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

Ordering WinNews

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.

Ordering WinNews

PC Industry Database


Ordering WinNews
Ordering WinNews...

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

20 Ferro Drive	(609) 582-9203   Voice

Sewell, NJ 08080 USA	(609) 582-9204   Fax

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

RBakerPC@delphi.com	(Internet)

RBakerPC	(AOL/Delphi)


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:

COBUILD on CD-ROM, Total English Language Ref.

Athena Design MESA 2 Spreadseet Swr for OS/2

XSoft Debuts Visual Recall Doc Mgmt for Windows

Spelling Sentry 1.3 for Windows

OnCall*EDI For Electronic Hospital Business

DataGrabber Automates Report Output to CDROM

LINK! Advantage V1.05 w/Accounting Interfaces

4MOST Image Management Software

Windows Version of 4Site Introduced

Expert Labels for Windows

Doctor Data File V6.06 Released

V_Graph Support/Future Upgrades for Tempra

Expert Forms for Windows

TeleForm for Windows V3.0 Auto Data Entry Swr

Visual Calendar Planner 1.1 for Windows

Pursuit Plus Account Management System

LA Times v3.3 NNTP News Reader for OS/2

FAST! Advantage w/Automatic Conversions


Professional/Engineering Software
Professional/Engineering Software News:

ADev Plant Design Swr Featured at AIE/C Systems

FREE Management & Clinical Info

New Chem-X The Choice for Drug Research

CADPIPE 3.1 Offers Enhancements/Improvments

INSTA-TREND Data Acquisition for PCs

Executive Version Standard Form (SF) 254/255

DataSponge Data Acquisition Software

Design Center Joins Design Framework II

SPICE-IT! For Windows v1.0 CAE Swr Pckg

ADev to Distribute ASD Pipe Router

Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals


Personal & Educational Software
Personal & Educational Software News:

COBUILD on CD-ROM for Learners of English

Sitting On The Farm for Windows

Expert Resume Writer for Windows

Accolade - Combat Cars for Genesis

Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design Signature Ed

WordWise (V3.0) Helps Students Blast the SAT

IntroApp Computerized College Search Swr

PointsAhead! Relieves Stock Market Jitters

World War II Quizbook/CD-ROM

Track It! Videos/Books/Stamps/Coins/Inventory

CD-Romance Personal Ads on CD-ROM


Games & Entertainment Software
Games & Entertainment Software News:

Dennis Miller That's News to Me

Epic MegaGames Acquires Safari Software

Epic MegaGames & CompuServer Join Forces

Fatty Bear Titles on Dual Platform CDs

Amtex Royal Flush Pinball Classic

Interactive Movies Are Here!

Under A Killing Moon Coming on THREE CDs

Interplay & Accolade Bundling Agreement

SSN-21 Seawolf, Sequel to 688 Attack Sub

Eidolon Now Electronic Arts Affiliate Label

Great Naval Battles Vol II, Guadalcanal 1942-43


System Software & Utilities
System Software & Utilities News:

IBM REXX Plugs Into Knozall Products

Common Dialog Toolkit for Visual Basic

VersionStamper-VB V1.0 for Visual Basic

CAPE Computer-Aided Protocol Eng Swr Design

I-Bridge for Mobile Client/Server Computing

Pronto Windows Front-End to UNIX Mail

PRAXIM Command Shell for Windows

Largest Collection of Windows Icons & Wallpaper

Largest Collection of Windows Icons & Wallpaper

World Class Fonts, Over 6,000 Fonts on CD-ROM

Font Elegance CD-ROM With 3,000+ Original Fonts

QEdit Advanced V3.0

Dolphin Disk Purge

Walnut Creek ADA CD-ROM

EDT+ Version 6 (DEC VAX EDT Emulator)

INDENT C/C++ Source File Beautifier

LANovation LAN Escort Windows Mgmt for NetWare

Walnut Creek Nova/Nebula NeXTSTEP CD-ROMs

Comdisco Integrating Trinzic InfoHub Swr

Unipalm Ships MAIL-IT with MIME & Extended MAPI

MetaEdit Method Workbench (CASE Tool)

BW-COnnect 3.1 Adds DOS/Win/Novell Support

PMDF V4.3 DEC Email System with PC Mail Support

Accolade Barkley & Nicklaus Screen Savers

TCI Awards Multimillion Contract to Sybase

MetaEdit Reporter Windows CASE Tool

Outside In Technology Provides File View/Print

ESL to Resell InterOFFICE Msg Exchange

Vi-Spy Universal NIM AU LAN Virus Protection

AccSys for Paradox Database Library

KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail

AudioFile License TalkWorks to IBM for Mwave

Trinzic Expands Alternate Distribution Channels

StarClass 3.0 Class Library for CA-Clipper 5

OOTher V1.06b OO Documentation & CASE Tool

Open-Systems E-Mail Arch for Enterprise Network

Z-Mail Comes to Windows & Mac Systems

New Odd Creations Shareware Releases

ProtoView Intros ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite

Artisoft Upgrades Through Reseller Channel

Sybase Completes Micro Decisionware Acquisition

Microsoft & Sybase Evolve Partnership

FOR_STUDY FORTRAN Program Analysis Tool

IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups on CD-ROM

WindowMagic v3.0 Windows Pgm Mgr Enhancement

IconAuthor 5.1 for OS/2

Cascade Voice Tools V2.01 for Voice Response

eNote for cc:Mail Front-End Messaging Swr

HP Works With Avail to Promote NetSpace HSM

HyperAct HLPDK V11.5 Released

Candela Enhances Color Mgmt System, Rel 2.0


Macintosh Specific Software
Macintosh Specific Software News:

PowerPOKER Poker Simulation for Macintosh

PSI Ships FAXnetwork Software for Macintosh

!Trak-It HR from Former Abra MacDabra Swr Co.

E Ware Announces eNote Email Swr for Macintosh

CONSULT! Computerized Prof Consultant Office

MacTimeLiner Evolves, TimeLiner 4.0 Shipping

Space Station Redesign Uses Presenter Prof.


Miscellaneous Software
Miscellaneous Software News:

Sybase Positions for Leadership in RDBMS

The Jockey Club Selects Sybase

Walnut Creek Internet Info CDROM

Gale Dir of Databases & ISMEC Mech Eng Abstract

InfoMagic CICA Archive on CD-ROM

SilverPlatter Announces New Pricing Strategy


System Hardware
System Hardware News:

DisplayPac-VISTA Industrual Flat Panel Computer

NEC Image RiscStation & Express RiscServer

ME Intros DX4/100MHz PC With PCI & VL Buses


Expansion Hardware
Expansion Hardware News:

RangeLAN2/ISA 2.4GHz Wireless LAN Adapter

Zynx EtherAction ZX314 PCI Ethernet Adapter

Timbuktu for Windows EtherWave Kit

The Horde Bundled with ReelMagic Lite MPEG Brd

Artisoft LANtastic Network Gov't Intro Kit

Sigma Designs ReelMagic MPEG Tech to Asian Mkt


Peripheral Hardware
Peripheral Hardware News:

TruScan 500/800 Accurate Large Document Scanner

NEC Reduces SilentWriter SuperScript 610 Laser

NCD X Terminals Energy Star Compliant

Low-Cost, High-Speed Supra Modem Options

All ViewMagic Monitors Now EPA Energy Stars

IDEK Cuts Price of 21-inch VisionMaster Monitor

IDEK Ships 17-inch VisionMaster Color Monitor

Curtis Solid-State SCSI-2 Drive w/Battery Bckup


Macintosh Specific Hardware
Macintosh Specific Hardware News:

(No entries for this newsgroup)


Miscellaneous Hardware
Miscellaneous Hardware News:

Weitek Responds to Matrix Claims

PAPER: Switching Hwr for Auto Test & Measure

COGNEX Vision System Named Best New Product

Rockwell Intros Low-Cost V.32BIS Modem Chipset

ACC Wins Data Comm Mag Testers Choice Award


Books & Publications
Books & Publications:

C Users Journal Becomes C/C++ Users Journal

Inside NetWare Newsletter from The Cobb Group

Network Interrupts, Pgmr's Ref to Network APIs

Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications

Guide to Purchasing a Personal Computer

Adventures in Flight Simulator, Version 5

Programming the Paradox Engine: C++ Win Apps

WordPerfect 6.0 Macros

Stacker for OS/2 & DOS, An Illustrated Tutorial

Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog, 2nd Ed.

OCLC Cataloging Symposium Proceedings Available

Free Help From Uncle Sam to Start Your Business

Windows 3.1 Connectivity Secrets

Personal Finance for Dummies

Client/Server Strategies: Survival Guide

DOS Beyond 640K, 3rd Edition

Field Guides to MS-DOS 6.2 & Windows 3.1

The Way Microsoft Excel for Windows Works

The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows

A DOS User's Guide to the Internet

Hands-On Internet, Beginning Guide for PC Users

Zen and the Art of the Internet

Assorted Multimedia Books from Vision River

Field Guide to Microsoft Access 2 for Windows

Running Microsoft Access 2

Making TeX Work

Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog, 2nd Ed.


Miscellaneous News
Miscellaneous News:

CD Software Sales Explode in Fourth Quarter'93

Turtle Creek Software is Moving

Asia/Pacific & Latin America Swr Sales

Merger of Verdix Corp & Rational Completed

Laser Printers, A New Ecological Horror Story

Info Industry Assoc Newsletter, Apr 1994

Donate a Scanner, Help Somebody Out

Multimedia Industry Leaders Support ART TECO'94

Ricoh Meetings Demands of American Market

Business Software Alliance Takes Action

Baker's News Bits (4/24/94)


COBUILD on CD-ROM, Total English Language Ref.
COBUILD on CD-ROM

This compact disc integrates Collins COBUILD English Language Dictionary, Collins COBUILD English Usage and Collins COBUILD English Grammar, together with a Word Bank containing 5 million words selected from the Collins COBUILD Bank of English corpus.

* Quick and easy to use

* Over 70,000 references and over 90,000 real examples

* Over 2,000 usage points with thousands of real examples

* Word Bank containing 5 million words

* Global searches across all three books and the Word Bank

You do not have to be a computer expert to be able to use COBUILD on CD-ROM. Whether you are a beginner carrying out a straight word search, or an experienced researcher seeking the answer to a query of greater complexity, you will be able to retrieve the information you want swiftly and easily.

COBUILD is Collins Birmingham University International Language Database -- an authorative and informative description of today's real English.

Users can now get even more from the COBUILD data. Features include: quick access, extensive cross-referencing and powerful search capabilities. A main index lists all the headwords, phrases, inflected forms and section headings. There is also a glossary of COBUILD grammatical terms and concepts.

Global search

This enables you to search for a term across all three books and the Word Bank (e.g. look up 'shall' and get 'ability (shall), asking for advice (shall)' etc.).

Wildcard search

The wildcard character '*' can be substituted for one or more characters when making a search to eliminate the need for multiple searches (e.g. type 'fall*' and get: fall about, fall asleep, fall away, etc.).

Modify a search

If your search has resulted in too many, or too few selections, you can modify the search criteria using the Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT (e.g. look up 'way', click on AND then type 'right*' to get: right of way, rights of way).

Technical Details

Platform: IBM PC (or compatible)

Minimum requirements:

80386 microprocessor

DOS v3.1 (or higher)

Microsoft Windows 3.0 (or higher)

2MB RAM (4MB preferable)

5MB hard disk space

CD-ROM drive

Microsoft CD-ROM extensions MSCDEX v2.1 (or higher)

Media: CD-ROM ISO-9660

HarperCollins Electronic Reference

14 Steep Lane

Findon, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 0UF United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)903 873 555

Fax: +44 (0)903 873 633

CIS: 100317,1372


IBM REXX Plugs Into Knozall Products
IBM's REXX Plugs into Knozall's Products

April 1994 -- IBM's REXX Development Manager, Betty Atkinson, said, "We are pleased to already have the first application using our REXX language for NetWare." Software developer KNOZALL Systems, Inc. of Chandler, AZ, announced the availability of a REXX for NetWare scripting language module for use with NLMAuto Professional and NLMerlin products.

REXX is an easy to learn and use procedural language because its syntax is similar to natural language. REXX provides the same powerful commands and flow capabilities in Knozall's applications as it does in IBM's VM environments. The new module can be used with NLMAuto Professional and NLMerlin products.

Knozall has positioned this scripting and scheduling product line with three levels of power. The original NLMAuto is designed to schedule the automatic loading and unloading of NLMs, the initiation of NCFs, and the execution of console commands.

As the network administrators asked for more programming ability, NLMAuto Professional was designed. Jobs can now be scheduled in conjunction with an event or condition, the completion of another task, as well as date and time. In addition to scheduling multiple jobs on the server, NLMAuto Professional can control processing on client workstations.

The next step came as a result of network administrators needing the same scripting and scheduling abilities on multiple servers as NLMAuto Professional does on a single server.

The reason the IBM REXX for NetWare scripting language module was added is explained by Don Lundell, the President of Knozall Systems. "There are a number of users downsizing who have experience using REXX. This module will help them be immediately productive in the NetWare environment."

Requirements:

NLMAuto, NLMAuto Professional, and NLMerlin: Novell Netware version 3.11 or higher.

NLMAuto Professional and NLMerlin: Microsoft Windows 3.1 or higher

Price: NLMAuto $395/server; NLMAuto Professional $495/server; NLMerlin: $2195; REXX for NetWare module: $395

Knozall Systems Inc

375 E. Elliot Rd, Suite 10

Chandler, AZ 85225-1130


COBUILD on CD-ROM for Learners of English
Native speakers give learners shot in the arm

Native speakers of English often have trouble spelling words and sometimes even have difficulty understanding their own language! Hardly surprising when you consider that there are about 20,000 English words in common use, further complicated by many thousands of technical and scientific terms. Because English is a living entity and is not jealously guarded by some academy, it constantly changes, as new words enter the language and old ones fall into disuse. Many people revel in the richness of the English vocabulary and its vast range of synonyms and love all manner of things to do with words including etymologies, euphemisms, idiomatic expressions, puns, spoonerisms, word games, etc.

However some learners find the range and subtleties of English daunting. It's not hard to imagine the confusion that might result when a learner comes across expressions like she spilled the beans, or perhaps the more perplexing he passed the buck. Imagine a learner struggling to spell whether (rather than weather), through (rather than threw), cough (instead of "coff", as in doff), toe (rather than tow), etc. Clearly these brave learners of English need all the help they can get!

With 320 million people speaking English as their main language, up to 600 million people speaking English as a second language and with many more struggling to learn it, there is a growing need for good reference material and teaching aids. Learners want to learn current English; they need to learn real English, as it is written and spoken today.

COBUILD on CD-ROM integrates a special English dictionary designed for learners (containing over 70,000 references including the most commonly used words), excellent grammar and usage guides, plus a Word Bank which contains S million words of authentic text selected from the Collins COBUILD Bank of English. Providing instant access to meanings of words and grammatical information, this immensely powerful reference tool can be used with equal ease by beginners and researchers.

COBUILD is the Collins-Birmingham University International Database and COBUILD is dedicated to Helping Learners with real English.

The Bank of English is a collection of current English speech and writing comprising over 200 million words. Set up by COBUILD, the research unit run by Collins Dictionaries and the University of Birmingham, it is constantly updated and provides evidence for computer analysis of how language is used and how it changes.

COBUILD on CD-ROM is just what learners and teachers of English need a shot in the arm, you might say.

COBUILD on CD-ROM

... Helping Learners with real English

New from HarperCollins - COBUILD on CD-ROM - the ultimate reference tool for learners of English, based on:

** Collins COBUILD English Language Dictionary over 70,000 references and over 90,000 real examples

** Collins COBUILD English Grammar gives clear and detailed descriptions of grammar points with real examples showing actual use

** Collins COBUILD English Usage over 2,000 usage points with thousands of real examples

** Plus a Word Bank containing S million words derived from

Collins COBUILD Bank of English corpus

A main index lists all the headwords, phrases, inflected forms and section headings. Powerful search capabilities include wildcards, Boolean functions (ie AND, OR, NOT) plus global searches across all three books and the Word Bank. Also included is a glossary of COBUILD grammatical terms and concepts.

COBUILD on CD-ROM is designed to run on an 80386-based IBM PC (or compatible) and requires DOS v3.1 (or higher), Microsoft Windows 3.0 (or higher), CD-ROM drive, Microsoft CD-ROM extensions MSCDEX v2.1 (or higher), at least 2Mb RAM (4Mb preferable) and a hard disk with at least 5Mb of free space.

COBUILD on CD-ROM is available at the special price of $119 for orders received prior to 1 July 1994. The recommended retail price is $129 (Prices exclude C&P plus VAT).

COBUILD is the Collins-Birmingham University International Language Database An authoritative and informative description of today's real English

The COBUILD team is continually working on new projects aimed at demystifying the English language. The Bank of English contains around 200 million words and continues to grow, making it the most authoritative source available for research into today's English. COBUILD on CD-ROM allows learners and teachers of English to get even more from the COBUILD data.

HarperCollins Electronic Reference

14 Steep Lane, Findon, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 OUF (UK)

Tel + 44 (0)903 873 555;   Fax + 44 (0)903 873 633

Electronic mail: CompuServe 100317,1372


Dennis Miller That's News to Me
Comedian Dennis Miller Goes Interactive; Joins With Sanctuary Woods To Deliver Interactive Comedy Titles For 3DO

LAS VEGAS, January 6, 1994--Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc., a leading developer of family-oriented entertainment and educational CD-ROM titles. announced it has entered into an agreement with Miller/Pickering Syndications to co-develop, publish and distribute interactive comedy titles in collaboration with former Saturday Night Live comedian Dennis Miller. Miller/Pickering Syndications is an interactive media development company co-owned by Miller.

The first title developed under the agreement, a comical look at current events titled "Dennis Miller That's News to Me ", will ship in January for the Panasonic REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer system. Additional titles from Sanctuary Woods for the 3DO system are expected later in 1994.

The announcements were made in conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show, being held here through January 9. "Dennis Miller That's News to Me" will be on display at the 3DO (#10201) and Electronic Arts (#10000) booths throughout the show.

The Miller/Pickering publishing agreement and product introductions launch Sanctuary Woods' new I-laugh brand of interactive comedy products. I-laugh titles, which target adult audiences ages 18 and up, encompass a wide range of interactive entertainment products that use humor, instead of action or adventure, as a theme to give CD-ROM users a whole new way to experience comedy.

"Up until now, the interactive software market has been the domain of adolescent boys. Sanctuary Woods wants to move beyond this focus to draw adults, girls and younger children into the interactive media audience," said Scott Walchek, president of Sanctuary Woods. "Because comedy is a successful linear media genre with wide appeal, it is a logical vehicle to develop the 'grown-up' market for titles. And Dennis Miller, one of America's favorite stand-up comedians, is the ideal partner to lead in this new genre."

The Dennis Miller Series of l-laugh titles will combine CD-quality sound with full-color digital video clips that feature Miller applying his cynical, understated view of the world to different thematic situations. Users interact by navigating through several topics to choose how they want to be entertained.

"Dennis Miller That's News to Me ' is Miller's comical look at the punchlines behind the news headlines of 1993. On the CD-ROM, he lambasts a spectrum of topical events, from the lost Mars probe to President Clinton's Cabinet appointments. This collector's interactive disk is divided into four headings: politics, world events, sports and show business. Users can skim through each topic a month at a time to view 144 digital video clips of, in Miller's words, "the historical carnage that was 1993."

Sanctuary Woods chose 3DO as a delivery platform because of its mass market and family appeal, easy navigation and advanced audiovisual capabilities. The 3DO version of "Dennis Miller That's News to Me" features higher fidelity audio and better quality, more lifelike digital video than the MPC and Macintosh versions of the product, which will also ship in January.

Price and Availability

"Dennis Miller That's News to Me" will ship in January for the 3DO system for a suggested retail price of $39.95. "Dennis Miller That's News to Me" and Sanctuary Woods' other 3DO software products are distributed in North America by Electronic Arts and sold through computer retail and consumer electronics stores.

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc. develops family-oriented entertainment and educational multimedia titles distributed on CD-ROM for desktop and entertainment platforms including 3DO, MPC and Macintosh. Sanctuary Woods produces its titles under four brands: I-laugh, I-tales I-ventures and l-learn Current titles include Shelley Duvall's It's A Bird 's Life, The Awesome Adventures of Victor Vector & Yondo Series, The Hawaii High Series and Sitting on the Farm.

Founded in 1988, with headquarters in Victoria, British Columbia, Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corporation is a public company currently traded on NASDAQ (SWMCF) and the Vancouver Stock Exchange (SWD.V). Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc., a subsidiary of Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp., has sales, marketing and operations headquarters in San Mateo, Calif.

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp

1875 S. Grant St

San Mateo, CA 94402

415-578-6340,  fax 415-578-6344


TruScan 500/800 Accurate Large Document Scanner
TruScan 500/TruScan 800: Fastest, Most Accurate Large Document Scanning Systems in the under $25,000 Class.

February 15, 1994 -- Herndon, VA: A precise drive mechanism, developed by Vidar Systems Corporation for the TruScan 500 and TruScan 800 Scanning Systems, handles documents from A to E-size with + 0.1% accuracy.

The new drive mechanism comprises a pair of steel shafted rollers and thirty-six independently sprung compression wheels. This unique new roller system has several important advantages. First, accuracy is better than + 0.1 %, which makes TruScan the most accurate scanner in its class. Second, the mechanism handles all types of media reliably, including paper, vellum, linen, index board, and Mylar, without slipping.

The paper drive system employs a straight paper path. This ensures proper feeding of all documents, including rigid materials such as index board. Designed for high productivity, the TruScan 800 scans a typical E-size drawing at 200 dpi in as little as 44 seconds.

The TruScan 500 (500 dpi resolution) is priced at $8,995, and the TruScan 800 (800 dpi resolution) is $14,500. Both prices include MS-Windows scanner control software. Unix software is also available for the TruScan 800 on the following platforms: IBM RISC 6000, Sun (Solaris 1 and Solaris 2) and Hewlett Packard.

TruScan scanners are the latest products designed and engineered in the U.S.A. by Vidar Systems Corporation, manufacturer of over 50% of all large document scanners sold worldwide for architectural, engineering, and GIS applications.

Vidar Systems Corp

520 Herndon Parkway, Herndon, VA 22070

703/471-7070,   Fax: 703/471-1165


Sybase Positions for Leadership in RDBMS
SYBASE POSITIONS FOR LEADERSHIP IN DISTRIBUTED DATABASE SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Company Joins X/Open Systems Management Working Group, Enhancing Two Year Commitment to Products Based on Tivoli Systems Management Framework

EMERYVILLE, CA, March 28, 1994 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced that it has joined the Systems Management Working Group of X/Open, an international open systems organization that provides a foundation for common, interoperable, systems management solutions across heterogenous UNIX platforms. By joining this X/Open working group, Sybase increases its active role in developing international standards for database systems management products. Sybase's X/Open membership enhances a four-year commitment to database systems management, which includes commercially available products and product development based on emerging Tivoli standards.

X/Open members--including IBM, Sun, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment Corp., Siemens-Nixdorf, AT&T, and Amdahl--recently accepted the Tivoli Management Framework (TMF) as a draft specification for use in developing a common interface specification between management applications and underlying services. TMF is an object-oriented systems management platform for distributed systems management. Sybase and Tivoli have been working together under a technology agreement since 1992.

"Managing complex, distributed environments is an increasing challenge for the enterprise," said Stu Schuster, executive vice president of marketing at Sybase. "By joining the Systems Management Working Group of X/Open, Sybase is both highlighting its database systems management leadership role and providing users with an integrated, consistent systems management framework to help enterprises migrate to client/server. Sybase and X/Open have a synergistic approach in this area, most notably marked by our mutual support of the Tivoli framework."

Systems management products represent a rapidly growing segment of the client/server market. Customers require several solutions from multiple vendors to manage distributed computing environments at the workgroup, department, and enterprise levels. Standards, which protect users' investment by ensuring that different vendors' products can interoperate, are few and limited in scope. Through its participation in the X/Open systems management working group, Sybase aims to reduce systems management costs by offering a single, simplified, and consistent management environment for systems and database administration tasks.

"Sybase's expertise in database systems management and familiarity with the Tivoli application programming interface (API), will greatly facilitate our progress in developing a common interface specification," said Martin Kirk, X/Open development manager for distributed systems management. "We're pleased that Sybase has joined the systems management working group."

Sybase's Systems Management Strategy

Sybase shipped SA Companion, its first systems management product for operational control in distributed environments, in 1990. The SYBASE System 10 systems management products are currently shipping. These include Backup Server, for high-speed, on-line backup loading and recovery; SQL Monitor, for performance monitoring and tuning; and the System 10 version of SA Companion

Sybase's commitment to the Tivoli framework for future enterprise product development is complemented by Sybase's relationships with a number of leading systems management providers. These companies, who participate in the company's Open Solutions channel partners program, work with Sybase in technical, sales, and marketing areas to quickly deliver products to market and to meet customers' demanding systems management requirements. Many of these partners w ill demonstrate systems products working with the Sybase SQL Server at the Sybase User Meeting and Training Conference in early May.

Sybase Open Solutions Systems Management Partners:

-- ATT CommVault Systems

-- BMC Software

-- Bachman Information Systems

-- Clarify Inc.

-- Computer Associates

-- Compuware /EcoSystems

-- Epoch Systems

-- Landmark Systems

-- OpenVision

-- Platinum Technology

-- Remedy Corporation

-- Scopus Technology

-- Tivoli Systems

-- Vantive

In addition, Sybase is a founding member of a recently formed IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) whose goal is to define a standard Management Information Base (MIB) using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This RDBMS MIB group, which includes the ASK Group, IBM, Informix, Oracle, and others, is working to create an open specification that will enable users to monitor and control databases from any vendor across the enterprise using any third-party SNMP-based management tool. Sybase products are intended to comply with the upcoming RDBMS MIB group standard as well.

About X/Open

X/Open Company, Ltd., founded in 1984, is a worldwide, independent, open systems organization dedicated to providing a unified path to open systems specification and implementation This unification is achieved through the close cooperation and integration of input from users, vendors, and standards organizations worldwide The X/Open specification, which covers interoperability and applications portability elements, is based on de facto and international standards. X/Open operates a test and verification process for products developed in line with its specification and awards its brand name as the mark of compliance.

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products along with technical support, consulting, and educational services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated servers, tools, interoperability, and systems management products provide complete desktop-to-mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase employs over 2,500 people worldwide. The company markets its products in 47 countries through its direct sales force, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441


C Users Journal Becomes C/C++ Users Journal
The C Users Journal Becomes C/C++ Users Journal

March 28, 1994 -- Lawrence, KS: The C Users Journal, the oldest and largest C/C++ programming publication, is changing its name to C/C++ Users Journal. The name change will take effect with the July 1994 issue.

"The magazine has always been reader-driven," notes Robert Ward, publisher and founding editor. "The name change simply reflects a significant - and long-term - move within our readership to add C++ (and C++ inspired extensions to ANSI C) to their tool repertoire. Our readers are sophisticated enough to recognize the power and utility of the object-oriented features in C++, but pragmatic enough to know that many applications are still best written in ANSI C. Thus, they use both. The content of the magazine will not change. We've just changed the name to reflect what we've been publishing over the past two years - advanced solutions for C/C++ programmers."

C/C++ Users Journal currently reaches over 43,000 C/C++ developers worldwide. The magazine provides articles on program design and construction, developer tools, and tutorials.

R&D Publications also publishes Sys Admin, a bimonthly magazine for UNIX systems administrators, Windows/ DOS Developer's Journal, a monthly magazine for Windows programmers, and Network Administrator, a bimonthly magazine for PC LAN administrators. R&D also operates R&D Technical Books.

R&D Publications

1601 West 23rd St, Suite 200

Lawrence, KS 66046-2700

913-841-1631,  fax 913-841-2624


PowerPOKER Poker Simulation for Macintosh
PowerPOKER -- CASINO-TESTED TO BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE POKER SIMULATION AVAILABLE!

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 25, 1994 - After seven years in development, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announces the release of PowerPOKER for the Apple Macintosh and PowerBook.

The brainchild of long-time Macintosh programmer, Todd L. Ouzts, PowerPOKER was born in 1986 on a 128K Macintosh. As Ouzts' expertise grew, so did the program, and today features 256-color graphics, QuickTime movies, and support for Apple's new PlainTalk text-to-speech utility. His intention was to develop the first comprehensive playing and tutorial program for the world's most popular card game, and PowerPOKER resulted.

Seventy-seven poker variations are included, plus the ability for the player to design his own. Sophisticated artificial intelligence gradually hones and develops play levels up to those of a professional player.

For serious players, PowerPOKER provides a comprehensive array of tutorial tools including hand analysis, historical hand strengths and historical performance charts.

At any time, a number of options may be called up that will provide in-depth statistics on the game at a hand by hand level. Hand Strengths and Standings can be analyzed, and even reset if the player so desires.

For the ultimate high-tech poker party, PowerPOKER even allows up to 10 human players to compete simultaneously via LocalTalk, Ethernet, or AppleTalk Remote Access over modems.

SRP: $49.95

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


CD Software Sales Explode in Fourth Quarter'93
CD Software Sales Explode in Fourth Quarter

"Yes, Virginia, It Really Was a Multi-media Christmas"

More Than Half of all Sales for Year in 4Q

March 29, 1994 (Washington, DC)--The Software Publishers Association (SPA) reported today that sales of computer software programs on compact disk (CD) reached $102 million in the fourth quarter of 1993, on unit sales of just over 4 million software CDs The figures are from the fourth quarter report of the SPA's CD Software Sales Program, and represent sales of 62 leading publishers of software on CD. For all of 1993, software publishers participating in the SPA's CD Software Sales Program reported total sales of $202 million on 8 million CDs sold.

For the year, fifty-two percent of the CDs reached the user from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), while The remainder were distributed through other channels. However, because of higher unit prices, revenues were split 75% to 25% in favor of non-OEM channels l he study showed an average price of $39.30 per CD for sales through non-OEM channels, and an average of $12.20 for OEM-direct purchases.

By all measures, Q4 '93 was a block-buster. Sales in Q4 '93 equaled total sales for the prior three quarters of 1993. Non-OEM channels alone accounted for $80 million sales in the final quarter of the year. For both Q3 and Q4, 1993, unit sales volume for non-OEM channels exceeded OEM volume, showing the growing acceptance of CD software.

Content-based CDs such as encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference works were the largest selling category, accounting for 31% of sales in the fourth quarter and 40% of sales for the full year. Games and other home software made up 30% of sales in the year and 33% in the final quarter. Home education software was the only other type of software to account for more than 10% of sales. Home education software made up 24% of sales for the full year, and 28% in the fourth quarter of 1993.

CDs 'Lift Of' in 3Q

"The third quarter of 1993 will likely be remembered as the 'lift off' point for CD software sales," said David Tremblay, SPA research director "For the first time, non-OEM unit sales exceeded OEM unit sales. In other words, consumers started going out and buying individual CD titles, rather than just requiring them as part of a package bundled with their new computer or add-on multimedia kit That trend continued through the fourth quarter holiday season, when 52% of units and nearly 4-in-5 dollars were from stand-alone sales."

Information for the fourth quarter report is based on the aggregate sales information of 62 participating companies, including Br0derbund, Comptons New Media, Knowledge Adventure, Microsoft, The Software Toolworks and World Library. The companies provide sales information to the Chicago accounting firm Ernst & Young, which prepares the report for the SPA

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its 1,100 members represent the Leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets Since 1988, the SPA's ongoing reports on the PC computing software markets have provided the most reliable and authoritative sales, management and trends data in the industry the SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036

202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756


RangeLAN2/ISA 2.4GHz Wireless LAN Adapter
PROXIM SHIPS INDUSTRY'S FIRST 2.4 GHZ FREQUENCY HOPPING SPREAD SPECTRUM WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER

RangeLAN2/ISA Represents the First Wireless LANProduct to Incorporate High Speed Frequency Hopping Technology Recently Adopted by the IEEE 802.11 Standards Committee

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 30, 1994 -- Proxim, Inc., the world's leading supplier of spread spectrum wireless networking technology, today announced that RangeLAN2/ISA, the first product in its RangeLAN2 family of high speed wireless local area networking (LAN) products, has begun to ship in volume. RangeLAN2/ISA is the wireless data industry's first commercially available 2.4 GHz frequency hopping spread spectrum product, a technology many analysts believe will become the worldwide standard for wireless local area data communications. RangeLAN2/ISA is also the first wireless LAN product to incorporate the high speed frequency hopping technology recently approved by the IEEE 802.11 committee as part of its proposed draft standard.

RangeLAN2/ISA is a wireless LAN adapter that fits into the expansion slot of PC/AT and PC/AT desktop PCs and network servers. RangeLAN2/ISA provides an easy-to-install wireless extension to existing wired client/server LANs for desktop locations that are difficult or expensive to wire. It can also be used as a stand-alone peer-to-peer networking solution in smaller companies or departments. With Proxim's unique radio networking architecture, any RangeLAN2/ISA that is connected to a wired LAN can function as the base station or access point for other RangeLAN2 systems not physically wired to the network.

RangeLAN2/ISA's uncompressed data rate of 1.6 Mbits/second per channel exceeds the data rate requirements of most standard PC applications, making it an ideal wireless platform for high-speed LAN environments. RangeLAN2/lSA also delivers the longest range of any wireless LAN product in its class -- operating at a distance of up to 500 feet in normal office locations and up to l 000 feet in open space environments. RangeLAN2/ISA provides transparent access to standard wired LAN environments and ships with ODI and NDIS drivers that support most standard LAN operating systems, including NetWare, NetWare Lite, LAN Manager, Windows for Workgroups and LANtastic.

"The commercial availability of RangeLAN2/ISA represents a significant milestone for both Proxim and the wireless LAN industry" said David King, president and CEO of Proxim. "It is the first of a new generation of high speed wireless LAN products to ship, which will open up major horizontal and vertical markets previously untapped. Because of its unique high speed radio architecture and industry leading wireless software protocols, RangeLAN2/ISA is designed to be a generation ahead, even at its inception."

RangeLAN2/ISA Applications

RangeLAN2/ISA is uniquely designed for desktop wireless connectivity in situations where wiring of LANs is difficult or physically impractical, such as older buildings and manufacturing or warehouse locations. RangeLAN2/ISA is ideal for LAN environments with frequent moves, adds and changes, or situations where high labor and material costs make cable installation prohibitively expensive. RangeLAN2/ISA also offers a low-cost alternative to wired networks in small businesses, classrooms and home offices.

Proxim's existing RangeLAN/ISA product will continue to be marketed for lower speed LAN applications such as E-mail, printer sharing, and terminal emulation, as well as for mobile computing solutions in vertical markets like health care, manufacturing, distribution and retailing.

RangeLAN2/ISA Spread Spectrum Architecture

Unlike Proxim's original RangeLAN/ISA adapter which utilizes direct sequence spread spectrum technology in the 902 - 928 MHz frequency band, RangeLAN2/ISA is based on frequency hopping spread spectrum technology in the 2.4 - 2.4835 GHz band. RangeLAN2/ISA delivers an uncompressed data rate of 1.6 Mbps per channel with 15 independent channels available. This multi-channel approach enables 15 independent wireless LANs to operate within the same physical space, effectively increasing the aggregate capacity of RangeLAN2 networks by fifteen-fold. Depending on traffic and utilization patterns, network managers can add users and subnets in a scalable fashion and load balance across networks.

On March 9, 1994, the IEEE 802.11 Standards Committee approved a Proxim proposal for high-speed frequency hopping wireless LANs as part of its proposed draft standard, which is expected to be finalized by early 1995. This proposal calls for four-level Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (4GFSK) modulation to achieve high-speed data transmission in frequency hopping wireless LAN environments with a fallback to two-level GSFK for communications with lower speed frequency hopping systems. RangeLAN2/ISA utilizes this 4GFSK/2GFSK modulation technique and is the only spread spectrum wireless LAN product implementing a high-speed frequency hopping option. While the initial RangeLAN2 version features a 1.6 Mbps uncompressed data rate across each of 15 independent channels, the fastest frequency hopping design offered by any vendor, the product line will be tuned to conform to the 2.0 Mbsp/1.0 Mbps proposed standard as the IEEE 802.11 standard gets nearer to completion and ratification.

Pricing and Availability

RangeLAN2/ISA is list priced at $595 Other members of the RangeLAN2 family include RangeLAN2/PCMCIA, which enables portable computer users to access existing wired client/server networks or to communicate on a peer-to-peer basis with other RangeLAN2 systems, and RangeLAN2/Access Point, a wireless local bridge that provides transparent bridging to wired Ethernet LANs. Both RangeLAN2/Access Point and RangeLAN2/PCMCIA are scheduled to ship commercially in Q294.

Proxim, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a public company which was founded in 1984 to develop and market wireless networking solutions and has shipped over 60,000 spread spectrum radio products to date. Proxim's shares are traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol PROX.

