manipulate rendering tool objects such as "Pens," "Brushes" and "Textpens" to control the appearance of graphic images. These tools allow users to simply specify drawing attributes such as line styles, fill patterns, colors, fonts, drawing combinations and more.

ObjectGraphics enhances the power of the ObjectWindows class library in Borland C++ with Application Frameworks and Turbo C++ for Windows. ObjectWindows is a language independent class library used for developing Windows applications. ObjectWindows provides an object-oriented code layer over the Windows API, offers a high degree of code reusability and portability, and significantly reduces the Windows learning curve for new developers. ObjectWindows is available for C++, Turbo Pascal, and Actor. Whitewater and Borland have jointly submitted a draft standard of ObjectWindows to the Object Management Group.

"ObjectGraphics is the natural extension of the ObjectWindows class library found in Borland C++ with Application Frameworks and Turbo C++ for Windows," said Mark Achler, president of Whitewater. "ObjectGraphics is the first in a series of increasingly higher-level class libraries that will rest upon ObjectWindows as a foundation, and make truly platform-independent GUI applications possible."

ObjectGraphics is designed to be platform-independent and completely portable; application code developed under one environment is fully portable to any environment where ObjectGraphics is available. A translation layer between the application code and the target platform's graphics engine allow an application's portability without rewriting a single line of code.

"ObjectGraphics for C++ offers developers the benefits of a true, object-oriented graphics development environment by allowing them to concentrate on developing application code rather than managing graphical code," said Gene Wang, vice president and general manager of Borland's Languages Business Unit.

ObjectDraw, a sample draw application, is included with ObjectGraphics. Written in C++ and built upon ObjectGraphics, ObjectDraw provides a wealth of reusable source code that programmers can use to develop applications. ObjectDraw's classes can be examined and then incorporated into other applications, saving a considerable amount of time. In addition, ObjectDraw is a useful and practical application which allows developers to create graphics for use in their C++ programs.

Availability, Pricing, System Requirements

ObjectGraphics for C++ is now available through major resellers or directly from Whitewater for $195. ObjectGraphics for C++ with Source Code is available for $390. As a special offer through March 31, 1992, ObjectGraphics for C++ is sold for $99.99 and ObjectGraphics for C++ with Source Code for $198.99.

ObjectGraphics runs on any IBM or 100% compatible machine using a 80286 or higher processor. It also requires Borland C++ with Application Framework or Turbo C++ for Windows, 2 megabytes of memory, a hard disk, graphics, a mouse or other pointing device and Windows 3.0 or later.

ObjectGraphics for C++ was developed by Whitewater in conjunction with Applied Visions, Inc.

The Whitewater Group Family of Windows Development Tools

In addition to ObjectGraphics, Whitewater offers a complete family of products designed for creating Windows applications. Included are Actor 4.0, an object-oriented programming language designed for complete compatibility and full support of Windows 3.0 features, including the ObjectWindows class library; and Whitewater Resource Toolkit 3.0, an interactive tool that allows users to visually design Windows graphical user interfaces.

Whitewater also offers Actor Professional 4.0, the most complete and cost-effective system for cresting Windows applications. Actor Professional extends your ability to develop creative, customized stand-alone Windows applications with the Actor system. On top of the Actor language and environment, Actor Professional includes: access to most popular databases using a database-independent Structured Query Language (SQL), the ObjectGraphics class library, and the Whitewater Resource Toolkit.

Company Background

Whitewater has been an innovator in offering object-oriented programming tools and class libraries for professional developers since 1985. Today, Whitewater is a leader in providing an award-winning family of Windows development tools. Its flagship product, Actor, was the first object-oriented programming language specifically designed for the development of Windows applications. Whitewater served as consultants to Borland during the creation of ObjectWindows, the first multi-language and multi-vendor standard class library for windowing. The company provides indepth training, consulting and telephone hotline support services to help users benefit from the full power of its products.

The Whitewater Group

1800 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

708-328-3800


Therapist Helper V4.02 Upgrade
Brand Software Inc. announces the release of its 4.02 upgrade to Therapist Helper. Designed for mental health providers, counselors, and administrators, Therapist Helper 4.02 is a complete practice management tool offering billing, insurance, and managerial solutions to individual and group practices regardless of size.

Therapist Helper 4.02 is a database containing patient and insurance records into which transactions are posted with little effort. Sliding fee scales are accommodated for group practices. Many formats of billing statements and insurance forms may be produced, as well as the vast array of summaries needed for accounting purposes. Managerial reports include: progress notes, referral source productivity, insurance tracers, and an audit trail. All bills, forms, and reports may be printed for selected patients, therapists, insurance companies, and account types and can include transactions between any two dates. Since reports are written in Structured Query Language, existing reports may be modified and new ones created as any piece of information may be placed practically anywhere on a page.

Insurance tracking is strict in the 4.02 upgrade. Therapist Helper 4.02 ensures that all claims are paid with its unique Insurance Invoicing system. User-defined dunning messages speed past due bill collection. DSM-III-R and ICD-9 codes are included in a pop up library for convenience.

Designed for computer novices, Therapist Helper 4.02 is menu driven with Hotkeys for instant transportation to anywhere in the program. Included in the 4.02 upgrade are a built in backup system, text editor, mail merge letter writer, and a one-touch menu for adjusting insurance form alignment. User-friendliness abounds with two levels of context-sensitive help, running tutorials, and start-up tours. Therapist Helper 4.02 is fully documented and telephone support is available during business hours.

Brand Software was established in 1987 by Richard R. Brand, Ph.D., a practicing clinical psychologist. Therapist Helper is written in Turbo C using a network model database. It has been a market leader since entering the national market in 1988. Therapist Helper has been reviewed in PC WORLD (May 1991 ) and is available in three versions depending upon the user's needs. Designed for IBM compatibles, the software requires a hard drive, 640K RAM, any monitor, and can be used with nearly any printer. Generous incentives are available for qualified Value Added Resellers.

Brand Software Inc, 395 Main St, Salem, NH 03079

603-898-0502


Spectrum & Loughborough DSP Merger
Spectrum Signal Processing, Inc. and Loughborough Sound Images (LSI) of the United Kingdom will combine their expertise in digital signal processing technology under an agreement proposed by the boards of directors of both companies.

Under the terms of the agreement, which still must be approved by the stockholders of each company, Spectrum and LSI will merge their equity and create a publicly traded company forming the world's largest DSP development and embedded systems supplier. The merger would combine the talents and expertise of the organizations, which have been working closely since 1987, under one management offering the benefits of technical and engineering expertise in a multinational company.

"Spectrum and Loughborough have enjoyed a very successful relationship in the DSP marketplace for more than five years, and this merger will strengthen that association," said Barry Jinks, Spectrum president. "When the agreement gains full approval, it will create the dominant company in DSP systems and solutions worldwide, just as the DSP segment of the electronics industry is entering its fastest period of growth".

General estimates of the DSP industry growth rate are now 35 percent annually.

"Our growth has been steady, due to a talented engineering staff and worldwide marketing expertise that led to sales of $US6.1 million last year." said Dr. Dave Quarmby, Loughborough co-founder and chairman. "The boards of directors of LSI and Spectrum have determined that the complementary strengths of each company and the rapid growth of the market for DSP products have created a superb opportunity. The combination of the resources of both companies will create an unchallenged worldwide leader in DSP technology expertise."

The combination of Loughborough and Spectrum will provide economies of scale and multiple sourcing of products, and permit both companies to operate with a single, clear strategic vision, and allow the organization to move faster to develop and implement successful products in high growth, high value markets, Quarmby said. The new combined company also will be able to enhance its relationships with third party developers and DSP vendors.

Quarmby and Jinks emphasized that the combination of the companies' resources would create new opportunities for employees of both Loughborough and Spectrum, and result in further development of new products and new markets. Final approval of the proposal is anticipated by March 31.

Each organization has grown rapidly as DSP technology proliferated.

Loughborough introduced the first DSP board product in 1985, and last year provided the market with its first DSP boards based on the VME and Sbus architectures. In 1987, Loughborough helped start Spectrum, granting the Vancouver-based start-up an exclusive manufacturing and distribution license to all of its products in North America. Recognizing these achievements and leadership, the British government in 1991 awarded Loughborough the prestigious Queens Award for Export Achievement.

Spectrum has worked closely with Loughborough on DSP development and system boards, including its complete suite of systems and processor boards designed around the leading digital signal processors from Texas Instruments, Motorola Inc., Analog Devices and AT&T.

Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. is a Canadian company focused on the application of Digital Signal Processing (DSP), a technology that promises to be one of the fastest growing of the l990's. DSP is a revolutionary approach to capturing and processing electronic signals using advanced computer hardware and software.

Applications of LSI's and Spectrum's products include digital cellular, digital audio, medical diagnostics, radar, sonar, defense communications and surveillance, and many industrial uses ranging from the design of more efficient automobile engines to advanced well monitoring techniques for the oil and gas industry.

Spectrum's customers are principally in the United States, and include "Fortune 1000" companies, research establishments as well as many agencies within the US Government and the Department of Defense. In addition to its Vancouver-based engineering and marketing organization, Spectrum maintains a US sales facility at Westborough, Massachusetts. The company is publicly traded on the Vancouver Stock Exchange under the symbol SSY.

LSI's customers include Educational and Research Laboratories as well as industrial OEMs and VARs. LSI is highly experienced in dealing in a global market, with substantial sales coming from overseas. LSI has established a network of technically qualified distributors in most European countries as well as Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Israel and Australia, while in France, LSI's own subsidiary company, LSI France, provides local sales and technical support.

Spectrum Signal Processing

Suite 301-3700 Gilmore Way, Burnaby, B.C. Canada V5G 4M1


LINKS Barton Creek Course
Access Software Inc. is pleased to announce the release of another Championship Course for their award winning LINKS program. The Barton Creek course was designed by renowned course designer Tom Fazio. The Barton Creek Country Club is the site of the Senior PGA Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament. Located in the hill country of Texas, this beautiful but treacherous course is probably the best looking LINKS course to date. The hills, hazards and the tremendous fairways make Barton Creek especially enjoyable to play. The course is shipping now with a suggested retail price of $24.95.

LINKS was designed to easily incorporate these add on Championship Courses. Once the course is installed the LINKS player needs only to select the desired course by clicking on the mouse button. New courses are in development and will be released about every other month this year.

Access Software was awarded the prestigious Software Publishers Association (SPA) Excellence in Software Award for LINKS. The Computer Gaming World award for BEST ACTION GAME for 1991 was presented to Access for LINKS. LINKS was also a finalist for the PC Magazine Technical Excellence Award.

Access Software Inc

4910 West Amelia Earhart Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

801-359-2900


CaLANdar Updates & Add-Ons
Microsystems Software announced the release of CAL Remote, which adds remote CaLANdar access and data synchronization to both the LAN and WAN based versions of CaLANdar. With CAL Remote, traveling CaLANdar users can remotely review and locally print their home office CaLANdar schedules, while on the road. Additionally, CAL Remote provides on-line synchronization of your home office CaLANdar account and a local satellite copy of CaLANdar located on your laptop.

CAL Remote lets you schedule, forward, acknowledge and delegate appointments and tasks with individuals or groups situated anywhere on a local or wide area network equipped with CaLANdar. Additionally, CAL Remote is interactive with CALaWAY (MSI's Message Center), which lets you to perform remote data synchronization with CaLANdar's optional telephone messaging system. From remote locations, CaLANdar Satellite users can forward, receive, delegate or ignore phone messages thereby determining their respective disposition while away from the office.