Proxim, Inc.

295 North Bernardo Avenue

Mountain View, CA 94043

(415) 960-1630,   Fax: (415) 964-5181


Sitting On The Farm for Windows
Sanctuary Woods Introduces PC Version of Award-Winning Educational Multimedia Program

Sitting On The Farm Available for both PC and Mac CD-ROM Users

LAS VEGAS, January 6, 1993--Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc. (NASDAQ: SWMCF; VSE: SWD.V) announced a Windows version of its award-winning educational multimedia software program Sitting on the Farm. Distributed on CD-ROM, the program teaches children (ages 7 - 10) reading, vocabulary and creative writing skills in English, French and Spanish.

The announcement was made in conjunction with the Consumer Electronics Show, being held here through January 9. Sitting on the Farm and other Sanctuary Woods products are on display during the show in the Electronic Arts' booth (#10000, North Hall).

Sitting on the Farm is the first title introduced in Sanctuary Woods' new I-learn Library of home learning products. The I-learn Library covers a wide range of subject areas and incorporates multi-sensory features such as animation, sound and music to provide an enlivening, integrated learning experience for the child.

Since its introduction on the Macintosh in November, Sitting on the Farm has won several industry awards, including a Holiday Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center and a gold winner award from the National Association of Parenting Publications, which annually recognizes the best in children's media and toys.

"The success on the Macintosh and the greater installed base of CD-ROM users on the PC made the conversion of Sitting on the Farm a natural choice," said Rose Marie Shannon, M. Ed., producer and creator of the I-learn Library. "We're excited that the launch of our l-learn Library has been well received, and we plan to deliver four additional l-learn titles of the same caliber in 1994."

Sitting on the Farm's primary objective is to teach language skills, but it also covers additional subject areas including music appreciation, geography and social studies. At its core, Sitting on the Farm is a story and a song about a farm girl whose peaceful picnic is invaded by hungry animals. The story comprises four levels, playable in English, French or Spanish, through which children can explore and learn:

* "Listen-along" allows children to hear the story being read while the pages automatically turn.

* "Read-along" uses fun animations and pictures to expand children's vocabulary as they read the story alone or with a boy or girl "reading partner." Children can click on individual words to hear them pronounced, select a word to get a pictorial or animated definition or play one of the 27 reading comprehension activities. Using a microphone, kids can even record themselves to hear their own voice and practice pronunciation.

* "Sing-along" leads children to explore musical concepts such as notation and rhythm as they record themselves singing the story's song along with accompanying music from the CD-ROM. Options for musical playback include a child's voice, a background beat and a choice of eight instruments. The CD-ROM contains more than 50 Redbook audio files and can even be played as an audio-CD if the child chooses.

* "Write-along" encourages children to be creative as they compose their own stories to go along with the original pictures from the story, or fill in blanks to write new stories in different settings. Children learn about six geographic regions and the animals found there. Built-in sophisticated print capabilities allow children to print and publish their own stories and coloring books!

Sitting on the Farm is adjustable for audiences of varied learning levels. Teachers and parents can turn off certain features that they believe may distract or frustrate younger children, such as recording functions, animations and reading comprehension games.

Sitting on the Farm also includes a fun activity booklet for kids to continue the learning experience off-computer. Crossword puzzles, recipes, stick puppets, mazes and matching games are used to reinforce concepts covered in the CD-ROM program, as well as link story content to activities in new subject areas.

Configuration, Price and Availability

The PC version of Sitting on the Farm will be available in March. It requires a 386SX PC or higher with Windows 3.1, a Super VGA monitor, 4MB of RAM, a sound card, a CD-ROM drive, speakers and a microphone. The Macintosh version is available now and requires a Macintosh LC or greater with a minimum of 4 MB RAM, a CD-ROM drive, speakers and a microphone.

Both versions of Sitting on the Farm have a suggested retail price of $39.95. Sitting on the Farm and the rest of Sanctuary Woods' products are distributed in North America by Electronic Arts and sold through computer retail and consumer electronics stores, including Egghead Software and CompUSA.

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc., an Electronic Arts Affiliate label, is a leading developer of family-oriented entertainment and educational multimedia titles distributed on CD-ROM for desktop and entertainment platforms including Windows PC, Macintosh and 3DO. Sanctuary Woods produces its titles under three brands: I-learn, I-tales, I-ventures and I-laugh. Current titles include Shelley Duvall's It's A Bird's Life, Dennis Miller That's News to Me, The Awesome Adventures of Victor Vector & Yondo Series, The Hawaii High Series and Sitting on the Farm.

Founded in 1988, which is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corporation is a public company currently traded on NASDAQ (SWMCF) and the Vancouver Stock Exchange (SWD.V). Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Inc., a subsidiary of Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp., has sales, marketing and operations headquarters in San Mateo, Calif.

Sanctuary Woods Multimedia Corp

1875 S. Grant St

San Mateo, CA 94402

415-578-6340,  fax 415-578-6344


Inside NetWare Newsletter from The Cobb Group
Announcing... Inside NetWare

--the in-depth source of information on Novell Networking Technology.

Try It Now!

Special Charter Rate Subscription for New Subscribers...

Plus a Risk-Free Offer!

Dear Network Administrator:

C-R-A-S-H.

Panic rages. Confusion reigns. Voices scream: "The network's down!"

Sound familiar?

Network Administrators like yourself face this nightmare every day. You're the one they turn to when work comes to a grinding halt. You're the hands-on person responsible for maintaining the network; the one everyone depends on to make things run smoothly.

But it's not easy. In fact, it's often extremely

That's why you need Inside NetWare, our monthly journal exclusively about Novell NetWare.

Inside NetWare will explain--in plain English!--important networking topics such as:

* Establishing a working network

* Managing server and workstation memory

* Using NetWare utilities

* Optimizing Windows for use on the network

* Optimizing application software for use on the network

* Choosing third-party products necessary for building

  a successful network

* Updating your NetWare files

* Using the NetWare Print Server

* Using the Global MHS (Message Handling Service)

. Guarding your network against viral infections

. Building regional and wide area networks

* Sharing databases on your network

* Adding remote dial-in to your network

* Internetworking with multiple operating system platforms

* Making your network fault-tolerant

* Establishing data protection and backup procedures

* Working with more than one server

. Communicating with remote networks

* Managing network printers

* Choosing the best network cabling

* Choosing the best network topologies

* Integrating network e-mail

You'll also find timely, detailed information about:

. Troubleshooting your network

* Improving your network's security

* Connecting to the InterNet

* Configuring DOS, Windows, Macintosh, UNIX and OS/2 workstations

. Effective network management

* Upgrading to version 4.01

* Managing and understanding a NetWare 4.01 network

PATCHES & FIXES

Inside NetWare also features an up-to-the-minute list of Novell's patches and fixes compiled by the staff at 900

Support, a NetWare certified helpline. This means you'll have the latest information on how to make your network

run smoothly.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE?

I'm sure you've seen industry-related magazines that cover general interest networking issues. But nothing on the newsstand compares to the specific, up-to-date "how-to" articles you'll find in Inside NetWare.

Books may give you some useful information, but no book can keep up with the rapidly-changing world of network computing.

And, let's face it, manuals can take you only so far.

That's why you need a reliable source of networking information, a place where you can find easy-to-understand strategies for using Novell's extensive line of networking products.

Inside NetWare is just what you've been waiting for.

Our one-of-a-kind journal addresses issues of vital importance to Novell Network Administrators who need to stay informed on the latest workgroup-to-enterprise connectivity.

Inside NetWare will give you "how-to" information that provides solutions to the problems you face today...and tomorrow.

Each issue we'll explain networking techniques you can use immediately. You'll find troubleshooting ideas, problem solving information, and proven tips to help you avoid problems before they occur.

If you want to take full advantage of Novell's networking technology--for yourself and your co-workers--Inside NetWare is a "must-read."

THE MOST RELIABLE NETWARE EXPERTISE AVAILABLE

Inside NetWare is published by The Cobb Group, the world's

leading publisher of software-specific "how to" journals.

In 1984, we published one journal for a few thousand subscribers. Today, we publish more than 40 journals for over 350,000 subscribers.

The reason for our phenomenal growth is simple: No one explains software better than The Cobb Group.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY

It doesn't matter which version of NetWare you use because every issue of Inside NetWare will contain important information relevant to all versions as well as specific information about each version.

Plus, you'll find product reviews to help you decide what add-ons you might want to purchase and a "Letters" column where you can ask questions or share NetWare tips with other readers.

In short, you'll get 20 pages of clear, concise information guaranteed to help you use NetWare better than ever before.

READ IT AND REAP

If you've spent hours struggling to establish an efficient tree structure, solve complex printer problems, install a foolproof backup system, or any of the other things you do as a Network Administrator, you need Inside NetWare.

One good idea--one proven technique, one way to avoid errors, one valuable shortcut--can save you far more than the cost of your subscription.

Think about it: Can you afford not to have Inside NetWare at your side each month?

Special Charter subscription rate is $89. Contact The Cobb Group for details.

The Cobb Group

9420 Bunsen Pkwy, Ste 300

Louisville, KY 40220

502-491-1900,  fax 502-491-4200


DisplayPac-VISTA Industrual Flat Panel Computer
Compact Flat Panel Computer Features 14" Color TFT LCD

March 10, 1994 -- Greer, SC . . . Computer Dynamics announces the introduction of the "DisplayPac-VISTA", the first industrial flat panel computer to feature the largest ultra-colorful flat panel display available today. A powerful, yet compact workstation complete with a 14" color TFT LCD, a 486DX engine, a resistive touchscreen, choice of disk drives and power supply, the "DisplayPac-VISTA" is ideally suited to space-conscious machine control and process environments where operator information must be highly visible. The entire unit draws about half the power of a comparably sized CRT alone, and is inherently more reliable. It is available in a 12.5" x 15.5" x 4.5" rugged metal open frame panel mount, or a 19" rackmount version. Both include provisions for mounting a 1.44M floppy drive, a 2.5" hard disk drive up to 500M, or a two-slot PCMCIA credit card drive.

The 640x480 VGA LCD displays 262,000 colors, bringing life to control screens and easily handling today's Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). In contrast to other, less colorful LCDs, the DisplayPac-VISTA displays so many colors that it eliminates the need for such color creation techniques as dithering and frame rate modulation, which sometimes result in flicker or unstable images. Its expansive 14" diagonal size, wide viewing angle and cool operation permit excellent visibility under a variety of viewing conditions.

The DisplayPac-VISTA boasts CPU speeds to 66 MHz, a local bus video controller with builtin Windows accelerators, up to 32M DRAM, 1.5M semiconductor disk, hard and floppy disk interfaces, a watch-dog timer, and all standard PC features. You can boot and run DOS from the on-board RAM/ROM disk, allowing you to have a totally diskless system. Companion software tools for the DisplayPac-VISTA let you boot and run your DOS target code without DOS or its royalties. A 65-watt switching power supply powers the entire system, which is rated for 0-40 degrees C.

For simple, intuitive operator interface, the DisplayPac-VISTA is paired with a resistive touchscreen which features 256x256 resolution. Touchscreen implementation is easy with our advanced touchscreen software tools. Drivers are available which allow the touchscreen to function as a mouse in either DOS or Windows applications.

Expansion options for the DisplayPac-VISTA include up to six PC bus expansion slots, industry-standard SBX expansion on-board the single board computer, and a two-slot PCMCIA drive. In addition to solid-state memory, PCMCIA credit card drives offer fax/modem, network connectivity, and a growing list of other possibilities.

The DisplayPac-VISTA is the latest, and largest, addition to Computer Dynamics' DisplayPac line of flat panel computers. DisplayPacs combine color and monochrome LCDs and electroluminescent displays with processors from the 8088 through the 486DX, and capacitive, resistive and infrared touchscreens.

The DisplayPac-VISTA is $7435 (OEM quantity) for the 33 MHz 80486DX-based system with 4M DRAM, the 14" color LCD and resistive touchscreen. Delivery is stock to 30 days. For more information on the DisplayPac-VISTA or other flat panel display products, contact the Sales Department, Computer Dynamics, 107 S. Main Street, Greer, SC 29650. Phone 803877-8700 or FAX 803-879-2030.


Weitek Responds to Matrix Claims
March 23, 1994 -- Recently, Matrox sent most of the journalists and analysts covering the PC graphics industry a document accusing Weitek of "cheating" on its Winbench scores for the POWER 9000 graphics accelerator chip.

We're confident that an unsolicited statement made by any company about a competitor would be treated with a healthy degree of skepticism by professionals. However since Matrox felt the need to document their flawed argument, we feel obliged to make public our perspective on the issue.

To review: Matrox claims that a feature of Weitek's POWER 9000 Windows driver, known as the POWER Palette, results in "illegitimate scores" on the Winbench 4.0.

The specific performance issue is that in 256 color mode, the Windows default color palette only provides 20 pure colors which it offers as standard, and when using this palette, any color which is not among these is created by dithering two of the 20 base colors. This has two adverse effects: it creates a performance problem by off-loading some processing, and the dithered color itself is not the one which the application is trying to create. Neither a dithered color nor a slightly different pure color is exactly the right color, since the right color would be the pure color which the dither is trying to best approximate. Even Matrox acknowledges this.

This is an inherent problem in using a small palette to approximate everything, and it is why 16-bit and 24-bit color capability is becoming so important. Dithering is simply Windows' way of trying to solve this problem, which works even in a standard SVGA environment where no unique hardware features and device drivers can be assumed.

Both Weitek and Matrox have recognized that this problem provides an opportunity for Windows performance enhancement, and have taken different approaches to dealing with it. Matrox built in specific hardware to perform dithered pattern fills. This method adds silicon, and is one reason why the Matrox chip requires a significantly bigger die (and thus has a higher chip and board cost) than most other chips with similar overall performance.

Weitek believes we have a more efficient solution to the problem. The POWER Palette optionally uses a larger base palette of pure colors, and selects a pure color which is the nearest approximation of the original. This mode not only eliminates many of the dithers, it adds no hardware cost. The trade-off is that if the application actually requires a dithered color (unlikely in real life, but possible in a benchmark test), they won't get one.

We realize that some users (such as graphics designers or publishers) want to have exactly the Windows default colors, but we believe these users will generally run in 16 or 24-bit mode.

POWER Palette provides exactly the performance improvement in real applications as it does in benchmarks. In any event, the POWER Palette is simply an option. The graphics board manufacturer makes the decision about whether or not to implement POWER Palette software, and the end user is free to turn it on or off. Since POWER Palette is fully documented, and the board manufacturer's use of the option is something over which Weitek has no control, it is difficult to understand why we are being accused of being deceptive.

Unless, of course, the accusation is merely smoke and mirrors to distract opinion leaders from the higher cost and lower performance of the Matrox product.

We also find it interesting that Matrox is making comparisons to last year's product from Weitek. If they were concerned about how to compete with the POWER 9000, they will have their hands full with our POWER 9100, which is beginning to ship in volume production.

Power 9100 & Video Power Fact Sheets Follow below...

Weitek

1060 E. Arques, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

408-738-8400,  fax 408-738-1185

-----------------------------------------------------------------

POWER 9100 Fact Sheet

64-bit performance, zeroglue, and true color too. WEITEK's Power9100 combines 64-bit performance with integrated, glueless PCI and VESA local bus support, and its truecolor performance is so high that it outperforms most low-color accelerators. It's so fast that demanding users can stay in true-color mode all the time.

By using advanced workstation technologies such as a double clocked (two-way interleaved) VRAM memory interface and a fully pipelined data path, WEITEK's Power 9100 is the only graphics controller to combine 64 bit VRAM bandwidth with support for both PCI and VESA local-bus designs in a single, zero-glue package.

The Power 9100 eliminates the need for other compromises as well. True-color display is supported at resolutions up to 1280x1024, while 16-bit high color is supported at 1600x1200. All of these modes can be used at ergonomic refresh rates, since the Power 9100 takes full advantage of the new generation of high-performance RAMDACs, including their "packed-24-bit" mode, which increases frame-buffer bandwidth by 30%, while allowing a 1280x1024 true-color image to fit in a 4 MB frame buffer.

In addition to its native accelerated mode, the Power 9100 has a built-in SVGA unit for backward compatibility, and on-chip PCI and VESA local-bus interfaces to give a simple, zero-glue design.

The Power 9100's coprocessor interface allows the system to be enhanced in a variety of ways. Our Video Power coprocessor works side-by-side with the Power 9100, giving TV-quality video images at 30 frames per second, even with display windows as large as 1280x1024 pixels.

The Power 9100 takes full advantage of WEITEK's design edge, and the architectural innovation that is our trademark. Proprietary design tools put us ahead of the game when it comes to pushing the high-performance envelope. Access to state-of-the-art foundries across the world allows us flexibility in manufacturing. Most important, though, is WEITEK's long experience with high-performance products, which have gone into everything from supercomputers to PCs.

Advanced Workstation Architecture

* Interleaved VRAM uses PLL-based generator for

  zero-wait-state operation

* Fully pipelined internal data path

* Clock-doubled I/O architecture combines integrated, glueless

  PCI and VESA local-bus interfaces with 64-bit VRAM bandwidth

Hardware Features

* Fully accelerates 8-, 16-, 24-, and 32 bit color

* Supports 1-4 MB frame buffer

* Integrated SVGA unit

* Supports true-color at resolutions up to 1280x1024

* Multimedia coprocessor interface

* Connects directly to 32-bit and 64-bit RAMDACs to 250 MHz

  and beyond

Complete Software Support

* Windows and Windows NT drivers

* OS/2 drivers accelerate PM, seamless Windows, and

  full-screen Windows

* AutoCAD R11 and R12 drivers

* SCO UNIX drivers

* VESA-compatible BIOS

Design Support

* Evaluation boards demonstrate fully tested, cost-effective

  PCI and VESA local-bus designs

* Data book and board theory of operation manuals support

  product design

-----------------------------------------------------------------

VIDEO POWER FACT SHEET

WEITEK s Video Power is a multimedia coprocessor for Video for Windows and other environments, providing TV-quality full-screen video when coupled with our Power 9100 graphics controller.

Video Power improves the performance and image quality of video applications by performing all post-decompression processing (interpolative scaling, color space conversion, and dithering) directly in hardware, rather than on the host CPU. This

allows digital video applications to produce full-screen images at thirty frames per second, with resolutions up to 1280x1024 Quality is maintained even at high magnifications by the use of arbitrary interpolative scaling, which is both more accurate and more attractive than the more common pixel-replication algorithms. By comparison, digital video applications running without hardware assistance are limited to small windows (160x120 or 320x240), because the host CPU is simply not fast enough to provide smoothly animated images of greater size.

Video applications are supported seamlessly, as Video Power's features are accessed at the GUI device-driver level, not the application level. WEITEK provides drivers for all major graphical user interfaces. In addition, Video Power supports all the leading compression/decompression (codec) formats, including Intel's Indeo, Supermac's Cinepak, Media Vision's Captain Crunch, MPEG, and Motion-JPEG.

While traditional multimedia systems handle graphics and digital video in separate frame buffers, Video Power shares the frame buffer with the Power 9100, sending its images directly to a display window. This reduces both system cost and complexity, while maximizing performance

Video Power also provides a 32-bit digital video port, allowing features such as video capture and live video in-a-window to be supported in a Video Power system.

Hardware Features

* Shared frame-buffer architecture allows a single frame buffer

  to support both graphics and video

* High performance, fully pipelined design

* High quality arbitrary scaling via two dimensional digital

  filtering

* Flexible color space converter accepts 12 different color

  formats, supporting a wide range of codec standards

* Accelerated dithering converts from 24 bits per pixel to

  16 or 15 bits per pixel or 8-bit palettes

* Zero-glue support for Philips SAA 7196 video decoder chip

* Support for multiple video streams

Performance

* TV-quality video at 30 frames/sec at 1280x1024 resolution

* 200 MB/sec throughput

* Single-cycle writes and two-cycle reads at 50 MHz

* Single-pass scaling

Complete Software Support

* Video for Windows 1.0 and 1.1 drivers

* Windows NT drivers

* OS/2 2.1 Ultimotion drivers


Expert Resume Writer for Windows
Expert Software Ships Expert Resume Writer For Windows

Powerful resume writer title also serves as a contact manager and word processing program

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA (March 30, 1994) - Expert Software, Inc., announced today the release of Expert Resume Writer for Windows, a state-of-the-art resume building program with word processing and contact manager features as well. Expert Resume Writer for Windows has a Manufactures Suggested Retail Price of $14.95.

"You may buy this program initially for the sole purpose of writing a resume," said Sue Currier, president of Expert Software, Inc. "But after witnessing the sheer power of its contact manager and word processor modules as well as its resume building capabilities, it's a program you will keep loaded on your hard drive even after completing your job search."

Expert Resume Writer comes equipped with over 100 successful resume samples and professional resume templates. The templates include chronological, functional, sales, trades, administration, computer science, and military formats to name a few. Expert Resume Writer is easy-to-use. Just enter your personal data once and Expert Resume Writer For Windows automatically formats your resume in a style of your choice.

Expert Resume Writer also includes 20 customizable cover letters on a wide range of subjects such as newspaper advertisement responses, telephone conversation follow-up, and thank you letters. You can even create your own letter templates or link cover letters to the program's contact manager database to do easy mass mailings.

Expert Resume Writer's contact manager and appointments calendar allow you to create your own database of contacts. Once entered in the database, you can view and print the contact list and appointments calendar. Expert Resume Writer will even remind you of follow-up actions from your to-do-list with an on-line message every time you start the program.

If you prefer to write your resume without using templates you can take advantage of the program's comprehensive word processor. The word processor gives a user flexibility to see the document on-screen exactly as it will be printed. The program's word processor also allows a user to emphasize text with bold, italic, and underline options. Expert Resume Writer's MDI (multiple document interface) feature enables a user to easily move from window to window, view, and edit multiple resumes and cover letters on-screen at the same time.

Expert Resume Writer requires Windows 3.1 or higher running in 386 enhanced mode, a VGA monitor, 4 megabytes of RAM (8 megabytes recommended), and 1.44 megabytes of diskspace.

Expert Software is the leading value-oriented publisher of over 60 Windows, MS-DOS, Macintosh, and CD-ROM titles which have appeared on many of the industry's hot and best seller lists. Expert Software is located at 800 Douglas Road, North Tower, Suite 355, Coral Gables, FL 33134-3128. For consumer product information contact: 800 759-2562, 305-567-9990, fax 305-443-0786


NEC Image RiscStation & Express RiscServer
NEC TECHNOLOGIES, INC, SHIPS IMAGE RISCSTATION AND EXPRESS RISCSERVER SYSTEMS; NEW LINE OF MIPS RISC-BASED SYSTEMS ARE OPTIMIZED FOR WINDOWS NT

Boxborough, Mass.. March 28, 1994--NEC Technologies is meeting the growing demand for high-performance Windows NT systems by shipping its first series of RISC-based systems--the NEC Image RISCstation and the NEC Express RISCserver systems.

Developed by NEC in conjunction with Microsoft, the NEC Image RISCstation and NEC Express RISCserver systems incorporate the 64-bit NEC VR4400 family of microprocessors based on the MIPS RISC (reduced instruction set computing) architecture. The systems are designed to enhance Windows NT performance by taking advantage of features such as multi-tasking and multi-threaded I/O operations.

"By developing these products specifically for Windows NT, we're enabling the development and deployment of new, advanced multi-tasking, client/server applications on powerful advanced workstations and RISC servers--at prices comparable to conventional PCs" said Mike Mitsch, manager of NECT's Computer Systems Marketing Division.

Many software companies such as Microsoft, Executive Software, SQL Business Systems, Inc., and Wellcome Software Technologies currently have applications such as SQL Server revision 4.21, FILE ALERT for Windows NT, SQL Stor, and Texim Project, respectively to run on the NEC Image RISCstation and NEC Express RISCserver systems.

NEC Image RISCstation: The Ideal Platform for Microsoft Office Professional Applications Under Windows NT

In addition to Microsoft's Windows NT 3.1 operating systems, the entry-level configuration of the NEC Image RISCstation system includes an NEC VR4400 PC CPU operating at 133MHZ internally/66MHZ externally with an on-chip floating point co-processor, 32KB internal cache, and 128KB secondary cache using a write-through design. Additional features include 16MB of RAM expandable to 128MB, 10baseT Local Bus Ethernet, Local Bus SCSI-II, Local Bus Video, and 1MB of Video RAM, expandable to 2MB.

The NEC Image RISCstation system also features the performance-enhanced I/O and CPU architecture (PICA), a video/memory bus structure that supports CPU clock speeds up to 200MHs, and four Director Memory Access (DMA) channels designed specifically for the Windows NT multi-threaded I/O environment.

NEC Express RISCserver: MIPS RISC Performance brought to the Windows NT Environment

The standard configuration of the NEC Express RISCserver includes Microsoft's Windows NT 3.1 operating system, and an NEC VR4400MC CPU module operating at 150MHZ internally/75MHz externally with an on-chip floating point co-processor, 32KB internal cache and 1MB secondary cache using a write-back design. The system also supports a second CPU module upgrade for dual processing with cache coherency.

The NEC Express RISCserver system comes standard with 32MB of RAM expandable to 128MB on the system motherboard, and up to 512MB of total system RAM when using an optional memory expansion board. Other features include: local bus graphics with 1MB DRAM for 256 colors for server-based applications; a new high-performance 64 bit "Memory Bus Graphics" video slot for an optional VXL jaguar graphics adapter for 1280 X 1024 resolution support; 10BaseT Ethernet; dual SCSI-II channels; an integrated 2400 BPS data/9600 BPS send/receive fax modem; and, an NEC MultiSpin CD-ROM drive.

A hardware RAID disk array, enabling hop flop capabilities for fault tolerant drives supporting both the 540MB and 1 GB Fast SCSI-II hard drives, is also available as options for the NEC Express RISCserver system.

MultiRlSC Computing Architecture

Each Express RISCserver system features NEC's exclusive advanced MultiRISC Computing Architecture, dividing the system into four separate subsystems: processor, I/O, video, and memory. MultiRISC is the first architecture to bring multi-processor RISC and multi-threaded I/O capability to the WINDOWS NT market.

Providing memory and control access for the CPU and I/O systems, the MultiRISC design breaks the boundaries imposed by traditional PC architectures by providing direct memory access (DMA) control for all I/O devices, thereby improving overall system performance. The high-performance design incorporates a 128-bit wide memory path for the 64-bit VR4400 CPUs, a CPU bus bandwidth of 400MB/second, video access for the memory bus, and internal cache for all I/O performance for advanced windows NT applications.

Pricing, Distribution, and Warranty Information

The NEC Image RISCstation and the NEC Express RISCserver systems are available from selected, authorized resellers at estimated selling prices of under $3,800 for a workstation and under $10,000 for a server. The NEC Image RISCstation and NEC Express RISCserver systems feature three-year, limited warranties.

NEC Technologies. Inc.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of computers and peripherals for the North American Market. Product lines include the award-winning UltraLite Versa family of notebook computers, MultiSync monitors and presentation products, Silentwriter printers, Image, PowerMate, Ready and Express/II systems products, and MultiSpin CD-ROM hardware. NEC Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies

1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719-2298

508-264-8000


NEC Reduces SilentWriter SuperScript 610 Laser
NEC REDUCES PRICE OF SILENTWRITER SUPERSCRIPT 610 GDI LASER PRINTER

Offers Best Price/Performance of any Laser Printer; Ideal for Small Office/Home Office Market

Boxborough, Mass., March 29, 1994--Citing economies-of-scale through the design and manufacture its own print engine, NEC Technologies (NECT) announced today that it is reducing the price of its Silentwriter SuperScript 610 laser print by nearly $100, effective April 1. NECT was the first leading manufacturer to introduce a printer in the fast-growing graphical device-interface (GDI) market.

The new estimated selling price, under $500, makes the six pages per minute (ppm) SuperScript 610 printer the best price/performance choice of any laser printer on the market today, and an ideal laser printer for the growing small office/home office (SOHO) market.

"Our reduced pricing makes the SuperScript 610 printer the best buy for anyone running Windows 3.1 applications," said John McIntyre, director of marketing for NEC's Printer Business Unit. "Its speed and Windows capability make it the perfect solution for the SOHO environment."

About the Silentwriter SuperScript 610

The SuperScript 610 printer is the first personal laser printer to be driven by the PC's processor rather than its own, which makes it incredibly fast and affordable. Conventional printers require two translations: one in the PC to a standard emulation; the other in the printer. All of which takes time. The SuperScript 610 printer uses NEC-developed technology designed specifically for Windows to convert GDI, Windows' native language, directly into dot graphics (rasterizing). Therefore, the SuperScript 610 printer prints the first page of a job twice as fast as any other Windows printer.

This award-winning laser printer is feature-rich, offering 300 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution with Sharp Edge Technology for 600 dpi quality. The SuperScript 610 printer supports Windows GDI, LaserJetIIP (PCL4), and a PostScript Level 1 option. A 50-sheet hopper for input and a 50-sheet face-up tray are standard, as is a single-sheet, face-down door for input. A 200-sheet input hopper is optional.

"This price reduction now enables even entry-level laser printer buyers to enjoy high levels of performance."

NEC Technologies. Inc.

NEC Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of computers and peripherals for the North American Market. Product lines include the award-winning UltraLite Versa family of notebook computers, MultiSync monitors and presentation products, Silentwriter printers, Image, PowerMate, Ready and Express/II systems products, and MultiSpin CD-ROM hardware. NEC Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation.

NEC Technologies

1414 Massachusetts Ave, Boxborough, MA 01719-2298

508-264-8000


THE JOCKEY CLUB SELECTS SYBASE

SYBASE Software and Consulting Key to Restructuring Operations of Worldwide Horsebreeding, Racing Data Supplier

EMERYVILLE, CA, March 30, 1994 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced that The Jockey Club has selected Sybase to provide software and consulting services for restructuring its computer operations into an integrated corporate information system. The new system is part of a larger effort to re-engineer the business processes of the century-old North American data supplier for the Thoroughbred horsebreeding and racing industry. It will be used to manage information on more than 2 million Thoroughbred horses.

At the heart of The Jockey Club's information system will be two 20-gigabyte, mirrored SQL Server databases, running on a single Hewlett-Packard HP 9000, Model T500 symmetric multiprocessing system. Five HP application servers will be linked to the main server via 100-megabit FDDI fiber optic cable to support the rapid exchange of information. In turn, these HP systems will tie together some 100 Intel-based workstations via 10Base-T Ethernet. The client/server system will replace The Jockey Club's existing IBM 3081 mainframe and OS/2 database running on an IBM Personal System/2-based LAN, which are not integrated. According to The Jockey Club, a critical factor in choosing Sybase as the client/server software supplier for this system was Sybase's commitment to supporting the organization.

"Our measure in choosing a supplier was how much a given company was willing to do to ensure our success," said Nick D'Altilio, director of MIS for The Jockey Club. "We went to Sybase and basically said, 'Tell us how you would solve the problem.' We were impressed with Sybase's responsiveness and well-researched recommendations to address our requirements." Adds D'Altilio, "We've been extremely pleased with our choice.

Jockey Club Restructures to Reflect Business

The traditional core of The Jockey Club's business is maintenance of the American Stud Book, the official pedigree registery of all Thoroughbreds in the U.S. and Canada. The company also maintains a database of this information on its mainframe, which is made available to breeders, owners, and specialized publications such as The Blood-Horse, through its for-profit subsidiary, The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc. Three years ago, the company added a new service, Equibase, an OS/2 database to provide on-line, up-to-date Thoroughbred racing information.

The Jockey Club determined that linking information on the two computer systems was cost prohibitive. At the same time, there was no business structure to support coordination among its IS professionals for these different services. As a result, The Jockey Club has been restricted in its ability to interrelate much valuable performance and pedigree data as a service to its customers.

The Jockey Club has turned to Sybase's Professional Services group to assist in restructuring the IS organization and information management systems to bring them all into a highly coordinated operation. Taking a high-level approach, The Jockey Club and Sybase's Professional Services group have developed an enterprise data model that identifies the fundamental business requirements the new system will need to support. A data model that identifies the functional specifications is now in progress. Actual coding is expected to begin in the first quarter of 1994.

"Re-engineering our business process is probably the most dramatic thing The Jockey Club has done," said D'Altilio. "But we believe it will allow us to achieve dramatic improvements in the quality of the services we provide and our ability to do so cost effectively."

"Today, customers need more than isolated technology components. At Sybase, we are committed to providing the client/server architecture and the consulting required by customers to successfully implement information systems that support their critical business operations," said Stu Schuster, vice president of marketing at Sybase. "We are particularly pleased at the opportunity to work with The Jockey Club is building an IS structure with the strength and flexibility to carry their business well into the next century."

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based products and services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated family of software includes servers, tools, connectivity, and systems administration products that provide complete desktop to mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force, telesales, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and Systems Integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441


Network Interrupts, Pgmr's Ref to Network APIs
THE ONLY COMPLETE SOURCEBOOK ON NETWORK INTERRUPTS FOR PC PROGRAMMERS IS NOW AVAILABLE

March 25, 1994 -- Reading, MA-Addison-Wesley announces the publication of Network Interrupts: A Programmer's Reference to Network APIs, a comprehensive guide to network-related interrupt calls on IBM PCs and compatible machines. Authors Ralf Brown and Jim Kyle provide programmers with a concise description and essential information on each system call. Together with its companion volume, PC Interrupts, Second Edition, it forms the most comprehensive reference to PC interrupt calls available and the only source of information on potential conflicts between calls from different APIs.

Network Interrupts draws together all the information about network system calls, including NetWare 4, NetWare Lite, Windows for Workgroups, and Windows NT. It provides detailed coverage on topics ranging from MS-DOS network support to FTP and other TCP/IP software to IBM mainframe connectivity. This book is an essential resource for all application programmers writing software that has to be network-aware.

Ralf Brown is an independent software developer and author who recently received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University. He maintains the well known online "Interrupt List" and coauthored Undocumented DOS, Second Edition (Addison-Wesley, 1994).

Jim Kyle is Director of research products and co-founder of Automation Resources, Inc., and is a contributing editor/columnist for Windows Tech Journal. He also coauthored Undocumented DOS, Second Edition (Addison-Wesley, 1994).

Addison-Wesley is a worldwide publishing company based in Reading, Massachusetts, and is a recognized leader in the fields of computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

Network Interrupts has a suggested retail price of $32.95, is 736 pages long, paperback, and is available wherever computer books are sold.

Addison-Wesley Publishing Company

1 Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867

617-944-3700


Epic MegaGames Acquires Safari Software

Rockville, Maryland -- April 1, 1994 -- Epic MegaGames, Inc. is proud to announce its acquisition of Safari Software. Safari Software, originally created as a shareware game developer and publisher, will serve as a second tier, somewhat experimental forum for Epic programmers and productions.

"Safari Software will serve as a venue for fun, high quality games that are not as big or as dazzling as Epic Pinball and some of our other leading titles," says Tim Sweeney, Epic's president. Tim also plans to use Safari as an outlet for young, highly talented programmers. According to Robert Allen, Safari's new creative director, "A lot of new programmers are intimidated by Epic's name, releasing their games under the Safari name puts them more at ease."

"Tim and I see Safari as an opportunity to release small, high quality games as well as some more experimental titles. There are a lot of innovative programmers that have terrific ideas. Safari will give them an opportunity to test and perfect their new concepts." Robert hopes to have Safari running smoothly and producing exciting, new, creative games within the year. "We have the resources to make Safari a profitable and creative venture and are excited by the possibilities," he proclaims.

Safari Software currently has two titles available. Jason Storm: Space Chase is Safari's original title. It is a scrolling platform game similar to Mario Brothers. Safari's other game, Heroes, is a combination puzzle and platform game. The player controls between 3 and 7 superheros. Each superhero has unique abilities and weaknesses that can help you win the game, or cause you to lose. Line wars ll will be added to the collection soon. The sequel offers multiplayer network support for this 3D outer-space shoot-em-up game

Epic MegaGames

20 Courthouse Square, Suite 208, Rockville, Maryland 20850

Phone: 800-972-7434 or 301-983-9771,  fax: 301-299-3841

CompuServe: 70451,633


Epic MegaGames & CompuServer Join Forces
Epic MegaGames and CompuServe join forces

Rockville, Maryland -- February 1, 1994 -- Epic MegaGames is proud to announce its new partnership with CompuServe. Users can now visit the Epic Forum for new releases and technical support.

The new Epic Forum, accessed by typing GO EPIC, features all of Epic's shareware, a Game of the Month available for free download, and an opportunity to talk with authors and technical support representatives, not to mention other Epic users.

"It's really cool," says Tim Sweeney, Epic's president. "Our users can download our latest games, get immediate help, and give us their opinions online. We use our newest games as the Game of the month, so people can download new releases free. Now our customers can even register games and download their registered copies immediately instead of waiting for the diskettes to come in the mail."