CAL Remote is a 2 part telecommunications facility. One part - WAITCALL, resides on any number of PCs/modems connected to your network. CALLCAL is the communications software which resides on the laptops or remote PCs. When WAITCALL receives a call from CALLCAL, it loads CaLANdar and prompts for a user account name. At this point operation is identical to running CaLANdar from any PC while in the office. When you exit from CaLANdar, WAITCALL hangs up and waits for another call.

In addition to accessing CaLANdar, CAL Remote includes security code protected options for loading other programs, plus access to the DOS prompt. Additionally, a direct PC-to-PC connection is available at up to 38,400 baud, via a null modem cable.

CAL Remote completes MSI's first generation wide-area network development efforts for CaLANdar. According to J. Scott Benson, Microsystems Software's president: "In 1991 we made a commitment to our customers that we would provide the most robust and scalable distributed scheduling solution in the industry. The release of CAL Remote concludes the wide area communications solutions which we committed to one year ago. We can now turn our total team effort to our current Windows development."

CAL Remote retails for $195 per server. In conjunction with the release of CAL Remote, MSI announced that it is now including CALIO as part of the base product. CALIO provides connectivity with the Sharp Wizard, comma delimited ASCII files, Calendar Creator and word processing files. CALIO also integrates with CAL Remote to provide the data transfer and synchronization. Previously CALIO was priced separately at $195.

For information regarding CaLANdar and any of its options, contact Microsystems Software at 600 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 or call (508) 879-9000.

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Microsystems Software also announced the release CALoDEX and CALaWAY.

CALoDEX is a name and address database extension for CaLANdar. CALoDEX provides group and personal "rolodex-like" cards with details on CaLANdar users and resources, plus information on employees, customers, vendors, friends, relatives and more.

CALoDEX cards are tightly integrated into CaLANdar's global naming system. CALoDEX supports 3 types of cards: Personal, Server and Corporate. Personal cards are available for each user and can not be viewed or otherwise accessed by other users. Server cards are available to all users on the same server (CaLANdar database). Corporate cards are integrated into CaLANdar's WAN support and are accessible by all users on every server within the CaLANdar/e-mail wide area network.

CALoDEX cards can be included in CaLANdar appointments (even if they are not CaLANdar users). Additionally, CaLANdar users can use CALoDEX to pass information to foreground application programs. For instance, CALoDEX can be used to fill in an e-mail address or "stuff" name and address, title and salutation into a word processing letter.

CALaWAY is a message center extension to CaLANdar. CaLANdar lets you take and electronically distribute messages. The message recipients are automatically notified via CaLANdar's standard notification system. When a message is read the recipient can call and close the message, forward the message or leave the message open for further action at a later time. Additionally, CALaWAY provides a 2 line notes field. When messages are marked as "done", they are filed into the eNote section of CaLANdar for that day. The messages can be retrieved later via CaLANdar's Find Text option.

Because CALaWAY is tightly coupled with CaLANdar, the operator can tell if the desired person is in or out of the office and whether he or she is busy in a scheduled appointment. Additionally, when used in conjunction with CALoDEX, CALaWAY provides further operational smoothness, such as assistance with filling in the name, company and numbers of frequent callers and use of the auto-dialing feature when returning the call.

In addition to the message management facility of CALaWAY, it includes an on-line chat facility called Hot Call. Hot Call is a split screen 2-way message system which the operator CAN pop-up an urgent call message on a user's PC screen while they are speaking on another line. The recipient can then (via keyboard) instruct the operator to hold the call or take a message.

According to J. Scott Benson, President of Microsystems Software, "CALaWAY was designed to replace those stacks of "While You Were Out" slips that accumulate on your desk and transient voice mail messages, with an easy-to-use comprehensive message management system."

CALoDEX and CALaWAY retail for $295 and $195 per 50 users/ per server respectively. For information regarding CaLANdar and any of its options, contact Microsystems Software at 600 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701, or call (508) 879-9000.


ADAPTA-LAN Disabled Employee Pgms
Microsystems Software, Inc., announce the release of ADAPTA-LAN, a unique set of local area network programs for disabled employees. With ADAPTA-LAN installed on a network, users have access to screen magnification, word prediction, and access to the PC by way of external switches, visual beeps and more.

ADAPTA-LAN can be accessed by people using IBM and IBM PC compatibles and other computers.

ADAPTA-LAN can benefit millions of America's 43-million disabled people who are either working or looking for a job.

ADAPTA-LAN is available to corporations, government agencies, and educational institutions who want to provide more accessibility to qualified persons with disabilities. With ADAPTA-LAN, employers definitely benefit because they can offer employees more mobility within the organization and be assured of increased office productivity. The employee gains because ADAPTA-LAN can help increase job performance and provides them with another tool that compensates for their disability. The program is another example of technology being the great equalizer for disabled people.

"ADAPTA-LAN benefits employers wanting to comply with the reasonable accommodations section of the Americans with Disabilities Act that goes into effect on July 26 of this year," says John M. Williams, publisher and editor of Special and Individuals Needs Technology (SAINT), and international publication informing people of the benefits of technology for disabled people.

ADAPTA-LAN is compatible with most popular networks including Novell, 3Com and Banyan. The package retails for $2995 per server with an unlimited number of users and includes 9 different software packages; MAGic and MAGic Deluxe, screen magnification software for DOS and Windows; HandiKEY and HandiCODE for PC access without the keyboard; HandiSHIFT and HandiWORD for individuals with limited keyboarding ability. Other programs accompanying the package include HandiCHAT for non-speaking persons; HandiPHONE telephone and modem access for people with physical limitations; and SeeBEEP a visual indicator of PC audio beep for the hearing-impaired. ADAPTA-LAN includes hardware connections for PC access via external switches. Additional hardware for special requirements is also available.

Microsystems Software, Inc. leads the country in development of PC based adapted access software for disabled people. HandiWARE and MAGic is sold throughout the US and internationally in the UK, France, Germany, Israel, and Australia.

Microsystems is also the developer of CaLANdar, an industry leading LAN Groupware scheduling product.

Microsystems Software Inc.

600 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701-5342

(508) 879-9000  Fax: (508) 626-8515  BBS: (508) 875-8009


Aquiline Arima SL Notebook
Aquiline, Inc. released their new Aquiline Arima SL notebook today. Key features including an 8 hour battery life, 48 hour suspend mode and a 10" VGA LCD 64 grey scale display. Using Intel's SL chip the Aquiline is ideal for coast to coast or international travel. It is also ideal for use in presentations because users will not be interrupted to change batteries. With 2 megabytes of RAM standard (expandable to 10 Megabytes) the Aquiline Arima SL is capable of handling Windows and DOS based applications with high performance.

KEY FEATURES:

Display - The new system's display has 64 grey scales and is 10 inches in diagonal length. This is ideal for displaying Microsoft Windows and for DOS based applications. This is a major advantage when compared to the 8.5 inch displays of last year.

Docking Station - The new docking station gives users full expansion capabilities by providing two 16 bit card slots. Not only can these slots be used for scanner and network cards but also for a high speed super VGA card. This will display 1024 x 768 or even 1280 x 1024 resolution, on an external monitor. The base system itself can display 800 x 600 on an external monitor.

Hinged Latches - All covers on the system are hinged. This prevents any pieces being lost in the field and insures all ports will be covered when not in use.

Keyboard Controlled Brightness and Contrast - Brightness and contrast are changed by touching the keyboard. By eliminating dial controls there are many less moving parts on the system.

Inverted "T" Cursor Keys - By popular demand the keyboard has an inverted 'T' configuration as compared to the less preferred "L" configuration.

Internal Trackball/FAX/Modem all in one - A unique all in one approach has been taken designing a trackball that has a modem and fax located in one module that locks inside to the right of the keyboard.

Distributed Weight and Easy Grip Thickness - Weighing in at just 5.5 pounds and only 1.7 inches thick the Aquiline is one of the lightest notebooks available today. The battery, floppy drive and hard disk are located just right for an equal displacement of weight throughout the system.

Suspend/Resume - No need to shut the system off when you are finished or breaking in between use. Simply close the cover in the same way you would a refrigerator door and magically the system appears to never have shut down or exited your program the same way a refrigerator light never seems to shut off.

The Aquiline SL comes with 2 megabytes of RAM expandable to 10 megabytes using non-proprietary memory and 40 megabyte hard disk that can be replaced with up to a 185 megabyte hard disk.

"The Aquiline Arima SL is the ideal system for all types of business and home applications. It allows users to use only one computer at home, office, and in the field. When the Aquiline Arima SL was designed it was decided not to implement a case and display from last year's design. Instead, it was designed from the bottom up with the latest in features and design. Why introduce state-of-the-art circuitry and technology with an outdated and ergonomically incorrect housing?", stated Tony DeMaria, Director of Marketing for Aquiline.

"Because Aquiline feels color screen technology has not matured fully, production of a color version will be at the end of the year. We would like to see 256 colors at one time running at an acceptable speed and power consumption before we will present it to the public. Color screens are still imperfect, overpriced and there are still many shortcomings" De Maria said.

With many new users opting to purchase one computer for the home, office and travel, Aquiline offers many option accessories. The docking station gives the Aquiline Arima SL desktop expansion capabilities at the office or home. The cigarette lighter adapter allows users to charge the system while traveling. The built in trackball makes it simple to use Windows wherever you are.

The Intel based Aquiline Arima SL is the ideal all-purpose machine that truly puts the user at one with his or her computer.

Aquiline Inc, 449 Main St, Bennington, VT 05201

802-442-1526


SyDOS Reduces Prices
SyDOS, a division of SyQuest Technology, announced the reduction of prices on the SyDOS product line of removable cartridge Winchester disk drives and at the same time announced additions to the Product line to better meet the needs of customers in the DOS market. The additions include a Microchannel Adapter Kit, an 8-bit Standard Adapter Kit, and two new 88MB drive configurations bundling the new 8-bit Standard Adapter Kit with the internal and external drive.

Suggested list prices for the current SyDOS Product line have dropped by as much as 26% with the SyDOS 44/2 (external 44MB dual) dropping $639 to $1759! The SyDOS 44i (internal 44MB) dropped $199 to $799; the SyDOS 44e (external) dropped $159 to $1039; the SyDOS 88i (internal 88MB with 16-bit HBA) is now $1439; the SyDOS 88e (external 88MB with 16-bit HBA) is now $1539; and the SyDOS 88/2 (external 88MB dual) is now $2549. All prices include drive, cartridge (two with the dual drives), installation software, caching software, cables, and a host adapter. Additional 88MB cartridges are available at a suggested list price of $278 and 44MB cartridges are available at $178.

"By reducing prices significantly and offering a broader range of subsystems, SyDOS can aggressively attack a wider variety of the market and provide a solution to every PC user's needs and budget," said Linda Haury, Vice President of Marketing for SyDOS. "The price decreases and new offerings will allow SyDOS to take leadership in the marketplace by offering a full range of removable storage solutions from entry level 44MB systems to high performance 88MB systems. By providing users a comprehensive product line, SyDOS has listened to what PC users want and can now deliver high performance removable cartridge disk drives to a broader base of users."

The new MCA-Kit from SyDOS allows users of IBM PS/2 Microchannel compatible systems to connect SyDOS drives to their computers. The standard 8-bit host adapter called the SP-Kit, allows users to move their SyDOS drives easily from system to system. This inexpensive Host Bus Adapter can be installed in virtually all PC compatible systems and supports the full range of SyDOS subsystems. The suggested retail price for the MCA-Kit is $399 and the SP-Kit lists for $129. The two new 88MB subsystems, called the SyDOS 88il (internal) and SyDOS 88el (external), have suggested retail list prices of $1129 and $1229 respectively. These products allow a solution for users requiring a higher capacity but who do not require a high performance HBA. These new subsystems come complete with drive, cartridge, installation software, caching software, cables and the standard 8-bit host adapter.

SyDOS subsystems are ideal for storage intensive applications such as desktop publishing, graphics, and multi-media. They are also ideal for high-speed file backup and restore operations working in conjunction with fixed disk drives, and can be used as a bootable system disk should the fixed disk drive fail. "These very fast subsystems are indispensable in applications where security, confidentiality and privacy are key issues," Haury said. "Rather than locking up the whole computer or taking out the disk drive, the use of any SyDOS Series subsystem requires only that the cartridge be secured." SyDOS removable cartridge disk drives offer the best warranty in the industry with a two year warranty on the SyDOS disk drive and a five year warranty on the SyQuest cartridge.

SyDOS is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and is a division of SyQuest Technology, headquartered in Fremont, California. SyDOS was formed to distribute removable cartridge disk drives to the PC and compatibles marketplace. SyQuest has shipped over 700,000 disk drives and over 2.5-million data cartridges since its incorporation in 1982. The company commands over 90 percent of the removable hard-cartridge disk drive marketplace. SyQuest is a public company (NASDAQ symbol: SYQT).

SyDOS

6501 Park of Commerce Blvd, Suite 110

Boca Raton, FL 33487

407-998-5400


Interplay Battle Chess for the MPC
Interplay Productions announces the shipment of Battle Chess for the MPC, the company's first CD-ROM product to ship.  Battle Chess for the MPC will run on any MPC (Multimedia PC) with 3 megs or more of RAM, a graphics card that supports 640 x 480 VGA mode with 256 colors, an MPC-compatible CD-ROM drive, and Microsoft Windows 3.0 (or higher) with Multimedia Extensions.

Battle Chess for the MPC is an animated chess game in which the chess pieces walk around and beat up on each other, "bringing the game of chess to life."  Previous versions for different computers have won various awards for graphics and game play, and this CD-ROM version is the best yet, with CD sound for all combats; mood music during the game that reflects your situation; 31 megabytes of incredible animation and graphics; and a tutorial that teaches you how to play chess, as each chess piece introduces himself (or herself, in the Queen's case) and talks about the history of the game, how to move, and strategy.  Battle Chess for the MPC is filled with the characteristic Battle Chess humor and features graphics and sound that will knock your socks off.  Really.

Battle Chess for the MPC is not copy protected and it sells for $79.95.  You can buy it from your favorite retailer, or direct from Interplay at 1-800-969-GAME.


DXF/GDS Design Tools
DXF/GDS Design Tools from Silicon Mountain Design & Curtis CAE Consultants.  The DXF connection to submicron glass masks.

Attention: Designers using CALMA GDSII systems can now convert to use DXF Based Design tools like: AutoCAD, CADkey, Generic CADD, Design CAD, Fast CAD, Easy CAD. This opens up the use of PC CAD tools for use in designs which could only previously be done on expensive CAD Workstations.  For example: submicron designs being done for semiconductors.

Description:

The DXF/GDS Design Tools put the designer in control of the design data. Two of the tools provide bi-directional translation of design files between AutoCAD's DXF and the Calma GDSII stream format.  The third tool gives the designer the capability to analyze GDSII stream design data in the same detail that can be done with ASCII based DXF.  This Analyzer is particularly helpful if you receive Calma Stream from other sources.

The stand alone programs provide a complete interface between DXF and Calma Stream.  The hierarchy of the design is always maintained.  If your PC tool can handle arrays then they will be maintained in the translation.  Generating DXF from a Calma Stream is a precise process and the designer will view each vertex of BOUNDARY or PATH shapes on the PC .  In addition, GDS TEXT is converted with several options for managing the different font environments.

The DXF to Calma Stream translation is more complicated.  It requires generation of vertices to duplicate DXF's mathematical descriptions of curved shapes.  The DXF to GDS design tool has special geometry generating features to facilitate the conversion and post fracturing process of curved shapes. Several years of fracturing experience has made this possible.

Features:

Special expansions of DXF curved shapes into the best pattern generation description in GDSII Stream.  This expedites your mask manufacturing process.

Combines independent lines and arcs into a closed GDSII Boundary automatically.

Maintains the design's hierarchy in either translation direction.

Supports TEXT as well as geometry translations.  If you plan to use Semiconductor Logic Verification Tools on your design this will be a mandatory feature.

Supports a wide variety of DXF sources. (Not all CAD Tools produce the same DXF)

Exhaustive error checking and GDSII Stream standards verification.

Artificial Intelligence Built In:

The DXF/GDS Design Tools were developed and enhanced while serving Silicon Mountain Design's customer's requirements.  Conversion functions are built in to assure fast and effective translations.  Powerful algorithms are used to convert DXF mathematical descriptions into a series of vertices to duplicate the graphic in GDSII Stream.

Complex curved shapes are broken up into smaller pieces.  The pieces are then spliced together to provide the final graphic shape.  This allows the translator to use more vertices - overcoming the GDSII 200 vertex limit.  Also it produces shapes that assure a trouble free fracturing process.  A good example of this is changing a circle into spliced together pie shapes. Separate zero width lines and arcs are connected together by matching end points.  The algorithm exhaustively searches all independent edges.  When a closed polygon is formed it changes the line segments into a GDSII Boundary.

Varying width paths are changed into Boundary graphic shapes that duplicate the same graphic.

Well Behaved & Flexible:

The DXF/GDS Design Tools are tested on hundreds of designs at Silicon Mountain Design.  They are frequently applied to new situations as new objectives arrive on the scene.  This application engineering environment has demanded fault tolerant tools.

They are designed to operate with a minimum of resources. They use standard UNIX like command line options that are easy to learn.  They are available on UNIX systems and IBM PC compatibles.

Curtis CAE Consultants is always interested in new applications for the tools.  If enhancements are needed let us know!  Frequently the updates are incorporated in the next release or sooner.  We are committed to meeting our customer's requirements.

GDSII Into DXF

GDS2DXF Special Features:

GDS2DXF can identify the top structure automatically.  In some cases a GDSII Stream has more than one top structure.  An option is provided to assign the top structure.

A definitions file is provided to assign GDSII layer numbers DXF layer names.  This can be a real benefit for complicated semiconductor designs with many layers.

A scale factor is provided to modify the design's coordinates.  A separate scale factor is provided to adjust the size of text. GDSII arrays (AREF) can be expanded to separate instances for those CAD Tools that do not handle DXF arrays.

GDS2DXF can translate GDSII library files into BLOCK entities that can later be included in the DXF design.  It isn't necessary for the GDSII Stream to be a design file.

GDSII files from a variety of sources can be processed into DXF.  For example, the MAC based DM2000 produces a GDSII Stream that can be transferred to a PC and then translated into DXF.  The GDS2DXF tool makes available to the PC designer all the design data residing on expensive semiconductor workstations.

DXF Into GDSII:

DXF POINT, SHAPE, ATTDEF, and ATTRIB entities are  ignored by the translator.  It will report their occurrence in the DXF so the user is aware of the decisions being made by the translator.  A basic development philosophy of the DXF/GDS Design Tools is to keep the user aware and to assist in  any problem resolution.  For example, each warning or error message identifies the DXF record that caused the problem.  The translator reports its progress as each BLOCK is being processed.

DXF2GDS Special Features:

The DXF2GDS translator creates a level 6 GDSII Stream.  This is the most current release and accepted as the industry standard. The designer can set the level of accuracy required in generating vertices to map out any curved surface.  The designer may set the maximum allowed distance between arc vertices.

All remaining independent zero width paths are assigned GDSII Datatype 63.  This permits them to be quickly identified on a Calma compatible workstation without reassigning their layer. A summary report of the translation allows the designer to quickly determine if the DXF has inherent conversion problems.  For example, BLOCKS with zero layer entities are easily identified.  The INSERT layer assignments for each BLOCK are summarized to determine if the DXF can be translated or if multiple layer assignments occurred.

The designer can set coordinate scaling and snapping.  If requested the round off error in changing the coordinate to the GDSII integer format is reported.

Paths with bulged edges and circles are separated into smaller features that are more easily processed in the pattern generation phase of making masks.

Renames DXF BLOCK structures if the DXF name will violate GDSII Stream naming standards.

GDS Verification & Analysis:

Determines the hierarchy of the design.  Identifies the top structure and the ways the other structures are used in the design.

Verifies that the GDSII Stream is constructed in accordance with Level 6 standards and that all the required records are included in each element.  Also verifies that bit tables are correctly used and coordinate lists meet the requirements of their parent element.

Identifies the presence of zero width PATH elements which can void a generated mask.

Identifies potential structure naming problems.  Will rename  structures that depend on case to separately identify structures.

Provides grid snapping, coordinate scaling, and database unit modification.

Detailed analysis of the GDSII Stream database is provided with an interpreted dump of each GDSII record.

Additional information:

Additional information about these new tools and information on how to order is available by request to:

Silicon Mountain Design

2864 S. Circle Dr, Suite 900, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

(719) 576-4800  Fax: 576-4170


MultiExpress Comm Swr with Modems
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., the data communications equipment manufacturer headquartered in Mounds View, Minnesota, announced that it is shipping MultiExpress communications software for DOS with its MultiModem and MultiModemII asynchronous external modems. MultiExpress is a combined dial-in (remote-control) and dial-out communications program that has the ability to operate on Local Area Networks or single-user PCs. MultiExpress is also available separately (Model MEXP) for $195.

"For a limited period of time, we will bundle our new MultiExpress communications software with the external MultiModems and MultiModemIIs free of charge. During that time, we believe over 100,000 users worldwide will have the opportunity to use MultiExpress," states Raghu Sharma, President of Multi-Tech. "We are asking that users register their software to qualify for updates, additional documentation, and the remote-control software diskette."

"Without MultiExpress, the typical personal computer user might have to buy several communications packages to accommodate a particular data communications environment. MultiExpress combines the full capabilities of dial-in and dial-out programs into one convenient, easy-to-use program", Dr. Sharma emphasizes.

MultiExpress's design includes extensive use of pop-up menus and context-sensitive help screens, which means it can practically be used without a manual. "The quality of a communications program should not be judged by the size of the manual or by the sophistication of the packaging," Dr. Sharma continues. "Since the program includes remote-control and LAN capabilities, dozens of users who do not have manuals may be accessing the software. This is why MultiExpress was created with extensive menuing and help-screen features, so users can make use of the software without relying on a manual.

Modern communications software must be usable without extensive documentation, so we've included the essential information in the software itself. This reduced the documentation to a compact 96-page user's manual. For more extensive documentation, users can request a comprehensive MultiExpress reference manual and/or our data communications primer."