To make the offer even more enticing, CompuServe is offering some enticing freebies. For a free Sign-up Kit and a trial membership, just call CompuServe's voice line at 800-524-3388 and ask for representative #536. They are excited about this new partnership and want to encourage users to try the Epic Forum.

"We have always been online, but now that we are working with CompuServe, our online services are available internationally to a wider range of users. We hope this widespread availability will help us serve our customers better than ever." says Sandra Passwaters, one of Epic's marketing representatives. "The Epic Forum will continue to make Epic's new releases more accessible and keep us in touch with the needs of our users."

All of Epic's games are now available on CompuServe and services will continue to grow as the forum grows. Visit the Epic forum anytime for immediate access to Epic.

Epic MegaGames

20 Courthouse Square, Suite 208, Rockville, Maryland 20850

Phone: 800-972-7434 or 301-983-9771,  fax: 301-299-3841

CompuServe: 70451,633


PSI Ships FAXnetwork Software for Macintosh
PSI Ships FAXnetwork Software, An Ultra-Fast Network Solution for the Macintosh

Campbell, CA--January 5, 1994--Tired of being chained to the fax machine? Boost office productivity with FAXnetwork, the fastest, most intuitive network fax solution for the Macintosh. FAXnetwork made its debut at MacWorld San Francisco, receiving high praise from end users. PSI Direct, a division of Supra Corporation is taking orders for FAXnetwork now.

"It is the easiest to set up and use fax network solution available on the market," says PSI Customer Support Manager Ric Jones. "End-users are amazed at the speed a fax document is processed, freeing up their workstation for other jobs."

FAXnetwork allows users on any Macintosh network to share a single Class 2 fax modem and it works with any modem or system configuration. Users don't have to be experts to use FAXnetwork.

"Any employee can come in and reboot the office computers and start FAXnetwork. It's so easy you might not even have to open the manual," says Rob Thomsen, Marketing Manager.

Not only is it easy to use, but FAXnetwork enhances productivity in the office. No volume mounting is needed; simply locate the server via the Chooser the first time that the software is used at a workstation. No further network connections are necessary. This one-step process is much easier than other network fax software programs that require users to set up the server and volume name. Other productivity-enhancing features include options to view, check the status, or print faxes from any workstation. Optional settings allow automatic printing of inbound faxes to your network laser printer. Best of all, FAXnetwork works in the background--no dedicated server is needed. Now all office computers, even the server, can be used for maximum productivity.

And FAXnetwork set-up is quick! The average network (10 users) can be faxing in less than 30 minutes, making this one of the easiest to install fax networks available. FAXnetwork is ultra-fast; an average fax document (3 to 5 pages) is sent from a client workstation to the server in approximately 10 seconds, allowing the user to continue with other work. Other fax networks take as much as five minutes to spool a document to the server.

FAXnetwork works with all Macintosh networks, such as Ethernet and LocalTalk. It runs on all Macintosh models, from the Macintosh Classic to the new 68040 CPUs. It works with System 6 and 7. And you can customize FAXnetwork for your office by choosing software packs right for your network size.

FAXnetwork is available for direct purchase from PSI. The Server Pack sells for only $99, and a 5-User pack is available for $225. A 10-User pack is available for $399, and a 25-User pack for $599. Site-licensing and bundle pricing with PSI fax modems is available now. These prices and more make FAXnetwork the most productive and affordable network solution ever.

For additional information contact Supra's PSI Division offices at:

851 East Hamilton Ave, Suite 200

Campbell, CA 95008

Voice: (408) 559-8544,  Fax: (408) 559-8548

Customer Support: (800) 622-1722


NCD X Terminals Energy Star Compliant
NCD X TERMINALS GAIN ENERGY STAR COMPLIANCE; NEW 21-INCH MONITOR ADDED TO LINE

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 4, 1994 -- Network Computing Devices has inaugurated a program to make its family of X terminals compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star guidelines for reducing power generated by computing equipment.

New NCD X terminals will offer a power-management capability that automatically reduces a monitor's power when keyboard and mouse have been idle for a user-specified period. This will cut power consumption by more than 80 percent, from a peak of 170 watts to the 30 watts or less mandated by the Energy Star program.

Available at no extra charge, the power-management capability will ship this month with NCD's two 14-inch color X terminals, the ECX14 and MCX14; and the new 21-inch NCD21c (see below). NCD plans to make the feature available on its 17- and 19-inch color X terminals by mid-summer, and on its remaining color products by the end of 1994.

Most existing NCD X terminals can be made Energy Star-compliant through the use of a device such as Combinova's WATTLESS 51 VDI Power Saver, available from electronic component suppliers.

"In the X terminal industry it is the monitors that typically consume most of a system's energy -- our bases have long been compliant with Energy Star guidelines," said Judy Estrin, NCD president and CEO. "Screen savers are not enough; they simply blank the screen but continue to bum as much energy as before.

"Now NCD is offering monitors capable of lower power consumption, along with a feature that puts those monitors into a low-power state when not in use," Estrin said. "This not only saves power but affects the customer's bottom line. Information from Pacific Gas & Electric indicates that a business with 1,000 Energy Star-compliant systems can save up to $100,000 a year."

The Energy Star Computers Program is a partnership effort by the Environmental Protection Agency and the computer industry to promote energy-efficient computers, monitors and printers to reduce pollution caused by power generation. Energy Star specifications state that a device must be able to enter a low-power state, utilizing 30 watts or less of power when inactive.

New 21-inch Monitor Joins NCD Family

Among the Energy Star-compliant products is NCD's first 21-inch monitor, offered with NCD's MC88100 RISC-based electronics as the NCD21c. A multi-sync monitor with the same 1280- x 1024-pixel resolution and 70-Hz refresh rate as that used in NCD's popular 19-inch NCD19c, the new unit offers over 10 percent greater display area without consuming any more desktop space.

"Several categories of user need to display many windows simultaneously," Estrin said. "Without needing greater resolution, they would like more screen space to make viewing easier. A network management application might require that a logical network map, a physical layout, node descriptions and a list of alarm conditions be on the screen at the same time. Likewise, stock traders and process control operators need to display a great deal of information at once."

The NCD21c is priced at $5,795, including keyboard, mouse and Ethernet interface.

Network Computing Devices, Inc., formed in February 1988, provides information-access solutions for client-server computing environments. NCD is the leading worldwide supplier of X Window System terminals, with a broad family of color and monochrome units, and makes PC-X server software products which integrate Microsoft Windows- and DOS-based PCs into X/UNIX networks. The company's Z-Code division supplies the Z-Mail family of cross-platform electronic-mail and messaging software for open-systems environments. NCD is publicly traded over the counter on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol NCDI.

Network Computing Devices Inc

350 North Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043

415-694-0650,  fax 415-961-7711


Common Dialog Toolkit for Visual Basic
Desaware Announces The Common Dialog Toolkit for Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0

San Jose, CA -- April 1, 1994 -- Desaware today announced the availability of SpyNotes #2 - The Common Dialog Toolkit, an applications pack for use with SpyWorks-VB that enables programmers to access and modify the Windows Common Dialog Box library using Windows API functions. This package also provides in depth technical information on accessing the Common Dialog Box library and other Dynamic Link Libraries from Visual Basic.

Microsoft developed the Windows version 3.1 common dialogs for two reasons: to provide a standard set of controls for performing certain operations (such as opening or saving a file) and to simplify some of the tedious parts of application development for Windows. The common dialog box library included with Windows makes it possible for programmers to significantly customize the behavior and appearance of these common dialogs. However, the common dialog custom control (VBX) that comes with Visual Basic Professional does not provide Visual Basic programmers with this capability. The Common Dialog Toolkit shows Visual Basic programmers how to directly access the Common Dialog libraries using the tools in SpyWorks-VB to take advantage of all of the capabilities of the Windows Common Dialogs.

SpyWorks-VB is an advanced development package that allows Visual Basic Programmers to accomplish virtually anything in Visual Basic that is possible using more traditional Windows programming techniques and the Windows Software Development Kit. Since many Visual Basic programmers do not have extensive Windows software development experience, Desaware has launched the SpyNotes series of application notes to help programmers learn the advanced techniques made possible by SpyWorks-VB. The Common Dialog Toolkit is the second application note in this series. As such, in addition to a description of how to access Common Dialogs, the package includes in depth technical information and complete documented source code.

The techniques demonstrated in The Common Dialog Toolkit are not limited to just common dialog boxes. They are applicable to many Microsoft and third party dynamic link libraries.

The following list shows a few of the techniques that are demonstrated in this package:

* How to access all of the standard Common Dialog boxes from

  Visual Basic.

* How to use callbacks to gain control over all of the messages

  received by a Common Dialog.

* How to embed Visual Basic controls into a common dialog box.

* How to use modeless dialog boxes and how to trick some modal

  dialog boxes into behaving in a modeless manner.

* How to add controls to a common dialog box.

* How to set the size and position of a common dialog box.

* How to register and subclass a user-defined messages and

  registered messages.

* How to declare and allocate space for structures that are

  to be passed to another DL

* How to properly set fonts for a device context.

* How to Hook into the GetMessage loop in WinMain.

* How to access and modify the behavior of controls in a

  dialog box.

* Converting VB font property values to and from LOGFONT field

  values.

and much, much more....

SpyNotes #2 - The Common Dialog Toolkit is priced at $35 and is now shipping. The Common Dialog Toolkit requires Visual Basic 3.0 and SpyWorks-VB version 2.0.

Desaware is a developer of tools and utilities for the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Visual Basic including SpyWorks-VB 2.0 - the tool that makes it possible to do virtually anything in Visual Basic that can be done using the Windows Software Development Kit and other languages such as C or C++.

Desaware

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

408-377-4770,  fax 408-371-3530


VersionStamper-VB V1.0 for Visual Basic
Desaware Announces VersionStamper-VB version 1.0 for Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0

San Jose, CA -- April 1, 1994 -- Desaware today announced the availability of VersionStamper-VB version 1.0, a companion product to the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system version 3.0. VersionStamper-VB makes it possible, for the first time, to embed version information into a Visual Basic-based executable for not only the executable, but for all of the Dynamic Link Libraries and Custom Controls used by that executable. This allows a Visual Basic-based program or an end user to instantly detect the presence of incompatible DLL's or VBX's on the target system.

Version resources were incorporated into the Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 to allow installation programs to avoid overwriting a recent version of an application or DLL by an obsolete version. Until now this capability was not available to programmers using Visual Basic. VersionStamper-VB makes it easy to embed standard versioning information into Visual Basic based executables. This versioning information is fully compatible with the setup wizard in Visual Basic, Microsoft setup toolkit, and all other Windows-based installation programs.

Visual Basic-based programs typically use many different Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) and Custom Controls (VBXs, OCXs). The accidental replacement of any of these DLLs or VBXs by another application, or the presence of an incompatible version anywhere in the system can cause an application to fail. VersionStamper-VB allows the Visual Basic programmer to specify precisely which DLL's, VBX's, OLE custom controls and other files are required by a program, and what range of version numbers for those files must be present. This information is stored in the Visual Basic executable. At runtime, the dwvstamp.vbx custom control can automatically verify the presence and versions of the files required for the program to run.

VersionStamper-VB also includes a "rescue" program that can detect version incompatibilities, even for programs that cannot be loaded due to such incompatibilities.

This rescue program includes complete source code and can be modified by developers for distribution with their applications. This can prove an invaluable tool for providing fast and effective customer support.

VersionStamper-VB is more than a simple version stamping tool. It is a complete developer oriented package that addresses the problems of software incompatibilities that often arise when distributing software. It includes the following components:

** dwvstamp.vbx - This version stamping custom control has properties for each of the standard version information fields, and extensive dialog box support for embedding version information for selected DLLs, VBXs and other files. It also has the ability to scan Visual Basic-based projects to automatically create a list of DLLs and VBXs required by the application. The runtime distributable control is royalty free, and is extremely small and efficient while using an absolute minimum of Windows resources.

** VerInfo.exe - A Visual Basic-based program that allows you to quickly view the version information for any executable, DLL or VBX that contains versioning information. Includes source code.

** VerResQ.exe - A Visual Basic-based program that analyzes any Visual Basic-based executable stamped by VersionStamper-VB. It generates a complete list of the files required by the application, reports any incompatibilities detected on the target system and reports the version information for the actual files found. Includes source code.

** Technical Notes - including a complete discussion of the Windows-based system of version stamping and strategies for reliably distributing Visual Basic applications. It also includes detailed suggestions and examples for improving the Visual Basic setup toolkit. Online help and extensive sample code is included.

VersionStamper-VB solves one of the most time consuming and expensive problems relating to the distribution and support of applications written using Visual Basic for both general distribution and in house corporate use.

VersionStamper-VB is priced at $129 and is shipping now.

Desaware is a developer of tools and utilities for the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Visual Basic including SpyWorks-VB 2.0 - the tool that makes it possible to do virtually anything in Visual Basic that can be done using the Windows Software Development Kit and other languages such as C or C++.

Desaware

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

408-377-4770,  fax 408-371-3530


Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications
Ventana explores VBA in Visual Guide

CHAPEL HILL, NC--Visual Basic for Applications, Microsoft's effort to tie all of its key apps together with a single programming language, represents a quantum leap in the user's ability to customize today's most popular business software. The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications, with its companion disk, puts these impressive tools into users' hands, with a clear, understandable, in-depth look at all VBA features, techniques, and tools.

The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications is the newest title in Ventana Press's Visual Guide series, which began with the acclaimed Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows, also by Richard Mansfield. Divided into two sections, the book first explores VBA's interface, tools, history and concepts, and then dissects each major command and object new to Visual Basic. True to Ventana's Visual Guide tradition, The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications employs extensive illustrations and examples.

The disk contains a selection of these graphics and all of the programming examples in the book.

Written for intermediate to advanced readers, The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications includes the following:

* Tips and examples for expanding the tools at hand using OLE,

  DDE, Linking and Embedding and the new Automation technology.

* An in-depth description of dozens of powerful new Basic

  commands including With, For...Each and Group.

* A sample customization project that creates a working

  spreadsheet featuring available models, inventory and graphic

  illustration.

* A look at how to use the REGEDIT program to discover the OLE

  capabilities and syntax for contacting any application and

  manipulating applications.

* Step-by-step examples of how to take advantage of OLE

  Automation, how to use Word's wordcount remotely for text

  boxes--for example, how to use Word's Thesaurus, remotely,

  against a document in a text box in Visual Basic or Excel--and

  much more.

"The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications teaches how to use VBA and OLE 2.0 to break down the barriers between your programs, moving toward the ideal of freeing information from any particular application," Mansfield said. "The ultimate goal is 'information at your fingertips' and VBA/OLE takes a big step in that direction."

While most of the examples involve the Excel application, where VBA's installation is currently most robust, the techniques are largely application-independent. Users of any Microsoft application can learn from this book.

The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Applications is 350 pages, illustrated, with disk. ISBN: 1-56604-147-3. List price: $27.95. For orders only in the US: 1-800-743-5369.

Richard Mansfield was editor of Compute! magazine and is the author of more than one hundred computer-related articles and ten books on computing, including Desktop Publishing With WordPerfect 6, The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows and Desktop Publishing With WordPerfect for Windows, all from Ventana Press.

Ventana Press publishes books and other materials that help computer users become more productive, including The Windows Internet Tour Guide, Looking Good With CorelDRAW!, The Windows Shareware 500, Voodoo Windows, Advertising From the Desktop and The Presentation Design Book. All titles are available in bookstores and by writing Ventana Press, P.O. Box 2468, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 or by calling Ventana's toll-free order line, 1-800-743-5369,  919/942-0220; FAX 919/942-1140.


Athena Design MESA 2 Spreadseet Swr for OS/2
ATHENA DESIGN, INC. ANNOUNCES MESA 2 FOR OS/2

MARCH 24, 1994 P Athena Design, Inc. has announced that it will release Mesa spreadsheet software for OS/2.

Scheduled for release in August, 1994, Mesa 2 for OS/2 will be a powerful,   full-featured, 32-bit, native OS/2 spreadsheet application. It will take   advantage of OS/2 features, including SOM, OpenDoc, multi-threading and the   Object Oriented User Interface.

Mesa will offer real-time data feeds, SQL database access, and an object   library that allows developers to integrate Mesa's spreadsheet functionality   into their own custom applications.

"I am delighted with the way Athena Design, Inc. is exploiting the advanced   technology of the 32-bit OS/2 operating system to provide their customers with   even greater value", stated John A. Soyring, Director of Strategic Relations,   IBM Personal Software Products Division. "Through Athena's aggressive use of   OS/2's multi-threading, users should experience superior performance   characteristics. The use of OS/2's System Object Model enables great   integration with other applications P on the system, and, eventually, across   the network. I urge PC users to take this product for a test drive when Athena   makes it available."

"We're very enthusiastic about working with IBM on this project", said David   Pollak, President of Athena Design, Inc.  "Mesa 2 for OS/2 will launch Athena   Design, Inc. as a leader in the spreadsheet market for 32-bit operating   systems", he added.

Athena Design, Inc. has been shipping Mesa for NEXTSTEP<R> since August, 1992.   Mesa is currently the best-selling NEXTSTEP spreadsheet.

As the release date approaches, Athena Design, Inc. will conduct a beta test   program to ensure that Mesa 2 provides OS/2 users the same quality and   reliability we offer our current customers.

Athena Design, Inc. was founded in 1989 by David Pollak to produce Mesa   spreadsheet software for 32-bit operating environments.  For more information   about Mesa or Athena Design, Inc., please contact us at 1.617.734.6372 or   info@athena.com.


CAPE Computer-Aided Protocol Eng Swr Design
BAYFRONT TECHNOLOGIES, INC INTRODUCES COMPUTER-AIDED PROTOCOL ENGINEERING (CAPE) SOFTWARE DESIGN,  IMPLEMENTATION AND TEST TOOLS.

NEWPORT BEACH, California -- Bayfront Technologies, Inc. has introduced a set of Computer-Aided Protocol Engineering (CAPE) software design, implementation and test tools. Bayfront CAPE Tools can capture the design and implement any software system that uses protocols, state machines or timed control.  This important class of systems includes communications, transaction processing, distributed processing, real-time control, process control, client/server and operating systems. Bayfront CAPE Tools provide software designers with more power than general CASE tools because the concepts of the problem area such as timers, events and messages are built into  the tools.

Bayfront CAPE Tools capture a user created protocol or state machine definition and perform the following functions:

 - GENERATE ANSI C CODE to implement the protocol/state machine

 - GENERATE STATE & STATE/EVENT TRANSITION DIAGRAMS to aid in

   the understanding of the protocol/state machine at a high

   level

 - GENERATE CCITT SPECIFICATION & DESCRIPTION LANGUAGE (SDL)

   DIAGRAMS to describe the low-level details of the protocol/

   state machine

 - SIMULATE the states/events to give the designer experience

   with the protocol/state machine.

The Bayfront CAPE Tools automate up to forty percent of the effort to implement, document and maintain complicated protocols and software state machines.  Protocols for a wide variety of operating systems including DOS, OS/2, Windows, Windows NT, UNIX and  proprietary real-time embedded operating systems have been  implemented with the Bayfront CAPE Tools.

The Bayfront CAPE Tools are a formal description technique and implementation method similar to the ISO languages Estelle and LOTOS. Unlike Estelle and LOTOS the Bayfront CAPE Tools are easier to use and more accommodating to real-world hardware and software  environments.  A formal description technique and implementation method for protocol and software state machine design provides the following advantages:

 - more accurate and timely implementation of the protocol or

   state machine

 - less risk in estimating and managing the scope and complexity

   of an implementation

 - ease of communication about the project between members of a

   project group.

Bayfront Technologies CAPE Tools include the CCITT Q.931 ISDN  protocol state machine as an example of the power of the  Bayfront CAPE Tools.  The CCITT Q.931 ISDN protocol sets up both  voice and data connections in an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN).

Bayfront CAPE Tools are currently being used worldwide to build  wide-area communications switches, voice/data switches, ATM hubs,  LAN servers, wireless communications hubs, medical monitoring  equipment, voice servers, real-time process control systems, Fibre Channel mapping protocols and satellite VSAT systems.

PRICING

CAPE Tool Windows DEMO Package     $45

Per workstation pricing:

CAPE Tools for Windows            $550

               DOS                $550

               Unix (x86)         $650

               SUN Unix           $650

For sales and additional product information please call 714.436.0322x104. Purchase orders or product literature requests may be faxed to 714.436.1808.

ABOUT BAYFRONT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Bayfront Technologies was founded in 1992 to develop, market and support problem domain specific CASE tools.  Bayfront CAPE Tools support the development of cooperating systems such as communications systems, distributed systems, operating systems, real-time systems and process control systems.  Bayfront's CAPE Tools have been used in products that are currently in operation internationally.


I-Bridge for Mobile Client/Server Computing

March 20, 1994 -- Cambridge, MA.  I-Kinetics announced today I-Bridge for PPP, Windows to Unix middleware that uses standard telephone modem communication links.  I-Bridge provides MS Windows applications with the ability to create Agents which gather data from remote UNIX servers.  At Uniforum, I-Kinetics will be demonstrating Windows spreadsheets accessing Sybase, Oracle and a variety of other applications 3000 miles away using I-Bridge for PPP.

The I-Bridge for PPP as well as TCP/IP based local area networks is available for all I-Bridge Adapters immediately.  The I-Bridge Adapter for Microsoft Excel is currently shipping for $295. I- Bridge Adapters for Lotus 1-2-3 and Borland Quattro Pro will be available this summer.

"Now, with the I-Bridge For PPP, road warriors such as sales engineers, CPAs, retail managers and securities analysts can connect to customer or home office systems via modem.  For example, they can load data directly into their spreadsheet from market data feeds, databases, EIS apps, fund management or accounting systems as if they were sitting at their desktop PC on the LAN," said Abe Hirsch, I-Kinetics' V.P. of Sales and Marketing.  I-Bridge also enables employees to tele-commute from home or customers to access secured subsystems with just a notebook PC and a modem.

I-Bridge Agents create an extra dimension of control for automating remote access.  Unlike other network communications methods between programs, the I-Bridge Agent can control the execution of a UNIX program and then transport the output to a Windows application, optionally filtering and formatting it. Previously, the only way the mobile user could get data from their corporate information systems was with complicated file downloads, or tedious cut and paste from terminal sessions.  All this frustrating, error prone overhead is eliminated with the I-Bridge.

I-Bridge Agents transport username, password, and request information to the server.  There they gather data either by executing a script to run a program or submitting SQL to a database.  The results are formatted and transported back to the Windows application. Additionally, I-Bridge Agents can execute in the background, freeing the PC for other tasks while the data is being gathered.  This feature is especially appreciated by power users who have tasks with large data transfers or long execution times.

I-Kinetics, Inc.  19 Bishop Allen Drive, Cambridge MA 02139


Pronto Windows Front-End to UNIX Mail
Remote Windows front-end to UNIX Mail

Commtouch Software introduces Pronto - an MS/Windows mail client to UNIX hosts. Pronto conducts PC to UNIX communications over a plain dialup line, no need for SLIP/PPP or any pre-loaded host software. It dials up the UNIX host from a remote PC, rapidly exchanging mail and updating folders. Users can then read and answer mail off-line within a friendly graphical environment.

Pronto's main features are:

 - Full off-line mail processing

 - Full PC/Host mail and folders synchronization

 - Mail operations include view, forward, reply, reply all,

   print, move and copy to folder

 - Editing features include spell checking and word wrapping

 - Import/export folders and files

 - Hierarchical local or host folders

 - Mail filters by date, sender, subject or content

 - ZMODEM file transfer

 - Full terminal emulations when on-line with the host

 - MDI style GUI interface

CommTouch is offering Pronto for a promotional price of $99 world wide until April 10, 1994. For pricing information after this date, please contact CommTouch Software, or your local Pronto distributor. You can contact CommTouch by EMAIL at: pronto@commtouch.com

CommTouch Software Inc.

1206 W. Hillsdale Blvd., Suite C

San Mateo, CA 94403

Phone: 415-578-6580,  Fax: 415-578-8580

CommTouch has a 30 days money back guarrantee policy.


PRAXIM Command Shell for Windows
The Sundial Group, a three-year old Texas company, announces the  immediate release of "PRAXIM - Command Shell For Windows."

15 March 1994 -- PRAXIM is a sophisticated Microsoft Windows replacement shell  designed to provide quick, elegant and intuitive control of the  Windows environment.  By tightly integrating the speed and power  of a pop-up command-line with the versatility of desktop  "toolboxes", PRAXIM lets you launch applications, execute  powerful commands, and manage your Windows desktop faster and  more efficiently than ever before.

"Our primary objective was to make PRAXIM the quickest way to get  things done in Windows, period," says Chris Immel, chief  architect of the PRAXIM system.  "No other Windows desktop  manager comes close to giving you so much direct control."

Because of its versatile, "two-pronged" combined command-line and  toolbox design, PRAXIM is an important tool for users with any  interface preference and at any experience level.  PRAXIM is  popular not only with Windows "power users" but also among  newcomers who have recently migrated from such diverse platforms  as Macintosh and DOS.

PRAXIM packs its power in a tiny package.  A complete  installation takes only 2MB of disk space and occupies less than  7% of the typical desktop.  "A tidy desktop is an efficient  desktop." notes Mikal Hart, Sundial's marketing director.  "A  good memory manager doesn't use up all your RAM, so why should  your desktop manager occupy all of your desktop?"

PRAXIM features include: Hotkey-accessible command window;  Extensible multitasking command set with over sixty native  commands, Hierarchical group toolboxes, Scrolling output windows,  Full-featured graphical file browser, Mouse-sensitive reusable  output, Full drag-and-drop capability, Powerful batch language,  Universal hotkeys, Command recall, Quick directory-changing,  Diskette image files, Extensive on-line help, DDE accessibility  from other applications, and more.

At a suggested retail price of $49.95, PRAXIM - Command Shell For  Windows is now available nationwide through major software  outlets, or directly from Wesson International, Inc. at (800)  634-9808.  Standard discount pricing based on quantity applies.

The Sundial Group

12120 Trotwood Dr.

Austin TX 78753

Tel. (512) 834-1549,  CIS 71121,553

For sales and marketing information, please contact:

Wesson International, Inc.

500 S. Capital of Texas Highway,

Building 5, Second Floor

Austin TX 78746

Tel. (800) 634-9808,  FAX (512) 328-7838


Largest Collection of Windows Icons & Wallpaper
Fantazia Concepts Releases Largest Collection of Icons and Wallpaper for Windows

Fantazia Concepts has released what can be considered the largest collection of Icons and Wallpaper available titled "Icons, Wallpaper and More for Windows". This jam packed CD-ROM contains over 5000 colorful Icons, over 800 colorful pieces of wallpaper, and 250 Bonus "WAV" files. Also Included in this collection is over 50 free decorative fonts to spice up any document.

The biggest eye catching feature is the 80 page FULL color book which contains a sample printout of all the icons, wallpaper and fonts on the CD-ROM. All the Icons and Wallpaper are nicely categorized in both the book and on the CD-ROM, enabling you to look through the book, find the Icon or piece of wallpaper you like, and install it in your "Windows" directory.

To make BMP and WAV management easier, we have included 2 free programs. The BMP program included with the CD-ROM enables you to preview your wallpaper BEFORE you install it into your windows directory as your default wallpaper. All you have to do is click on the piece of wallpaper you wish to install, choose if you would like the picture centered or tiled, and press a button. The program will automatically copy your wallpaper to your windows directory and install it as your default wallpaper. The Wav player lets you change to any drive or directory on your computer and play any wav in that directory with just a click of the mouse. You don't even have to let the wav file finish playing before you click on a new wav file. If you like the Wav file you are playing, you can also click on one button and copy the file anywhere you wish.

The Retail price of the CD is $49.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct for $29.99. For more information or to order a copy of Icons, Wallpaper and More for Windows, please contact us at 1-800-951-0877/216-951-5666 or fax us at 216-951-9241.

Fantazia Concepts, 35143 Vine St, Eastlake, Ohio 44095

Toll Free: 800-951-0877

Voice: (216) 951-5666,  Fax: (216)951-9241

--end----end----end----end----end----end----end----end----end--

:swr-sys

:World Class Fonts, Over 6,000 Fonts on CD-ROM

:Fantazia Concepts

Fantazia Concepts releases the largest collection of fonts available titled "World Class Fonts"

Fantazia Concepts has released a collection of fonts for people who want more than the "plain old" fonts. This unbelievable collection of more than 6,000 fonts is broken down as follows: 2,500 TrueType, 2,500 Type 1 (Postscript) fonts and 1000 Geoworks fonts. Every Truetype font on the CD-ROM has an identical match in Type 1 format, making it great for everyone who uses service bureaus or runs multiple platforms. This collection of fonts is truly the most unique collection available.  World Class Fonts is the largest collection of original fonts available. They were created and owned by Fantazia Concepts- they are not shareware. The collection is unlocked and uncompressed for easy use and access. The fonts are categorized by style ex.  Roman, Hollow, Jazzy, Unique, Spiked, Warped, Script, Basic etc... No longer alphabetically. There are no duplicates fonts found on this CD-ROM and we ensure this with our no duplicate guarantee- if a user finds a duplicate we will send a free font for everyone they find. Also included is a beautiful book with a full sample of all the fonts. World Class Fonts is the long awaited update to Fantazia Fonts and Sounds but has a very small duplication ratio to the fonts found on Fantazia Fonts and Sounds.

If 6000 fonts is just too much for you then try out Font Elegance. Font Elegance is a collection of 3000 fonts (1000 of each format) taken from this CD-ROM. We have included a nice variety of fonts that can be a nice add on to your current fonts or a great starter collection for all your publishing needs. The originality of fonts included will bring new life to old documents and letters. More than half the fonts on the collection are brand new font styles never seen before.

The Retail price of the CD-ROM is $89.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct for $49.99. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-951-0877/216-951-5666 or fax us at 216-951-9241. For more information or FREE font samples found on our CD-ROM, contact us on American Online or the Internet at FantaziaC@AOL.COM. The FREE font samples are also available on CompuServe.

Fantazia Concepts, 35143 Vine St, Eastlake, Ohio 44095

Toll Free: 800-951-0877

Voice: (216) 951-5666,  Fax: (216)951-9241

--end----end----end----end----end----end----end----end----end--

:swr-sys

:Font Elegance CD-ROM With 3,000+ Original Fonts

:Fantazia Concepts

Fantazia Concepts Releases A New Font CD Titled Font Elegance

Fantazia Concepts has released a collection of fonts for people who want more than the "plain old" fonts.  This CD contains 3,000 original fonts that were created by Fantazia Concepts. There are 1,000 TrueType,1,000 Type 1 fonts, and 1000 Geoworks format Fonts.  They are not shareware or garbage fonts.  The collection is unlocked and uncompressed for easy use and access.  They are categorized by style- ex. Roman, Script, Basic, Warped, Hollow etc... no longer alphabetical.  We honor a no duplicate guarentee, if any user finds a duplicate we will send them a free font for everyone they find.  The fonts have been tested over and over to ensure the highest quality fonts (unlike shareware collections where a large percentage of fonts are duplicates, crash your system or simply won't print.)  The menu makes working with the fonts easier than ever.

This collection was derived from our brand new font CD titled World Class Fonts.  We have taken a variety of fonts and packed them onto this CD.  We offer an upgrade for the entire collection (6,000 fonts and book.) or an option of simply purchasing the book which has a sample of all of the fonts.  The book coinsides with the menu which makes choosing fonts easier.  The TrueType and Type 1 file names are the same and for DOS users the file names are listed next to the font name in the book.

We believe this collection will be a nice addition for those who have  a collection of fonts already or for those who want a nice starter pack.  The originality of fonts included will bring new life to old documents and letters.

The Retail price of the CD-ROM is $49.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct for $29.99. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-951-0877/216-951-5666 or fax us at 216-951-9241. For more information or FREE font samples found on our CD-ROM, contact us on American Online or the Internet at FantaziaC@AOL.COM. The FREE font samples are also available on CompuServe.

Fantazia Concepts, 35143 Vine St, Eastlake, Ohio 44095

Toll Free: 800-951-0877

Voice: (216) 951-5666,  Fax: (216)951-9241

--end----end----end----end----end----end----end----end----end--


Largest Collection of Windows Icons & Wallpaper
Fantazia Concepts Releases Largest Collection of Icons and Wallpaper for Windows

Fantazia Concepts has released what can be considered the largest collection of Icons and Wallpaper available titled "Icons, Wallpaper and More for Windows". This jam packed CD-ROM contains over 5000 colorful Icons, over 800 colorful pieces of wallpaper, and 250 Bonus "WAV" files. Also Included in this collection is over 50 free decorative fonts to spice up any document.

The biggest eye catching feature is the 80 page FULL color book which contains a sample printout of all the icons, wallpaper and fonts on the CD-ROM. All the Icons and Wallpaper are nicely categorized in both the book and on the CD-ROM, enabling you to look through the book, find the Icon or piece of wallpaper you like, and install it in your "Windows" directory.

To make BMP and WAV management easier, we have included 2 free programs. The BMP program included with the CD-ROM enables you to preview your wallpaper BEFORE you install it into your windows directory as your default wallpaper. All you have to do is click on the piece of wallpaper you wish to install, choose if you would like the picture centered or tiled, and press a button. The program will automatically copy your wallpaper to your windows directory and install it as your default wallpaper. The Wav player lets you change to any drive or directory on your computer and play any wav in that directory with just a click of the mouse. You don't even have to let the wav file finish playing before you click on a new wav file. If you like the Wav file you are playing, you can also click on one button and copy the file anywhere you wish.

The Retail price of the CD is $49.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct for $29.99. For more information or to order a copy of Icons, Wallpaper and More for Windows, please contact us at 1-800-951-0877/216-951-5666 or fax us at 216-951-9241.

Fantazia Concepts, 35143 Vine St, Eastlake, Ohio 44095

Toll Free: 800-951-0877

Voice: (216) 951-5666,  Fax: (216)951-9241


World Class Fonts, Over 6,000 Fonts on CD-ROM
Fantazia Concepts releases the largest collection of fonts available titled "World Class Fonts"

Fantazia Concepts has released a collection of fonts for people who want more than the "plain old" fonts. This unbelievable collection of more than 6,000 fonts is broken down as follows: 2,500 TrueType, 2,500 Type 1 (Postscript) fonts and 1000 Geoworks fonts. Every Truetype font on the CD-ROM has an identical match in Type 1 format, making it great for everyone who uses service bureaus or runs multiple platforms. This collection of fonts is truly the most unique collection available.  World Class Fonts is the largest collection of original fonts available. They were created and owned by Fantazia Concepts- they are not shareware. The collection is unlocked and uncompressed for easy use and access. The fonts are categorized by style ex.  Roman, Hollow, Jazzy, Unique, Spiked, Warped, Script, Basic etc... No longer alphabetically. There are no duplicates fonts found on this CD-ROM and we ensure this with our no duplicate guarantee- if a user finds a duplicate we will send a free font for everyone they find. Also included is a beautiful book with a full sample of all the fonts. World Class Fonts is the long awaited update to Fantazia Fonts and Sounds but has a very small duplication ratio to the fonts found on Fantazia Fonts and Sounds.

If 6000 fonts is just too much for you then try out Font Elegance. Font Elegance is a collection of 3000 fonts (1000 of each format) taken from this CD-ROM. We have included a nice variety of fonts that can be a nice add on to your current fonts or a great starter collection for all your publishing needs. The originality of fonts included will bring new life to old documents and letters. More than half the fonts on the collection are brand new font styles never seen before.

The Retail price of the CD-ROM is $89.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct for $49.99. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-951-0877/216-951-5666 or fax us at 216-951-9241. For more information or FREE font samples found on our CD-ROM, contact us on American Online or the Internet at FantaziaC@AOL.COM. The FREE font samples are also available on CompuServe.

Fantazia Concepts, 35143 Vine St, Eastlake, Ohio 44095

Toll Free: 800-951-0877

Voice: (216) 951-5666,  Fax: (216)951-9241


Font Elegance CD-ROM With 3,000+ Original Fonts
Fantazia Concepts Releases A New Font CD Titled Font Elegance

Fantazia Concepts has released a collection of fonts for people who want more than the "plain old" fonts.  This CD contains 3,000 original fonts that were created by Fantazia Concepts. There are 1,000 TrueType,1,000 Type 1 fonts, and 1000 Geoworks format Fonts.  They are not shareware or garbage fonts.  The collection is unlocked and uncompressed for easy use and access.  They are categorized by style- ex. Roman, Script, Basic, Warped, Hollow etc... no longer alphabetical.  We honor a no duplicate guarentee, if any user finds a duplicate we will send them a free font for everyone they find.  The fonts have been tested over and over to ensure the highest quality fonts (unlike shareware collections where a large percentage of fonts are duplicates, crash your system or simply won't print.)  The menu makes working with the fonts easier than ever.