Multi-Tech is requesting comments about the new communications software from its users. In addition to phone calls, comments can be made through the Multi-Tech BBS. During the introductory offer, Release 1.0 of MultiExpress (which is being bundled with the Multi-Tech modems) can be updated free of charge by downloading the updates from the Multi-Tech BBS. "Our overall strategy for this product is to work with our users during the next several months to gather their input on what is needed to finetune our software," states Dr. Sharma. "We've based MultiExpress on over two decades of experience in the data communications industry, but we also realize that user satisfaction is the only way a new communications software package can prosper in the marketplace."

MultiExpress includes callback security, host keyboard locking and screen blanking, multiple file transfer capabilities, script language, dialing directory, mail, chat mode, context-sensitive help screens, inactivity timer, and pop-up menus. MultiExpress also provides a wide range of connectivity options: Serial ports (8250,16450 and 16550A UARTs), Multi-Tech's proprietary Intelligent Serial Interface (ISI) boards, and LANs using either IPX or NetBIOS and MCSI Multi-Tech Communications Services Interface) or compatible Interrupt 6B Application Program Interfaces (APIs). MultiExpress provides the most common file transfer and batch file transfer protocols including ASCII, ZMODEM XMODEM, YMODEM, YMODEM-G, YMODEM BATCH, YMODEM-G-BATCH, and KERMIT.

Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. was founded in 1970 to manufacture data communications equipment and systems for a global market of network products users. The Minnesota-based company is well-known as an industry leader in dial-up modem technology. The family of Multi-Tech products includes a complete line of 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600 and 14.4K bps modems, statistical multiplexers, DSU/CSUs, 5250, 3780 and 3270 emulation systems, X.25 PADs, PC fax systems, and LAN gateways. These products are sold in over 50 countries, through a worldwide network of distributors, manufacturer's representatives, systems integrators, VARs and retailers. Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. can be contacted at its headquarters: 2205 Woodale Drive, Mounds View, Minnesota 55112. Voice (612) 785-3500 or (800) 328-9717, FAX (612) 7859874, International FAX (612) 331-3180


SecretAgent File Encryption Utility
Information Security Corporation (ISC) announces the first commercial implementation of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA). Release 2.0 of the SecretAgent file encryption utility uses the Data Encryption Standard (DES) for bulk encryption, the ElGamal Public Key Cryptosystem for key management, and the DSA for message and sender authentication. The DSA was recently proposed as a mandatory federal government Digital Signature Standard (DSS) by NIST.

SecretAgent provides virtually unbreakable security for sensitive word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, and e-mail transmissions. Additional features include: ASCII conversion, data compression and file erasure utilities; choice of command-line and menu-driven interfaces; a context-sensitive on-line help system; mouse support; and macros which allow the program to be easily integrated into WordPerfect, Word for Windows, Crosstalk Mk.4, Procomm Plus and Paradox.

"The DES module in SecretAgent fully complies with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 46 as well as ANSI X3.92-1981 and is implemented in cipher block chaining (CBC) mode following FIPS 81 and ANSI X3.106-1983 specifications. It has been validated by NIST for FIPS 113 Message Authentication Code (MAC) computations.

SecretAgent uses the ElGamal Cryptosystem for key management, so the exchange of secret passwords is not required prior to the transmission of encrypted data. Private

keys are used only for decryption and the attachment of digital signatures.

SecretAgent is available for MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.0, and Unix System V/386 systems. The DOS and Windows versions carry a suggested retail price of $249.95.

Information Security Corp.

1141 Lake Cook Rd, Suite D

Deerfield, IL 60015

708-405-0500    fax: 708-405-0506


AST Bravo Desktop Systems & Prices
AST Research Inc. announced new Bravo desktop systems with prices to allow its resellers a price/performance and service edge over direct mail marketers. Effective immediately, the company reduced prices on two Premium upgradeable systems and all FASTboard upgrades by up to 42 percent and 20 percent on its newest notebook, the Premium Exec 386SX/25C color portable. Notebook option prices were also slashed up to 40 percent.

"With resellers' concerns about competitive channels, AST is dedicated to giving its resellers the technology, quality and pricing to compete successfully against direct mail marketers," said Tom Yuen, co-chairman and chief operating officer. "At AST we can leverage off our manufacturing and engineering expertise to offer attractive features and pricing for the best overall value. Customers can now benefit from both worlds by receiving brand-name quality products at direct mail pricing with the service of a reseller."

AST's Best Price/Performance To Date--

Bravo 3/25s at $1,295 Bravo 4/33 at $2,395

AST offers its best price/performance value to date with the new Bravo 4/33 personal computer and 25-MHz 386SX-based Bravo 3/25s. The new desktop systems combine high-performance features and affordability for entry-level users.

"AST's Bravo line has always been a first choice by end users who want a high performance system at a low price," said Dan Sheppard, director of Bravo marketing. "For example, the new Bravo 3/25s, which includes AMD's 25-MHz Am386SX CPU, was designed for end users looking for maximum value without sacrificing quality."

Bravo 4/33

With retail prices starting at $2,395, the Bravo 4/33 is the first Bravo system allowing a microprocessor upgrade capability that enables the current 33-MHz, i486 microprocessor . replaced with a faster Intel chip to double the personal computer's speed.

The Bravo 4/33 combines fast processing speeds with integrated Super VGA containing 256KB RAM which can be increased to 512KB for higher resolution of up to 1024 by 768 pixels. The system comes standard with high-performance video drivers for Windows, WordPerfect and AutoCAD software programs, five full-sized ISA expansion board slots and an IDE connector. These integrated features save slots allowing for future system expansion.

Bravo 3/25s

Priced from $1,295, the Bravo 3/25s is the first desktop personal computer from a major PC company using the 25-MHz Am386SX microprocessor from Advanced Micro Devices.

The Bravo 3/25s is designed for Windows and general business applications. The system is bundled with Super VGA display, Microsoft Windows 3.0 pre-installed, Microsoft PS/2 mouse and mouse pad.

Standard features of the new Bravo systems include 3.5-inch, 1.44-MB floppy drive, 2MB of RAM expandable to 16MB on the motherboard, four drive bays, five 16-bit slots, two serial ports, one parallel and one mouse port. Both products are available through the reseller channel. See attached sheet for specific models and pricing.

New Price Points for Premium Upgrade and Color Notebook

"Price reductions effective today reflect AST's commitment to provide the highest price/performance standards in the marketplace, unsurpassed by the competition," said Tom Yuen, cochairman and chief operating officer.

Prices on AST's FASTboard upgrade kits, Premium II and Premium 486/33 systems, as well as the Premium Exec color notebook and selected options have been significantly lowered.

FASTboards/Cupid-32 Upgradability

AST, the first company to introduce upgradeable computer technology, incorporates Cupid-32 upgradeability in all its current Premium desktop systems. Cupid-32's design supports multiple processor lines including 386SX, 386DX, 486SX and 486DX.

Upgrades are accomplished with a single FASTboard that includes the processor, as well as memory, cache memory and coprocessor support. This design protects the purchaser's investment against obsolescence with a complete technology upgrade of performance components unlike competitive designs. Suggested list prices of AST's full range of FASTboard upgrade kits have been reduced from 19 to 42 percent.

Premium II 486/33

In addition to Cupid-32 upgradeability, AST's ISA-based Premium II 486/33 desktop computer features a high level of performance and expandability in a small footprint chassis. The system is equipped with 8KB of integrated memory cache, 4MB of RAM expandable to 80MB; six slots; five drive bays; two serial, one parallel and one mouse port; 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive; and integrated Super VGA.

AST's upgradeable Premium II 486/33 desktop PC pricing has been lowered by $1,000 per model. See attached sheet for complete listing.

Premium 486/33E

The upgradeable Premium 486/33E combines the i486/33 microprocessor with Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA), delivering the advanced I/O capabilities of the 32-bit bus to keep pace with processing speed. The Premium EISA models feature 8KB integrated memory cache, 4MB RAM expandable to 80MB; seven EISA slots; five drive bays; two serial, one parallel and one mouse port; 5.25-inch 1.2-MB floppy drive; and Super VGA adapter.

Prices of the Premium 486/33E models have been dropped by $1,800. See attached listing.

Color Notebook/Premium Exec Notebook Options

AST has lowered prices on its recently introduced color notebook Premium Exec 386SX/25C by $1,000 and slashed prices on notebook options for the award-winning Premium Exec line by up to 40 percent.

The company also announced shipment schedules of the color notebook with evaluation units to major account customers shipping Feb. 21 and full-volume customer shipments commencing March 13.

The 25-MHz 386SX-based Premium Exec 386SX/25C offers custom-designed features by AST which include power management features to boast a two-and-one-half hour battery life, new light-weight AC adapter and built-in keyboard mouse. The keyboard mouse allows cursor movement similar to a mouse without an external hardware device.

"We established our No. 2 ranking in the market by committing to value and quality at unbeatable prices," said Sheppard. "This includes the total solution of affordable and flexible notebook options."

Available for the first time is the ExecPak bundle of Premium Exec options including a FAX/Send option, a spare NiCad battery pack, the Premium Exec trickle charger, external battery charger and a full sized carrying case. The list price for this bundle is $499 vs. $674 if purchased separately. Another new option is AST's new 80-MB hard disk drive upgrade at the low list price of $849. Additional selected Premium Exec notebook options have been reduced up to 40 percent. See attached listing for new pricing.

The Service and Support Advantage

With more than 1,200 authorized service centers and 8,100 trained technicians nationwide the customer can receive the benefit of local service from resellers backed by quick toll-free telephone answers from AST. Extended warranties and on-site service are also available.

To supplement the reseller support, AST offers a toll-free technical assistance hot line which offers 12 hours of support in each U.S. time zone and operates six days per week. Other service programs include AST On-Line, a 24-hour electronic bulletin board service offered worldwide and AST Info-FAX, which allows 24-hour access via fax machine to more than 1,000 technical support documents.

Company Background

AST Research Inc. is a leading market share holder of desktop, file server and notebook computers. Storeboard/Computer Intelligence, an industry research firm, has reported that AST has ranked second with 16-.5 percent in 386SX notebook market share, according to its monthly survey of U.S. computer dealers from April to November 1991.

Storeboard also ranked AST third in i486SX and i486DX desktop market share with 8.5 percent and 10.8 percent respectively. The company recently began shipping the Premium SE 4/33, the first of its new server line which features high performance, maximum storage and scalability for sophisticated multi-user environments.

AST's product lines include the Premium, Advantage! and Premium Exec families which allow users to choose from a full range of price and performance options. AST is represented in 100 countries and operates 34 subsidiaries and sales offices worldwide.

AST Research Corp,

16215 Alton Parkway, PO Box 19658, Irvine, CA 92713-9658

(714) 727-4141 or (800) 876-4278. FAX: (714) 727-9355.


Free Computer Ergonomics Brochure
Microcomputer Accessores Inc, a Rubbermaid company, has published a new pamphlet that explains what computer users should know about computer ergonomics. The consumer brochure, What You Need to Know About Computer Ergonomics, can be obtained free by calling 1-800-521-8270. For further details, contact Microcomputer Accessories Inc, 5405 Jandy Pl, PO Box 66911, Los Angeles, CA 90066-0911.


SBC-SXLP 386SX Single Board Computer
Computer Dynamics announces the introduction of the SBC-SXLP, a single board computer which puts all the functions of a high speed '386SX-based PC/AT, including video, on a single, very low-power card. Measuring just 5.75" x 7.75" and drawing just over 4 watts, the SBC-SXLP is designed for OEM and portable applications which need 100% PC compatibility in a compact, rugged, industrial package. Its '386SX engine allows it to perform for applications in which multiple functions must be controlled from one computer. With the power of its 32-bit mathematics and superior memory management, the SBC-SXLP is especially effective running UNIX, Desqview, Windows and other multi-tasking operating systems.

The SBC-SXLP directly drives CRTs as well as a variety of flat panel displays: electroluminescent (EL), monochrome and color TFT LCDs, plasma, and vacuum fluorescent. When paired with a low-power flat panel display, the SBC-SXLP is ideal for operator interface applications where small size and low power consumption are important. The board's standard PC functions include: keyboard and speaker interface; up to four megabytes of DRAM; two COM ports and one printer port; a battery-backed realtime clock; and hard and floppy disk interfaces. Up to one megabyte of RAM/ROM disk can be installed on board for quick bootup and reliable operation in the most demanding environments. Flash ROM can be used instead of the RAM/ROM disk. In addition, the SBC-SXLP provides a watch-dog timer (useful in many industrial applications), SBX and PC bus expansion, and a '387SX math coprocessor socket. The SBC-SXLP withstands temperatures from 0 to 70 degrees C, and draws only 4.3 watts from a five-volt supply.

The SBC-SXLP includes a licensed off-the-shelf BIOS to run MS-DOS. DOS can boot and run from a floppy, hard disk, or on-board ROM disk drive. Use of the ROM disk drive gives you a totally diskless system. Software tools available for the SBC-SXLP allow you to boot and run your DOS-based target code without MS-DOS and its associated royalties. An SBC-SXLP development system includes a sturdy case with power supply, one floppy drive, all cables and a manual--everything you need to get the SBC-SXLP operational and write your code.

The SBC-SXLP is priced from $971 for 100 quantity, including the 16-MHz CPU and VGA graphics. Delivery is stock to 30 days. For more information contact Computer Dynamics, 107 S. Main Street, Greer SC 29650. Phone 803-877-8700, FAX 803-8792030.


Action Plus 5.0 Contact Info Mgr
Announcing Action Plus - The Personal Contact Information Manager - version 5.0

New power and versatility from the leader in information management systems

Action Plus Software has just released the eagerly awaited version 5.0 We're excited about how version 5.0 will help you get more done with less effort than ever before. The new version of Action Plus sports a new streamlined user interface, complete with drop-down menus as well as a number of significant improvements. Version 5.0 includes an unlimited number of user-definable fields on the Personal Contact Profile screen, customizable for each Account Executive in the organization, Group scheduling features, Up to 15 launchable programs from anywhere in the program through full T.S.R. Operation, Enhanced Inventory and Invoicing pricing options, Powerful new SEARCH functions and improved searching speed through userdefinable indexes. You can also create unlimited profile hierarchies with the Subordinate Profile feature, perfect for establishing relationships within companies or other organizations. One of the most popular new features is the Data Window function that permits the creation of an unlimited number o attachable 3" X 5" Data Window "cards" for each Profile record. WordPerfect users love the ability to attach an unlimited number of WordPerfect documents to each Profile!

Version 5.0 is to Business as DOS is to the PC!

The power and versatility of Action Plus 5.0 offers business managers for the first time a comprehensive Business Operating System that helps managers in all areas of the organization to increase productivity, improve quality, and gain the competitive edge by integrating operations and making customer information a key operational and strategic weapon of their businesses.

Action Plus Software is growing again. We've moved to a new larger office. 935 East 7220 South - Suite D-108 Salt Lake City, UT 84047-2393 NEW PHONE NUMBERS: Tel. (801) 255-0600 FAX (801) 255-0642


Osborne/McGraw-Hill Titles (Feb)
Borland C++ Handbook, Second Edition

by Chris Pappas & William H. Murray, III

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Borland C++ Handbook. Second Edition. Authors Chris Pappas & William Murray have revised and expanded their critically acclaimed first edition to cover version 3.0 of Borland's powerful compiler.

The Borland C++ Handbook. Second Edition is the ideal guide for programmers who want to learn how to use Borland C++ and its collection of programming tools, including those for developing Windows applications. Programmers can learn how to develop applications with the C and C++ compiler, Profiler, Assembler, and Debugger.

Pappas and Murray teach C, C++ and assembly language for both the new programmer and the professional. Programmers can learn how to write traditional procedure-oriented C and C++ code, followed by a detailed exploration of object-oriented programming. The authors also help programmers to understand Microsoft's Windows programming concepts, including how to write both procedure- and object-oriented Windows applications using the Borland C and C++ compiler, along with Borland's new Resource Workshop.

Programmers will soon be writing and debugging sophisticated programs with this very readable book.

$29 95           ISBN:  0-07-881779-X      937 pages

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Teach Yourself C -- by Herbert Schildt

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Teach Yourself C++ by the prolific Herb Schildt, author of over 18 bestselling books on C programming with over one million copies sold.

Teach Yourself C++ is a book that many C programmers have been waiting for. Schildt. author of the worldwide bestseller, Teach Yourself C, assumes a knowledge of C programming as he moves programmers forward into C++ and object-oriented programming (OOP).

Based on a 15-minute lesson format, the book includes numerous exercises and skill checks to make sure the reader's abilities grow chapter by chapter. Programmers will learn all about classes and objects, constructors and destructor functions, function and operator overloading, virtual functions, inheritance, C++'s object-oriented I/O system, OOP principles, and much more.

By the final chapter. programmers will have a solid command of C++ programming principles enabling them to write effective programs. Teach Yourself C++ is the perfect introductory guide to help turn C programming knowledge into C++ programming ability.

An internationally recognized C expert, Schildt has written such acclaimed bestsellers as C++: The Complete Reference; C: The Complete Reference. Second Edition; The Art of C: Elegant Programing Solutions; and Artificial Intelligence Using C.

$24.95        ISBN:  0-07-881760-9      515 pages

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1-2-3 for the Macintosh Made Easy -- by Mary Campbell

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of 1-2-3 for the Macintosh Made Easy by Lotus 1-2-3 expert Mary Campbell, author of ten editions of the bestselling classics 1-2-3 Made Easy and 1-2-3: The Complete Reference. Campbell has now written the best introductory book on the new version of Lotus 1-2-3, the world's most popular spreadsheet now available for the Apple Macintosh.

For Mac users new 1-2-3, Campbell provides step-by-step instructions on spreadsheet basics such as entering and editing data; defining and performing calculations; using functions and other formula options; working with menus, dialog boxes, and palettes; managing documents and sheets; printing spreadsheets and more.

For experienced 1-2-3 users who need to learn the Macintosh version of 1-2-3, Campbell provides help in mastering features that include creating graphs; using the Backsolve; building time-saving macros; sharing data between 1-2-3 and other applications; sharing spreadsheets between 1-2-3 for the Mac and 1-2-3 for DOS; translating 1-2-3 files from a DOS-based PC to the Macintosh; and much more.

It's all here in one Made Easy guide that is packed with examples, exercises, and screen illustrations. This is THE book on Lotus 1-2-3 Macintosh users won't want to miss.

$19.95              ISBN:  0-07-881774-9      408 pages

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Microsoft Word 5 for the Macintosh Made Easy by Paul Hoffman

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Microsoft Word 5 for the Macintosh Made Easy, a new book by Microsoft Word expert, Paul Hoffman. Newly revised and expanded, this latest edition of one of Osborne's all-time bestselling Made Easy guides covers the recently released Microsoft Word 5.

Hoffman's book is the perfect guide for beginners who need to learn the basics of the program one step at a time. This popular book introduces users to all the basics, including editing, saving, and printing a letter or memo; using the Undo command to retrieve deleted information; and working with the program's windows to make editing even more efficient.

The book is also an excellent resource for experienced Word 5 users who are new to Release 5's features. Hoffman covers all the powerful capabilities offered, including page preview, automatic repagination, table formatting, style sheets, outlining, table of contents and indexing, as well as desktop publishing. Numerous practical business-oriented exercises are included to make learning Word quick and hassle-free.

Microsoft Word 5 for the Macintosh Made Easy is one guaranteed way to make learning easier for anyone working with this popular wordprocessing program for the Mac.

$19.95              ISBN:  0-07-881769-2      315 pages

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Dvorak's Inside Track to the Mac

(Includes One 3.5-Inch Diskette)

by John C. Dvorak, Mimi Smith-Dvorak, Bernard J. David,

   and John A. Murphy

Dvorak*Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Dvorak's Inside Track to the Mac, a new book and software guide to everything Macintosh users need to know to get the most from their systems.

Internationally known author and columnist John C. Dvorak and his co-authors have compiled THE definitive, information-packed book/disk package loaded with all the insights, tricks. and goodies that all Mac users -- beginners to programmers -- could ever want.

Mac users will find detailed information on Macintosh components, operating systems with focus on System 7, multimedia, graphics, desktop publishing, and simple explanations to even the most difficult Macintosh topics.

The 3.5-inch disk of software offers the best of the Berkeley Macintosh User's Group shareware library and is chockful of programs. Just some of the inexpensive and useful software included are the utility programs SoundMaster, FileTyper; business programs such as Register and Simple Label; Dvorak's personal game favorites -- GunShy and Brickles (complete with Dvorak's scores); and FreeTerm 3.0, a terminal emulation and telecommunications program.

This is the perfect book/disk package for all Macintosh users packed with up-to-date, definitive information and loaded with software.

$39.95          ISBN:  0-07-881757-9      729 pages

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DOS Inside & Out -- by Kris Jamsa

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of DOS Inside & Out by the critically acclaimed author and DOS expert, Kris Jamsa.

DOS Inside & Out provides a series of 15-minute, hands-on computer sessions that are guaranteed to get users up and running quickly with any release of DOS through version 5. Based on Jamsa's earlier bestseller, Using MS-DOS, this 15-minute format is structured so that each session builds upon the material mastered in previous sessions. As DOS users follow this process, they will gain computing confidence while learning DOS concepts.

Beginning DOS users will find chapters on understanding the system, issuing DOS commands. getting started with DOS files, basic file operations, getting around the disk drive, creating and displaying files, using batch files and much more.

Intermediate users will find helpful tutorial and reference information on upgrading to DOS 5, advanced file manipulation, protecting and restoring with BACKUP and RESTORE, customizing the system with CONFIG.SYS, advanced shell concepts and much more.

Within a short time, DOS users will be performing computing tasks with ease and confidence, and know many of the time-saving secrets used by experts.

$24.95        ISBN:  0-07-881780-3      878 pages

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Simply Windows -- by Mary Campbell

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Simply Windows by the widely respected author, Mary Campbell.

Simply Windows is simply the BEST introductory book that first-time Windows users can buy. This short, clearly written and well illustrated guide explains what Windows is and how to use it. Anyone can read and understand how Microsoft's graphical user interface for the IBM and PC compatibles can make computing more efficient and enjoyable.

Campbell covers all the essentials of working with Windows, including explanations of what Windows has to offer, starting Windows, working with Menus and Dialog boxes, using the Clipboard, exploring the Program Manager, using the File Manager, customizing with the Control Panel, Using the Print Manager, Windows Accessories for Recording Text, Installation, and more.

With this user-friendly book, anyone working with Windows will quickly learn the basics and all they need to know to operate Windows effectively.

As a bestselling computer book author and corporate trainer, Mary Campbell has taught thousands of users all about popular software packages such as Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect, and others.