This collection was derived from our brand new font CD titled World Class Fonts.  We have taken a variety of fonts and packed them onto this CD.  We offer an upgrade for the entire collection (6,000 fonts and book.) or an option of simply purchasing the book which has a sample of all of the fonts.  The book coinsides with the menu which makes choosing fonts easier.  The TrueType and Type 1 file names are the same and for DOS users the file names are listed next to the font name in the book.

We believe this collection will be a nice addition for those who have  a collection of fonts already or for those who want a nice starter pack.  The originality of fonts included will bring new life to old documents and letters.

The Retail price of the CD-ROM is $49.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct for $29.99. For more information, please contact us at 1-800-951-0877/216-951-5666 or fax us at 216-951-9241. For more information or FREE font samples found on our CD-ROM, contact us on American Online or the Internet at FantaziaC@AOL.COM. The FREE font samples are also available on CompuServe.

Fantazia Concepts, 35143 Vine St, Eastlake, Ohio 44095

Toll Free: 800-951-0877

Voice: (216) 951-5666,  Fax: (216)951-9241


Fatty Bear Titles on Dual Platform CDs
Humongous Entertainment ships Fatty Bear titles on dual-platform CDs

The cuddly bear can now parade into the homes of Macintosh users

WOODINVILLE, Wash.--March 28, 1994--Humongous Entertainment today announced it is releasing two of its popular children's software titles on combination CD-ROMs that include both PC and Mac formats, a growing industry trend of publishing dual-platform discs.

This week Humongous will ship its first "combo" versions of two existing titles: Fatty Bear 's Birthday Surprise and Fatty Bear's Fun Pack. It is the first time the Fatty Bear titles have been available for Macintosh CD-ROM users.

The "combo" format takes advantage of the immense storage space on a CD-ROM and allows more than one version of a program to reside on different portions of the disc. Consumers are unaffected by the multiple platforms, as the computer automatically accesses the appropriate area of the CD-ROM during start up.

"The Fatty Bear titles are very popular with consumers," said Shelley Day, president of Humongous Entertainment. "We've made a strong commitment to adopting the new combo CD standard and believe it will offer more customers access to our interactive stories. We also find it's more appealing to resellers."

Humongous' products are distributed through Electronic Arts and carried by resellers throughout the country, including Egghead Software, CompUSA, Computer City and Software Etc. "We're pleased Humongous is publishing its titles on dual-platform CDs," said Suzanne Groatman, education buyer for Egghead Software. "With the dramatic increase in the number of products on the market, this format allows us to conserve shelf space per title and more easily manage our inventory."

The Fatty Bear titles are part of the company's Junior Adventures series of nonviolent, multimedia storytelling titles for children ages 3 to 8. Fatty Bear, a friendly stuffed bear in overalls, is a popular Humongous character, along with Putt-Putt, a lovable purple car.

In Fatty Bear 's Birthday Surprise, the stuffed cub and other well-loved toys decide to plan a birthday party for their owner Kayla, while she is sleeping. Numerous imaginative adventures unfold as a pesky puppy keeps hiding the birthday cake ingredients and party decorations.

Fatty Bear 's Fun Pack features several fun games that children play against the stuffed bear. The games include Reversi, Tangrams, Go Fish, Lines and Boxes, and Fatty Bear's Paint Set. With four skill levels, the program grows along with the child's developing capabilities.

Humongous' Junior Adventures add a new level of sophistication to children s software. Each title presents a cheerful, open-ended, story-world that is designed to unfold with the child's own actions. Numerous "click points" allow the child to point and click to interact with the story's characters, discover clues, solve puzzles and collect information. Along with being a lot of fun, this process helps children develop problem solving and critical thinking skills, as well as number and shape recognition. An upbeat, original soundtrack accompanies fully digitized speech which enables young children to independently progress through each program.

In addition to CD-ROM, the Fatty Bear titles are available for Macintosh and MS-DOS personal computers and the 3DO multiplayer. Consumers can order demonstration floppy disks of Fatty Bear 's Birthday Surprise, Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon or Putt-Putt Joins the Parade by contacting Humongous' Customer Service Department at 131 10 N.E. 177th Pl., #180, Woodinville-Redmond Road, Woodinville, Wash., 98072, tel. (206) 485-1212.

Humongous Entertainment, a leading innovator in interactive children's storytelling software, develops and publishes award-winning titles such as Putt-Putt Joins the Parade and Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon. The company develops and publishes entertaining and educational software for personal computers, CD-ROM and the 3DO multiplayer and is developing titles for the information highway.


Turtle Creek Software is Moving
Turtle Creek Software is moving!

Turtle Creek Software will be moving most of its operations to larger quarters on June 1, 1994. After over 7 years in the same place, we just don't fit any more!

Effective June 1, our new address for orders, shipping, marketing, product development and technical support will be:

   201 Babcock Hall

   Ithaca, NY 14883

And our new phone number (voice and fax) will be:

   (607) 272-1008

We will miss our cozy surroundings here in Spencer NY (population 800), but there's something to be said for having a FedEx drop box next door instead of 20 miles away!

The billing and business office will remain at the current location (651 Halsey Valley Rd, Spencer NY 14883 607-589-6858).


Low-Cost, High-Speed Supra Modem Options
Supra Offers Low-Cost, High-Speed Options for both Today and Tomorrow

ALBANY, OR, MARCH 1994--Supra makes it easy for you to get 28,800 bps data speeds today without a worry about tomorrow. Supra's V.Fast Class modems, which are shipping now, will be fully upgradable to V.34 for as little as $49.

"We know that many users have a real need for speed now, but they are concerned about how today's V.Fast Class modems will communicate with the promised V.34 modems due out later this year," said John Wiley, President of Supra. "Supra's upgrade policy eliminates those concerns."

Assuming that the ITU-TSS standards committee stays on schedule for a June 1994 release of the V.34 standard, Supra will have V.34 upgrades available by September. Because of anticipated short supplies, the initial upgrade price will be $69 through the end of November. Starting December 1, 1994 the upgrade price will drop to $49 where it will stay until the expiration of the upgrade offer on February 28, 1995.

"Due to patent claims and other issues surrounding the release of V.34, we are certain that V.34 modems will come in at a price point significantly higher than our current V.FC modems which sell for as little as $349." Wiley said. "Users who buy today are likely to be getting one of the best deals for the long term as well as getting the opportunity to start experiencing 28,800 bps data speeds today."

The V.FC upgrade will require a factory replacement of the data pump. Users will have two options for updating their modems. For $15 shipping and handling fee, Supra will update the modem and ship it back to the customer within 10 working days. Or, customers may select the Express Exchange option for $30. With a credit card guarantee, Supra will ship a new modem to the customer via overnight carrier and the customer will then return the old modem in the package provided by Supra.

Supra's V.FC modem line includes the external SupraFAXModem 288 which is available bundled with software for the Mac and for the PC. Supra also has two internal V.FC products, the SupraFAXModem 288i for the PC and the SupraFAXModem 288PB for PowerBooks. All products have an estimated selling price (ESP) of $399 except for the SupraFAXModem 288i which has an ESP of $349.

For a limited time, Supra also offers an opportunity for owners of any Supra modem product to upgrade to V.FC. With a serial number or other proof of ownership, Supra customers can purchase any V.FC modem directly from Supra for $100 off ESP. This offer is good through June 30, 1994. No trade in required.

For additional information, please contact Supra Customer Service at 1-800-727-8772 or 503-967-2410.

Supra Corp, 7101 Supra Dr SW, Albany, OR 97321

503-967-2400;  fax: 503-967-2401


!Trak-It HR from Former Abra MacDabra Swr Co.
!Trak-It Solutions (formerly Abra MacDabra) releases new HRMS

Sunnyvale, Calif., March 31, 1994--Abra MacDabra Software Company announces that the company has changed its name to !Trak-It Solutions and is shipping Version 8 of !Trak-It HR (the latest release of Abra 2000 Mac).

!Trak It HR, Human Resource Management System for the Macintosh, is a complete revision of the previous Abra product. Screen enhancements include additional fields on most screens and the collection of wellness information, termination data and unlimited previous employers. Unlimited educational and skills records can now be kept for each employee. Over 20 new reports were added as well as an upgrade to the !Trak-It Link, an interface which transfers pay data from the ADP PC/Payroll to !Trak-It HR.

!Trak-It HR's colorized screens now collect more data, especially in the critical areas of pay and performance. The new Wellness screen tracks allergies, chronic conditions, wellness programs, physical exams, drug tests and blood donor information. This sensitive medical data cannot be accessed without the proper password. Additional insurance benefits data can now also be stored including items such as certificate numbers and beneficiary information.

The added reports include job group analysis, multiple variations of salary change analysis and turnover information. All of the existing reports have been reformatted and enhanced based on user suggestions.

The new version of !Trak-It Link provides ADP payroll users with a quick way to initially load data into !Trak-It HR to help track new hires and terminated employees as well as track salary changes on an ongoing basis.

!Trak-It Solutions implemented these enhancements by working closely with their users. The tracking of medical data and drug tests, as well as the changes to the human interface interactions, were just some of the user requests. "Our users are our most influential feature specifiers in the development of new versions," states Carlene Enyedy, President of the newly renamed company.

When asked why the company changed their name, Carlene explained, "To reduce the confusion in the marketplace between our Macintosh based human resource products and Abra Cadabra's PC DOS-based products which we have always distributed and will continue to in the future. Although we introduced the Macintosh version based on the DOS code, the products have incorporated different features and capabilities over the years. This name change helps clarify that they truly are different products on different platforms."

!Trak-It HR is available starting at $695 for the single-user version for companies up to 75 employees, $995 for up to 150 employees and $1695 for the Unlimited employees version. Options include a multi-user network version that allows multiple simultaneous users to access the employee data and an Attendance tracking module that tracks absenteeism and calculates vacation, illness and personal time off accruals based on the employer's rules.

An evaluation system, including real working software with some limitations, pre-loaded data and the complete 500 page user's manual, is available for $25 plus shipping (and sales tax for California residents).

!Trak-It Solutions

485 Pala Ave, Sunnyvale, CA 94086

408-737-9454,   Fax 408-737-9456


E Ware Announces eNote Email Swr for Macintosh
E Ware Announces eNote for Macintosh

New York, New York, April 1, 1994 - E Ware, a division of Visual Cybernetics Corporation, today announced development of a Macintosh version of its popular messaging software, eNote. With this latest addition to the eNote line, instant pop-up messaging will be available to Macintosh users for the first time.

eNote instant messaging software delivers messages directly to the screen instead of a mailbox, where electronic mail messages often go unnoticed. The program performs all functions from a small floating control panel with simple drag and drop actions. It becomes a natural part of the desktop work environment because the control panel can be dragged and positioned unobtrusively on top of any active Macintosh application. The user simply writes an eNote message, drags the eNote over the icon representing the recipient(s) and releases the mouse button. eNote sends the message, which pops up directly on the recipient's screen.

According to E Ware President Todd Fearn, current users of eNote find the software enhances workgroup performance by simplifying communications. "We're responding to strong end-user interest in a Macintosh product - especially from our eNote users in mixed environments," said Fearn. "We're excited to be entering the Macintosh market with a product so appropriate for that platform."

eNote for Macintosh will include groupware functionality, drag and drop operations, folders, context searching, and will be System 7 Savvy. eNote for Macintosh users within a cross-platform network will have compatibility with eNote users on Windows-compatible network operating systems. eNote takes only minutes to install on any Macintosh on the network and does not require a dedicated file server.

eNote for Macintosh will ship in July, 1994. E Ware will sell the software directly, as well as through its growing network of VARs and distributors.

E Ware, a division of Visual Cybernetics, develops and markets workgroup and multimedia products. The growing product line currently includes eNote 2.0, eNote Remote, eNote Mobile, eNote for cc:Mail, and an MHS version, with several new products in development. Visual Cybernetics (NASD Bulletin Board "VSCY"), publicly held since 1992, develops, manufactures and markets advanced computer products for communications, entertainment and medical applications.

E Ware

145 West 28th St, 12 Floor

New York, NY 10001-6114

212-564-7791,  800-743-8645,  fax 212-564-7499


Asia/Pacific & Latin America Swr Sales
Asia/Pacific and Latin America Regions of Growing Importance for Software Publishers

April 4, 1994 (Washington, DC) -- PC application software sales in the Asia/Pacific and Latin America regions were $637 million in 1993, according to a report released today by the Software Publishers Association (SPA). Application software sales grew by 53% between 1992 and 1993 in the regions for which the SPA had sales figures for both years.

Japan was the largest market in Asia for US software. In 1993, US publishers reporting sales to the SPA recorded $306.4 million in Japanese sales, a 73% increase over 1992 sales. Japanese software purchasers aggressively moved to graphic user interface-based software in 1993. Sales of both Windows applications (up 236%) and Macintosh applications (up 144%) were booming in Japan. Reporting publishers' overall unit volumes in Japan were up 128% for the year.

Reflecting lingering softness in their economies, sales in the Australia and New Zealand region were $141,1 million in 1993, which is only a 13% increase over 1992. Unit sales were up 39% for the period. Sales by reporting publishers in other Asia/Pacific markets (including Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and others) totaled $86.4 million in 1993.

Reporting companies' sales in Latin America totaled $103 million in 1993, an 80% increase over 1992. Unit sales for the region were up 157% for the period. Sales in Mexico were $37 million for the year, while sales in Brazil were $20 million. Separate growth figures are not available for Brazil and Mexico.

Asia/Pacific and Latin America Software Sales, 1993

Country/Region                         1993 Sales     Growth Rate

                                      ($ millions)

Asia/Pacific

  Australia & New Zealand                141.1            13%

  Japan                                  306.4            73%

  Other Markets                           86.4            N/A

  Sub-Total, Asia/Pacific                533.9            N/A

Latin America

  Brazil                                  20.1            N/A

  Mexico                                  36.9            N/A

  Total Latin America *                  103.0            80%

Grand Total                              636.9            53%**

* Includes sales in Brazil and Mexico, as well as other Central and South American markets not listed in the table.

** Growth rate calculated based on sales in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

"These figures show a growing opportunity for US publishers in the Asia/Pacific and Latin America regions," said SPA Research Director David Tremblay. "While most of these areas are not as large as are European markets, they are growing more rapidly than all but one European market. However, with piracy rates over 90% in some of these countries, publishers need to be cautious in their entry strategies. But, with large and growing markets (Japan), or minimal language barriers (Australia and New Zealand), or new accessibility and intellectual property protection due to NAFTA (Mexico), many of these markets deserve a look by publishers who want to expand their scope beyond the US and even Europe. "

Sales data in this release are from the SPA's International Data Program. Forty-one primarily US-based software firms participate in the program by submitting confidential data to the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, which prepares the report for the SPA. Among the participants are: Aldus, Borland, Claris, Lotus, Microsoft, Software Publishing, Symantec, and WordPerfect.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of the PC software industry. Its more than 1,000 members represent the leading publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association

1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036

202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756


QEdit Advanced V3.0
March 1994 -- SemWare Corp recently released version 3.0 of the award-winning QEdit Advanced. Many new features have been added to QEdit Advanced 3.0, including:

- Enhanced printing options

- Increased maximum line length

- Improved macro capabilities

- Enhanced ASCII chart capability

- Configuration of the date and time formats

- Ascending and case-insensitive sorts

- Improved tab handling

- Picklist of Scratch buffers

- Option to show Hex and Decimal values of current character

And we've been able to add these features without impacting QEdit's speed or small size!

Check your favorite online service, local BBS or shareware dealer for a copy of the shareware version of QEdit version 3.0 available now.

SemWare Corp

4343 Shallowford Rd, Suite C3A

Marietta, GA 30062-5022

TEL: 404-641-9002,  FAX: 404 640-6213,  BBS: 404-641-8968


Dolphin Disk Purge

This software is for purging (writing over and deleting) files on a hard disk or on a floppy disk and also for purging (writing over) areas of a disk no longer used by files but which may still contain sensitive information. It is of particular interest to users of encryption software because even though all files containing confidential information may be encrypted, there may still be sectors on a disk which hold information created when a file was decrypted (or before it was encrypted). Word processors used to edit files containing sensitive information may also leave plaintext lying around on the disk in sectors not allocated to files. A directory listing will give no indication of the existence of such information, but Dolphin Disk Purge will remove this information beyond recovery.

This software allows you to purge one or more files in a directory (wildcards can be used in the file specification), purge files in a directory and in all subdirectories of that directory, purge the sectors of a disk that are currently not allocated to files, purge the entire disk (which removes all information from a disk) or purge selected tracks. If you run Dolphin Disk Purge periodically to purge all sectors not used by files you can be sure that a low-level search program will not be able to recover information that you would not want it to. The program is also useful when a computer or its hard disk is to be given a new use and all data resulting from its former use must be removed.

Dolphin Disk Purge has a menu-driven interface that allows you to set up versatile combinations of purge specifications. The setup is checked for error conditions before proceeding. When purging files you can specify that only files with dates in a certain time period will be purged. The specification of files to be purged can contain wildcards, so it is possible, for example, to purge all files of the form *.TXT in /DOCS/PROJECT and in all lower subdirectories with file dates between 1/1/94 and 12/31/94. You can customize the way that the program operates, such as the number of times it writes over each sector. Data is purged according to DoD standards: Each sector is overwritten with 1 bits, then with 0 bits, then random values are used for the subsequent overwrites.

There is a simulation mode which allows you to see how the software will act during a proposed purge before the operation is actually performed. The program sends a report of its progress to the screen and optionally will also output the report to a file or to the printer.

Included in the Dolphin Disk Purge package are three simpler programs which allow you (i) to purge multiple files in a directory, (ii) to wipe floppy disks clean of data and (iii) to view the contents of individual disk sectors.

Dolphin Disk Purge is priced at $145.00, and is available from Dolphin Software, 48 Shattuck Square #147, Berkeley, CA 94704 (510-464-3009).


Walnut Creek ADA CD-ROM
Walnut Creek CDROM is proud to announce a brand new edition of the Ada CDROM. This disc contains the entire Public Ada Library (PAL), 620+ MB of docs, information, and source code.

With more than 9200 files, this disc is an indispensible resource for any Ada programmer.  It has Ada language reference manuals, a complete set of Ada language issue comments, the GNAT compiler (version 1.74), PC and Mac Ada/ED compilers, benchmarks, validation suites, courseware, Ada programming tools, and prodigious amounts of source code.

Here is a brief overview of the contents:

*  5 Ada83 Compilers (3 for DOS, 2 for MAC) - NYU Ada/Ed,

   GWU Ada/Ed, Small Ada

*  2 Ada9X Compilers (1 for OS/2, 1 for Sun/SPARC) - GNAT 1.74

*  Ada83 and Ada9X Information, Rationale, and Reference Manuals

   (including a hypertext version of the Ada83 LRM and

   interactive online versions of the Ada83 and Ada9X Reference

   Manuals)

*  Ada Bindings (to X11R4, GKS, POSIX, SQL) and Interfaces

   (ASIS, IRDS, PCIS)

*  100's of Reusable Ada Software Components

*  Over 50 Ada Software Development Tools (including AdaSAGE)

*  SEI's Capability Maturity Model 1.1

*  Software for Ada Compiler Evaluation and Benchmarks

   (including ACES, ACVC, and PIWG)

*  Over 30 Ada, Software Engineering, Domain Engineering, OOD,

   and OOP Courses (including an interactive Ada83 tutor)

*  Over 100 Technical reports on Ada, Software Engineering,

   Domain Engineering, OOD, OOP, and Reuse

*  Complete VHDL library, docs, validation, grammer, benchmarks,

   examples.

The readme files and index files for this disc are available by anonymous ftp from ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/cdrom/cdroms/ada.  The complete Public Ada Library is available by anonymous ftp from wuarchive.uwstl.edu:/pub/languages/ada or from the mirror site at ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/languages/ada.

This CDROM was compiled by Richard Conn.  It is available in either ISO-9660 with Rock Ridge Extensions, or Macintosh HFS.

The price is $39.95.  S&H is $5 for US/Canada/Mexico, and $10 for overseas. If you live in California, please add sales tax.  You can pay by cash, check, money order or Visa/MC/Dis/Amex.  This CDROM is fully guaranteed, if you are dissatisfied with this disc for any reason whatsoever, you can return it for an exchange or refund.

        Walnut Creek CDROM

        1547 Palos Verdes Mall, Suite 260

        Walnut Creek, CA  94596

        1 800 786-9907

        1 510 674-0783

        1 510 674-0821 FAX

        orders@cdrom.com

The disc is available for FREE to anyone that has contributed any of their own work to the Public Ada Library.  Just email me your name, address, and the name of the program(s) that you wrote.  Overseas addresses are ok

If you would like a more detailed list of other CDROM titles published by Walnut Creek CDROM, you can ftp the latest list from ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/cdrom/catalog, or send email to info@cdrom.com.


EDT+ Version 6 (DEC VAX EDT Emulator)
EDT+ Version 6 from Boston Business Computing

ANDOVER, MASS., FEBRUARY 15, 1994 -- Boston Business Computing, Ltd. (BBC), the leading developer of VMS-to-UNIX software solutions, announces EDT+ version 6, the only complete emulation of DIGITAL's text editor, VAX EDT, for MS-DOS and UNIX systems.

Version 6 of EDT+ provides:

*  VAX EDT Gold-Key Editing

*  Multiple Windows, Status Line and Other EVE Features

*  Powerful User-Defined Keys and Macro Language

*  Dynamically Adapts to Current Screen Size

*  Column Cut and Paste, 4000 character line length

*  Enhanced Disaster Recovery

*  Complete Documentation and Easy-to-Use VMS-style Help System

EDT+ Version 6, a full screen text editor, implements all the features of VAX EDT on UNIX and MS-DOS including Gold-key and entity editing, user-defined keys, disaster recovery, command macros, global search and replace, insert/overwrite modes, cut/paste, column cut/paste, word wrap, start-up command files, on-line help, extended ASCII character set, 132-column mode, and keypad, nokeypad, and line modes.  With multiple buffers, you can edit as many as 80 documents simultaneously.  Maximum file size is 4000+ characters wide and 16 million lines long.  EDT+ gives you over 150 commands and qualifiers, making it one of the most powerful editors available today.

EDT+ 6 includes the following new features: column cut/paste, tab to space conversion, command editing and recall within EDT+, an UNDO command, enhanced recovery options to give more control over the recovery process, and improved buffer manipulation. Further enhancements have been made to the EDIT and SAVE commands, the HELP and LEARN facilities, and the keyboard interface.

EDT+ supports most UNIX systems, MS-DOS systems including laptops, most keyboards including the enhanced 101 and DEC LK250, UNIX terminals and system consoles.  In addition to the standard EDT interface, EDT+ provides a user-definable editing interface that will accommodate the editing needs of most users.

Boston Business Computing pioneered the development of VMS emulation tools more than nine years ago.  Its suite of products, EDT+, VCL, Vmail, and Vbackup, provide a cost effective way to migrate VMS users to UNIX and MS-DOS systems.

Current users of earlier versions of EDT+ or EDT8 should contact Boston Business Computing to take advantage of our up special grade offer.

EDT+ Version 6 is available for immediate shipment on UNIX and MS-DOS systems.  Boston Business Computing offers a 30 day, money-back guarantee and a 60 day warranty period.  For more information or to order, contact Elaine G. Bedard at (508)470-0444.

Boston Business Computing,Ltd.        sales@bbc.com   email

Three Dundee Park                     (508)470-0444   voice

Andover, MA 01810                     (508)474-9244   FAX


INDENT C/C++ Source File Beautifier
product name          INDENT

product type          C and C++ source file "beautifier"

speed                 under 3 x file-copy time

input src code size   limited only by disk space

operating mode        command line

options selection     via command line switches

environment           DOS and DOS boxes of OS/2 and MS Windows

warrantee             none

risks and losses      INDENT MAY HAVE FLAWS. INDENT MAY BE

..                    MISUSED. INDENT IS LICENSED "AS IS".  ALL

..                    RISKS AND ALL LOSSES OCCASIONED BY THE USE

..                    OF INDENT ARE ENTIRELY THOSE OF THE USER.

..                    USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

support               may be discontinued at any time; currently

..                    by email to clong@cais.com

price                 subject to change without notice:

..                    single-user license $10 until the end of

..                    spring, $20 thereafter; for network and

..                    site license, see information available

..                    via ftp, or contact support via email.

..                    A network or site license is required if

..                    INDENT will be placed on a network.

More information about INDENT may be obtained via anonymous ftp.  Obtain clindent.lzh or clindent.exe, its self-extracting equivalent, @cais.com.  The executable is not included in either file.

A BRIEF HISTORY.

The first version of INDENT was placed in service in January, 1992.  The software has undergone revisions throughout the last two years.  The shipping version, the first one offered to the public, is 2.02.  INDENT was developed and given its name almost two years before the author learned that there is a UNIX utility of the same name.  There is no relationship between the UNIX utility and the product announced here.  Nevertheless, because of potential confusion, a new name is being considered, "INDENT AID". If anyone is currently using "INDENT AID" as a product name, or is planning to use that name, please contact support at the email address given above.

Currently, INDENT is only available for license to residents of the USA.

At the present time, orders are only accepted by mail, and must include a check or money order for the number and type of licenses being purchased.  Send orders to

  Craig Long

  1402 Bayshire Lane

  Herndon, VA 22070

Allow time for checks to clear.


Walnut Creek Internet Info CDROM
Walnut Creek CDROM announces the release of the Internet Info CDROM. This CDROM contains 12,000 documents about computers and networks:

* Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

* Internet RFCs and IENs.

* Computer security Documents.

* Internet Network maps.

* Usenet technical discussion Archives.

* Ftp sites lists and descriptions of the archives they hold.

* Extensive bibliographies and technical book reviews.

* documents and standards from IEEE, ISO, NIST, ANSI and others.

The FAQs contain answers to questions about almost every imaginable subject. From computer programming langauges (C, Pascal, Ada, ...), and Science (biology, physics, chemistry, ...) to recreation (skiing, scuba diving, autos, ...), sociology (Feminism, Judaism, French-Culture, ...) to "alternative" subjects (sex, drugs, ...).

The RFCs ("Request for Comments") and IENs (Internet Engineering Notes) contain a huge amount of documentation and discussion about the design and functioning of the Internet.

There is a tremendous amount of additional information on computer security, acceptable use policies, privacy, newsletters, resource-guides, and standards.

If you are interested in computers, networking and technology, this CDROM is for you.  For a detailed list of the contents of the CDROM, you can ftp the Readme.txt and index files from ftp.cdrom.com: /pub/cdrom/cdroms/inet.

This CDROM is ISO-9660 format with Rock Ridge extensions.  It will work with MSDOS, Unix, Amiga, etc.  This CDROM, like any Rock Ridge disc, will NOT work with Macintosh computers.

The price is $39.95.  S&H is $5 for US/Canada/Mexico, and $10 for overseas. If you live in California, please add sales tax.  You can pay by cash, check, money order or Visa/MC/Dis/Amex.  This CDROM is fully guaranteed, if you are dissatisfied with this disc for any reason whatsoever, you can return it for an exchange or refund.

        Walnut Creek CDROM

        1547 Palos Verdes Mall, Suite 260

        Walnut Creek, CA  94596

        1 800 786-9907

        1 510 674-0783

        1 510 674-0821 FAX

        orders@cdrom.com

The disc is available for FREE to anyone that has contributed any of their own work.  This includes FAQ maintainers, RFC authors, etc.  Just email me your name, address, and the name of the files(s) that you wrote.  Overseas addresses are ok.

If you would like a more detailed list of other CDROM titles published by Walnut Creek CDROM, you can ftp the latest list from ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/cdrom/catalog, or send email to info@cdrom.com.


LANovation LAN Escort Windows Mgmt for NetWare
LANovation's LAN Escort Provides Microsoft Windows Management for Novell NetWare Environments

LAN Escort satisfies an increasing need among network administrators for streamlined Windows management and network administration. Managing changes to Windows INI files on a network is an administrator's nightmare. LAN Escort manages Windows INI files without requiring cumbersome scripts or proprietary shells. LAN Escort makes it easy to manage the Windows environment for both networked and mobile users.

LANovation developed LAN Escort in response to the difficulties administrators have running Windows in a network environment.  Specifically, LAN Escort simplifies the process of setting up Windows environments for users and providing them with the network resources they need. LAN Escort overcomes yesterday's technical hurdles with its  innovative handling of the Windows "desktop," the set of files that  define a personal Windows environment. Extensive management features in LAN Escort handle all aspects of Windows management so that the  intricacies are completely transparent to end users. With version 3.0, LAN Escort manages Windows files whether they are on the network, or on a user's local drive.

LAN Escort is designed to assist with all aspects of application management, from granting network permissions and modifying INI files, to putting an icon on users' desktops. LAN Escort does the chore of detecting all the changes made by an application's installation  utility, saving you hours of work.

All of the benefits of LAN Escort are delivered in an easy-to-use, intuitive interface. The Administration program includes graphical NetWare capabilities so the most time-consuming network tasks can be accomplished through a single, powerful program.

LAN Escort version 3.0 began shipping in October 1993. Where LAN Escort can help:

1. DOS to Windows migrations

   * Remotely distribute Windows to users' local workstations

   * Manage Shared Windows residing on the server

   * Assign Windows desktops to either personal directories

     on the server or to users' workstation hard drives

2. Windows Maintenance

   * Configure remote Windows

   * Assign new configurations to users and groups with

     "drag and drop"

   * Provide users with hardware mobility; "log in from anywhere"

   * Manage portable Windows users (laptop, notebook users)

   * LAN Escort "Windows Refresh" feature prevents novice Windows

     users from permanently modifying their Windows environment

3. INI Management

   * Distribute new drivers, add new lines to INI files

   * Remotely troubleshoot Windows configuration problems

   * Easily fix INI problems with "drag & drop"

4. Application Management

   * Use LAN Escort to detect application installation changes

   * Distribute application to users & groups via "drag & drop"

   * Automatically modify PROGMAN.INI to include new program

     group

   * Application icons dynamically appear in Windows for your

     users

   * INI changes are automatically made, trustee rights granted,

     required files copied

5. Printer Management

   * Associate Windows print drivers with network print queues

   * Drag and drop printer icon to assign network printer to

     user or group

   * Network printers appear as icons in Windows for users

   * LAN Escort automatically captures port for network printer

     user selects

   * Users need not understand terms like "ports," "queues,"

     "drivers"

6. Graphical SYSCON, FILER, PCONSOLE, DSPACE

   * Create new users and groups

   * Manage userIDs, passwords, login hours, volume restrictions

   * Edit login scripts; add drive mappings

   * Log in to other servers

LAN Escort provides seamless access to the bindery on NetWare 3.X servers. LAN Escort may also be used on NetWare 4.X servers in Bindery Emulation Mode. It does NOT require the use of TSRs or NLMs.

LAN Escort installation and setup are easy and intuitive. LANovation provides free, unlimited support with LAN Escort. Also available is  free installation and configuration assistance at a scheduled time with a LAN Escort engineer.

Pricing is per server, at $995 for 5, 10, 20, 50-user versions of NetWare, and $1595 for 100 or 250-user versions of NetWare. Quantity discount pricing is available. Site Licenses and Enterprise Licenses are also available. Call for Reseller pricing.

LANovation is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and can be reached by phone at 800-747-4487 or 612-379-3805. Fax requests to 612-378-3818. On Compuserve, send mail to 72037,3061.


Guide to Purchasing a Personal Computer
A clear, concise, yet comprehensive guide to purchasing a personal computer... covers all the essential components, explains the jargon, and provides  commonsense guidelines for evaluating equipment. Intended to empower the user to make the right purchasing decision. Covers PC, Mac, Amiga and Atari... hard drives, CPUs, modems, printers, monitors, multi-media components.

Laid out on large, easy to read pages, with marginal definitions and  explanations, indexed. $7 + s/h regularly, net users pay  only $3.50 prepaid, $4.00 billed.

Any questions, comments, etc. I can be reached at leavitt@armory.com.

Thomas Leavitt

P.O. Box 7095

Santa Cruz, CA 95061-7095


Walnut Creek Nova/Nebula NeXTSTEP CD-ROMs
Walnut Creek CDROM is proud to announce the immediate availability of the Nova CDROM Second Edition, for NeXT Workstations.  The Nova CDROM contains software for the Black (Motorola) NeXT.  We also have the Nebula CDROM for NeXTSTEP Intel.

This new totally revised edition of the Nova will give you more applications, more source code, more fun and information. On this disc you will find utilities, games, fonts, sounds, music, PostScript and tiff graphics. Included on the Nova is the largest collection of public domain and shareware applications of it's kind. There is more applications then ever before and you will see why the Nova is one of the most popular CDROM for the NeXT platform. Each directory on the disc contains an index listing filename, version, author and a short description of each file. A central index is also included which you use with Digital Librarian to quickly locate any file. The Nova for NeXT hardware is in ISO-9660 format with

Rock Ridge extensions. A must for every NeXT owner. Remember this is a lot more then an update it's a totally new revised edition.

Specs

Date published: February 1994

Target platform: NEXTSTEP 3.1 or higher for NeXT

                 (Motorola) hardware

Megabytes on disc: 604 MB

Format: ISO 9660 with Rock Ridge Extensions (unix)

Compression used on disc: none

Editor: Eric Tremblay, eric@cdrom.com

Features

- The second edition of the popular Nova CDROM for NeXT hardware.

- All applications are ready to run directly from the CDROM

- Applications in categories such as utilities, astronomy,

  graphics, communication, audioapps, graphic, mail, clocks

- Games/entertainment applications totalling 31.9 MB

- 119 NEXTSTEP ready fonts

- Fonts directory can be directly linked with hard disk to make

  all fonts on the CDROM available to the user without taking up

  any disk space.

- 42 modules for the BackSpace screen saver

- 22 NEXTSTEP Palettes for Interface Builder

- More then 52 MB of source code

- 74 sound files

- Contains Pcomm, the unix shell terminal communications program

  compiled to run on NEXTSTEP and other terminal programs.

- Each directory contains an index  to make it easier for a user

  to locate a file.

- Indexes are fully indexed in Digital Librarian (for 3.2).

- Source code included with many of applications.

- All applications were compiled using NEXTSTEP 3.1 or higher

- All applications were compiled in NeXT (Motorola) only binaries

  to save disc space.

- All binaries have been "stripped" to save disc space.

The price is $59.95.  S&H is $5 for US/Canada/Mexico, and $10 for overseas. If you live in California, please add sales tax.  You can pay by cash, check, money order or Visa/MC/Dis/Amex.

        Walnut Creek CDROM

        1547 Palos Verdes Mall, Suite 260

        Walnut Creek, CA  94596

        1 800 786-9907

        1 510 674-0783

        1 510 674-0821 FAX

        orders@cdrom.com

The NEXTSTEP community has made what the Nova is today. The quality of the applications found on this disc is a good reflection of the talent and expertise that the NEXTSTEP community represents. Walnut Creek CDROM  would like to thank the NEXTSTEP community for making the Nova a success.

The disc is available for FREE to anyone whose work appears on the CDROM. Just email me your name, address, and the name of the program(s) that you wrote.  Overseas addresses are ok

Many of the programs on this disc are shareware, and require seperate payment to the author for continued use.  This CDROM is fully guaranteed, if you are dissatisfied with this disc for any reason whatsoever, you can return it for an exchange or refund.

If you would like a more detailed list of other CDROM titles published by Walnut Creek CDROM, you can ftp the latest list from ftp.cdrom.com:/pub/cdrom/catalog, or send email to info@cdrom.com.


Zynx EtherAction ZX314 PCI Ethernet Adapter
After shipping the industry's first PCI Ethernet Adapter, the  EtherAction (TM) ZX312, Znyx has follwed up with the new EtherAction  ZX314, the first multi-channel PCI Ethernet Adapter.  With this product, system integrators can configure systems with four independent, 32-bit, full-duplex Ethernet Adapters in a single PCI slot.  The ZX314 is fully compliant with the PCI standard, consuming only two "bus loads," which is standard for PCI add-in cards.

The ZX314 appears to the host system as four ZX312 boards, each  including 256 byte input and output FIFOs, and bus mastering with  burst transfers at 132 megabytes/second.  Each of the four ports may be configured and utilized in a completely independent fashion, according to the capabilities of the host operating system.

Software drivers are provided for all major server operating systems, including the following:

  *  Novell NetWare 3.11

  *  Novell NetWare 3.12

  *  Novell NetWare 4.x

  *  Microsoft LAN Manager

  *  IBM LAN Server

  *  Microsoft Windows-for-Workgroups

  *  Microsoft Windows/NT

  *  SCO UNIX

  *  Univel UNIX

  *  SunSoft ISC UNIX

  *  SunSoft Solaris

Other drivers are scheduled for release by Q3, 1994.  The SRP of the  ZX314 is $995 US, and includes a 3-year warranty.

ZYNX Advanced Systems Division, Inc.

48501 Warm Springs Blvd

Fremont, CA 94539

510 249 0800 V;  510 656 2460 F


Timbuktu for Windows EtherWave Kit

Farallon Computing, Inc. announced the availability of its new Timbuktu for Windows EtherWave Kit, a bundle that combines award-winning Farallon software and hardware to connect PCs to Ethernet networks.

The Timbuktu for Windows EtherWave Kit installs quickly and easily to daisy chain PC users to existing 10BASE-T networks and to provide direct access to shared resources and other network users on unshielded twisted-pair Ethernet networks.

The kit includes all necessary equipment to attach a Windows PC to an existing 10BASE-T Ethernet network.  Each kit features Timbuktu 1.1 for Windows remote control and file exchange software, an EtherWave PC ISA Card and a 4.5 meter length of unshielded twisted pair cabling.

SPECIFICATIONS

-Full color support for screen sharing in Windows from VGA

 up to 24th bit depth

-Background printing and file exchange

-Print queue monitoring and management; printer status messaging

-Multiple levels of password protection

-File Type/Extension mapping between Macs and PCs

-Comprehensive on-line help

-Integrated installer automatically configures the EtherWave card

 and installs Timbuktu and PhoneNET PC in one easy step

-Compatible with Timbuktu for Macintosh 4.0 and later, including

 the all-new Timbuktu Pro

-One serialized copy of Timbuktu required per computer

-IBM compatible 286, 386, or 486 computer (386SX or better

 recommended)

-Supports leading adapters for Ethernet, Token Ring, and

 LocalTalk

-3MB RAM required (4 MB RAM recommended)

-Windows 3.1 or later

-MS-DOS 3.1 or later (5.0 or later recommended)

-Requires VGA or higher display, hard disk, and mouse

-Supports UMB memory managers such as QEMM, 386MAX, and

 DOS 5.0 & 6.0 EMM386.

For more information about EtherWave and Timbuktu for Windows:

Anonymous ftp: ftp.farallon.com

Internet address: farallon@farallon.com

Farallon Computing, Inc.

2470 Mariner Square Loop

Alameda, CA 94501

1-510-814-5000


The Horde Bundled with ReelMagic Lite MPEG Brd
Hollywood Comes to the PC with ReelMagic Lite

Sigma Designs Bundles Crystal Dynamics' The Horde with its ReelMagic Lite MPEG Playback Board

FREMONT, Calif., April 4, 1994 -- Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ--SIGM), a leading manufacturer of multimedia computer products, today announced that its ReelMagic Lite MPEG multimedia playback controller for the PC is now shipping with The Horde, a fast-paced action/strategy game from Crystal Dynamics. Starring Kirk Cameron of ABC's Growing Pains and other well-known Hollywood actors, The Horde sizzles with 35 minutes of full-motion video sequences compressed in the MPEG format. ReelMagic Lite plays back those sequences at full-screen, full-motion video combined with CD-quality sound. The ReelMagic Lite board bundled with The Horde carries a suggested retail price of just $349, and is slated to hit retail shelves by mid-April. The Horde also will be available immediately through Sigma Designs' MPEG Software Catalog.

The Horde, set in a magical and humorous medieval fantasy world, features Kirk Cameron as Chauncey, the hero, who must defend his villages against the vile, bumbling and amusing creatures who make up the Horde. Players assume the role of the chivalrous Chauncey, defending villagers against the eight species of Hordlings. Originally designed for IBM PC CD-ROM, IBM PC floppy and 3DO Interactive Multiplayer systems, the new ReelMagic MPEG version of The Horde brings out the true Hollywood character of the game's original design.

"Sigma Designs is extremely excited to be working with Crystal Dynamics to offer an MPEG version of the new hit title The Horde," said Thinh Tran, chairman and CEO of Sigma Designs. "The ReelMagic Lite/The Horde package represents a major leap forward for the PC industry -- the merging of computers, games and Hollywood into an interactive entertainment business."

"It was a natural fit," said Rob Dyer, vice president of international operations at Crystal Dynamics. "Sigma's ReelMagic Lite gave Crystal the chance to show The Horde at its full potential. We're extremely pleased with the results and are sure users will be as well."

The Horde is a collaboration between Toys for Bob and Crystal Dynamics. The live action sequences were shot under the direction of Robert Weaver, a leading interactive game and motion picture director, and produced by two-time Emmy Award-winner Mackenzie Waggaman and Weaver. Other actors featured in the game include Michael Gregory as The Evil High Chancellor, previously seen in Total Recall, ROBOCOP, and The Lawnmower Man; Michael McCarty as The Good King Winthrop, known for his work on Broadway and in prime-time television dramas; and voice-over veteran Henry Crowell Jr. as the Newscaster, Herald, Peasant and Narrator.

ReelMagic Lite, the most recent addition to Sigma Designs' family of ReelMagic products, is an ideal companion for users who already own a PC sound card, providing complete MPEG video and audio playback. Also part of the ReelMagic line are the ReelMagic controller (SRP $449) and the ReelMagic CD-ROM Upgrade Kit (SRP $799). Based on the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard for video and audio compression, ReelMagic products decompress software content in realtime and play back 30 frames per second video and 16-bit stereo audio from a standard CD-ROM drive.

A wide range of ReelMagic-compatible entertainment, education, training and business presentation applications are currently available or in development. Leading software developers such as Activision, Aris Entertainment, Compton's New Media, Interplay, Sierra Online, Software Toolworks, ReadySoft, and Virgin Games are supporting the ReelMagic platform. In addition, ReelMagic is compatible with the Video CD format, enabling full-feature films on CD-ROM to be played on a personal computer.

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Crystal Dynamics was founded in June 1992 by former Sega executives Judith Lange and Madeline Canepa, and Dave Morse, former president of New Technologies Group and Amiga Computers. The company's president and CEO is Strauss Zelnick, formerly president and CEO of Twentieth Century Fox. A hardware independent producer of software titles, Crystal Dynamics provides titles for Sega, 3DO and IBM platforms. Crystal Dynamics' first title, "Crash 'N Burn," is bundled with Panasonic's REAL 3DO Interactive Multiplayer system. Its second original title, "Total Eclipse", was released in December 1993 for the 3DO platform.

Sigma Designs, headquartered in Fremont, CA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced multimedia products, including affordable MPEG video and audio decompression hardware. All Sigma products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers, distributors and original equipment manufacturers. For sales and developer information, call 800-845-8086, 510-770-0100.

Sigma Designs Inc

47900 Bayside Parkway

Fremont, CA 94538

510-770-0100,  fax 510-770-2640


ME Intros DX4/100MHz PC With PCI & VL Buses
MICRO EXPRESS INTRODUCES DX4/100MHZ PC WITH BOTH PCI AND VL LOCAL BUS TECHNOLOGY

Santa Ana, CA, April, 1994...Running at 100-MHz and offering both PCI and VL local bus technology, the Micro Express MicroFLEX-PCI/VL/100 is a speed demon that allows incredible expansion versatility. Based on the Intel 486DX4-100 microprocessor, this PC makes graphical programs, such as Windows, very fast.

The base configuration for the system includes: 16-MB of RAM; 420-MB IDE fast hard disk drive with VESA caching controller (1-MB); 256K RAM cache; high-performance 15" non-interlaced video monitor; a PCI video accelerator card with 2 MB of RAM; both 3-1/2" and 51/4" high-density floppy disk drives; mini-tower case; 101-type keyboard; a mouse; DOS 6.2; Windows 3.1; and self-teaching Windows tutorial software. Pricing is only $2999.

For an additional $25 each, PFS:WindowsWorks Version 2 and PFS:Publisher for Windows will be bundled with the system.

A VESA Video accelerator card is included to enhance Windows performance. Additional performance enhancement results from zero wait-state operation. High-performance graphic displays are viewed on the outstanding Micro Express FM-570 15" Non-interlaced Super VGA Color monitor.

The MicroFLEX-PCI/VL/100 is housed in a mini-tower case, measuring 7.1"[W] x 14.6"[H] x 18.25"[D]. The case has provision for three accessible 5-1/4" disk drives, one accessible 31/2" disk drive, two internal 3-1/2" disk drives and one internal 5-1/4" disk drive. The proprietary motherboards have eight expansion slots, including three 16-bit slots, two VL slots and three PCI slots. Up to 128-MB of RAM is supported on the motherboard.

The excellent Phoenix BIOS, with password protection and selectable shadowing of both system and video BIOS, is used. A CMOS clock-calendar is included, as are built-in diagnostics.

The Finest Available Customer Support

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, as well as a 30-day moneyback guarantee. Optional on-site service, through GE, is also available. If a part 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. Technical support is available 24-hours per day and 7-days per week as part of the exclusive Micro Express "Always" customer support program. 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.

The MicroFLEX-PCI/VL/100 is available now, direct from Micro Express.

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 and monitors.

For further sales information, contact Micro Express at 1801 Carnegie Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705. Phone: (714) 852-1400 or (800) 989-9900.


PAPER: Switching Hwr for Auto Test & Measure
White Paper:

Switching Hardware for Automated Test and Measurement Systems

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Keithley Instruments Inc

28775 Aurora Rd

Cleveland, OH 44139

216-248-0400,  800-552-1115,  fax 216-248-6168

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The availability of low-cost PCs with IEEE-488 instrument control capabilities makes automated test and measurement attractive to a wide range of users, from laboratory researchers to quality control inspectors. Signal switching is a key concern in automated test and measurement systems, whether the goal is testing a single device or thousands of them. Many measurement accuracy or repeatability problems can be traced to improperly-configured switching systems.

There are four basic switch topologies:

Matrix switching. A matrix switch is the most versatile type of switching system. Any input can be connected to any output by closure of the switch at the intersection (cross-point) of a row and column. This helps minimize the need for complex wiring and interconnect systems, and can simplify the Device Under Test (DUT) interface.

Multiplex switching. A multiplex switch connects one instrument to multiple devices under test or multiple instruments to one device under test. Typical applications of multiplex switching include capacitor leakage, connector/switch contact and insulation resistance test systems. The multiplex switch is useful in combination with matrix or other switch configuration to expand switching capacity by sharing electrical paths, provide additional isolation, reduce cross talk between channels, etc.

Scanner switching. A scanner is a special case of multiplex switching in which switch closures are sequential or serial, sometimes with the capability to skip channels. Typical uses of scanner switching include burn-in testing of components, monitoring time and temperature drift in circuits and acquiring data on system variables such as temperature, pressure and flow.

Isolated switching. The isolated switch configuration consists of individual uncommitted relays, often with multiple poles. Isolated switches are not connected to any other circuit. Therefore, they are free for building very flexible and unique combinations of input/output configurations with the addition of some external wiring. This type of switch can be useful for creating additional isolation between circuits, providing safety interlock, actuating other relays or circuits, or building special topologies such as binary ladders and tree structures.

Builders of automated test and measurement systems face a variety of technical, timing, space and budgetary challenges when choosing and configuring their switching hardware. Increasingly, switching hardware manufacturers are tailoring their new offerings in response to users' demands for equipment that simplifies the configuration process and minimizes costs, while maximizing system throughput.

System Builder Challenge #1 -- To configure a user interface for the switching system that's easy to understand, program and operate. When choosing switching equipment, it's critical to know in advance how complex it will be to get the system up and running for a given application. Once a switching system is in place, it should also allow the user to make modifications readily as needs expand or change. The user interface will have a major impact on how easy the process of programming and operation will be.

For example, one of the hardest parts of getting a switch system up and running is keeping track of channel open/closed status. This can be a concern with systems of all sizes, not just high point count applications. The test programmer goes through several phases as the application software is developed. In the learning phase, the programmer gets a feel for the mainframe's operation, experimenting with controlling functions via the front panel and over the IEEE bus. Usually, one of the first experiments is to close some channels and route a few signals back to the measuring instrumentation. A switching mainframe that provides channel status information on the front panel allows the operator to get instant feedback on the operation of the switch topology, and speeds the learning phase.

During checkout/debug, most of the system has been programmed and must be tested. As in the learning phase, easy access to channel status information is very valuable. It not only provides instant feedback that the correct channels (or incorrect channels) are being closed and opened, but also makes it possible to verify that closures are occurring in the proper sequence.

The last phase is actual operation. Here, channel status information helps indicate the test is running properly and is not locked up. It can also assist in on-going maintenance of the system.

Many switch mainframes require the user to manipulate front-panel controls or send special commands over the bus to determine the current status of a particular channel. However, some newer mainframes have user interfaces that employ a graphical pattern on the front panel display that shows the open/closed status of all channels simultaneously. Systems with high channel counts sometimes provide the same capability via an interactive channel status LED display. By making it easier to get the switching system running quickly and simplifying modifications, these types of displays can reduce programming complexity dramatically.

As mainframe designs have changed, so have the designs of switching cards, with a growing number of high density switching cards now available. Inserting any of these cards in a compatible mainframe automatically configures the display to show the available channel capacity for that card.

Although many mainframes allow users to program and control switching from an external controller via the IEEE-488 bus, some of the newest offerings can also program and control a scan (channel spacing, scan spacing, number of scans) without direction from a computer with just a few key presses on the front panel user interface. This is due to the fact that scanning functions are built in as opposed to being available from the front panel. This frees up the computer to process data or monitor other aspects of the test. In some of the new high channel count mainframes, an optional light pen allows users to "point and click" the desired channels or crosspoints on a channel status LED grid. Users can build scan lists, create matrix patterns, open or close channels, and store patterns in memory simply by selecting the LEDs for the desired channels or range of channels, then clicking the appropriate light pen keys.

System Builder Challenge #2 -- To maintain signal integrity through the switching hardware. When configuring a system, many engineers focus all their energies on choosing and assembling the optimum mix of sources, measurement instruments, controllers, and software for their application. But if they fail to lavish the same kind of attention on the quality of the switching configuration, the measurement integrity of their entire system becomes suspect.

Each time an engineer adds another component or instrument to a test system, he increases the potential for introducing measurement errors. That means that, when adding switching capabilities to a test system, engineers must take into account any factors that could degrade overall signal quality. Even in so-called "non-critical" applications, degradation due to offset voltage, isolation resistance, and leakage current can become a significant cause of error. To ensure high switching integrity no matter what the signal level, users should look for a system that offers a broad range of compatible cards. This ensures the user the flexibility to choose the best card for the task without sacrificing signal integrity.

System Builder Challenge #3 -- To get the highest switching value for the hardware investment. Many system builders must work within tight budgetary limitations when choosing switch hardware. In these situations, one of the most critical considerations is the equipment's switching density -- in other words, the channel capacity for a given space. Switching density becomes especially important as the number of test points rises. The lower the switching density, the higher the number of separate cards and mainframes that will be required to handle a particular application. Conversely, the higher the equipment's switching density, the less hardware will be needed (and typically, the lower the cost to solve the application). The size of the mainframe itself is also important in situations where space is also limited -- a low-profile, high-density mainframe is particularly advantageous in production test applications, where rack space is often at a premium.

In order to handle 80 channels of two-wire switching, some systems require two mainframes with eight separate switching cards installed. The extra hardware and wiring needed when using such low-density equipment can not only increase system complexity, but may also complicate the configuration task unnecessarily. In contrast, some newer designs can accomplish the same task with a single half-rack mainframe and two cards, simplifying system set-up and minimizing equipment costs.

The channel capacity of the switching cards and slot capacity of the scanner mainframes involved are not the only factors that determines a system's switching density. A number of mainframe manufacturers, including Keithley, have developed scanners with an analog backplane that automatically makes the intercard connections inside the mainframe when cards are installed. The analog backplane provides greater configuration flexibility and virtually eliminates the need for card-to-card wiring for many applications.

Inter-product compatibility is another consideration that can help system builders economize on switching equipment purchases without sacrificing performance. The ability to use the same accessories and companion products with a number of different mainframes is a good illustration of this. For example, many applications, such as research and development, require relatively low channel counts. As the needs of the application change and grow, system builders typically want to avoid buying lots of new switching cards for their new, higher capacity mainframes. Software compatibility between products is also important because it makes it easy to adapt programs developed for lower channel count mainframes for use with higher channel count models.

System Builder Challenge #4 - To speed and simplify the process of triggering multiple instruments. There's more to system speed and throughput than the readings per second specification. It also means being able to trigger, switch, and measure without having to determine all the timing parameters of the system empirically.

Controlling trigger timing in PC-based test and measurement systems with multiple sources and instruments can tricky, even for experienced system designers and users. The latencies and timing uncertainties involved in coordinating the operation of multiple sources and instruments have long limited the speed and accuracy of traditional techniques such as software triggering via the IEEE-488 bus or the use of external trigger inputs and outputs.

Fortunately for system integrators and users, a new type of triggering hardware, sometimes referred to as a system trigger controller, has emerged. These products function as programmable trigger sources and provide multiple trigger input and output channels. The trigger inputs and outputs of each controlled device are connected to an independent set of inputs and outputs on the trigger controller, allowing each device to be controlled and monitored independently.

The user programs the system trigger controller to generate the required triggering relationships. The benefits of this approach include:

* Triggering relationships may be changed without altering

  physical connections.

* Control of all devices is centralized, and the state of the

  measurement process is easily observed.

* One or more triggering pulses may be issued at a precise rate,

  or in response to any arbitrary combination of trigger pulses.

* A delay may be inserted between trigger outputs, allowing the

  user to compensate for devices that do not provide a status

  output.

* Any arbitrary sequence of trigger commands and delays can be

  specified through a trigger program, and the measurement

  process may be started and stopped precisely.

* Recent benchmark testing indicates these new triggering

  approaches may allow users to improve their test throughput

  by up to 8x when compared to software triggering.

In order to achieve maximum throughput, delays introduced by the system trigger controller must be negligible in comparison with those introduced by the instruments themselves. One of these products, the Trigger Master from Keithley, employs a custom microsequencer with an 8MHz clock and special I/O circuitry to minimize latency and improve timing accuracy.

The system trigger controller architecture provides the user with many features that were previously unavailable, including:

* Multiple TTL-compatible triggering channels, which may be

  designated as inputs or outputs (and changed dynamically).

* Ability to output a trigger signal or a series of pulses with

  100ppm timing accuracy and negligible timing jitter.

* Ability to detect a specified number of transitions of either

  polarity on any combination of the triggering channels, and to

  generate trigger outputs in response to a trigger input in less

  than 2.5 usec.

* Memory may be loaded with a series of operations to be carried

  out by the microsequencer, allowing the PC to assume other

  tasks during the measurement process.

* Ability to define up to two levels of loops within the trigger

  control program, allowing a group of operations to be executed

  repetitively.

* A crystal-controlled timebase that may be used to generate a

  wide range of time delays (1 usec. - 65.535 sec.) to be

  inserted between trigger events with high resolution and

  accuracy.

* Internal status registers that may be read at any time by the

  host PC in order to determine the exact state of the

  measurement process.

* An internal flag register that may be written to by the trigger

  control program, allowing the host PC to trace its execution.

* Ability to generate a hardware interrupt to signal the need for

  service. This capability is useful when the setup (measurement

  range, sensitivity, etc.) must be changed in the middle of a

  test.

* Significantly reduced trigger latency due to the

  microsequencer's high clock speed.

The Trigger Master is connected to the sources and instruments being controlled through a bus known as the Trigger-Link. Trigger-Link-equipped instruments, such as Keithley's Model 7001 and 7002 scanner mainframes and the Model 2001 Digital Multimeter, feature dedicated circuitry that allows external trigger inputs to initiate actions directly, reducing triggering latencies. Trigger-Link's features and capabilities include:

* A total of eight conductors - six trigger "channels",

  two grounds.

* Interfaces through an eight-pin "Micro DIN" connector.

* Devices with Trigger-Link provide two connectors to permit

  "daisy-chaining" of the bus through several devices. The

  Trigger Master resides at one end of the bus and provides

  a single connector.

* Devices with Trigger-Link may be programmed to source and

  accept triggers on any of the six channels.

* An optional adapter box allows non Trigger-Link compatible

  instruments to be interfaced through BNC connectors. A separate

  BNC is provided for each Trigger-Link channel.

* Triggering rates of up to once every 10 us (100 kHz) are

  possible.

* Trigger-Link instruments feature dedicated circuitry that

  allows external trigger inputs to initiate actions directly.

  This approach further reduces triggering latencies. Other

  instruments frequently use their internal microprocessors

  to monitor the state of the external trigger signal, and

  therefore, cannot initiate actions as quickly as those with

  Trigger-Link capabilities.

* The SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments)

  standard, adapted by all major instrument companies, contains

  a well-structured trigger programming scheme. Trigger-Link is

  built around this SCPI trigger model, so access and control are

  easy and well-coordinated.

System Builder Challenge #5 -- To choose a switch system that offers broad flexibility to match a variety of applications. Many research and engineering organizations simply don't have the financial resources necessary to purchase new switching hardware for each new system built. In these cases, existing switching equipment from old ATE systems must be applied to new systems. Therefore, the switching hardware chosen must be adaptable to a broad range of operating environments. For example, in many engineering applications, users are involved in design- or development-related work that requires testing devices or assemblies over a wide variety of conditions. Modifications to the test system are made frequently as users learn more about a particular device. Many different versions of the same device may also require testing. Therefore, the ability to configure a system quickly and to make wiring changes easily is critical to engineering users, since they can't always know in advance what their exact test requirements may be.

The ability to make changes to an experiment rapidly is equally important in research applications. Research users often must be able to mix different types of wire on the same card in order to handle a wide range of inputs.

Production test users, those involved in some aspect of testing, quality assurance, or inspection related to the manufacture of a product, have different interconnect needs.

Their applications are usually permanent and unlikely to change once the system is configured and in use.

The newest mainframe designs have been developed to satisfy the needs of all three types of users with a choice of interconnect options. Many offer a detachable screw terminal connection board, which simplifies wiring connections and making modifications. The screw terminals also allow research users and engineers who require maximum flexibility to combine different types of wire, such as shielded cable, ribbon cable, twisted pair, etc. on the same card. For production test applications, optional multi-pin connectors allow the user to disconnect cards quickly without removing them from the mainframe.


Comdisco Integrating Trinzic InfoHub Swr
Comdisco To Integrate Trinzic's InfoHub Software In New Client/Server Offerings

Palo Alto, CA, April 5, 1994--Comdisco, Inc., announced it will integrate Trinzic Corporation's InfoHub middleware software technology in a new family of client/server solutions it expects to introduce later this year The InfoHub technology will be marketed by Comdisco as part of an integrated solution of hardware, software, and services that provides companies high-speed access between mainframe and UNIX-based applications.

"Trinzic is pleased that InfoHub has been chosen as a key component of Comdisco's connectivity solutions for their customers," said Trinzic CEO Jim Gagnard. "This agreement is another key milestone in Trinzic's strategy for building alternative sales channels for our data access and connectivity technology. "

Russell West, senior vice president of strategic planning at Comdisco, said "The mainframe isn't going away anytime soon Our customers are looking for cost-effective ways to leverage their mainframe investments as they transition to open systems. InfoHub is an important part of the solution we will provide."

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 1994, Comdisco, Inc. (NYSE CDO) is one of the world's leading providers of solutions that help organizations reduce technology cost and risk These services include equipment leasing and remarketing, business continuity, and consulting Comdisco's revenue was $2 15 billion for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1993

Trinzic products--InfoHub, InfoPump, Forest & Trees, KBMS, Aion Development System (AionDS), and Intellect _ enable customers to build, integrate and implement applications in a client/server architecture. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Trinzic Corporation (NASDAQ:TRNZ) has more than 275 employees and a combined installed base of more than 5,200 customers representing more than 35,000 product licenses. Trinzic products are distributed by a direct sales force and key marketing partners, as well as distributors throughout North America, Europe, the Pacific Rim, and South America.

Trinzic Corp

101 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

617-891-6500


Merger of Verdix Corp & Rational Completed
Merger of Verdix Corporation and Rational Completed

Name Changed to Rational Software Corporation

Herndon, VA (March 31, 1994) -- Verdix Corporation (NASDAQ Symbol: VRDX) announced today that its merger transaction with Rational has been completed. The combined company, whose name has been changed to Rational Software Corporation, will continue to be publicly traded on the NASDAQ system under the new symbol RATL The headquarters of the combined company will be in Santa Clara, California. Rational Software Corporation combines Rational's expertise in leading object-oriented software-development tools and technical services and Verdix's expertise in compilers and products for the development of complex software.

The Board of Directors of Rational Software Corporation consists of five former Rational directors and three former Verdix directors. The combined company officers are: Michael T. Devlin, Chairman of the Board; Paul D. Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer; and Ralph E. Alexander, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Rational Software Corporation will have a fiscal year starting April 1. For the nine months ended December 31, 1993, Verdix's revenues were $16.8 million with net income of $380,000. For the year ended December 25, 1993, Rational had revenues of $49.3 million with net income of $720,000. Rational and Verdix have previously announced that in the quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 194, Rational Software Corporation expects to incur a restructuring charge of between $9 and $11 million related to the merger transaction and the integration of the two companies.

The merger transaction is being accounted for as a tax-free pooling of interests. The former Rational shareholders now own approximately 60 percent of the outstanding shares of Rational Software Corporation common stock. Pursuant to the transaction, each issued and outstanding share of Rational common stock has been converted into the right to receive eight-tenths (0.8) of one share of Rational Software Corporation common stock. Each outstanding share of Verdix common stock will continue to be an outstanding share of Rational Software Corporation common stock.

Shareholders of Rational will receive a letter from the First interstate Bank of California, the Exchange Agent, regarding the procedures for tendering their stock certificates for shares of Rational Software Corporation. Shareholders of Rational should not tender stock certificates except in accordance with such instructions.

Verdix Corp

205 Van Buren St, Herndon, VA 22070

703-318-5800


ADev Plant Design Swr Featured at AIE/C Systems
ADev's Powerful Plant Design Software Featured at AIE/C SYSTEMS

April 6, 1994 -- Applications Development, Inc. will feature a powerful array of products and product enhancements for their AutoCAD and MicroStation-based piping, electrical and structural design software packages. They will be featured in booths #1925 in AutoDesk Expo and booth #114 in MicroStation Mall at the A/E/C SYSTEMS show held at the Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. June 21 through 23.

Many new enhancements have been added to the PRO-SERIES, ADev's AutoCAD-based line of piping design software. New features for PRO- PIPE 12.1 ADS include: ductile iron flanged module, and international language prompts and messages. New AutoCAD based products include: PRO-ISO 12.1 ADS and PRO-ELEC 12.1 ADS.

New products for the OMNI-SERIES, ADev's line of MicroStation-based piping design software, include OMNI PIPE 5.0, OMNI-ISO 5.0, OMNI-EQUIP 5.0, and OMNI FLOW 5.0. The OMNI-SERIES is set apart by it's low cost and productivity enhancing features including a new 2D orthographic generation program, user definable assemblies and an all new enhanced AUTO-ISO program.

ADev continues to be the only developer to offer both AutoCAD and MicroStation-based products. Regardless of the environment a designer chooses, ADev has the solution. Stop by ADev's booths at A/E/C SYSTEMS, or call an ADev representative at (504) 835-1627 to receive additional information about these exciting new developments.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Founded in 1986, ADev is the only developer of plant design solutions for both MicroStation and AutoCAD. Applications are available for 2D and 3D piping, isometric piping, process and flow diagrams, structural steel, plant and equipment arrangements, and electrical diagrams, plans and details, and interference detection. For further information, contact ADev at (504) 835-1627; 3850 North Causeway Blvd., Suite 900; Metairie, LA 70002-7251


FREE Management & Clinical Info
FREE Management and Clinical Information

Version 7.3 of the top-rated dental management system, SoftDent, has just been released. Complete information on all the new features and benefits of the program are available in this FREE 12 page color brochure! Many of the new Clinical Workstation products of the SoftDent Alliance are also described in this informative brochure. FIND OUT WHY EVERYONE IS SWITCHING TO SOFTDENT! call 1-800-433-2409,  410-638-2470,  fax 410-638-2473


Accolade - Combat Cars for Genesis
ACCOLADE'S COMBAT CARS IS A WACKY ARCADE-STYLE RACING GAME THAT CAN STOP YOU RIGHT IN YOUR TRACKS

Category: Action-Arcade Racing

Availability and Price: Sega Genesis (8 megs) - June, $49.95

SAN JOSE, CA-APRIL 4, 1994-Racing fans get ready for Combat Cars, a fast-paced arcade-style racing game set in a classic top-down arcade view. Energized with white knuckle action, Combat Cars has drivers maneuvering through 24 grueling race tracks, in six different locations each with four short laps. Accolade plans to release Combat Cars for the Sega Genesis in June at a suggested retail price of $49.95.

Combat Cars has a line up of eight distinct drivers, each racing a different car with its own different handling characteristics. True to its name, Combat CaTs comes equipped with weapons that provide players with the means to blow away the competition. Quickly and easily, players can set mine traps, activate turbo thrusts, shoot heat seeking missiles, spatter oil slicks and drop gobs of glues. All guaranteed to stop the competition right in their tracks. Players can also gain that all important competitive edge by strategically using their weapons to increase their supply as they complete each circuit. Another way players can gain on the competition is to improve their cars' handling, acceleration and speed performance by using their prize money to purchase turbo chargers, mega tires and powerful engines.

Pumped up to a pounding sound track and tire screeching sound effects, players test their driving skills on a sandy beach, icy snowtops, a windy harbor, a treacherous mountain range, twisty suburban cul-de-sacs, or in congested downtown streets. Choosing from one of three difficulty levels, players using the two-player mode can join forces to blast away opponents or choose to race head-to-head against one another. The split screen option adds another challenging dimension since players never know what their opponent will do next.

"What makes this game so much fun is that it's so easy to play," said Pete Pavich, the producer of the game. "Sega owners are going to find themselves playing this game again and again because it's easy, yet it's so addictive. It's also challenging because as your driving gets better, the driving of the guys racing against you gets better too. This is a game that begs you to try and beat your last score."

Accolade Inc., is a leading developer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment software products for leading hardware systems. Accolade distributes its products worldwide under the Accolade and Sport Accolade labels. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Accolade is a privately held company with offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

Accolade, 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129

408-985-1700;  Fax: 408-246-1053


Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design Signature Ed
SPORT ACCOLADE PROMOTES CONSUMER DESIGNED GOLF COURSES IN JACK NICKLAUS' SIGNATURE TOUR VOLUME 2

Category: Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design:

          Signature Edition Accessory Disk

Price & Availability: $19.95 - March

SAN JOSE, Calif.-APRIL 4, 1994--Sport Accolade, an industry leader in sports simulations and publisher of the award-winning line of Jack Nicklaus computer golf simulations, today announced the release of Jack Nicklaus' Signature Tour Volume 2. Exclusively for use with Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition, this accessory disk features two completely original courses created from the winning entries to the 1993 Accolade Design Contest. The contest was a joint promotion with Jack Nicklaus Productions and Golf Illustrated magazine. Jack Nicklaus' Signature Tour Volume 2 is available for IBM PC and compatible computers at a suggested retail price of $19.95.

The "Design Contest" challenged computer golfers to create a perfect par 3, par 4 or a par 5 golf hole using the course architect feature in Accolade's golf simulation, Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition, the only product with this feature. Thirty-six of the top entries received were combined to form Desert Lakes Club and Bayou Trace Golf Club, the two challenging courses in the product. The contest also awarded three grand prize winners with a trip to The Wendy's 3 Tour Challenge held October 6, 1993 at Colleton River Plantation in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. A panel of Judges from Accolade, Jack Nicklaus Productions and Golf Illustrated magazine determined the winning designs based on accepted golf design criteria including challenge/difficulty, aesthetics and overall fun. All thirty-six winners will receive copies of the lack Nicklaus' Signature Tour Volume 2 featuring their winning designs.

"This is a product created by consumers for consumers," said Daniel Jeung, senior product marketing manager. "The response to the contest was overwhelming with hundreds of entries received. The judging process alone took nearly a month to complete. There are already hundreds of consumer designed golf courses posted on computer bulletin boards across the country, but I think this accessory disk will be the new criteria against which all new designs are judged. Anybody who uses the design feature in Jack Nicklaus Signature Edition will be very interested in this product just to see what their peers are designing and now publishing," concluded Jeung.

Developed in association with Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus Productions, Jack Nicklaus Golf & Course Design: Signature Edition is actually two products in one. The Course Architect feature provides players with all the tools necessary to design a single golf hole or a complete golf course. The game portion of the product features two Nicklaus designed courses and fully-digitized golfers, including Jack Nicklaus himself. The product is available at a suggested retail price of $6995

Accolade Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and distributor of interactive entertainment software products for leading hardware systems. Accolade distributes its products worldwide under the Accolade and Sport Accolade labels. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Accolade is a privately held company with offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

Accolade, 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129

408-985-1700;  Fax: 408-246-1053


COGNEX VISION SYSTEM NAMED BEST NEW PRODUCT

Checkpoint System Honored For Innovation And Ease Of Use at I2M Show

NEEDHAM, MA, April 5, 1994 The new Checkpoint machine vision system from Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:CGNX) recently won top honors at the industrial trade show in which it made its first appearance.

After reviewing the new product offerings of factory automation suppliers at the 1994 12M (International Integrated Manufacturing) Show held in Chicago on March 14-16, judges voted Checkpoint to be "Best New Product" for the annual event. In making the award, they cited the new system's ease of use and advanced machine vision software tools.

Checkpoint combines Cognex's proven vision technology with a new and unique graphical user interface that enables engineers with little programming or machine vision experience to solve complex automated inspection tasks. The result of over 50 man years of research and development, the system is expected to broaden the use of machine vision in manufacturing plants worldwide by delivering a new class of performance and flexibility in an easy-to-use and affordable package.

Cognex Corporation is a public company (NASDAQ:CGNX) and is the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems. The company has over 16,000 machine vision systems installed in factories around the world. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, Cognex has support facilities in California, Japan, France, Germany, and the U.K. and employs 190 people worldwide.

Cognex

15 Crawford St, Needham, MA 02194

617-449-6030,  fax 617-449-4013


New Chem-X The Choice for Drug Research
New Chem-X: The Choice for Successful Drug Research

April 1994 -- Chemical Design is pleased to announce the availability of New Chem-X. Following 5 years of intensive software development during which Chem-X was largely re-written, a modern user-interface using pull-down menus and dialog windows has now been added. The full range of hardware platforms continues to be supported including MS-Windows, DOS, Apple Macintosh and UNIX workstations such as Silicon Graphics, IBM RS/6000 and Digital AXP. Chemical Design has also taken this opportunity to introduce more automation and to improve the integration between modeling and database applications.

New Chem-X offers a unique integration of modeling and database drug discovery tools on low cost desktop platforms. "Experimental Chemists will be attracted by the price and ease-of-use of New Chem-X', commented Dr. Rodney Young, Modeling Product Manager. "The widescale adoption of PC and Apple Macintosh platforms in research has created a large market for high quality discovery tools. With over 10 years experience, Chemical Design is well-positioned to dominate this market."

Under MS-Windows, prices start from $1990 for Chem-X/DRAW which provides 2D and 3D building, display and manipulation. Chem-X/MODEL is the entry level modeling system and costs $3990, with optional modules including ChemQM for Quantum Chemistry calculations and ChemProtein for protein modeling. The 2D database entry level system, Cham-X/BASE, costs $4990. These aggressive prices are also applicable to the Apple Macintosh. New Chem-X prices for UNIX workstations are only twice those for MS-Windows. Academic discounts of 75% are available.

Chem-X is used by over 600 research sites worldwide, including divisions of most multinational pharmaceutical companies. The software is probably best known for its 3D database pharmacophore searching capabilities, where Chemical Design has demonstrated that its technology is 2 years ahead of the competition. For further information on New Chem-X, contact Chemical Design at the above address.

Chemical Design Inc

200 Route 17 South, Suite 120

Mahwah, NJ 07430

201-529-3323,  fax 201-529-2443


Adventures in Flight Simulator, Version 5
Microsoft Press Announces...

Adventures in Flight Simulator, Version 5

By Timothy Trimble, 26 pages, $22.95, ISBN: 1-55615-582-4

The Ultimate Desktop Pilot's Guide

The sky's the limit with ADVENTURES IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR--the ultimate full-color guide to the thrilling world of desktop piloting from Microsoft Press.

While there's no guarantee of FAA certification, this fascinating new book by Timothy "the Timinator" Trimble, arriving in book and software stores everywhere this week, shows desktop pilots how they can experience the maximum excitement and realism that only Microsoft Flight Simulator version 5 can provide.

Novice pilots experience the thrill of their first flight, complete with private pilot training and preflight procedures. More advanced pilots, ready for new challenges, receive instrument training and are introduced to night flying. Everybody gets a chance at the controls of a variety of modern and vintage aircraft, including a Cessna 182, a Learjet, and even a Sopwith Camel, to satisfy the barnstorming streak in all of us!

A special feature of the book is the "Adventures" section. Here readers can choose from a selection of ready-made flight plans and then take off for destinations across the country and around the world. Want to buzz the Eiffel Tower? No problem. Just choose "The Pilot Who Terrorized Paris" How about some white-knuckle flying over the Bavarian Alps? It's easy with "Engine Out over Innsbruck" With ADVENTURES IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR, it's the closest thing to actually being there!