$14.95          ISBN:  0-07-881743-9      212 pages

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FormTool Made Easy -- by John Levy

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of FormTool Made Easy an outstanding new guide by John Levy to all the most popular versions of the FormTool software package.

With FormTool software, users can design all the business forms they need from invoices to purchase orders, inventory forms to personnel job applications.

Step by step, Levy leads the FormTool user through the design and creation of forms, including how to enter and edit text; draw lines, boxes, and grids; and how to configure any printer to get professional-looking results.

FormTool Made Easy also shows how to use the Forms Manager to organize, retrieve, and archive forms. Levy also demonstrates how to merge data from spreadsheets, databases, and ASCII data files into your forms.

Written to address the needs of all FormTool users, from creating forms from scratch to adapting exist forms, Levy helps users get the results they need.

John Levy is an instructor in business education and teaches a number of software packages, including Lotus 1-2-3 and dBASE. He is a technical reviewer and freelance writer.

$19.95       ISBN:  0-07-881770-6      303 pages

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Microsoft Word for Windows 2 Made Easy -- by Paul Hoffman

Osborne/McGraw-Hill announces publication of Microsoft Word for Windows 2 Made Easy by bestselling author Paul Hoffman.

Even those who have never used a computer before can follow Hoffman's step by step instructions guiding users from the basics to intermediate-level techniques. By following the clear, simple instructions, users will soon be getting productive results.

Plenty of hands-on examples and helpful illustrations are included to help learn how to create, edit, print. and save business memos; use pictures in documents; create formal reports; Include tables and charts in reports; and enable many people to comment on one document.

For those who are already familiar with the program, but new to version 2, this guide shows how to use all the new features for more powerful and versatile wordprocessing. Word for Windows users will learn to master linking documents to manage even more data, creating professional-quality graphics to enhance reports; and customizing Word linking to get up-to-the-minute data from other Windows programs.

Word for Windows users can rely on Paul Hoffman's expertise to guide them through the intricacies of the newest release of this versatile Windows program.

$19.95           ISBN:  0-07-881770-6      303 pages

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Osborne/McGraw-Hill

2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710

510-549-6600


Searcher Professional for Windows
Cognitronix began shipping in February, an update to "Searcher Professional"; version 1.1. "Searcher Pro" is a file management and text search utility for Microsoft Windows 3+.

"Searcher Pro" finds files across multiple disks based upon the file's name, path, size, date, file attributes, and optionally, it's text contents. Users may launch an application for files, by double clicking on the file name. "Searcher Pro" also features context sensitive pop-up "AutoHelp" -- pressing F1 while any control is hi-lited creates a pop-up window with help text for that control.

"Searcher Pro" also supports true wildcards, and searches multiple file specifications, multiple path specifications, and multiple text strings, in one search operation. Additionally, "Searcher Pro" v1.1 keeps a history of your previous day's activities that the user may recall to make picking up where you left off easier.

Searcher Professional's file management capabilities include the ability to copy, move, delete, sort, and view selected files, as well as, install any of the over 100 included icons for them in the Program Manager, in one step. Additionally "Searcher Professional" can search for files and text in the ZIP compressed file format and decompress them with a double click on the file name.

Also included with "Searcher Professional" is a macro for Word for Windows that enables the user to run "Searcher Pro" from the Word for Windows menu, automatically searching for text which was hi-lited, and the ability to use any of several initialization files which automatically configure all the program's controls at run time. For example, "Searcher Professional" may be invoked by double clicking on, or placing as the command line parameter in an icon, an included initialization file, BACKUP.SCH, which configures the program to automatically search for, and select, files which have their Archive attribute set; reset the Archive bit and de-select the file after the copy operation, copy to the A drive--keeping the directory tree, and verifying the copy. The initialization files may be customized to search for any combination of multiple file and path specifications, with any text editor, such as the included program; "Searcher Pro Editor".

The "Searcher Pro Editor" is a multi-windowing, text editor and viewer which can edit large files, the size of which are limited only by available disk space. "Searcher Pro Editor" works with "Searcher Pro" to automatically open files found with Searcher Pro, and scroll to, and hi-lite, text which was found in the search.

New for version 1.1, Searcher Pro now features improved handling of removeable media, improved multi-tasking capability and support for multimedia sound drivers in Windows 3.1, as well as several minor bug fixes. Version 1.1 has been shipped to all registered owners, free of charge.

"Searcher Pro" is installed with the "Searcher Install Utility" which runs under Windows and automatically installs as many "Searcher Pro" icons in as many different Program Manager program groups as desired, each of which can specify a different default search path, file specification, and initialization file for "Searcher Professional".

The price of "Searcher Professional" v1.1, with the "Searcher Pro Editor" is $59.95 plus $2.00 S&H. Site licenses are available. "Searcher Pro" is covered by a 60 day money back guarantee and is available immediately, direct from Cognitronix at 12322 Poway Rd, Suite 120, Poway, CA 92064, or call 619-549-8955


Wisdom of the Ages Quote Database
WISDOM OF THE AGES At Your Fingertips

Shareware V2.7

The first electronic book of quotes, sayings and ideas lo give PC users easy access to timeless knowledge from over 1,000 of history's great minds - Eastern & Western. Over 6,500 carefully selected thoughts - some quite rare - are intuitively organized into 81 subjects. Each subject is divided into seven sections. This allows users to find excellent ideas, clearly expressed, on any subject, with pinpoint accuracy and ease. The sections are:

Essence            Negative

Opposites          Advice

Insight            Potpourri

Positive

Major book features include: Easy to use 'Point and Shoot' interface, Subject Menu, Subject Finder Menu, Filters to customize output, EGA/VGA multi-quote mode, Cruise Control and Dynamic Mode of subject selection with infinite combinations to simulate creativity.

Use Wisdom of the Ages to act, write and speak better; learn more in Less lime. Refer wealth of material for use in books and letters, speeches and songs, reports and retorts, and memos, columns and conversations; or simply cherish years of pure enjoyment that from close contact with great minds.

The program will work with any IBM or compatible PC with 320K RAM; DOS 2.0 or later; Mono, CGA, EGA or VGA graphics card and hard disk drive with 1.6MB of free disk space. (1.8MB needed for installation.)

** Should be available online shortly (if note already).

Micro Computer Resources

Division of MCR Agency Inc

6116 Merced Ave, #81

Oakland, CA 94611

800-767-6797


Word Builder 1.0 Vocabulary
Product : Word Builder 1.0 Category : Educational Software

"Stretch your vocabulary and have fun at the same time."

"Preparing for vocabulary sections of SAT, GRE, GMAT ?

   Try Word Builder 1.0!"

"Thinking of giving a gift to your friend's kid ?

   How about Word Builder 1.0!"

What is WORD BUILDER 1.0 ? --------------------------

You choose from a menu of two items : synonymns and antonymns.  You go through a series of multiple choice questions where you are asked to match the correct synonymn or antonymn for a given word.  The words and multiple choice answers are selected at random.  You can view your performance at any time during a given session.  Word Builder 1.0 has a database of 1,680 antonymns and 1, 680 synonymns.  It has an easy-to-use interface and comes with on-line documentation.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ------------------- DOS / Windows : * IBM PC/XT, AT, 386 or 100% compatible * 1 MB of RAM * Hard disk with 2 MB of free space is required * CGA, EGA or VGA card and color monitor * MS-DOS 2.0 or higher * WINDOWS 3.0 or higher

Macintosh : * Mac Plus, SE, II series * 1 MB of RAM * Hard disk with 2 MB of free space is required

If you buy WORD BUILDER 1.0 from T-Cube, here's what you get : - free upgrades - free technical support by phone

List Price : $29.99 + shipping and handling ( for each version ) Introductory offer valid until May 1, 1992 $9.99 + shipping and handling ( for each version )

To order, or for more information contact : T-Cube Inc. ( Technology Tips, Tricks and Techniques Inc. ) 37 Lyman Street, Suite 2 Waltham, MA 02154    617-899-8657


IRAS Sky Survey Atlas CD-ROMs
The first release of the IRAS Sky Survey Atlas is now available to the public on four CD-ROMs.  The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched in 1983 into low Earth orbit to scan the entire sky in search of infrared radiation from galaxies, dust clouds, stars, solar system objects, and previously unknown objects.  From January to November 1983, IRAS conducted a survey of 98% of the sky in four wavelengths centered at 12, 25, 60 and 100 microns.  IRAS was a joint mission between JPL, the United Kingdom and  the Netherlands.

The four CD-ROMs in this release covers the high ecliptic latitudes from 50 to 90 degrees and from -50 to -90 degrees, which comprises 38% of the sky.  The images on these CD-ROMs are 500x500 pixel resolution FITS images, and consists of 16 bit and 32 bit images.  The images have been processed by the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) at Caltech/JPL to improve the calibration and to remove zodiacal emission.  The second set of CD-ROMs of the IRAS Sky Survey which will cover the entire sky will be released later this year.

The IRAS CD-ROMs along with display software can be obtained from the  National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) for a small fee of $38.  You can contact NSSDC at:

        National Space Science Data Center

        Goddard Space Flight Center

        Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

        Telephone: (301) 286-6695


Momenta Pen-based Systems Shipping
Momenta announced that the Momenta Computer is now available. The Momenta is the first computer to offer users the benefits of a pen-based system and the standard functions of a notebook computer. The company began shipping from its Singapore manufacturing facility into the channel on December 30, 1991.

Momenta's distribution partners include over 150 authorized resellers and superstores including Computerland and Intelligent Electronics.  Momenta is also shipping into the European market with localized German software and manuals. Localization in other European languages to follow soon.

"The Momenta offers users the opportunity to take advantage of new pen applications without giving up the use of traditional keyboard-based applications, " said Pat Fahey, computer engineering consultant for Pacific Gas & Electric.  "One of the strengths of the Momenta is how well the pen-based applications work together, and the ease with which you can move information between applications."

Several pen-centric software applications have been developed for the Momenta by independent software vendors including: PenCell, a spreadsheet from PenWare Corporation, a finalist for "COMDEX Best New Software Application" by Byte Magazine; StylusWP, a word processor from Rupp Corporation, and QueryPaper, a SQL database access application from O2Ware.

In addition, the Momenta ships with a suite of business tools and applications developed by Momenta, including; a presentation package; notetaker using electronic ink; electronic calendar and rolodex; handwriting recognition trainer; file transfer software; fax send and receive; and a document mark-up application.  Purchasers of the Momenta receive free software updates for one year from the date of purchase.

A key part of the Momenta applications interface is the Command Compass.  This patented feature allows users to manipulate or modify information simply by stroking the pen in specified directions on the screen, thereby eliminating the ambiguity of gesture-based systems.

The Momenta is a 386 SX-based computer running at 20MHz, weighs 6 lbs, 5 oz (2900g with batteries), has the dimensions of a three-ring notebook, and a suggested retail price of $4,995.00 (DM 9,995).  The computer also ships standard with a built-in fax and data modem, 40 MB hard drive, detachable keyboard, and carrying case.

Momenta will be shipping a free saddlebag, an additional 4 MB RAM for a total of 8 MB, Windows 3.0, 33 Bitstream outline fonts, Norton Backup, Hayes Smartcomm EZ and RuppFXLink, a total value of over $1000, to customers who purchase a Momenta before February, 29, 1992.

The Momenta ships standard with DOS and Windows, offering people the capability of using their desktop applications and data with the pen. The Momenta will also support Microsoft's Windows for Pen Computing and the many applications currently under development.

Momenta International is based in Mountain View, California, is a privately held company that designs computers and software for the pentop computing market.  Founded in 1989, Momenta employs more than 150 employees worldwide.

Momenta and the Command Compass are trademarks of Momenta International.  Other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

For general information or orders, call:  1-800-MOMENTA


88Open Standards Reference Guide
88open Consortium Ltd. announced the release of the industry's first standards reference guide. The guide contains over 75 standards obtained from 19 worldwide organizations, with such groups as the CCITT, X/Open, IEEE, USL, OSF, and ANSI participating.

"We at 88open have been asking and answering questions about open systems for many years and we realize there are numerous inquiries as to which standards are important, where they can be found and what the various acronyms stand for," said Tom Mace, president of 88open. "This Guide reflects our realization of the need for a specific document which addresses the standards that are driving the open systems revolution today."

The first section of the guide is dedicated to describing each standard and listing the organization which is credited for its development.  In addition, contact information including name, address, phone and fax numbers are provided.

The second section of the reference guide is dedicated to describing the various organizations in detail.

The World of Standards was first released at UniForum, Jan. 22-24, in San Francisco, Calif.

Additional copies may be purchased from 88open.  For orders please contact Deanna Flores at 88open 408/436-6642

The 88open Consortium is an organization of software and systems suppliers supporting Motorola's 88000 family of RISC microprocessors. 88open is the creator of the industry's first UNIX application binary interface standards, the Binary Compatibility Standard (BCS) and Object Compatibility Standard (OCS), and binary portability test suites, the Interoperability Test Suite (ITS/88) for system testing and Application Compatibility Test Suite (ACT/88) for application testing.  Headquartered in San Jose, California, 88open is a not-for-profit organization providing support services to over 90 members worldwide with testing centers in San Jose, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, and France.


Easy Data Database for Windows
Easy Data for Windows is personal database software which operates under Microsoft Windows. It easily finds your phone numbers and addresses fast, every time, and does much more.

Easy Data is powerful enough for advanced users yet it's so easy to learn beginners can become proficient in ten minutes.

---- Search Operations Second to None ---- Searching for information using Easy Data's "Search While Typing" option locates items in your database before you finish typing what you're searching for!

Compare our Search operation with any database product available at any price. We truly believe you won't find our ease of use and versatility in any other product.

----  Import Existing Files    ---- ----     and Stop Using that Hard to Use Database ---- Easy Data has an ASCII import option to  bring existing data into Easy Data fast. It can even convert your Windows' Cardfile data files into ASCII for importing into Easy Data.

---- Fast Sorting Operations Sort on Any Three Fields ---- Easy Data conveniently lets you sort and re-sort your database on any three fields. A "Maintenance" option can rewrite your database files for optimal speed after sorting.

---- An Unlimited Number of Uses ---- One Easy Data user created a database of books in her personal library. Easy Data lets her conveniently search and sort the book database on any of the information contained in it.

A realtor uses Easy Data to keep track of available homes and features about each one.

Easy Data solves these people's challenge of keeping track of important information, and it can do the same for you. Easy Data's record structure provides 21 fields, and a convenient 200 character "Notes" field lets you write a sentence or two about any record.

---- The Solution to Sharing Data Files ---- Two different Easy Data database files can be conveniently merged together, making Easy Data is an ideal solution for offices where several people need to share information.

Our low price and generous quantity discounts make Easy Data a cost effective to provide everyone in your office with the same reliable database product.

---- Two Ways to Display Your Data ---- Easy Data has two different approaches for displaying and editing your database: Spreadsheet Mode and Browse Mode. Spreadsheet Mode displays several fields for many records at the same time. It allows you to "lock" a field at the left side of the screen for constant display while you scroll right or left. Also, you can easily adjust the text size to best suit your needs.

Browse Mode displays all of the fields for one record. Moving between records is quick and convenient.

---- Versatile Printing Features ---- You may print with Easy Data to your printer, formatting your data and saving the printing setup for repeated use. It's easy to then print a series of mailing lables whenever you like. If you want to transfer information to a Word Processor, you may print the database to an ASCII file. If you want to find a name and address and quickly paste it into a letter, you can transfer the information from Easy Data to the Windows clipboard.

---- Satisfaction Guaranteed ---- ----     Only $59+$4 s/h     ---- If you are not satisfied with Easy Data for any reason during your first 30 days of ownership, you may return it for a full refund. Solve your data storage needs now!

American Express, Master Charge, Visa, and Company Purchase Orders are all accepted.

Lakeview Software Corp. 1-800-669-4315 Toll Free

  301-317-0726

  301-317-0587 FAX

---- System Requirements ---- Personal Computer with 1.5 MB Free Hard Disk Space. 3.5" or 5.25" High Density Floppy Disk Drive for Software Installation. DOS version 3.1 or later. Windows version 3.0 or later already installed on your computer. A Printer, Modem, and Mouse supported by Windows are optional.


Objective-C Pgmr's Workshop
OBJECTIVE-C for the Macintosh Programmers Workshop v3.2

INTRODUCTORY PRICE: $99.00

The Stepstone Corporation announces its latest addition to the world of Object-Oriented programming: Objective-C for the Macintosh.

The Objective-C Package for the Macintosh Includes

Objective-C Language - The Objective-C Language provides the richest implementation of object-oriented technology available today to the C programmer.  Encapsulation, inheritance and runtime binding are all available without sacrificing the benefits of C programming.  Build reusable Software-IC's, providing the same advantages integrated circuits give hardware engineers.  These Software-IC's can be designed, tested and documented as stand-alone units that can be easily reused in future applications.

By assembling large, modular units of functionality, programs can be built more efficiently and quickly, thus reducing both development time and maintenance costs.

ICpak(tm)101 - A set of Software-ICs that implements basic data structures in a flexible, extensible manner.  Twenty classes and more than three hundred methods provide a base of reusalbe components to build custom classes and applications.  Classes include such things as Collections (OrdCltn, Stack, Set, Dictionary, SortCltn) Arrays, String, Sequences, Automatic Object I/O, etc.

System Requirements and Compatibility

The Objective-C Compiler (preprocessor) is used with MPW(R) C v3.2 and is compatible with the MPW Development Environment.  A Macintosh computer with 4 MB of RAM is required.  Also required is a hard drive with at least 4 MB of free disk space, and System 6.0.2 or later.

Stepstone Corporation: 75 Glen Rd., Sandy Hook, CT 06482

Phone: (203)426-1875

  FAX: (203)270-0106


Charting Routines for C
PRODUCT : Charting Routines 1.0 ( DOS )

DESCRIPTION: Enhances the professional C programmer's productivity. These fast and efficient routines read an ASCII data file and plot the charts. They produce high quality, rasterized output.

2D GRAPHS: Bar, Column, Line, Area, Scatter, Step, Stacked,

           Overlap ( Line + Column )

3D GRAPHS: Column, Pie

OUTPUT DEVICE SUPPORT  - EPFX (EPSON FX Series) - EPLQ (EPSON LQ Series) - MSP10, MSP15 (Citizen MSP-10, MSP-15) - CITGSX140 (Citizen GSX 140) - HPLJET (Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Series) - HPLJET2P (Hewlett-Packard LaserJet IIP) - HPLJET3 (Hewlett-Packard LaserJet III) - HPDJET (Hewlett-Packard DeskJet & DeskJet Plus) - HPPJET (Hewlett-Packard PaintJet) - HPTJET (Hewlett-Packard ThinkJet) - PCX (PC Paintbrush .PCX Monochrome File Format) - PCXC (PC Paintbrush .PCX Color File Format) - PCXEGA (PC Paintbrush .PCX EGA Monochrome File Format) - PCXEGAC (PC Paintbursh .PCX EGA Color File Format) - PCXVGA (PC Paintbrush .PCX VGA Monochrome File Format) - PCXVGAC (PC Paintbrush .PCX VGA Color File Format) - PCXSVGA (PC Paintbrush .PCX Super-VGA Monochrome File Format) - PCXSVGAC (PC Paintbrush .PCX Super-VGA Color File Format) - EPS (Adobe PostScript) - EGA (EGA Monitor Driver) - VGA (VGA Monitor Driver) - EGAMONO (EGAMONO Monitor Driver) - VGAMONO/MCGA - VGAMONO/MCGA Monitor Driver - HERC (HERC Monitor Driver)

FONTS: 7 different kinds of stroked fonts

(SMALL, SIMPLEX, DUPLEX, TRIPLEX, GOTHIC, SCRIPT, STRIPLEX)

SCALING: Automatic and manual

PLACEMENT: Complete control over placement of legends, grids, fonts and color

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: DOS Version * IBM PC / XT, AT, 386 or 100% compatible * Hard disk with 4 MB of free space is required * CGA, EGA or VGA card and monitor * MS-DOS 2.0 or higher * Compilers supported : Microsoft C 5.1 or higher

Price : $99/- includes source code

T - Cube Inc.

(Technology Tips, Tricks and Techniques )

37 Lyman Street, Suite 2 Waltham, MA 02154

617-899-8657


CADVANCE for Windows with BASIC
The new CADVANCE for Windows software package will include an industry-standard BASIC language for internal macro programming, announced ISICAD, Inc., the Anaheim, California-based developer of the package. The incorporation of this standard scripting language, common to many Microsoft Windows applications packages, means that users will be able to customize this computer-aided design package and automate routines using the same macro programming tools available with other packages in the Windows environment. This common language also eliminates the need to learn a proprietary macro language, as is common with most CAD packages.

The inclusion of this standard programming tool is part of ISICAD's strategy to make CADVANCE for Windows an integrated part of the Windows environment. In this environment, sharing information across applications is an important part of improving personal and organizational productivity. The company has previously announced that its new Windows version, expected to ship by Summer of 1992, will offer complete support for Windows interoperability features such as the Clipboard, Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE).

According to Michael Upp, ISICAD vice president of marketing, "We are committed to delivering extra value to our customers by making CADVANCE for Windows the industry's most robust implementation of CAD in the Windows environment. The incorporation of this standard macro programming tool will help break down the barriers between applications and make CADVANCE a customizable component of larger solutions."

Broadening the Appeal of CAD

According to Dr. Joel Orr, prominent international CAD consultant, "The move towards standardizing on a common programming language in the Windows environment will help CAD make the leap from being strictly for the 'heads-down' drafter into being another desktop tool for the casual user. It will create a user environment that spans many applications. Users will be able to think more in terms of their work and less in terms of a particular application. A common programming language will undoubtedly also be regarded as a move in the right direction for vendors of add-on software products who will gain a larger market by it than they had before."

Market Situation

Macro languages allow users to customize applications software and automate routine or complex tasks. These tools are aimed at both power users as well as average end users who want a simple way to automate their routine keystrokes.

ISICAD's adoption of BASIC as CADVANCE for Window's macro programming language reflects the move of many mainstream Windows applications developers towards incorporating this same standard language as their own programming environment. This means that each application will present a common, consistent set of general-purpose commands, augmented by specialized commands necessary to access the program's unique, application-specific routines.

Autodesk, Inc.'s Autocad, on the other hand, the main competitor to CADVANCE, utilizes a proprietary macro programming language called AutoLisp. Applications with unique macro programming languages present a steep learning curve and create problems for those who must learn several different macro languages.