ADVENTURES IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR shows how to fly in all kinds of weather, too-conditions that will put even the best piloting skills to the test. Plus, by learning how to add scenery, air traffic, and even airport ground traffic such as fuel trucks and luggage vans to Flight Simulator, users can create a totally new experience with each flight.

It's all accompanied by stunning color screen shots taken directly from the program. Flight Simulator skill-enhancing tips and bits of general aviation information appear in the margins throughout the book. An appendix covers system requirements and offers valuable advice for optimizing Flight Simulator performance. A comprehensive index helps readers quickly look up any topic of interest.

Timothy Trimble admits to a long-standing love affair with this all-time best-selling recreational software program. Claiming that anyone who takes the controls of Flight Simulator runs the risk of being hooked too, he recalls his first Flight Simulator experience. "I was instantly enthralled at being able to 'fly' using a microcomputer. Oblivious to the laughter of coworkers, who would watch me shoot lunchtime ILS approaches while contorting my body and chair in the appropriate landing attitude, I continued to learn and fly with the help of this marvelous product."

Convinced that a lot of real pilots were missing out on an economical way to keep their navigation skills sharp, Trimble began to write about his Flight Simulator experiences in aviation magazines. Today he is the "From the Cockpit" columnist for Computer Gaming World and a regular contributor to MicroWINGS. When not flying Flight Simulator, he designs and develops decision support software products for Microsoft Windows. Tim has worked at Beechcraft as well as for the Indianapolis Airport Authority. He is a licensed private pilot.

Microsoft Press is the independent book publishing division of Microsoft Corporation and the leading publisher of quality computer books about Microsoft products. More than 10 million users at all skill levels rely on a complete line of Microsoft Press books to make learning and using software easier. Titles ranging from streamlined tutorials for first-time computer users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800-MSPRESS.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT') is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080,  800-MSPRESS


WordWise (V3.0) Helps Students Blast the SAT
March 30, 1994 -- The most recent release of WordWise (Version 3.0) is now available, the ShareWare that has been successful in helping students to BLAST the SAT.

WordWise empowers a student to BLAST The SAT. It is software that generates unique, multi-choice vocabulary drills. No two drills are ever the same. It enables user(s) to enhance speed-reading skills and expand their vocabulary to encompass those words with vague secondary meanings. It also tracks each user's progress graphically and in tabular format.

WordWise is fun to use and great for preparing for Standardized Scholastic Assessment Tests.

Registrants get a copy of the College Level upgrade for only Twenty Dollars, ($20 +$4 S&H). This latest expanded College Level Version includes an introductory 3D graphic.

RJS Associates

PO Box 2572

New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170-2572

(904) 424 8255


All ViewMagic Monitors Now EPA Energy Stars
ALL ViewMagic COLOR MONITORS NOW EPA APPROVED "ENERGY STARS"

Full Line Of 10, 14, 15 and 17-inch Monitors Goes Green For Earth Day

Fremont, CA -- April 21, 1994 -- ETC Computer, Inc., a rising player in the monitor market, announced that its full line of 10-, 14-, 15- and 17-inch ViewMagic -brand monitors now meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's specifications for low power consumption. By complying with this voluntary program, ETC has earned the right to label its monitors "Energy Stars."

ViewMagic Energy Star monitors incorporate power-management features which reduce power consumption in the STAND-BY or SUSPEND state to 30 watts or less, as required by the EPA. These Energy Star monitors have been nicknamed "green" monitors because they comply with the Executive Order issued last year on Earth Day, April 21, by President Bill Clinton, that requires the federal government to buy Energy Star-compliant computers and peripherals to the maximum extent possible.

This Executive Order was issued to try to reverse the power consumption trend cited by the EPA which revealed that computers now consume 5 percent of the United State's commercial energy. The EPA estimated that left unchecked, this figure could rise to 10 percent by the year 2000.

Kent Huang, president of ETC, said, "In the spirit of Earth Day, we've entered the powerdown market place. Now our customers can get full-featured, high-end monitors that are also good for the environment."

The ViewMagic Energy Star monitors are designed for fast response to the power management signal, providing rapid display recovery from STAND-BY, SUSPEND or OFF states. An LED indicates the monitor's power-saving state.

ETC recently introduced new 15- and 17-inch ViewMagic flat screen, microprocessor controlled multiscan color monitors featuring on-screen displays of user-adjustable settings and What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) color. Both monitors are designed to provide users with immediate, precise and easy to understand confirmations of all settings and adjustments, including both foreground and background color, vertical and horizontal position, rotation (tilted image), pincushion (bowed sides), or trapezoid (bowed top or bottom) screen distortions.

Designed for high-resolution color applications running on IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/2 and Apple Macintosh II systems, both monitors use a powerful Motorola chipset for accurate and immediate processing of all user adjustments. The 17-inch model also includes a manual degaussing control that allows the user to demagnetize the CRT at any time to eliminate uneven color spots. (This is in addition to the auto degaussing feature included in all ViewMagic monitors that automatically refreshes the purity of the video display.)

ViewMagic monitors are the industry's first full-featured, high-end monitors priced within reach of most mainstream computer users. The 14-, 15- and 17-inch models feature LCD or LED indicators of user-selectable controls and adjustments conveniently located on the front panel.

The company also markets a line of 10-inch professional display monitors which are considered the industry's de facto standard for small-screen monitors based on their predominance in the financial (Automated Teller Machines or ATMs), retail (Point of Sale or POS systems), defense and industrial instrument markets.

ETC monitors are available separately and in OEM quantities as a branded ViewMagic PreciseColor or private-label products, and are backed by a two-year warranty.

ETC Computer, Inc. is a subsidiary of the ETC Group, which includes three manufacturing films producing monitors, systems and auxiliary components and supplies. The ETC Group's new, seven-floor, 150,000 square-foot Taiwan facility features ultra-modern automated assembly lines with stringent quality control.

ETC computer monitor products are marketed in the U.S. through its sales and service organization located at 2917 Bayview Drive, Fremont, CA 94538, telephone 510/226-6250, fax 510/226-6252. The company's European sales and service office is located in Germany, telephone 011/49-2151-391122, fax 011/49-2151-391199.


Unipalm Ships MAIL-IT with MIME & Extended MAPI
Unipalm Ships First E-mail Product to Incorporate  MIME and Extended MAPI

MAIL-IT Delivers Local Area Network E-mail Functionality Across the Wide Area by Incorporating Open Standards

CAMBRIDGE, England (March 25, 1994) -- The Unipalm Group plc announced that MAIL-IT v. 2.0, the first SMTP electronic mail package to incorporate the emerging messaging standards MIME and Extended MAPI, has begun shipping to customers worldwide.  MAIL-IT offers users the breadth of wide area messaging along with the ease-of-use of the  Windows interface.  Based on open systems, MAIL-IT combines and  extends the E-mail messaging function beyond the immediate enterprise  and enables users to send virtually any type of message to Internet  hosts worldwide.

MAIL-IT supports a direct link to the Internet through TCP/IP,  eliminating the need for functionally-limiting and costly gateway  technology necessary with connecting proprietary mail solutions.   Essential to the product's broad functionality are the two new  messaging standards MIME and MAPI.  MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail  Extensions) enables files of any length and complexity to be sent over an SMTP backbone and the Internet, including graphics, spreadsheets, formatted documents, multimedia, audio and video.  MAPI (Microsoft's  Messaging Application Programming Interface) Internet-enables desktop  applications, allowing documents or files to be E-mailed directly over the Internet from any MAPI-compliant desktop application, simply by  selecting "Send" from the application's pull-down File menu.  Current  MAPI-compliant applications include Word for Windows, WordPerfect,  Excel and JetForms.

By incorporating Extended MAPI, MAIL-IT allows a modular "plug and  play" approach and flexible upgrade path to new MAPI services.  For  example, a LAN-based system access or internally-developed corporate  address server or X.500 service provider can be added.

With an intuitive Windows MDI interface, users can easily 'drag and  drop' their messages into particular hierarchical folders, compose and  view multiple messages, reply, forward, send, print, save and delete   messages, attach files from other applications, select deferred mail delivery, prioritize outgoing mail, and set confirmation of read and  delivery.

Message formats can be Standard Internet (RFC 822) or MIME (RFC 1521),  and the mail transports used are SMTP (RFC 821) for sending and POP2  (RFC 937) / POP3 (RFC 1225) for receiving.

MAIL-IT requires Windows 3.1 or higher, any WinSock compliant TCP/IP  networking protocol, a mailhost running SMTP/POP and 3MB free disk  space to store MAIL-IT and messages.

Unipalm's MAIL-IT is currently available worldwide for a list price of  USD150 / GBP99 for a single copy or USD700 / GBP450 for a five-user  pack; site licenses and educational discounts are also available.   30-day evaluation copies will be available for ftp from April 5th.   Contact Unipalm directly for further information, including local  distributors.

Unipalm Group plc

216 Science Park, Milton Road

Cambridge CB4 4WA England

Tel. (+44) 223 250 100,   Fax.(+44) 223 250 101

Internet:  mail-it@unipalm.co.uk


MetaEdit Method Workbench (CASE Tool)
MetaEdit Method Workbench

MetaEdit  Method Workbench is a complete set of tools to define support for your own methods with MetaEdit CASE tool. The Workbench consists of a graphical method modelling package with automatic help and method definition generators, a method compiler, a report definition tool, and a comprehensive set of method definition examples. The conceptual structure of a method is defined either graphically using MetaEdit itself (a MetaEdit Professional license is included) or with a text editor.

The Method Compiler checks the definitions and produces a method definition file (*.mof) for your method. If needed, method specific help files can also be produced from the graphical method definitions. These files are then compiled into a Windows help file.

MetaEdit Method Workbench provides an easy and efficient way to support your own methods graphically:

 * Graphical method specification

 * Automatic facilities for method definition and method help

   generation

 * A method compiler and editor with consistency checking

 * A method upgrade facility for the existing model base

The workbench consists of four parts:

1. Method Modelling Editor

The Method Modelling Editor is based on MetaEdit Professional with special methods and reports for method modelling:

OPRR Modelling

 * A special method for method modelling

 * New methods can be defined graphically with MetaEdit

   Automatic Method Definition Generator

 * Method definition code is generated from the graphical method

   models

Automatic Method Help Generator

 * Even method specific helps can be generated from the graphical

   models

 * Microsoft Help Compiler is required for but not included in

   the package

2. MetaEdit Method Compiler

 * A compiler and editor for method development

 * Compiles the method definitions into *.mof files to be used

   in MetaEdit Professional

 * Method consistency checking and compilation to binary form

3. MetaEdit Reporter

 * Report Definition Language for producing user specified reports

   from MetaEdit models

 * Report Editor: a browsing and editing tool for specifying user

   defined reports

4. Examples Library

 * A set of method definition examples, graphical definitions,

   and report examples

Hardware & Software Requirements:

PC with at least a 386 processor and 4 Mb main memory and 5 Mb free mass storage for the software. MS-Windows 3.1 required.

Availability and pricing:

The MetaEdit Method Workbench can be ordered directly from  MetaCase Consulting Oy. Our contact information is:

 MetaCase Consulting Oy

 P.O. Box 449

 FIN-40101  JYVASKYLA Finland

 Phone: +358 41 650 400 (UTC+2),   Fax:   +358 41 650 120

 Net:    metacase@jsp.fi

The Method Workbench is available for USD 4500, which is way less than any other fully customisable CASE tool.

Shipping and handling costs are added to all prices above. For details, please contact MetaCase Consulting directly. All the above prices for customers outside Finland only. Finnish customers, please ask for our price list.


Rockwell Intros Low-Cost V.32BIS Modem Chipset
ROCKWELL CREATES NEW PRICE POINT WITH INTRODUCTION OF LOW-COST V.32BIS MODEM CHIPSET

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (March 21, 1994) -- Rockwell (NYSE:ROK) today created a new price point in modem market with the introduction of the RC96ATi and the RC144ATi modem device sets.  These chipsets provide OEMs in the cost-sensitive PC retail segment with the lowest system cost implementation available today, offering the high-functionality of a V.32bis modem while significantly reducing the cost of existing hardware designs by minimizing component count and board space.

The RC96ATi and RC144ATi, which consist of a modem data pump and an integrated modem controller, are pin-to-pin compatible with Rockwell's Telecommunications ACi product family.  Using the Rockwell Protocol Interface(tm) (RPI(tm)) allows for the implementation of error correction and data compression in the host software application.  By replacing the ACi chipset with the pin compatible ATi device, which requires no external memory, OEMs will benefit from lower prices -- and lower manufacturing costs.

The RC96ATi and the RC144ATi support 14.4 Kbps data (V.32bis) and 14.4Kbps send/receive Group 3 facsimile (V.17) and operate at 9600bps data (V.32), send/receive facsimile (V.29), with downward compatibility from 7200 to 75bps for data and 7200 to 2400bps for facsimile tranmission.  The chipsets, which include a 16550 Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), also support AT commands, V.42, MNP 2-4 error correction and V.42bis and MNP 5 data compression (in the host software), EIA/TIA 578 Class 1 fax standard and Calling Number Delivery (CND) or Caller ID detect.

The two-package RC96ATi and RC144ATi are offered in 68-pin PLCC and 84-pin PLCC packages.  Samples of the RC96ATi and the RC144ATi are available now; volume production is scheduled to begin in the next 60 days.  Pricing for 10K quantities is as follows: RC96ATi -- $41; RC144ATi -- $49.  For more information or technical documentation, call (800) 436-9988 or FAX (818) 365-1876.

Digital Communications Division

4311 Jamboree Rd., M/S 501-300

Newport Beach, CA  92658-8902


BW-COnnect 3.1 Adds DOS/Win/Novell Support
Beame & Whiteside BW-Connect 3.1 Adds VxDs, Support for Microsoft and Novell Protocol Stacks

New Software Release Extends NFS Connectivity to Microsoft and LAN Workplace Users, Offers Enhanced Support for DOS and Windows

April 11, 1994 -- RALEIGH, N.C. --  Beame & Whiteside Software today announced that the new versions of the company's flagship connectivity software products for DOS and Windows, BW-TCP and BW-NFS, will be released next month as BW-Connect TCP and BW-Connect NFS V3.1. Foremost among the features included in the new client software release is support for Windows Virtual Device Drivers or VxDs, and extended support for TCP sockets. Beame & Whiteside will also be offering  the same NFS support software to run over Microsoft's TCP/IP protocol stack, or to support Novell's TCP/IP for LAN Workplace.

"With the release of BW-Connect 3.1, we now offer our customers a choice; they can either load the TCP/IP protocol stack as a TSR to support DOS applications, or they can load it as a VxD to optimize connectivity for Windows applications," said Graham Wright, Product Manager for Beame & Whiteside. "We've also broken out the NFS applications so they can run on third-party TCP/IP stacks, such as those from Microsoft and Novell. By repositioning our products this way, we expect to be in a better position to serve our customers' connectivity needs as they consider migration to the new Chicago and Daytona Windows platforms."

Better Support for Windows than Ever Before

With added support for Windows Virtual Device Drivers in BW-Connect TCP and BW-Connect NFS V3.1, Beame & Whiteside customers will now be able to provide open systems connectivity for DOS applications by loading the TCP/IP and NFS protocol stacks as a terminate-and-stay-resident program, or they can take full advantage of Windows by loading the software as a VxD. When loaded from DOS as a TSR, both the workstation's DOS and Windows applications will have access to the TCP/IP and NFS protocol stacks. Beame & Whiteside's TCP/IP protocol stack about 30K of base memory, and with the NFS protocol stack it consumes less than 60K. And protocol stacks can be loaded into high memory so they consume no base memory at all.

When installed from Windows as a VxD driver, BW-Connect TCP and NFS deliver more efficient connectivity performance for Windows applications by eliminating the scheduling and performance problems associated with DLLs. And by using virtual device drivers, Windows users don't consume any of their workstation's DOS RAM so workstation memory remains available for application software.

BW-Connect TCP and BW-Connect NFS V3.1 now feature more extensive support for the Windows Sockets or WinSock standard as well. The new release can support up to 64 simultaneous Windows sockets, as opposed to 20 sessions in the previous release, which means that Windows client can maintain up to 64 simultaneous connections to support X Windows sessions, TELNET sessions, FTP transfers, etc.

BW-Connect TCP and NFS V3.1 are also easier to install with a new Windows-based Install program, as well as to configure, and maintain than ever before thanks to a new Windows-based utility program. A BW-Connect NFS client can also be configured to give other users access to the workstation to support TELNET sessions, to transfer files using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), to establish interactive session using TALK, to support print services, and to perform other network functions.

The BW-Connect NFS client can support up to 24 remote drives and 8 remote printers. It also includes support for POP2/3 electronic mail, terminal emulation (including VT220, VT100, VT52, and TN3270), and a graphical drag-and-drop FTP program.  BW-Connect also supports NetBIOS over TCP/IP, and can function as a print gateway when multiple networks are loaded. It is compliant with the Windows Sockets 1.1 standard.

NFS Versions Now Available For Microsoft and Novell

BW-Connect V3.1 is now being offered in four configurations. BW-Connect TCP is Beame & Whiteside's core TCP/IP protocol support for DOS and Windows. BW-Connect NFS for DOS and Windows is Beame & Whiteside's NFS client software and includes BW-Connect TCP. Beame & Whiteside is also offering BW-Connect NFS for Microsoft and BW-Connect NFS for LAN Workplace, which provide the same INET daemon (INETD) NFS client services incorporated into BW-Connect NFS for DOS and Windows, but which run over either Microsoft's TCP/IP protocol stack or Novell's TCP/IP protocol stack for LAN Workplace.

Beame & Whiteside's NFS INETD was developed using the INETD model commonly found in UNIX environments. Beame & Whiteside's INETD remains in the background on a Windows workstation, waiting for connection requests from remote clients. When the workstation receives a service request, it automatically starts the appropriate server daemon, whether it is TELNETD, FTPD, TNAMED, TIMED, TALKD, nTALKD, COOKIED, or a user-supplied service. Using this approach, server resources are consumed on a demand basis, rather than requiring the user to start each server connection manually and leave them running in the background. In addition, the INETD can generate numerous connections to support the same service, allowing multiple users to simultaneously perform file transfers, TELNET functions, or other activities.

All four products are expected to ship to customers in mid-May. BW-Connect TCP for DOS and Windows retails for $245, BW-Connect NFS for DOS and Windows sells for $349, BW-Connect NFS for Microsoft sells for $299, and BW-Connect NFS for LAN Workplace sells for $199. The BW-Connect NFS V3.1 family of products will be shown for the first time at NetWorld+Interop '94 Las Vegas, May 4-6.

Beame & Whiteside Software specializes in developing and marketing TCP/IP and NFS connectivity solutions for DOS and Windows computing environments. A network of international distributors sells and supports all of Beame & Whiteside's standards-based connectivity software. Beame & Whiteside Software can be reached at 706 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27603-1655; telephone: (800) INFO-NFS or (919) 831-8989; FAX: (919) 831-8990, or via Internet at sales@bws.com.


IntroApp Computerized College Search Swr
ENROLLMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., ANNOUNCES INTROAPP

A New Computerized Service Enhances the College Search

Concord, MA -- February 24, 1994 -- Enrollment Technologies, Inc.  (ETI), today announced IntroApp  -- a new service that enhances the  college search process for high school juniors.  Students can introduce  themselves to their choice of up to 10 colleges and universities, through a  "Scholastic Resume" prepared using a personal computer.

"IntroApp is an opportunity for juniors to familiarize themselves with the  college application process," explains Jerry Paxton, president of ETI.   "Students can introduce themselves to colleges and receive valuable  feedback from the schools.  They can then tailor their college search based  on the interest levels and personalized replies received from their college  choices."

The service allows students to communicate details about their personal  and scholastic background, along with their request for information  materials.  Each "Scholastic Resume" contains general information such as  name, address, activities, test scores, honors, career interests and possible  majors.  The student completes IntroApp and sends the diskette to ETI,  where it is printed and distributed to the colleges selected.  The nature of  the response from the colleges chosen will often reflect how well the  student meets the profile for incoming freshmen.

IntroApp can help colleges refine recruiting efforts by providing detailed  information about interested prospective applicants.  As recruiting the best  students becomes more competitive, colleges look for ways to target  students.  IntroApp assists them with the information to do this.

IntroApp will be available for $5 either directly from ETI or through high  schools in certain markets.  ETI, an affiliate of USA GROUP, Inc. family  of companies, specializes in easing access to higher education through the  use of personal computers.  The Company's original service, CollegeLink  ($34.95), allows students to apply to many colleges by filling out just one  application on a computer disk.

Enrollment Technologies, Inc.

1-800-394-0404


PMDF V4.3 DEC Email System with PC Mail Support
PMDF V4.3 Now Faster Than Ever with Extended PC Mail Support

New Release of First MIME-based E-mail System Expanded to   Embrace New Platforms and Extend New Functionality

April 11, 1994 -- WEST COVINA, Calif. -- Innosoft International, Inc., today announced that PMDF V4.3, the newest release of Innosoft's store-and-forward electronic mail routing system, has begun volume shipping to customers. Included in the new release of Innosoft's MIME-based e-mail solution for Digital Equipment Corporation computer users is a wide range of new features, including support for the Pine e-mail user agent, a new channel for WordPerfect Office, support for NeXT Mail, new e-mail-to-FAX support for Service Class 2 modems, and much more. Native support for Digital Equipment's Alpha AXP platform and new multi-threading support also give PMDF faster performance than ever before.

"There are a number of interesting features that have been incorporated into PMDF V4.3, but there are two trends particularly worth noting: 1) that we have continued to extend support to integrate PC-based e-mail into the enterprise, and 2) that the performance and versatility of PMDF continues to improve," noted Kevin Carosso, Engineering Vice President of Innosoft International. "With the added direct support channel for WordPerfect Office 4.0, yet another PC LAN-based mail system can be integrated into enterprise-wide e-mail via PMDF. And taking advantage of native Alpha AXP code gives PMDF unparalleled performance on Digital's RISC platform. Furthermore, the PMDF core is now thread-safe, to take advantage of the multi-threaded programming support in OpenVMS that has become so popular on other computing platforms such as OSF/1, OS/2, and Windows NT. The improvements in functionality and performance in PMDF V4.3 continue to show our customers that we are committed to providing them with state-of-the-art e-mail solutions."

PC Mail System Integration Capabilities Expanded and Strengthened

In addition to the direct support channels for cc:Mail and Novell MHS-based mail systems such as DaVinci and BeyondMail that are already supported, PMDF V4.3 now adds a similar direct channel to support WordPerfect Office 4.0. PMDF provides seamless integration for each of these three PC mail systems, bringing PC users into the enterprise backbone without requiring separate e-mail gateway products. Users on any of these systems can exchange mail with each other, as well as with users on the many other e-mail environments supported by PMDF, including SMTP access to UNIX mail and the Internet.

In addition to direct support channels for cc:Mail, Novell MHS, and WordPerfect Office, PMDF products continue to provide interconnections to other mailers such as Microsoft Mail and QuickMail through various gateway products used to link these mail systems to SMTP, X.400, or MHS-based systems. With PMDF V4.3, support has been added for many of the non-standard features of some of these gateways. Through a combination of direct channels and/or customized gateway support, PMDF is able to integrate every major mail system into the enterprise backbone with complete transparency to individual users on each mail system.

User-Friendly Pine MAIL Now Available on OpenVMS

In response to customer requests for a menu-driven user agent with a look and feel more like other applications typically used by the PC community, Innosoft has added Pine MAIL to PMDF V4.3. The original Pine is a MIME-aware user agent developed by the University of Washington that has gained great popularity among PC and UNIX users. With Pine MAIL added to PMDF, Pine is now available on OpenVMS so mail system managers will be able to offer a choice of command-line or menu-driven user agents to their current users, as well as encourage additional new e-mail users since Pine MAIL has a comfortable look and feel and an on-line help facility. And since both PMDF and Pine MAIL support MIME, the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions standard (RFC 1521), users still can take advantage of full multimedia support, sending binary files, PostScript files, images, audio, and video in addition to plain text as multipart, multiple format electronic mail.

Using MIME as a standard canonical format also enables PMDF to be engineered to deal with non-standard formats from other environments, such as NeXT Mail. In PMDF V4.3, the capability has been added to recognize the non-standard NeXT Mail formats and then convert them to MIME for processing and routing.

PMDF Is Faster than Ever

With the release of V4.3, PMDF's core infrastructure has been made thread-safe. This will allow new PMDF components to take advantage of multiple threads of execution for improved efficiency when dealing with simultaneous requests from multiple clients.

PMDF performance has more than doubled on Digital Alpha AXP hardware. Rather than running as translated code, PMDF has been recompiled as native code for the Alpha platform to deliver twice the speed in handling e-mail.

Decentralizing PMDF files has also increased performance. In previous releases, the various PMDF files had to reside on a single disk so, in environments handling large amounts of e-mail traffic, e-mail performance was limited by the speed of the disk. Now PMDF files can be relocated to multiple disks and the application files can be loaded on one disk while another disk can be designated to store messages and a third can be set up for log files.

New Features in PMDF-FAX V4.3

Enhancements have also been added to PMDF-FAX V4.3, Innosoft's e-mail-to-FAX gateway. PMDF-FAX now supports selected Service Class 2 modems, specifically the ZyXEL U1496 and the MultiTech 1432 series modems. Support for additional Class 2 modems will be added in the future, as dictated by customer demand.

The PostScript interpreter in PMDF-FAX has been upgraded to support Level 2 PostScript. PMDF-FAX now uses a pre-compiled initialization file to reduce the time required to create an image for an outbound FAX. In addition, PMDF-FAX can now output Level 2 PostScript to support more efficient encoding of received images. In fact, typical Level 2 PostScript output is now 15 to 20 times smaller that Level 1 output, so Level 2 images are much faster and more efficient to handle for transmission and printer output.

"In addition to tracking open messaging standards and making sure that PMDF is current with those continuously evolving standards, we are committed to delivering enhancements that make our PMDF products more efficient and user-friendly" added Carosso. "That's why, with the release of PMDF Version 4.3, we have added support for such things as Level 2 PostScript and MIME-aware PMDF Pine MAIL. We have also upgraded MIME support in PMDF to reflect the current standard, specifically support for international character sets in MIME message headers. Like all technology, e-mail is evolving, and we want to assure our customers that PMDF will continue to evolve as well to meet their needs."

Innosoft currently offers a family of electronic mail products for the DEC market; including PMDF e-Mail Interconnect, an electronic mail distribution and routing system that provides e-mail integration services for OpenVMS; PMDF-X400, a direct link between OpenVMS and X.400 environments; PMDF-MR, a Message Router gateway to support DEC's MAILbus products; and PMDF-FAX, an electronic mail-to-FAX gateway.

All PMDF family products are licensed by full-service subscriptions that include software, documentation, new releases during the subscription period, and technical support. Subscription terms range from three to five years for new subscribers, from two to five years for prior customers reactivating subscriptions, and from one to five years for current subscribers renewing or adding products. PMDF e-Mail Interconnect is licensed in "bundles" based upon the number and size of CPUs at the site to run PMDF. A bundle can handle one large machine (6000 series or larger), three medium machines (3000 or 4000 class), or ten workstations. VAX and Alpha AXP machines can be commingled in the same bundle license. The three-year license fee for the first bundle of PMDF at each site is $2,790, with subsequent bundles at $1,395 each. PMDF-X400, PMDF-MR, and PMDF-FAX run in conjunction with PMDF e-Mail Interconnect, and are licensed per machine at $5,850 for a three-year subscription for PMDF-X400, and $4,065 for PMDF-MR or PMDF-FAX. Accredited, degree-granting institutions are eligible for a 33-percent educational discount on all PMDF software products. Contact Innosoft for customized quotations for large single sites or multiple sites to be licensed for a single organization.

Innosoft's electronic mail products are marketed directly to end users by Innosoft in North America, and are available throughout Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan through a network of international distributors. PMDF products are presently installed at more than 1,400 sites in 42 countries throughout the world. The company's new headquarters is at 1050 East Garvey Avenue South, West Covina, CA 91790; telephone (818) 919-3600; FAX (818) 919-3614. The company's toll-free number is still (800) 552-5444.


Laser Printers, A New Ecological Horror Story
LASER PRINTERS: A NEW ECOLOGICAL HORROR STORY

Expert Urges Caution In Dealing with Popular Technology

NEW YORK, April 11, 1994 -- Laser printers are fast and efficient, offering the slickest quality copy available among all makes of printers. However, what looks great on paper is actually the creation of an environmental hazard.

"Using a laser printer is the most ecologically responsible thing you can do for your planet--if your planet is a superheated ball of methane and ammonia named Jupiter," says Charles Pappas, president of New York-based ErgoCommunications, an ergonomics and eco-office consulting firm. "Here on earth, the laser printer is one more blight in the sick workplace and the toxic home."

Pappas notes that laser printers spew ozone, an oxygen molecule with three atoms instead of the usual two. Ozone is created when a piece of the printer called the corona wire receives an electric current, which dismantles the oxygen molecule. As a result, these single oxygen atoms link up with regular two-atom oxygen atoms to form the ozone molecule.

The Environmental Protection Agency warns against exposure to any more than 0.1 parts per million of ozone over any long span of time. For brief periods, a higher level is tolerable but at worst it shouldn't go past 0.3 ppm. Don't automatically panic if you do smell it--ozone can be detected in concentrations as small as 0.008 ppm.

"Usually you can smell ozone: it's tart and acrid, and chances are you've caught a whiff of it after a lightning storm or when you were lounging near high tension wires," says Pappas.

The worst environmental offenders are older laser printers, continues Pappas. "Most have a filter that should be replaced every 12-18 months or after 50,000 copies, sooner if your workplace seems especially dusty or if the ventilation seems about average for a modern office building."

The toner cartridge in a laser printer is also a potential environmental problem. In 1989 an estimated 12 million toner cartridges were used; 93% of them were tossed that same year when they were empty. That year the cartridges ended up in a landfill, 16,740 tons' worth. Experts predict that by 1995 up to 28 million cartridges will be used up per year.

However, offices can reverse this ecological horror story. "Only about one in five companies recycles its cartridges, which is a shame and a waste because not only do recycled cartridges make good environmental sense, they make even better financial and business sense," explains Pappas. "Recycled cartridges are cheaper and better. Cheaper, because the typical recycled cartridge costs about $60, as opposed to $75 and up for a new one. Better, because while a new toner cartridge takes about 200 pages (about 1/70 of its entire life) to produce an acceptably smooth image, it takes a recycled cartridge a mere 50--that's 80% less, meaning a savings of paper, time and money. A remanufactured cartridge can be used up to about 12 times."

For more information on making your laser printer more environmentally friendly, contact Charles Pappas at ErgoCommunications, 516 East 79th Street, Suite 4F, New York, NY 10021; telephone 212-535-0344


Amtex Royal Flush Pinball Classic
AMTEX ADDS NEW TITLE TO THE PINBALL CLASSICS COLLECTION: ROYAL FLUSH FOR THE IBM PC AND COMPATIBLES

March 15, 1994 -- Belleville, Amtex Software Corporation officially announced today the expansion of the "Pinball Classics Collection" with the edition of Royal Flush. The game's official launch is set for June 1994.

Royal Flush represents the second offering in the Amtex "Pinball Classics Collection". This incredible title from days gone by reinforces Amtex's commitment to bringing the very best in arcade pinball to the home computer. Eight Ball Deluxe from Amtex, set the standard for quality and playability in the computer pinball simulation category. Now with Royal Flush, Amtex continues in the same tradition, providing exciting gaming with extraordinary realism.

This second title in the "Pinball Classics Collection" is based on the 1977 arcade release from premier arcade game manufacturer D. Gottlieb & Company. Royal Flush will take you back to the last days of the electromechanical pinball machine. No whistles and bells here, just good old-fashioned pinball. Shoot the Joker, King and Queen drop targets to acquire the perfect poker hand. Be careful to line your shot up, or you'll miss your hand. With five balls per player and up to four players possible, Royal Flush is truly a game of pinball skill.

Royal Flush features vivid 256 Color Graphics, Multi Channel Digital Sounds, Real Pinball Mechanics, three way nudge and two exciting ways to play. Choose to play with the dynamic Full Scrolling Screen in Real-Time animation, or choose the stationary screen option with its amazing high resolution graphics. Either way, this is Real Pinball at its best.

Royal Flush requires an IBM PC or Compatible with a 386SX or higher and DOS 5.0 or higher. VGA, SVGA and MCGA Monitors are supported. Three megabytes RAM recommended. Sound Blaster Supported. Suggested retail price - $49.95 U.S.

Amtex Software Corporation

PO BOX 572

BELLEVILLE, ONTARIO

CANADA K8N 5B2

TEL: (613) 967-7900,   FAX: (613) 967-7902


Accolade Barkley & Nicklaus Screen Savers
ACCOLADE BRINGS PERSONALITY TO YOUR PC WITH BARKLEY AND NICKLAUS SCREEN SAVERS

Category: Screen Savers

Price and Availability: IBM PC and compatible computers, $14.95

System Requirements:    Microsoft Windows 3.1; 256-color VGA;

                        Approximately 1.6Mb disk space for

                        the first Accolade Screen Savers

                        collection; 900K for each additional set;

                        After Dark compatible

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 5, 1994 -- The company that has brought gaming to computer screens for a decade, has now expanded its entertainment offering to Screen Savers. Accolade, a leading worldwide publisher of entertainment software, today announced the release of its first collection of wallpaper Screen Savers featuring two of the most entertaining celebrities in the world of sports.

Charles Barkley and Jack Nicklaus each bring your PC alive with personality, while helping to extend the life of your monitor. Accolade also announced that it will donate five percent of every sale of each of these two products to The Nature Conservancy to help protect endangered plants, animals and their habitats.

Charles Barkley - Turn your monitor into an MVP of its own

Charles Barkley Screen Savers are like Sir Charles himself - physically intimidating. Twenty-two shots feature the most dominating basketball player alive. Catch him slamming in one of his thunder dunks, or getting in an opponent's face.

Jack Nicklaus - Work with the golfer of the century every day

Jack Nicklaus is both a legendary golfer, and a legendary golf course designer. These incredible screens take you on a dazzling tour of championship courses designed by the pro, plus caddie-close shots of the master in action.

Both Accolade Screen Savers include twenty-two images per collection, automatic image resizing to best fit your monitor, and special effects including mosaic, vertical curtain, dripping paint and puzzle. Import your own images, flip through images interactively, or set-up an automatic slide show. In addition, the wallpaper can be changed daily, hourly or every minute.

Accolade Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software products for leading hardware systems. Accolade distributes its products worldwide under the Accolade and Sport Accolade labels Headquartered in San Jose, California, Accolade is a privately held company with offices in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Accolade, 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129

408-985-1700;  Fax: 408-246-1053


Programming the Paradox Engine: C++ Win Apps
New Book Shows Programmers How to Supercharge Paradox Business Applications with C++

Packed with source code examples for building a wide range of fully integrated applications

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, PA--Programming the Paradox Engine: C++ Windows Applications tells C programmers everything they need to know to make their Paradox business applications faster and more functional with C++.

Michael Vernick, Robert Signore, and Michael O. Stegman take a "just-in-time" tutorial approach, supporting their concise instruction with numerous examples and ready-to-use source code (all of it included on the accompanying disk) for the following problem-solving routines:

* Extending the Borland ObjectWindows Library (OWL) to

  allow access to Paradox tables

* Validity checking during data entry

* Planning an object-oriented application

* Writing a Windows-compliant User Interface

* Performing single-table queries and displaying the results

* Linking tables in a parent-child relation to maintain

  referential integrity

By the developers of the acclaimed Phase One C language interface library and the Paradox Applications Language Compiler (PALCom)

About the Authors:

Michael Vernick and Robert Signore are senior software engineers for a software development firm specializing in programmer's tools. Michael O. Stegman is a technical writer for that same firm.

Programming the Paradox Engine: C++ Windows Applications

Michael Vernick/Robert Signore/Michael O. Stegman

Paper $39.95 Order No./ISBN 0-07-079121-X

Publication Date: June 1994,  352 pp., 115 illus., 7 x 10

Windcrest/TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850

1-800-233-1128,  FAX 717-794-2103


WordPerfect 6.0 Macros
WordPerfect Users Can Save Time with New Macro-Packed Book

Makes word processing on the IBM quick and easy

"One of the best general introductions to macro programming."

--PC Magazine on a previous edition

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, PA--WordPerfect 6.0 Macros reflects the latest improvements to the bestselling word processing program for DOS. Coverage incorporates WordPerfect's new graphical interface--featuring dialog boxes, pull-down menus, and buttons--improved file sharing and management, WYSIWYG editing, printing to fax, and color support.

The authors build on the book's value as a programmer's guide with more material on the actual application of macro commands, while retaining its unique focus on macro recording for non-programmers. Readers will find a comprehensive library of macros they can use to:

* Manage files

* Set margins

* Make lines and bar graphs

* Scroll through documents

* Search and replace text

* Import ASCII files

* Create text styles

* Set headers and footers

* Define keyboard layouts

* Create and move columns

* Index documents Create menus

More than 200 ready-to-use macros on disk

About the Authors:

Computer trainer and consultant Robert Bixby is the features editor of Compute magazine. Pamela Adams-Regan is a computer documentation specialist and consultant. Donna M. Mosich is a

writer of software documentation and author of 12 computer books.

WordPerfect 6.0 Macros

Robert Bixby/Pamela Adams-Regan/Donna M. Mosich

Paper $34.95 Order No./ISBN 0-07-005690-0

Publication Date: May 1994, 448 pp., 175 illus., 7 x 10

Windcrest/TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850

1-800-233-1128,  FAX 717-794-2103


Stacker for OS/2 & DOS, An Illustrated Tutorial
Revealed . . . the Missing Documentation for the Latest Version of Stacker for OS/2 and DOS

An insider guide to installing, customizing, using, and troubleshooting Stacker for OS/2 and DOS

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, PA--In Stacker for OS/2 & DOS: An Illustrated Tutorial, Stac insider Lisa Heller demystifies for the first time all the undocumented features of the bestselling disk compression utility. Filled with practical tips and techniques for getting the most out of Stacker for OS/2 and DOS, this handy guide tells users everything they need to know to double their hard disk storage capacity with half the headaches of typical file compression. Heller reveals:

* The secret to custom Stacker installation and setup

* Late-breaking information on Stacker for OS/2 and DOS

* Details on the OS/2 CONFIG.SYS and other OS/2 system files

* Advice on upgrading compressed drives to OS/2 2.1

* Tips for worry-free compression of OS/2 data

* How to use Stacker utilities such as UNSTACK, REMOVDRV,

  CONFIG, BOOT, and REPORT

In addition to helpful chapter-ending reviews and a complete glossary, Heller provides instant solutions to eight of the most common problems encountered by the Stac OS/2 tech support staff. Readers find out how to use Stacker with CD-ROM drives, repair damaged drives with AutoProtect and AutoRecovery , respond to error messages on OS/2 startup, remove write-protection of OS/2 drives, and more.

About the Author:

Lisa Heller is a former product development writer and designer for Stac Electronics, manufacturer of Stacker. Her User's Guide for Stacker 3.0 was named "one of the best in the industry" by PC Magazine.

Stacker for OS/2 & DOS: An Illustrated Tutorial

Lisa Heller

Paper $19.95 Order No./ISBN 0-07-027986-1

Publication Date: May 1994, 240 pp., 31 illus., 7 x 10

Windcrest/TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850

1-800-233-1128,  FAX 717-794-2103


XSoft Debuts Visual Recall Doc Mgmt for Windows
XSoft Division of Xerox Debuts Innovative Document Management Software for Windows

First commercial implementation of advanced Xerox document management and visualization technology

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 11, 1994 - XSoft, a division of Xerox Corporation, today introduced Visual Recall, an innovative document management system for Novell NetWare-based workgroups. Visual Recall provides comprehensive document management capabilities for networked PC Windows users, enabling them to quickly and easily locate, view and make effective use of all the documents they need to do their jobs.

Visual Recall is the first commercial implementation of two different technologies originally developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC): TextDataBase and Information Visualization. The TextDataBase engine uses advanced linguistic comprehension techniques that enable users to perform sophisticated indexing and searching for the content of an information file (word processor, spreadsheet, database, etc.). This linguistic comprehension capability also allows complete multi-lingual indexing and searching. The Information Visualization technology applies two- and three-dimensional modeling and graphics to the results of document searches, providing a highly intuitive, visual way of understanding those results.

Visual Recall also incorporates powerful browsing capabilities that allow users to view any retrieved document instantly, and -- without requiring the application in which it was created -- print or fax the document with basic formatting intact.

Jamie Popkin, program director of Office Information Systems with Gartner Group, Inc., a Stamford, Conn.-based consultancy, said, "Workgroups need to be able to access and share documents created in a variety of applications and distributed across different departments. In evaluating their options, companies should consider systems that provide not only traditional document management services such as library and version control functions, but allow users to easily deal with distributed documents as a true on-line information resource, regardless of their native applications."

"Visual Recall was designed to allow people to find and use information immediately, even when they don t know exactly what they are looking for or where it is stored," stated Ira Scharfglass, general manager of XSoft's Document Management Products group. "And the visualization feature provides an intuitive graphical perspective unavailable in any other document management solution today. Seeing the results of a search in a visually engaging format can give users great insight into the scope of their document resources."

The Visual Recall document management system comprises four key areas of functionality: the user interface; conversion services and library management; visualization of search results; and intelligent indexing, search and retrieval.

The Visual Recall User Interface

Visual Recall's graphical user interface provides an intuitive workspace for conducting sophisticated document queries and making use of the results. The workspace is divided into separate windows for formulating a search, viewing the results, and saving documents for work at a later time. End users can easily customize the workspace to organize documents according to preference and individual work habits. Pull-down menus enable users to quickly set their search criteria based on content or specific attributes, such as department, date, and author. The interface also provides icon-based toolbars to help users define and execute a search. Once a search has been executed, users can choose between several customizable screen views for analyzing and browsing document hierarchies and clusters.

Conversion Services and Library Management

Visual Recall's conversion services provide great flexibility in using the text found as a result of a search. Along with converting the text to standard ASCII format for rapid indexing, Visual Recall allows quick cutting and pasting of text to the Windows clipboard for re-use. Visual Recall also can display text in a special format that allows the user to view and print the document with its basic formatting intact -- even if the native application of the document is not present. In addition, users are given the option of converting a document to an alternate application (e.g., converting an MS Word document to WordPerfect). These capabilities apply to documents created in thirty of the most popular word processing, spreadsheet, database and other programs.

Library management and system administration services provide powerful access and concurrency control as well as file locking and versioning functions to manage and track group revisions over time.

Visualization of Search Results

Visual Recall's visualization function provides a highly intuitive way of viewing, browsing, and understanding relationships between documents in a given search. The system uses an animated "Tree" view that rotates to show the hierarchical relationships among documents, and a three-dimensional "Grid" view to display clusters of documents. Users can switch between these modes in real time to obtain a different "bird's eye" view of document relationships. Users can also display their search results in a more traditional list view.

The Tree visualization highlights the relationships between documents (often by organization structure, department, authorship, date, etc.), helping users to narrow their search and quickly find the precise information they need.

The Grid enables users to see the relationships between different documents, often displayed on a time axis. This allows users to identify patterns and detect anomalies among document clusters by visualizing relationships that would otherwise not be visible in a typical list

Intelligent Indexing, Search and Retrieval

Visual Recall's intelligent search and retrieval system enables users to find information quickly and easily on Novell NetWare servers and local drives. With the ability to index and search for both text and image files, the TextDataBase engine allows users to perform simple or sophisticated queries based on content and/or descriptive document attributes. Users can easily and automatically index individual or multiple documents, assigning a virtually unlimited number of properties. If desired, an entire set of documents being indexed can be "stamped" with any number of pre-assigned properties. Users can also customize, save, and re-use document search criteria, an important feature for complex and frequent queries.

Visual Recall supports content-based similarity searches, full Boolean and proximity searches and "snippet" viewing, which allows users to move directly to their search terms in the text. The product's advanced document indexing features include linguistic stemmers that deliver comprehensive full-text search results by finding words and their derivations automatically (e.g., a search for mice" would also find "mouse").

Pricing and Availability

Visual Recall will begin shipping to end users through XSoft resellers in June, 1994 with a suggested retail price of $395.

XSoft

Headquartered on a campus with PARC, the renowned Xerox research center in Palo Alto, Calif., the XSoft division of Xerox provides software that improves the way people create and use documents to capture, manage and communicate ideas and information.

The company develops and markets a broad range of products that support its vision of an Open Document Environment. They include document management and workflow solutions, user-interface utilities, office productivity packages, content-based search and retrieval systems, and structured-document publishing applications. In addition, XSoft enables workgroup collaboration through a series of shared document services products. The company also offers extensive product support, training and consulting services.

XSoft's products and services are available on multiple operating systems, networks, and computer platforms. They are sold through a worldwide network of direct sales and reseller partners.

XSoft

3400 Hillview Ave

Palo Alto, CA 94304

800-428-2995,  fax 415-813-7499


TCI Awards Multimillion Contract to Sybase
TCI AWARDS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT TO SYBASE FOR NEW GENERATION OF BUSINESS SERVICES

SYBASE System 10 to be Used for Customer Service Data Network

ENGLEWOOD, CO, April 7, 1994 -- Sybase, The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced that Tele-Communication, Inc. (TCI) has chosen SYBASE client/server technology for its Customer Service Data Network, a new internal information service designed to provide high-speed information processing to support digital compression, new programming, and customer service. SYBASE products will be instrumental in running the new network, a very large, on-line transaction processing and decision support system for managing customer subscriptions and billing transactions. Sybase's client/server architecture will allow TCI to introduce a new generation of business services that improves communication both internally at TCI, and to suppliers and customers.

Sadie Decker, vice president of advanced information technology at TCI, said, "We are excited to have Sybase as a strategic partner in establishing the software systems for the Customer Service Data Network. Using SYBASE technology and services will allow us to set a new standard for communicating with our customers and provide them with the most responsive service system available today."

"TCI's new Digital Compression Center is key to turning the concept of the information highway into a reality. The Customer Service Data Network is an example of how client/server technology will be applied to service the information highway," said Mark Hoffman, Sybase president and CEO. "Sybase pioneered client/server computing, which has enabled organizations to distribute on-line information across the organization and beyond to customers and suppliers. We are proud to provide technology that supports TCI's initiative."

Global Customer Service Data Network

According to Decker, TCI's objective is to provide a comprehensive network achieving the best customer service system on the market today. With the new system, the Customer Service Data Network will be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The network is also expected to increase billing accuracy and enable TCI customers to choose among several payment options. In addition, the internal system will function as a global communications tool for TCI employees by providing voice, video conference, data, and Internet access for TCI operations in the United States and Europe.

Sybase Combines Technology, Consulting

TCI's decision was largely based on two aspects: technology and consulting services. The superior architecture of Sybase's relational database management system SYBASE System 10 provides an open and scalable framework able to support an on-line system of this size. The project will employ the following Sybase System 10 product family, namely Sybase SQL Server 10, Replication Server, Omni SQL Gateway, Open Client, and Open Server. "A project of this magnitude requires a data management system that is reliable and highly scalable," said Decker.

Another important factor in TCI's decision was Sybase's consulting organization, Worldwide Professional Services (WWPS). WWPS worked closely with TCI to determine the best solution for the Customer Service Data Network and then developed an implementation plan that allows both companies to set and accomplish milestones for implementing the network. According to Decker, "Both employees and executives have demonstrated their ability to be true partners in this initiative, and we look forward to continuing our successful relationship."

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products along with technical support, consulting, and educational services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated servers, tools, interoperability, and systems management products provide complete desktop-to-mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase employs over 2,500 people worldwide. The company markets its products in 47 countries through its direct sales force, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441


Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog, 2nd Ed.
NEW EDITION OF THE WHOLE INTERNET USER'S GUIDE & CATALOG CAPTURES STATE OF INTERNET TODAY

The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog

"is an encyclopedic compendium of all the places to explore, the short-cuts to get there, the reasons to linger, the treasures you might find, and the tools to make this free world-wide service worthwhile." --Kevin Kelly WIRED

When O'Reilly first published Ed Krol's The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog in September 1992, there were approximately 10 million people on the Internet and no user-friendly documentation. A year and a half later the estimated number of users is 20 million and there are over 30 Internet user guides in print. To help users old and new use the full features of the Internet and to help them fight through the information clutter, O'Reilly & Associates announces the release of a second edition that has been completely updated to reflect the development of new Internet tools and resources.

"For the Internet novice with limited computer experience, the best introduction is Ed Krol's The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog." -- The New York Times

In keeping with the editorial standards set with the critically-acclaimed first edition, which sold over 250,000 copies, the new edition of The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog (ISBN 1-56592-063-5; $24.95 US) is divided into three sections. The first section presents the history and ethics of the Internet. The second section is an in-depth exploration of the Net's many tools for finding people, software, and information on thousands of remote computers and for talking to others one-on-one or in groups. The third section, "The Whole Internet Catalog," captures the integrity and breadth of information available on the Net and tells where to find some of its more interesting resources.

"The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog is not for computer experts, but for teachers, students, researchers, and business people who need to use the Internet. It is also for those who simply want to explore new means of accessing information, such as university library catalogs, electronic conferences, or electronic journals throughout the expanding world-wide network of computer networks." -- Harvard Educational Review

WHAT'S NEW IN THE NEW EDITION

Here are some of new Internet features readers can anticipate finding in the second edition:

* An expanded, easy-to-use resource catalog. New and experienced users alike can refer to the catalog to discover what's available on the Net.

* Descriptions of three resources that serve as the Internet's "card catalog, " InterNlC, GNN (published by O'Reilly and includes "The Whole Internet Catalog" with hyperlinks to remote resources), and Almanac.

* A detailed look at Mosaic, the multimedia application that's transforming the way people use the Internet.

* An explanation of multimedia mail (MIME): what it means, how to deal with it.

* An introduction to pine, a popular mail program that supports MIME

* More on ftp-mail servers, and different kinds of mailing list managers, including Majordomo and Almanac.

* An introduction to xarchie, a popular X-based Archie client with an FTP client built-in, along with other improvements to the Archie service.

* What's new in "white pages, " the Internet's telephone book and Netfind in particular.

* An introduction to tin, another popular newsreader.

* New features of Gopher, including Veronica and Jughead.

* New coverage of the swais, the line-oriented WAIS client.

* An expanded list of internet access providers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In January, MicroTimes named Ed Krol one of "100 Industry Leaders and Unsung Heroes of the Computer Industry in 1993." In doing so it commended The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog as "The book against which all subsequent Internet guides are measured, Krol's work has emerged as an indispensable reference to beginners and seasoned travelers alike as they venture out on the data highway."

Raised in the Chicago area, Ed Krol went to the University of Illinois, got a degree in Computer Science, and never left. In 1985 Krol became part of a networking group at the University of Illinois where he became the network manager at the time the National Center for Supercomputer Applications was formed. It was there that he managed the installation of the original NSFnet. During the same period, he also wrote and posted to the Internet the "Hitchikers Guide to the Internet" because he had so much trouble getting information and was sick of telling the same story to everyone.

In 1989 Krol opted to leave the fast lane and returned to pastoral life on campus where he remains to this day, Assistant Director for Network Information Services, Computing and Communications Service Office, University of Illinois, Urbana. He also writes a monthly column for Network World.

ABOUT O'REILLY & ASSOCIATES, INC.

O'Reilly & Associates is recognized worldwide for its definitive books on The X Window System, UNIX, and the Internet. Working closely with developers of new technologies, O'Reilly's editors are "computer people" who use the software they write about. The company's planning and review cycles link together authors, computer vendors, and technical experts throughout the industry in a creative collaboration that mirrors the strengths of the "open systems" philosophy itself.

The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog

By Ed Krol

450 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-063-5, $24.95 (US)

O'Reilly & Associates Inc

103 Morris St, Ste A, Sebastopol, CA 95472

800-998-9938,  707-829-0515,  fax 707-829-0104


MetaEdit Reporter Windows CASE Tool
METAEDIT REPORTER

MetaEdit Reporter is a powerful, but simple to use report definition and execution tool for the MetaEdit Professional CASE tool. The Reporter consists of a report editor and a report definition language.

With the Report Editor and its simple Report Definition Language you can define new reports for different modelling methods very effectively. Now you can easily tailor the reports to meet the spesific needs of your organisation and the developed reports can be shared within  your development team.

The Report Editor user interface is very intuitive and its commands  can be learned in a few minutes. There is also a context sensitive help system to help you.

MetaEdit Reporter can be used for generating summaries, validation reports or even data definitions and code from the developed models. The developed report specifications are stored into a text file, which can be shared among a group of developers.

MetaEdit Reporter provides a powerful and simple way to define and perform queries and reports in MetaEdit:

* A template based browsing report editor

* Easy to learn report definition language

* Context sensitive help system

The Reporter consists of two parts:

1. Report Editor

The Report Editor is a specialized file editor for creating and editing report definition files. It is based on the use of templates. The templates give you access to all the programming constructs of  the Report Definition Language, which can be inserted into the report definition by a simple mouse click. The Objects, Roles, and Relationships selections present you with all concepts of the selected type, and thus the reports can be specified with minimal typing by simply selecting with the mouse.

Once a report has been specified it can immediately be tested. The results appear in the editor and can be saved or transferred into other applications.

2. Report Definition Language

Report Definition Language is a simple and easy to use programming language for producing user specified reports from MetaEdit models.  It includes the necessary structures for navigation, iteration and printing in defining reports.

Software & Hardware Requirements

MetaEdit Reporter requires MetaEdit Professional or MetaEdit Method Workbench and MS-Windows 3.1. PC with at least a fast 286 processor and 4 Mb main memory and 1 Mb free mass storage for the software.

Availability and pricing:

The MetaEdit Professional version and the add-ons can be ordered directly from MetaCase Consulting Oy. Our contact information is:

MetaCase Consulting Oy

P.O. Box 449

FIN-40101  JYVASKYLA  Finland

Phone: +358 41 650 400 (UTC+2),   Fax: +358 41 650 120

Net:   metacase@jsp.fi

The MetaEdit Reporter add-on is available for USD 499.

Shipping and handling costs are added to all our prices. For a complete price list, please contact MetaCase Consulting directly. All the above prices for customers outside Finland only. Finnish customers, please ask for our price list.


Spelling Sentry 1.3 for Windows
Spelling Sentry 1.3 Now Available

Wintertree Software is pleased to announce that version 1.3 of Spelling Sentry is now available on Cica, Garbo, and CompuServe.

Spelling Sentry is a spelling-checker application for Microsoft Windows 3.1. Spelling Sentry can check and correct the spelling of words in Windows Write files, text files, and the clipboard. It comes with an 100,000-word lexicon (dictionary) and supports three types of user dictionaries. Additional features include:

  * Drag-and-drop file checking

  * Selectable American/British spelling rules

  * Readability statistics

  * Can undo replacements

  * Highly accurate suggested replacements for misspelled words

  * On-line help

  * Shows the misspelled word highlighted in the sentence

    containing it

  * Can automatically correct frequently misspelled words

  * Can ignore capitalized words

  * Can detect doubled words

Spelling Sentry is shareware, with a $25.00 (US) registration fee. Registration instructions are included with the package. Wintertree Software is a member of the ASP (Association of Shareware Professionals).

Spelling Sentry uses the Sentry Spelling-Checker Engine, which is a separate product available for royalty-free licensing by software developers. Contact Wintertree Software for more information.

Spelling Sentry can be downloaded from the following internet sites:

  * ftp.cica.indiana.edu

    -- file /pub/pc/win3/uploads/spellsen.zip

       (soon to be /pub/pc/win3/util/spellsen.zip)

  * CompuServe WINSHARE forum

    -- file spells.zip

  * garbo.uwasa.fi

    -- File /windows/util/spells13.zip

Wintertree Software

43 Rueter St.

Nepean, Ontario

Canada K2J 3Z9

Phone (613) 825-6271

E-mail: 72060.3056@compuserve.com


Outside In Technology Provides File View/Print
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LIMITED ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH SYSTEMS COMPATIBILITY CORPORATION

ESL Licenses Award-Winning Outside In Technology to Provide Optional File Viewing and Printing Capability

(Anaheim, CA; April 18, 1994)--Enterprise Solutions Limited  (ESL) announced at EMA '94, the Annual Conference and Expo of the Electronic Messaging Association, an agreement with Systems Compatibility Corporation by which ESL will integrate the technology used in the Outside In product directly into the Enterprise Solutions Mail product line.  ESL, the provider of complete X.400/X.500 messaging solutions, will offer the Outside In technology to its customers as an optional capability.

Outside In is a file viewing and data import utility that lets users view more than 230 different word processing, database, spreadsheet, graphic and ZIP files in their original format, without the original applications.  DOS, Windows and Macintosh files are supported.  Files can then be printed, searched or pasted into other applications.

According to Karl Klessig, ESL's president, "Customer demand for a viewing and printing utility is not limited to those users who don't have a particular application.  The beauty of Outside In's file viewing and printing technology is that it saves so much time and allows users to be much more productive.  Even users who have the application prefer using Outside In, because they don't have to wait to bring up their application, but can view and print incoming mail and files in whatever format they're sent in!"

Within Windows, Outside In not only shows users the files in their original formats, it also allows users to scale files to fit the current window, magnify them, show them full screen, even rotate them.   One can combine information from different files or parts of a file, and copy it to the Windows Clipboard with formatting intact.  The data can then be pasted into any Windows program.  Searching, copying, moving, replacing and deleting files or parts of files are all possible with Outside In.

ESL is committed to offering customers a total messaging solution.  The agreement with Systems Compatibility Corporation enables ESL to provide yet another versatile option to its customers.  It allows them to use messaging to run their business even more efficiently and effectively.

Enterprise Solutions began shipping ENTERPRISE MAIL in the United States in December 1991, with the first installations at major government agencies and at selected corporate sites.  One of the company's first customers in the U.S. was Wal-Mart Stores, where ESL established an entire messaging capability for the Home Office as well as for the movement of all information to and from more than 2,300 stores, all its primary vendors, and Wal-Mart's international operations.

ESL's product line consists of X.400 User Agents for multiple user interfaces, remote user agents for non-connected users, full X.500 Directory Services, complete Mail Administration, a 1988 Multi-protocol MTA, and a comprehensive family of mail-enabled add-on products which extend and enhance the Enterprise Solutions Mail X.400 product line.

Systems Compatibility Corporation (SCC) publishes PC-based file viewing and productivity utilities for business and personal use.  SCC, founded in April 1985, currently offers Outside In, Software Bridge, and The Writer's Toolkit.

Enterprise Solutions Limited may be contacted at their corporate headquarters at 32603 Bowman Knoll Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361; telephone 818.597.8943; fax 818.597.9621.

Systems Compatibility Corporation may be contacted at their corporate headquarters at 401 North Wabash, Suite 600, Chicago, IL  60611; telephone 312.329.0700; fax 312.670.0820.


ESL to Resell InterOFFICE Msg Exchange
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LIMITED AND THE BOSTON SOFTWARE WORKS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

ESL To Resell InterOFFICE Message Exchange to Provide Transparent Connectivity and Interchange with Heterogeneous Messaging Systems

(Anaheim, CA; April 18, 1994)--Enterprise Solutions Limited  (ESL), provider of complete X.400/X.500 messaging solutions, announced today at EMA '94, the Annual Conference and Expo of the Electronic Messaging Association, an agreement with The Boston Software Works, Inc. (BSW) to resell BSW's InterOFFICER Message Exchange products.  The integration of InterOFFICE with ESL's Enterprise Solutions Mail  product line gives users comprehensive interchange options with popular messaging, electronic mail, and office automation systems.

Through this new partnership with Enterprise Solutions Limited, BSW expands the 1988 X.400 access units in its InterOFFICE Message Exchange product family to include Enterprise Solutions Mail.  BSW's existing partners include Tandem Computers; IBM; Sequent Computer Systems; Banyan Systems; Hewlett-Packard Company (HP); and ISOCOR, for implementations on Tandem Guardian, AIX/6000, DYNIX/ptx,  Banyan VINES Enterprise Networks and ENS for NetWare, HP-UX, and SCO UNIX platforms.

BSW's electronic messaging interconnectivity software, InterOFFICE Message Exchange, transparently connects many popular electronic mail and office automation systems, including Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail for DOS and Windows, Banyan Intelligent Messaging, Novell MHS and Global MHS, CE Software QuickMail and QuickMail MHS, UNIX mail, NeXTmail, HP OpenMail, DEC ALL-IN-1, IBM OfficeVision/400, Tandem TRANSFER, Wang OFFICE, HP DeskManager, IBM OfficeVision/VM (and PROFS), and MCI Mail.  The 1988 X.400 access units, including those developed under the partnership with ESL, provide connectivity for all the office and mail systems supported by InterOFFICE.

With full X.400 on the desktop and a mixture of computer systems from different suppliers, Enterprise Solutions Mail enables users to establish a mixed heterogeneous environment.  This isn't possible with proprietary mail products.  A native implementation of X.400 and X.500 gives companies a truly "open" standard on which to build Mail-Enabled Applications such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Work Flow Operations.

According to Karl Klessig, president of ESL, "The integration of InterOFFICE Message Exchange from The Boston Software Works with Enterprise Solutions Mail further enhances our ability to offer customers a total messaging solution.  Both commercial users and government agencies need a messaging system which can deliver, manage, and control the information flow across the enterprise, and beyond.  With InterOFFICE, ESL users can send and receive information to and from users of remote, foreign, and incompatible mail systems -- without having to learn new commands or addressing formats."

Added Ross Gale, president of The Boston Software Works, "We are pleased to expand the InterOFFICE product family to include support for Enterprise Solutions Mail, the multiplatform family of 1984 and 1988 X.400 messaging products from Enterprise Solutions, and to add ESL to the growing list of development partners who also market and sell InterOFFICE Message Exchange throughout the world."

InterOFFICE not only exchanges mail; it also transparently automates the synchronization of directories, the registration of sender addresses, the conversion of revisable documents, the conversion of meeting invitations and other structured messages, and the translation of multinational character sets.

Enterprise Solutions began shipping ENTERPRISE MAIL in the United States in December 1991, with the first installations at major government agencies and at selected corporate sites.  One of the company's first customers in the U.S. was Wal-Mart Stores, where ESL established an entire messaging capability for the Home Office as well as for the movement of all information to and from more than 2,300 stores, all its primary vendors, and Wal-Mart's international operations.

ESL's product line consists of X.400 User Agents for multiple user interfaces, remote user agents for non-connected users, full X.500 Directory Services, complete Mail Administration, a 1988 Multi-protocol MTA, and a family of mail-enabled add-on products which extend and enhance the Enterprise Solutions Mail X.400 product line.

The Boston Software Works, Inc., located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a privately held software development firm, specializing in high-quality messaging and office system integration and co-existence products.

InterOFFICE Message Exchange for Enterprise Solutions Mail will be available in the third quarter of this year.  Domestic pricing starts at US $4,500 per messaging system access unit.  Both ESL and BSW are demonstrating their winning solutions here at EMA '94.

Enterprise Solutions Limited may be contacted at their corporate headquarters at 32603 Bowman Knoll Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361; by telephone at 818.597.8943; or by fax at 818.597.9621.

The Boston Software Works may be contacted at their corporate headquarters at 177 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02109; by telephone at 617.482.9898; or by fax at 617.542.7956.


OCLC CATALOGING SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS AVAILABLE

DUBLIN, Ohio, April 6, 1994--The proceedings of the Feb. 4, 1994, symposium held at ALA Midwinter in Los Angeles and titled "The Future is NOW:  The Changing Face of Technical Services," are now available.

The symposium covered topics such as the role of outsourcing, extending local information resources, future electronic communications, and efficient centralized cataloging.

Speakers included Michael Gorman, dean of library services, California State University, Fresno; Tia Gozzi, director of technical services, Stanford University; Arnold Hirshon, university librarian, Wright State University; Glen Holt, director, St. Louis Public Library; Colleen Hyslop, assistant director of systems and access services and head of technical services, Michigan State University; and James Rush, executive director, PALINET.  Martin Dillon, director of OCLC's library resources management division, served as moderator.

OCLC sponsored the symposium to give library professionals the opportunity to discuss future changes in technical services, as well as future methods for streamlining information processes and reducing costs.

Copies of proceedings are available on the Internet, in hard copy, and on video tape.

The print version has been distributed to OCLC cataloging members and OCLC-affiliated regional networks.  Additional copies of the print version are available on request, at no charge, from the OCLC Documentation Department, Mail Code 123, 6565 Frantz Road, Dublin, OH  43017-3395.  A complete mailing address should be provided and Product Code MAN2340 specified with requests for additional copies.

The 2-hour-38-minute video is available for 21 days through OCLC's PRISM interlibrary loan system.  ILL requests listing OCLC control number 29785444 and the video title, "The Future is NOW: The Changing Face of Technical Services," may be sent to the OCLC Information Center (holding symbol OCC).  Libraries that do not participate in PRISM ILL may send requests on the ALA Interlibrary Loan request form to:  OCLC, P.O. Box 7777, Dublin, OH 43017-0702.  Borrowed tapes may be duplicated for the borrowing organization's use.

For instructions on accessing the proceedings via the Internet, send the e-mail message get ala_symposia/cataloging1994 instructions, in the body of the message, not in the subject line, to listproc@oclc.org.

OCLC is a nonprofit computer library service and research organization whose computer network and services link more than 17,000 libraries in 52 countries and territories.


OnCall*EDI For Electronic Hospital Business
Major Healthcare Initiative Launched to Drive Costs from Hospital Procurement Process

Four Leading Suppliers Endorse Open Windows-Based Platform from TSI International

Wilton, CT, April 11, 1994....A major initiative to streamline healthcare procurement within hospitals was announced today by TSI International, a supplier of electronic data interchange (EDI) software. The focus of the initiative is a Windows-based software platform for conducting business electronically which has been endorsed by four leading healthcare suppliers. The system, named OnCall*EDI, is designed to eliminate hospital paperwork, reduce inventories, and cut logistics costs.

Healthcare suppliers assisting in defining the requirements for OnCall*EDI, and in marketing the system to hospitals, include Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Bergen Brunswig, Boise Cascade Office Products, and Eastman Kodak Company. The addition of other suppliers as participants in the OnCall*EDI program is expected and is being solicited by TSI.

The initial release of OnCall*EDI, targeted for July 1 of this year, will support key elements of the procurement process including the exchange of ANSI X 12 EDI transactions for purchase orders, order acknowledgments, invoices, and price catalog data. Future releases will support additional transactions for procurement as well as healthcare claims processing.

Unlike proprietary EDI initiatives of the past, the TSI solution is the first turnkey EDI system for hospitals designed from the outset to be open to all healthcare suppliers. Components of OnCall*EDI include Microsoft Windows as the user interface, EDI translation facilities, a built-in database for capturing and maintaining procurement transactions, interfaces for most of the major materials management information systems (MMIS), and communications support for direct connections between hospitals and suppliers as well as access to value-added networks (VANs).

The concept of an open EDI platform, where all suppliers are able to compete for hospital business on an equal footing, is widely supported by major industry organizations and hospital buying groups. Garren Hagemeier, Executive Director of the Healthcare EDI Corporation (HEDIC), Little Rock, Arkansas, a non-profit association of healthcare companies and institutions, applauded the OnCall*EDI announcement.

"HEDIC salutes the foresight of these suppliers in bringing EDI to the provider community in an open platform," said Hagemeier. "This EDI enablement effort by four major healthcare companies and TSI International is a terrific example of the cooperative spirit needed to accomplish the mission and goals of HEDIC. We support the leadership taken by these companies."

In addition to cost-cutting benefits for hospitals, OnCall*EDI is expected to provide major benefits to healthcare suppliers and service providers. "Driving costs from the procurement process is a two-way street," stated Connie Galley, President of TSI International. "The EDI capabilities of OnCall*EDI should result in improved operational efficiency and improved customer service at the supplier end as well. We have also designed the system so any company doing business with hospitals, regardless of size, can participate," noted Galley.

Pricing information for OnCall*EDI was not announced.

TSI International is a leading provider of EDI software with over 7,000 installations worldwide. TSI's offerings include EDI translation software for a variety of computer platforms, solutions-oriented EDI Kits for Windows, and state-of-the-art tools for integration of EDI data with applications.

TSI is a privately held company with headquarters in Wilton, Connecticut and major offices in Chicago and London. TSI's investors include E.M. Warburg Pincus, Dun & Bradstreet, and Vanguard Atlantic.

TSI International

45 Danbury Rd, Wilton, CT 06897

203-761-8600,  fax 203-762-9677


Vi-Spy Universal NIM AU LAN Virus Protection
Newfangled Technology Arrives from The Old West.

Vi-Spy Universal NIM Provides No-Load, Reliable Virus Protection for AU LAN Platforms

SCOTTSDALE, AZ, USA. -- April 1994 -- RG Software Systems, Inc. has introduced NIM (Network Installable Module) anti-virus technology for networks which eliminates the system crashes and performance degradation of NLM technology-based anti-virus products. The Vi-Spy Universal NIM provides the convenience, control, and security of continuous real-time monitoring of all I/O activity; centralized virus incident reporting, software management, and distribution.

The network-independence of Vi-Spy Universal NIM means that for the first time, a company with multiple server platforms (i.e.: Banyan, DEC Pathworks, Microsoft LAN Manager, Unix, OS/2, Novell, etc.) can maintain a standardized anti-virus program for all their DOS workstations. And, the NIM's network-software-version independence, means that an upgrade of Vi-Spy Universal NIM is not required every time a network vendor issues an upgrade of their product.

Includes Automatic Diskette Checking and Stealth-X technology.

Another key feature of the NIM is the automatic checking of all diskettes at all workstations for boot sector viruses which account for over 70% of all reported virus incidents. The NIM also includes the new, proprietary "Stealth" logic of Vi-Spy Version 12. The Stealth-X algorithms allow for instantaneous detection of and recovery from both known and unknown "stealth-type" partition sector infections. (i.e.: "Monkey" and "Joshi" viruses)

Critically Acclaimed Virus Detection.

The Vi-Spy Universal NIM contains the superior virus detection capabilities of one of the best rated virus detection engines in the industry (See Virus Bulletin, 9-93 and 1-94 reviews of Vi-Spy... see attached charts) Vi-Spy Professional is now in its 12th major release and is celebrating its fifth year of providing serious virus protection for major corporate and government organizations

NIM vs. NLM.

Raymond M Glath, Sr., founder and president of RG Software Systems, Inc. talks about the announcement: "We chose to not jump on the "NLM" (Novell Loadable Module) bandwagon as other a-v vendors did, because of its inherent obsolescence and the problems with this type of architecture. NLM's, besides being limited to the Novell platform, have a very, very tiny window of time available for monitoring I/O traffic, looking for viruses, without causing a severe impact on the performance of the server. Since this "time window" remains constant and the number of viruses to be detected grows continuously, performance degradation is bound to occur with every update to the a-v NLM."

Glath continued, "Additionally, the Novell Netware, prior to Release 4, does not have documented API's that would allow an a-v product to accomplish "on-access" scanning. This has required the a-v developers to "patch" into the Netware software to accomplish their desired task Anytime you "patch into" a complex software package, you're bound to introduce bugs and crashes."

No Crashes or Performance Degradation.

The Vi-Spy Universal NIM does not have these problems, reported Glath, "because even though the software is installed on the server, the work is being done at each workstation, for those actions taken by the workstation." He went on to say, "Thus one user's actions does not cause a degradation of performance for all the other users" Another key factor raised by Glath is that the newer breed of viruses, specifically those known as "Polymorphic Encrypting" viruses, such as "Satanbug" require far more complex detection logic than the traditional "signature strings" that most virus detection products utilize. Vi-Spy and its big brother, Vi-Spy Universal NIM, are the only products that have been able to successfully detach the complex Polymorphic detection logic from the base scanning programs and include it with the virus signature strings in a single-file "Virus Identification Module" This means that:

* Updates for new virus detection consist of copying a single

  file into place.

* Updates (as opposed to upgrades) include detection of new

  Polymorphic Encrypting viruses.

* All detection components, including TSR programs, detect the

  same viruses.

Customizable for Each User.

An interesting added advantage to Vi-Spy's NIM independence is flexibility. Glath states, "Since the Vi-Spy NIM is not actually run on the server, a network can have each workstation setup exactly the same or with various runtime functions customized And the level of security can be controlled as well. Vi-Spy can be set to perform a simple periodic scan of workstation and server drives or to perform complete integrity checking and access control, as well as a variety of points between these extremes. We've allowed the decisions to be made by the Network Administrator, rather than have them dictated by the product."

Vi-Spy, the first commercial a-v product to use scanning technology, was introduced in 1989 and continues to be one of the top rated products in the industry RG Software Systems, Inc is celebrating its tenth year in business

RG Software Systems Inc

6900 East Camelback Rd, Suite 630

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

602-423-8000,  fax 602-423-8389


IDEK Cuts Price of 21-inch VisionMaster Monitor
IDEK CUTS PRICE OF 21-INCH VISIONMASTER MONITORS

WARMINSTER, Pa. (April 11, 1994) -- IDEK Iiyama North America today announced a $500 price cut on its entire line of full-featured 21-inch VisionMaster monitors. Effective immediately, IDEK's new pricing puts the suggested retail price of the monitors well below that of most competitors.