"Many CAD packages are designed as if they are the only game in town," according to Yoav Etiel, ISICAD's manager of personal systems marketing. "However, we wanted to make CADVANCE for Windows a well-respected member of the 'United Nations' of Windows applications. This is an effort to maintain consistency between products in the Windows environment, where interoperability across the desktop is an important factor. We believe that users will seek out products that incorporate standard features, in order to leverage their existing knowledge and expertise."

ISICAD has licensed the BASIC scripting language technology from Softbridge Technologies, the same company responsible for the macro recorder technology included in Microsoft Windows 3.0. Other companies licensing this BASIC scripting language include Software Publishing and Wordstar International.

Background

ISICAD, Inc., is a leading developer of graphics-based, information management solutions serving a worldwide customer base that represents all major industrial and service sectors. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Anaheim, California, the company offers solutions for the UNIX, MS/DOS and Microsoft Windows environments. The company can be reached at 1920 West Corporate Way, Anaheim, CA 92803-6122, telephone (714) 533-8910, FAX (714) 5338642.


New Drug Info & Interaction Swr
Camdat Corporation of Pittsburgh, PA, announced plans to unveil a new drug information and interaction software program at the upcoming annual meeting of the American College of Physicians in San Diego, May 26 - 29, 1992.

The new program, which utilizes Microsoft Windows in the DOS operating environment, is the first in a series of applications that Camdat is developing that will conform to a new interface, that the company is also developing, that will allow clinical software programs to communicate with each other, therefore giving physicians access to diagnostic and treatment information from many different applications and database sources through one, single interface.

The new program was developed by Dr. Fred (Chip) Masarie, Jr. and Dr. Barry Blumenfeld of Camdat, and uses information from the USP Dl from the United States Pharmacopeial Convention, Inc.

It contains information on more than 5,000 name brand and generic drugs, and is unique in the way physicians can access the data and build relationships between drugs, patient symptoms and diseases. For example, the software can provide users with a list of drugs that will treat a particular symptom, as well as all of the drugs that will cause that symptom.

"The program's strength is in its ability to allow users to easily move around throughout the software. It's different in that users can now easily get at data that would have previously required several steps of information gathering. For example, while a physician is looking at the disorders that a drug can treat, he can also look at alternative drug treatments for a particular disorder. No other program can do that. "

The new drug application is targeted at physicians of all specialties who are using computers to satisfy their medical information needs.

"We have introduced this new software to better serve our customers current and anticipated needs," said Dr. Barry Blumenfeld, President of Camdat Corporation. "This new application complements our popular QMR patient diagnostic software, and now gives physicians both diagnostic and treatment information on-line."

Unlike other drug programs, all information in the new software is contained in the program and does not require the user to reference additional printed reference sources. Major subsections in the program include: Indications, Pharmacology, Contraindications, Drug Interactions, Side/Adverse Effects, Patient Consultation, and General Dosing Information.

According to Dr. Blumenfeld, physicians are disappointed in current drug applications and what they do. "After much research, we decided to design a drug system that physicians would find useful," he said. "Users complained that current systems were cumbersome and wordy. They wanted concise answers to their questions, without having to read lengthy manufacturer's inserts to get them. For example, if a physician wanted to see all of the steroid creams available for a particular skin symptom, instead of providing him with a list of all of the steroid creams available, as most programs do, we can tell him the difference between them and which one would be most useful for his patient. n

The new software, which will sell for $595 requires: An IBM-compatible 286 or better machine; 10 MB of available disk space for the PC version or a CD-ROM drive for the CD version; 2 MB of memory; Microsoft Windows 3.0; and a VGA monochrome or color monitor.

Camdat is a Pittsburgh-based international developer of clinical software applications for physicians. Camdat software is sold direct, and worldwide through international and domestic distributors and dealers. Camdat is located at 2100 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Phone: (412) 431-8355 or 1-800-875-8355.


QMR Quick Medical Ref. CD-ROM
Camdat Corporation of Pittsburgh, PA, announced that its popular PC-based QMR (Quick Medical Reference) patient diagnostic software is now available on CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory).

QMR on CD-ROM contains information on over 600 internal medicine diseases and 4,500 symptoms, signs and labs. With QMR, physicians can look at the profile of a disease (its history, symptoms, signs and labs), diagnose patients, rule-in/rule-out diagnoses, test their medical knowledge through QMR's case simulation, view selected references and ICD-9 codes on-line, and more.

The new version can run on any IBM-compatible computer interfaced with a CD-ROM drive. A powerful search and retrieval capability allows fast access to all information contained in QMR's database.

QMR is available on CD-ROM today, and can purchased directly from Camdat or from authorized distributors and dealers. The annual subscription fee is $595 for the first year, and $295 for subsequent years. Initial subscriptions include the CD-ROM disk, a User's Manual, and two semi-annual updates.

Camdat is a Pittsburgh-based international developer of clinical software applications for physicians. Camdat software is sold direct, and worldwide through international and domestic distributors and dealers. Camdat is located at 2100 Wharton Street, Suite 317, Pittsburgh, PA 15203. Phone: (412) 431-8355 or 1-800-875-8355.


Science & Technical Ref Set CDROM
From acoustics to zoology, a comprehensive science and technology resource is now just a keystroke or mouse click away with Release 2.0 of the McGraw-Hill Science and Technical Reference Set. This highly acclaimed, easy-to-use CD-ROM reference tool for scientists, educators, students and writers --and the just plain curious--has been a top-ten industry best-seller since it was first introduced in 1987.

Revisions to the just-released version 2.0--with full coverage of more than 75 scientific and technical disciplines in theoretical and applied science--include new and updated articles, enhanced graphics and improved search and retrieval capabilities.

The Reference Set thoroughly examines the physical, earth and life sciences, as well as all engineering specialties. It includes 7,700 signed science articles, 117,000 scientific terms and definitions, and more than 1,700 VGA-quality photographs, drawings, formulas and chemical structures--all on a single compact disc.

The McGraw-Hill Science and Technical Reference Set, Release 2.0 integrates the current, unabridged editions of the McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science &+ Technology and the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. The Encyclopedia presents essential information in a practical, accessible format and gives answers to frequently asked scientific and technical questions. A typical article includes a definition of the term, a summary of relevant data and information, and cross-references to related topics.

The Dictionary reflects current usage and the specialized terminology of 100 different disciplines. Each definition is identified with the field in which the term is used; multiple definitions within a single field are numbered; and pronunciations, synonyms, abbreviations, acronyms and variant spellings are given with the definitions.

"Our product has been hailed by educators, librarians and scientists alike as the most comprehensive science and technology research source available today," said Sybil Parker, Publisher. "We are thrilled to be launching an updated version of what has become one of the leading CD-ROM encyclopedias in the industry."

A transparent network of 1.5 million hypertext links (more than in any other CD-ROM database) enables users to quickly jump back and forth among volumes, articles, graphics and definitions with a simple mouse dick or keystroke.

Researchers can locate an unfamiliar term in the Dictionary while reading an article in the Encyclopedia . . . or search through the Encyclopedia using the electronically-linked key words that appear within each article, without having to locate an article through the index.

A new "Mirror of the Cosmos" graphics screen Lets novice users begin using the Reference Set immediately. By clicking on a broad science category such as "Physics," they then are led to a listing of the major sub-disciplines of Physics --from Astronomy to Thermodynamics.

The selections become progressively more specific, listing all relevant Encyclopedia articles in that area. A final mouse click or keystroke lets the user access the full text of any entry, complete with highlighted hypertext-linked words that make it simple to jump ahead to a related entry--and back--in seconds. Names and labels that appear within the VGA color illustrations also are hypertext-linked.

In addition to the hypertext function, there are three separate tables of contents to facilitate locating data:

*  the graphical "Mirror of the Cosmos" screen described above;

*  a "traditional" table of contents which lists all entries alphabetically;

*  a topical table of contents which provides access to articles by field of study.

Users can save their place in articles through the use of electronic bookmarks, and all data can be printed or saved to disk. An entirely new installation program makes setup virtually automatic, and there are on-line help screens and menu selections to guide users through the research process. The software is network-capable, with network licenses available upon request.

The McGraw-Hill Science and Technical Reference Set, Release 2.0 comes with a thorough User's Guide, which provides complete instructions and suggests useful search strategies. Users can call 1-800-551-2210 for technical support.

The product lists for $495 (with special pricing for upgrades) and is available directly from McGraw-Hill by calling 1-800-262-4729, or through distributors such as The Bureau of Electronic Publishing, Updata Publications, CDROM Inc., PC Micro, Interaction CD-ROM & Optical Storage, EBSCO Electronic, Faxon and Bibliographical Center for Research. It requires an IBM-PC or compatible 286 or faster; lMB of expanded memory; a hard disk with 2MB of available space, and a CD-ROM drive (ISO 9660 compatible) with Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions. An HP LaserJet or compatible printer, a VGA color monitor and a Microsoft-compatible mouse are recommended.

McGraw-Hill's Professional Book Group provides timely, authoritative information to the scientific and technical community in both print and electronic formats.

McGraw-Hill Professional Book Group

11 West 19th St, New York, NY 10011


Subsonic Wind Tunnel Design
WIND TUNNEL DESIGN

This program was developed as an aid in the design and analysis of subsonic wind tunnels. It brings together and refines previously scattered and over-simplified techniques used for the design and loss prediction of the components of subsonic wind tunnels. It implements a system of equations for determining the total pressure losses and provides general guidelines for the design of diffusers, contractions, corners and the inlets and exits of non-return tunnels. The algorithms used in the program are applicable to compressible flow through most closed- or open-throated, single-, double- or non-return wind tunnels or ducts. A comparison between calculated performance and that actually achieved by several existing facilities produced generally good agreement. Any system through which air is flowing which involves turns, fans, contractions etc. (e.g. an HVAC system) may benefit from analysis using this software.

The Subsonic Wind Tunnel Performance Analysis Software, ARC-13129, is written in FORTRAN 77 (71%) and BASIC (29%) for IBM PC series computers and compatibles running MS-DOS 2.1 or higher. The machine requirements include either an 80286 or 80386 processor, a math co-processor and 64OK of main memory. The standard distribution medium for this package is a 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette. Program $700; documentation $31.

COSMIC

The University of Georgia

382 East Broad St

Athens, GA 30602

404-542-3265


Therapist Helper Practice Mgmt
Brand Software Inc., an internationally distributed computer software company established in 1987, provides practice management applications for the clinical field.

Brand Software added power to Therapist Helper, the clinical market's most popular billing package, with the release of a major upgrade. The flexible Therapist Helper 4.02 delivers with multiple billing, insurance form completion, built-in codes, progress notes, its own backup system, and mail merge. Flexible reports include: unpaid insurance tracking; referral source productivity; dunning; daily, weekly, and monthly summaries; payroll; and audit trail. With powerful SQL reporting, all reports can be modified by the user and new reports can be created. 4.02 is ready to export to accounting or spreadsheet programs.

Written in C using a network model database, 4.02 is fast and flexible. The addition of Vermont Views' screen designer makes for a much slicker look than Helper 3.0, and, with it, users can customized their own screens. The 4.02 release makes Helper the most powerful program designed for psychotherapists even more powerful. Available in two versions, Therapist Helper 4.02 is designed for both solo and group practices.

Packages for IBM compatibles may be obtained from a licensed dealer or from Brand Software Inc., 395 Main Street, Salem, NH, 03079. Phone: 800/3-HELPER; 603-898-0502. Interested resellers are encouraged to call.