IDEK's award-winning VisionMaster 21 line of monitors consists of the MF-8621, MF-8521, MF-8421 and MF-8221. All monitors have a horizontal scan rate of 24-85 kHz and a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 at 66 Hz. To suit the needs of each user, IDEK offers units ranging in dot pitch and cathode ray tube (CRT) anti-glare treatments. The entry-level monitor, the MF-8221, has a .28 mm dot pitch and dark tint glass CRT glare treatment. On the high end, the MF-8621 features a .26 mm dot pitch and A/R bonded panel CRT glare treatment.

"We cut the price of our monitors by eliminating a distribution layer that added 10- 15 percent to the cost, and simultaneously we've dramatically increased sales in the Japanese market, increading production and reducing our fixed cost per monitor" said Chuck Roessler, president of IDEK Iiyama North America. "In Japan, we've moved from two percent market share to 31 percent; we currently have the best selling 17-inch monitor there. This success reduces our costs to the benefit of the U.S. consumer."

IDEK VisionMaster 21 -inch monitors include the unique auto size, auto contrast and auto power-down features which can be user selected or disengaged. The infrared auto power-down function reduces monitor power consumption to less than 6 watts. The monitors are Energy Star compliant.

IDEK Iiyama North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Iiyama Electric Co. Ltd., based in Japan. Founded in 1973, Iiyama Electric specialized for many years in the design and manufacture of color and monochrome televisions and video displays. In 1987, IDEK pioneered the development of autosynching, flat square tube (FST) color monitors for the rapidly expanding world market of computer graphics. Currently, IDEK offers a complete line of 15-, 17- and 21 inch FST color monitors to fit a wide variety of graphics applications, including Windows, business graphics, multimedia and CAD/CAE.

IDEK Iiyama North America Inc

650 Louis Dr, Suite 120

Warminster, PA 18974

215-957-6543,  fax 215-957-6551

-----------------------------------------------------------------

MF-8221 ($1945)

21 " FST/.28 dp (25-85 kHz), Microprocessor/

Dk Glass CRT MRPII Low Radiation/ Energy Savings Feature

MF-8421  ($1995)

21" FST/.25 dp (25-85 kHz), Microprocessor/

AGRAS CRT MRPII Low Radiation/ Energy Savings Feature

MF-8521  ($2195)

21" FST/.28 dp (25-85 kHz), Microprocessor/

Bonded CRT MPRII Low Radiation/ Energy Savings Feature

MF-8621  ($2495)

21" FST/.26 dp (25-85 kHz), Microprocessor/

Bonded CRT MRPII Low Radiation/ Energy Savings Features


IDEK Ships 17-inch VisionMaster Color Monitor
IDEK SHIPS 17-INCH VISIONMASTER COLOR MONITOR FOR $799

Lowest-Priced Full-Featured Monitor Capable of 1280 x 1024 at 80 Hz

WARMINSTER, Pa., (April 11, 1994) -- IDEK Iiyama North America today announced it has begun shipping the new VisionMaster 17, the most aggressively priced full-featured 1 7-inch color monitor on the market.

The Energy Star-compliant VisionMaster 17 (MF-8617) is a flat square tube (FST) monitor with a .26mm dot pitch, 1280 x 1024 display at 80 Hz and the widest range of graphics display compatibility among 1 7-inch monitors. It features a bezel-mounted LCD panel indicating graphics resolution and display controls. The monitor also has power management controls that work with any computer and exceed Energy Star standards.

The suggested retail price of the VisionMaster 17 is $799. It is available immediately from IDEK Iiyama North America and through IDEK's authorized value-added-resellers located nationwide.

"Until now, 17-inch monitors below $1,000 were limited by their display, graphics compatibility and quality -- compromises in engineering, scan rate and resolution compatibility brought the product in at a low price," said Chuck Roessler, president of IDEK Iiyama North America. "IDEK has broken the $1,000 street price barrier for a top-quality monitor."

The new VisionMaster 17s have automatic scanning control capable of displaying all resolutions found in standard PCs, Macintoshes and workstations, plus compatibility with nearly all high-resolution third-party graphics display cards. Horizontal refresh rates are among the widest found in today's 17-inch monitors, ranging from 23.5 to 86 kilohertz (kHz). Maximum display resolution of the monitor is 1280 x 1024 (1152 x 870 @ 75 kHz Macintosh).

In addition to a .26mm dot pitch, the VisionMaster 17 has a FST with an anti-glare, antistatic coating for easier viewing in most lighting conditions.

VisionMaster 17s are fully compliant with all U.S. and international standards for low electromagnetic field emissions, including the stringent Swedish MPR II standards.

The monitor has microprocessor-based control buttons allowing 14 user adjustments. The user can change geometric distortion controls such as raster rotation, pincushion and trapezoid (phase) control; color calibration to match Pantone and device output color samples; and several other display controls. The monitor has an integrated tilt and swivel base.

The VisionMaster 17 can be connected to a system via BNC connectors or a D-sub 15-pin connector. This allows the monitor to be hooked up to two different systems simultaneously, such as a PC and a Macintosh or a desktop and laptop computer, permitting the user to switch between systems.

The IDEK Power Management System reduces power consumption from 110 watts (normal) to 6 watts in sleep mode. The power management system is programmable at intervals of 5, 15, 30, 60 minutes or disengaged. The IDEK uses any conventional screen-saver to activate the power saving feature, allowing it to work with systems equipped with either DPMS and non-DPMS graphics cards and systems. Most Energy Star monitors require DPMS graphics cards to provide power management.

The VisionMaster 17s come with a three-year warranty covering all parts and labor when purchased from an authorized dealer. IDEK also announced it will offer an extended warranty that would cover the parts and labor for the monitor for five years. For more information contact IDEK at 1 (800) 394-4355.

IDEK 17-inch monitors are used for Windows-based computing, graphics display applications, including computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided engineering (CAE), desktop publishing, graphics design, industrial control and presentations.

IDEK Iiyama North America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Iiyama Electric Co. Ltd., based in Japan. Founded in 1973, Iiyama Electric specialized for many years in the design and manufacture of color and monochrome televisions and video displays. In 1987, IDEK pioneered the development of autosynching, FST color monitors for the rapidly expanding world market of computer graphics. Currently, IDEK offers a complete line of 15-, 17- and 21-inch FST color monitors to fit a wide variety of graphics applications, including Windows, business graphics, multimedia and CAD/CAE.

IDEK Iiyama North America Inc

650 Louis Dr, Suite 120

Warminster, PA 18974

215-957-6543,  fax 215-957-6551


Free Help From Uncle Sam to Start Your Business
FREE HELP FROM UNCLE SAM TO HELP YOU START OR EXPAND YOUR OWN SMALL BUSINESS IS WAITING FOR YOU TO CLAIM IT

SANTA MARIA, CA--Business author William Alarid is telling all-revealing little known sources of free government help for small businesses. Everything from advice, counseling services and publications, to grants, loans, loan guarantees, financial incentives and much more, all free for the asking. Alarid has written a book revealing 100 of his "secret" sources for getting free help from Uncle Sam. He gives the names, addresses and details on government sources that specialize in small business assistance.

"Many small businesses are eligible for free assistance, services, even loans, and grants," says Alarid, "but they have no idea how or where to find this free help. Uncle Sam offers everything from advice to assistance for women business owners wanting to sell to NASA, to grants, loans, and financial incentives." Alarid's book Free Help From Uncle Sam To Start Your Own Business, is available by calling 1-800-255-5730, ext. 1 10, or by sending $14.95 to Puma Publishing, 1670 Coral Drive, Suite 31, Santa Maria, CA 93454. Included in the sources are 100 government agencies that purchase from small businesses and government programs that offer financial help, services, export assistance, publications, free help for women and minorities, loans for teenagers, special help for handicapped business owners, etc., all listed with names, addresses, telephone numbers and descriptions for easy reference.

Puma Publishing

1670 Coral Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454

805-925-3216,  fax 805-925-2656


Windows 3.1 Connectivity Secrets
Comprehensive Windows Reference Prepares Users for Windows on the Digital Highway

Windows 3.1 Connectivity SECRETS Gathers Practical Know-How, Wisdom From Huge Professional User Organization

SAN MATEO, CA--April 11, 1994 For power users, managers, and technical professionals who work with communications, information services, electronic mail or computer networks, IDG Books Worldwide has released the first and only comprehensive guide to Windows 3.1 Connectivity.

At more than 900 pages, Windows 3.1 Connectivity SECRETS offers a cornucopia of essential, practical information and know-how for managers, power users and information systems professionals, and includes three bonus disks packed with useful connectivity enhancement tools and utilities.

The book was written by a team of Windows technology experts, headed by Runnoe Connally in collaboration with David Rorabaugh, Sheldon Hall and Victor Rezmovic. The authors drew heavily on input from the six year old Windows User Group Network (WUGNET), a worldwide technical organization for MS Windows professionals based in Media, Pennsylvania. The WUGNET organization publishes a technical newsletter, the Windows Journal, and maintains one of the most active technical information online forums for Windows networking professionals on CompuServe, entitled WINUSER. In preparing Windows 3.1 Connectivity SECRETS, the authors bolstered their own expertise on Windows 3.1 Connectivity with the vast experience and collective wisdom gleaned from the WUGNET CompuServe forum.

"Runnoe Connally and his co-authors live and work at the forefront of Windows networking and communications ," said IDG President and CEO John J. Kilcullen. "But this is fundamentally a practical book, offering comprehensive coverage of networking and communications hardware and software, remote/mobile computing, workgroup computing, e-mail and on-line services."

Windows 3.1 Connectivity SECRETS covers networking and communications under Windows, including the most up-to-date information on modems, faxing, DDE, OLE, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT, Advanced Server, LAN Manager/Server, Unix, mainframe and both client/server and peer-to-peer models of Windows networking.

Rigorously pragmatic, the book details the ins and outs of applications interoperability on networks of Windows-based PCs, and also covers the practical implementation of Windows Open Systems Architecture (WOSA), Microsoft's programming interface that allows Windows applications to access E-mail, document management databases, and other network-based applications. The authors share a wide range of tips and "secrets" based on their own experience and that of hundreds of other Windows professionals. Readers will find how-to explanations and advice on network configuration and optimization, application setup/installation, integrating asynchronous communications packages, Windows fax, NetWare and LANtastic, Wide Area Networking Windows 3.1 Connectivity, Windows to mainframe networks and setting up a Windows BBS.

Windows 3.1 Connectivity SECRETS comes with a set of three disks containing an array of the best Windows connectivity and configuration utilities available commercially, and shareware. Also includes full commercial versions of OTC Corporation's KingCom Windows communications port enhancement, NetManage's Chameleon Sampler for TCP/IP Unix email/connectivity based on the Windows WinSocket standard, and a series of Windows network utilities, Turbo RPrint, SysMod and LANTech from BrightWork!

A Windows e-mail solution for the Internet user, WinMail, is provided by Computer WitchCraft. The shareware includes the best collection of utilities for maximizing and maintaining Windows on networks, including Banyan, Windows for WorkGroups, LANtastic, Netware, Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, LAN Manager/Server, etc. For owners of high speed fax modems, the included utilities will allow users to troubleshoot modem connections, operations and performance. Two shareware games for network and modem users are even included in the collection! The software is also supported on WUGNET's CompuServe WINUSER Forum by the sysops and authors of the software.

About IDG Books and International Data Group

IDG Books Worldwide 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 leading publisher of technology periodicals, to provide timely and useful computer books that meet the needs of computer users of all levels. IDG Books Worldwide is the fastest growing computer book publisher with over 80 titles in print and foreign translations in over 20 languages. One-third of all books published by IDG Books have become national bestsellers.

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 195 computer publications in more than 62 countries, including such titles as PC World, InfoWorld, Computerworld, & Macworld. Forty million people read one or more IDG publications each month.

How to Buy

Windows 3.1 Connectivity SECRETS

by D. Runnoe Connally, Sheldon T. Hall,

   David Rorabaugh & Victor Rezmovic

Price: $49.95 USA, $64.95 Canada

ISBN: 1-56884-030-6

Pub. Date: January 1994

Specs: 969 pages, 7 3/8" x 9 1/4"

IDG Books are available wherever computer books are sold or direct from the publisher at (800) 762-2974, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST. For reseller discounts and information, contact IDG Books at (415) 312-0600.

IDG Books Worldwide, 155 Bovet Rd, Suite 610, San Mateo, CA 94402

415-312-0650,  Fax: 415-358-1260


Personal Finance for Dummies
NEW PERSONAL FINANCE GUIDE HELPS "DUMMIES" GET SMART

Publisher of Bestselling ... For Dummies Guides to PCs Extends "A Reference for the Rest of Us" Formula to Personal Finance

SAN MATEO, CA--April 11, 1991 So you think you're a dummy about your personal finances? Have no fear. Help is on the way with a how-to book called Personal Finance For Dummies.

Computer book publisher IDG Books Worldwide, which has sold over 7 million copies of its plain-English, "anybody-can-do-it" ... For Dummies" guides to the most popular PC, Macintosh, and software topics, is applying the same winning formula to a new book about managing your finances.

Author Eric Tyson earned his credential in finance with an MBA from Stanford University and a B.S. in Economics from Yale, as well as serving as a management consultant to Fortune 500 financial services firms. Mr. Tyson writes a weekly personal finance column for the San Francisco Examiner and hosts a call-in financial radio program on San Francisco's KNBR. He has also written for The New York Times, Parenting, and Nolo Press's Nolo News. As a personal financial counselor, he has primarily worked with hundreds of middle-income families and individuals and small business owners. Personal Finance For Dummies is based on Mr. Tyson's personal finance management course, which he teaches at the University of California at Berkeley.

"Personal Finance For Dummies offers a valuable guide for avoiding common misconceptions and major pitfalls," states Charles R. Schwab in his foreword.

"In Personal Finance For Dummies we've applied our expertise as publishers of how-to books for non-experts to a subject of almost universal interest," said IDG President and CEO John J. Kilcullen. "From budgeting to estate planning, taxes to investments, personal financial management has become increasingly complex and is the #1 New Years resolution as reported earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal. We expect that Personal Finance For Dummies will be an instant bestseller just like many of the other ...Dummies books we published in the past two years."

In a friendly, easy-to-follow style, Personal Finance For Dummies helps even those with severe math anxiety or very little knowledge of economics assess their current financial health and develop priorities. The book outlines smart strategies for reducing spending and getting out of debt, borrowing money at the lowest cost, reducing taxes, and buying and selling real estate intelligently.

"For many people, it's an area that's at least as challenging as using their computer, and far more important," Mr. Kilcullen added.

On the computer side, the author evaluates several leading personal finance software programs currently available, and makes recommendations.

Sections on retirement planning and investment cover everything from insurance and investment basics to building a portfolio and achieving financial independence. In line with its "manage-your-own-money" approach, Personal Finance For Dummies features a foreword written by Charles Schwab, founder and chairman of one of the nation's largest discount brokerage firms, Charles Schwab & Co., which serves millions of individuals who manage their own investment portfolios.

About the Author

Author Eric Tyson, a former management consultant to Fortune 500 financial services firms, is a personal finance columnist for the Sunday San Francisco Examiner. Mr. Tyson has also written for The New York Times, Parenting, and Nolo Press's Nolo News, and he hosts a call-in financial radio program on San Francisco station KNBR. As a personal financial counselor, he has worked with hundreds of primarily middle-income families and individuals and small business owners. Personal Finance For Dummies is based on Mr. Tyson's personal financial management course, which he teaches at the University of California at Berkeley.

About IDG Books Worldwide and International Data Group

IDG Books Worldwide publishes high quality books that bring extra value and skill-building instruction to the reader. The company applies the technical, market, and editorial knowledge of IDG, the leading publisher of information technology periodicals, to provide timely and useful computer books that meet the needs of computer users of all levels. IDG Books Worldwide, with offices in San Mateo, Indianapolis, and Braintree, is the fastest growing computer and business book publisher with over 80 titles in print and foreign translations in over 20 languages. One-third of all books published by IDG Books have become national bestsellers.

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 of information technology. International Data Group publishes over 195 computer publications in more than 62 countries, including such titles as PC World, InfoWorld, Computerworld, & Macworld. Forty million people read one or more IDG publications each month.

How to Order

Personal Finance For Dummies, by Eric Tyson

Price: $16.95 USA, $21.95 Canada

ISBN: 1-56884-150-7

Pub. Date: March 1994

Specs: 350 pages, 7 3/8" x 9 1/4"

Personal Finance For Dummies is available wherever computer books are sold or direct from the publisher at (800) 762-2974, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST. For reseller discounts and information, contact IDG Books at (415) 312-0600. For volume discounts and special orders, please call Tony Real, Special Sales, at 415-312-0644.

Subsidiary Rights

Personal Finance For Dummies is available for second serialization, newspaper syndication, foreign, condensation, digest, and abridgment rights. For more information, please contact Marc Jeffrey Mikulich, Manager, Foreign and Subsidiary Rights, IDG Books, 415-312-0605.

IDG Books Worldwide, 155 Bovet Rd, Suite 610, San Mateo, CA 94402

415-312-0650,  Fax: 415-358-1260


Client/Server Strategies: Survival Guide
LEADING COMPUTER BOOK PUBLISHER ISSUES SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TODAY'S CORPORATE COMPUTING REVOLUTION

Client/Server Strategies: A Survival Guide For Corporate Reengineers Describes Big Changes in Corporate Information Systems And the Companies That Depend on Them

SAN MATEO, CA--April 11, 1994 -- Networks of PCs are bringing about a not-so-quiet revolution in how corporations operate. To help executives and managers navigate and control the enormous changes underway and still to come, leading computer book publisher IDG Books Worldwide has issued Client/Server Strategies: A Survival Guide For Corporate Reengineers, by computer industry veteran David Vaskevitch.

Released just before year-end, Client/Server Strategies is a thoughtful, informed map of where business information systems are going in the 1990s. Addressing itself both to corporate PC users and to the information systems professionals and executives who manage computer resources for their companies, the book goes well beyond strictly technical issues. It also addresses the large organizational issues firms face when adapting to PC network-based information systems.

"Hundreds of thousands of networked corporate PC users rely on our InfoWorld SECRETS Series and PC World Handbook Series to get the most from their companies' desktop PCs," said IDG Books President and CEO John J. Kilcullen.

"As PC networks become the system of choice for more and more large businesses, corporate IS managers and users are expanding their perspective from the desktop out," Mr. Kilcullen continued. "For them, our new Client/Server Strategies is just what its title suggests: a survival guide."

As described in Client/Server Strategies: A Survival Guide For Corporate Reengineers, modern businesses are undergoing a revolution that is "cultural" as well as "technical." For the first few decades of corporate computer use, large business data systems consisted mostly of tightly controlled mainframes (known in the computer press as "Big Iron"). But now information systems are being put through a process called "rightsizing"--matching hardware horsepower and systems design to the needs of the business. And the corporate mainframes of yore, access to which was usually restricted to "data processing professionals," are rapidly being replaced by powerful, far-flung networks of PCs.

Putting both applications and data on a network, or "server," the new systems give dozens, hundreds, even thousands of workers with "client" desktop computers access to more information than ever before. Indeed, information itself--about suppliers and commodities, customers and markets--often makes up one of the modern corporation's most valuable assets.

As detailed by author David Vaskevitch, today's "re-engineering" of business systems is more than a matter of hardware and software and networks. In moving to client/server-based information systems, most firms find that their business procedures, and indeed the entire corporate culture itself, must be rightsized right along with the information systems. In short, technological change has made it not only possible but necessary for modem corporations to change their whole way of doing business.

Starting with the building blocks of today's corporate information systems. personal computers, networks, software (even mainframes are still in the picture)--Client/Server Strategies explores the many technical and business issues of rightsizing for executives, business computing professionals, managers and workers.

About the Author

David Vaskevitch is Director of Enterprise Computing at Microsoft Corporation. Mr. Vaskevitch, a 20-year computer industry veteran, developed one of the first electronic mail systems in Canada, and has been a key figure in the client/server revolution for more than a decade, first at networking giant 3COM Corporation and more recently at Microsoft.

About IDG Books and International Data Group

IDG Books Worldwide 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 leading publisher of technology periodicals, to provide timely and useful computer books that meet the needs of computer users of all levels. IDG Books Worldwide is the fastest growing computer book publisher with over 80 titles in print and foreign translations in over 20 languages. One-third of all books published by IDG Books have become national bestsellers.

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 of information technology. International Data Group publishes over 195 computer publications in more than 62 countries, including such titles as PC World, InfoWorld, Computerworld, & Macworld. Forty million people read one or more IDG publications each month.

How to Order

Client/Server strategies: A Survival Guide For Corporate Reengineers, by David Vaskevitch

Price: $29.95 USA, $39.95 Canada

ISBN: 1-56884-064-0

Pub.Date: December 1993

Specs: 450 pages, 7 3/8" x 9 1/4"

Client/Server Strategies: A Survival Guide For Corporate Reengineers, is available wherever computer books are sold or direct from the publisher at (800) 762-2974, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST. For reseller discounts and information, contact IDG Books at (415) 312-0600. For volume discounts and special orders, please call Tony Real, Special Sales, IDG Books, at 415-312-0644.

Subsidiary Rights

Client/Server strategies is available for second serialization, newspaper syndication, foreign, condensation, digest, and abridgment rights. For more information, please contact

Marc Jeffrey Mikulich, Manager, Foreign and Subsidiary Rights, IDG Books, 415-312-0605.

IDG Books Worldwide, 155 Bovet Rd, Suite 610, San Mateo, CA 94402

415-312-0650,  Fax: 415-358-1260


CADPIPE 3.1 Offers Enhancements/Improvments
International Software Systems Releases CADPIPE 3.1

Update Offers Enhancements and Improvements

Calgary, Alberta, Canada, March 24!1994 - International Software Systems Inc. today announced the latest release of its CADPIPE P&ID, CADPIPE ORTHO and CADPIPE ISO modules, version 3.1. Visitors to the A/E/C SYSTEMS '94 show in Washington, D.C. will be able to see this latest release in action when they visit booth #1433. Version 3.1 will continue the CADPIPE tradition of using the intelligence of the drawing to make the designer's work easier and quicker.

CADPIPE P&ID Version 3.1

Enhancements to this module include the automatic update of valve size tags, automatically updating a manual valve's size and size tag when the line size is edited or a reducer is placed; intelligent nozzles; automatic direction of flow arrows: first CADPIPE looks for a check valve for direction, if no check valve is found, the user will be prompted for a flow direction; automatic line number update which gives the user the security of knowing that all items on a line have the same line number, regardless of the specification or size; title block revision update which prevents operator error by automatically filling in the revision number, equipment number increase from 10 to 15 characters allowing the designer to use expanded descriptions; menu convenience for UNDO command which makes it easier for the user to access this command.

CADPIPE ORTHO and ISO 3.1

Enhancements to these modules include the addition of a generic attribute for Bill of Materials flexibility allowing the user to attach a CADPIPE node to any item so that a detail may be drawn and individual pieces may appear in the B.O.M and be ballooned separately; minimum pipe length by size so that the user can set up a different minimum pipe length for each pipe size through the defaults file; items are automatically updated to routing line designation so the operator doesn't have to worry about keeping track of the correct routing line numbers; the ISO module includes an edit text ISOplane command that lets the user quickly change the ISOplane of isometric text, and enhanced valve dimensioning now will consistently dimension to the flange face automatically placing the gasket tick on the appropriate side of the dimension for the user, the ORTHO module has an enhanced 3D command that is now an ADS function.

International Software Systems (ISS) develops and markets AutoCAD-based plant design software products, collectively known as CADPIPE, for the development and construction of process plants for the chemical, oil refining, nuclear, pulp and paper, mining, food processing, dairy, brewing, bottling, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. CADPIPE software has been helping customers build intelligent plant design systems since 1987. Fortune 500 companies in 60 countries have made CADPIPE their plant design solution of choice. ISS, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is a registered third-party developer for AutoCAD.

International Software Systems Inc

202 - 6th Ave S.W., Suite 650

Calgary, Alberta CANADA T2P 2R9

403-233-2520,  fax 403-234-8583


INSTA-TREND Data Acquisition for PCs
DATA ACQUISITION FOR PCs

This new 4-page full color brochure introduces INSTA-TREND Data Acquisition Software

INSTA-TREND is a fast powerful application, yet it is inexpensive and very easy to use. All set-up is by menus and it is easily configured for your particular application whether a few channels or thousands

Many types of input hardware are supported from different manufacturers, with five different drivers at the same time. These include stand-alone systems like the Acquisitor series, plug-in cards, distributed systems, serial transmitters, or multiple computers over a network

The system can handle multiple processes independently, starting and stopping storage separately for each group of inputs. Features are available for reviewing past data while taking new data in the background.

Optional features include Alarms, PID control loops, PLC sequence control, Automatic voice telephone interface, On-line calculated channels, Color Stripchart output on a dot-matrix printer, and a full-featured Report package for custom reports to screen, file or multiple printers.

INSTA-TREND's greatest strengths lie in its ease of use and flexibility in fitting to individual application needs.

The literature is free for the asking, together with a PC demonstration diskette.

DIANACHART Inc

101 Round Hill Dr, Rockaway, NJ 07866

(201) 625-2299,   FAX: (201) 625-2449


AccSys for Paradox Database Library
Copia's New AccSys Release Supports Borland's Paradox 4.5, BLOBs

WHEATON, IL -- April 14, 1994 -- Keeping a step ahead of a demanding marketplace, Copia's AccSys for Paradox database library supports and is 100% compatible with Paradox 4.5. This new release of AccSys for Paradox also adds support for public and private BLOBs (Binary Large OBjects), composite secondary field indexes and case insensitive secondary indexes.

Portability and flexibility are key design elements that top notch corporation and professional programmers have come to expect with the AccSys database libraries. Underscoring this confidence, Microsoft Corporation has chosen AccSys for Paradox for use with their current Access version. The Lotus 1-2-3 Spreadsheet also uses AccSys for Paradox as their engine.

AccSys for Paradox solves the memory problems of the Borland Engine and offers support for Engine compatible interfaces and the Phar-Lap DOS Extenders. In addition, C, Visual Basic for DOS and/or Visual Basic for Windows programmers using AccSys can develop programs that can co-exist in networks and Windows DLLs Paradox applications.

AccSys gives the programmer the ability to create, read, write, modify and update Paradox without having to learn the internal file formats. AccSys for Paradox's interface provides users with tools for total control over Paradox primary and secondary index files as well as tables. The library is network ready and carries no runtime royalties.

AccSys for Paradox is priced at $495.00 with Source available for $1195.00. For instant info via fax about AccSys for Paradox functions and capabilities, call 708-924-3030 and request document 88982. To speak with an AccSys sales representative call 800-689-8898.

Copia International, Ltd.

1342 Avalon Court,  Wheaton, IL 60187

800-689-8898,  FAX 708-665-9841,  FOD 708-924-3030


Interactive Movies Are Here!
"INTERACTIVE MOVIES" ARE HERE!

March 11, 1994 -- Call it "multi-media", call it "interactive video", but whatever "it" turns out to be, it's going to revolutionize home entertainment on a scale comparable to the advent of the VCR.

Part of that "interactive" future is here, with the eagerly-awaited release, by Access Software, of the first true interactive movie: UNDER A KILLING MOON.

Set in the near-future, UNDER A KILLING MOON is a gritty, exciting (and sometimes outrageously funny) detective thriller in which the consumer not only gets to view the action, but actually takes part in the drama as it unfolds.

Forget everything you've ever seen in the way of a computer games" UNDER A KILLING MOON uses advanced digital technology to create an environment of breathtaking realism, a "virtual world". When the game is in it's first-person mode, the player becomes not merely an observer but a participant, with complete 360-degree freedom of movement.

Walk through rooms, and their lights and shadows change realistically as your point of view changes. Climb stairs; peer under tables to search for evidence; examine any object from any point of view; creep stealthily down dangerous alleys that look almost frighteningly real.

Not only does the consumer get to explore an entire "virtual world", he or she also experiences the heady excitement of interacting with real movie stars (Margot Kidder, Brian Keith, and Russell Means) and engaging in realistic conversations with them.

UNDER A KILLING MOON is a path-breaking product that delivers a unique and powerful entertainment experience: a deep, addictively playable game, and the uncanny sensation of being "behind the screen" with Hollywood stars for companions.

UNDER A KILLING MOON was developed by Access Software, a cutting-edge company whose best-selling "Links" programs have been praised by professional golfers for their realism and sheer beauty. In its ten years of experience, Access has gained an enviable reputation for quality and customer support. The release of this product puts Access in the vanguard of tomorrow's home entertainment revolution.

UNDER A KILLING MOON comes on THREE CD-ROM discs, and will be available Spring 1994.

Access Software

4910 W. Amelia Earhart Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

801-359-2900;  fax: 801-359-2968;  800-800-4880


Executive Version Standard Form (SF) 254/255
Enlightened Software Releases Second SF 254/255 Program

Orlando, Florida -- April 15, 1994 -- Enlightened Software has just released an Executive version of their Standard Form (SF) 254/255 software. Architectural and Engineering firms are required to submit Standard Forms 254 and 255 when bidding on Federal Government projects. The Enlightened SF 254/255 software automates the completion of these forms.

The Executive version is the second SF 254/255 product released by Enlightened Software and is designed to address the needs of firms who customize their forms. The original Standard version has over 2,000 users Nationwide and retails for $159. The Executive version retails at $495. System requirements are: IBM compatible computer with 640K RAM, DOS 3.3 or higher and a Hewlett Packard compatible laser printer. Readers can order by calling Sales & Marketing Technologies at 407-422-4229.

Sales & Marketing Technologies

425 W. Colonial Dr., Suite 304

Orlando, FL 32804

407-422-4229


KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail
ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS AND KEYWORD ANNOUNCE JOINT MARKETING AGREEMENT

Both companies to market KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail

(EMA '94, Anaheim, CA; April 18, 1994)--Enterprise Solutions Limited  (ESL) and Keyword Office Technologies Ltd. today announced a joint marketing agreement.   ESL, provider of complete X.400/X.500 messaging solutions, and Keyword, provider of document interchange technology, have agreed to jointly market KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail.

KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail, the enterprise-wide, electronic mail-enabled document interchange solution, will allow users of Enterprise Solutions Mail to exchange information -- text, images, tables and graphics -- with users of diverse document processing applications and e-mail systems, without losing any of the functionality or fidelity of the documents.  Users familiar with their native word processing application can view and edit documents created on more than 40 other applications.

Keyword provides the highest level of universal document interchange available today.  No other product-specific translator or emerging interchange technology supports as many platforms or includes such a comprehensive translator library as KEYpak.  It supports all leading hardware and software environments, from mainframes to personal computers, integrated to stand-alone applications, LANs to gateway configurations.

The first KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail product available will be the LAN version, which runs at the client station.  It is designed to be called by other applications, rather than being called directly by a user.  As a "middleware" application requiring no interaction with the user, it provides seamless document exchange services.

According to Karl Klessig, president of ESL, "The availability of KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail marks another step in providing our customers a total, full-featured messaging solution.  This winning solution greatly improves organizational efficiency and allows faster communication, thus giving users a competitive edge in today's global marketplace."

"The goal of our partnership with Enterprise Solutions is to maximize message and document interchange between users of a variety of popular electronic mail and word processing systems," said Dal Bryant, president of Keyword Office Technologies Ltd.  "We will offer KEYpak integrations for Enterprise Solutions Mail at both the User Agent and Message Transfer Agent levels.  Our new partnership provides competitive solutions for our joint customer base."

Enterprise Solutions began shipping ENTERPRISE MAIL in the United States in December 1991, with the first installations at major government agencies and at selected corporate sites.  One of the company's first customers in the U.S. was Wal-Mart Stores, where ESL established an entire messaging capability for the Home Office as well as for the movement of all information to and from more than 2,300 stores, all its primary vendors, and Wal-Mart's international operations.

ESL's product line consists of X.400 User Agents for multiple user interfaces, remote user agents for non-connected users, full X.500 Directory Services, complete Mail Administration, a 1988 Multi-protocol MTA, and a family of mail-enabled add-on products which extend and enhance the Enterprise Solutions Mail X.400 product line.

Keyword Office Technologies Ltd., of Calgary, Canada is the world leader in document conversion products for enterprise-wide document interchange. The Company's professional services group also provides customized solutions. Keyword markets its products and services world-wide through a distributor network, value-added resellers and OEM channels.

The LAN version of KEYpak for Enterprise Solutions Mail will be available in the third quarter of this year.  A server version, which does automatic conversion of all messages that come through the server, is expected to be available sometime in the 4th quarter.  Pricing for KEYpak document conversion solutions is related to the number of users and number of formats required.  Price for a single user is $89, with volume discounts down to $10 per user based on the number of formats required and platform.  Both ESL and Keyword are demonstrating their winning solutions here at EMA '94.

Enterprise Solutions Limited may be contacted at their corporate headquarters at 32603 Bowman Knoll Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361. Telephone 818.597.8943, or fax 818.597.9621.

Keyword Office Technologies Ltd. may be contacted at their corporate headquarters at 2816 Eleventh Street N.E., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E 7S7. Telephone 403.250.1770, or fax 403.250.1964.


Under A Killing Moon Coming on THREE CDs
"UNDER A KILLING MOON" COMING SOON TO A PC NEAR YOU

March 11, 1994 -- Until now, "interactive movies" have consisted of little more than film clips stored on CD-ROM. The player's decisions dictate which film clip comes up for viewing, but there is little or no sensation of actually being in the program.

That is about to change, and change dramatically, with the release of the first truly interactive movie: Access Software's Under a Killing Moon, the third game set in the gritty but fascinating future world of detective Tex Murphy ( Mean Streets and The Martian Memorandum).

After viewing a rough cut of this product, a well-known game reviewer wrote: "Lots of products claim to 'push the envelope', but Access's new technology blows it to smithereens!"

To achieve unprecedented you-are-there-realism, Access developed processes which generate 3-D virtual reality environments of astonishing depth, texture, and believability. When the game is in it's first-person mode, you can explore rooms and streets, and examine objects, with complete, 360-degree freedom. You can walk through a room, peer under the tables, climb up on a desk to get a better view; the texture-mapped graphics are so detailed that you can walk over to the wall where Tex hangs his diploma and read the fine print.

Access's production team developed their own proprietary engine -based in part on what they had learned from developing the bestselling Links 386 Pro golf simulations -- and wrote the entire game in assembly language for maximum performance. New compress/decompression techniques were also developed, and the 16-bit sound and music will run at 22 KHz throughout!

To further enhance the illusion of being IN a movie, Access hired three top Hollywood pros to play the major third-person roles: Margot Kidder, Brian Keith, and Russell Means. The game-player not only gets to explore a "virtual world", he or she also experiences the excitement of interacting with real stars.

Rarely has any PC game been anticipated so eagerly by so many.

Under a Killing Moon, the ultimate interactive entertainment experience, is available on THREE CD-ROM discs and is expected to be in stores by Spring 1994 The suggested retail price is $99.95.

Access Software is in its eleventh year of producing high quality, award winning, entertainment software.

Access Software

4910 W. Amelia Earhart Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84116

801-359-2900;  fax: 801-359-2968;  800-800-4880


Curtis Solid-State SCSI-2 Drive w/Battery Bckup
NEW 5 1/4" SOLID-STATE SCSI-2 DRIVE WITH BATTERY BACKUP

ST. PAUL, MN -- Curtis, Inc. introduces a new solid-state mass storage device with a data access time of 0.1 millisecond, integrated battery-backup and SCSI-2 interface. The Clipper uses dynamic RAM modules to provide up to 512 Mbytes of expandable high-speed storage. The drive fully emulates a SCSI hard disk drive, requiring no special drivers or software. Unique to the Clipper is the high integration of memory, error detection and correction, internal battery and a two-level data backup system all within a half-height 5 1/4" form factor drive. Expansion up to 256 Mbytes is possible in a half-height drive and up to 512 Mbytes in a full-height 5 1/4" form factor drive.

By significantly reducing the data access time over conventional hard disk drives, the Clipper can provide a dramatic enhancement of overall system performance. Potential benefits include improved system response time, increased productivity and support for additional users.

The Clipper is designed for a variety of disk-intensive applications such as image processing, graphics manipulation, database, transaction processing, LAN accelerator and engineering and scientific modeling. By offering a very high level of performance in a disk emulating device, an easy upgrade path is also possible for many systems. By the elimination of magnetic media and moving parts, the Clipper also offers high immunity to shock and vibration, making it well suited for ruggedized and mobile applications.

Standard 72-pin, 16 Mbit-based DRAM modules are used, making memory upgrades fast and easy. Up to eight 16MB, 32MB or 64MB modules may be installed in the drive. A SCSI-2 interface (Small Computer System Interface-2) is used which supports fast-SCSI transfer rates up to 10 Mbytes/second. The drive is available with either single-end or differential interface. On-the-fly detection and correction of memory bit errors is performed by a 64-bit modified hamming code circuit. In addition, the Clipper performs background "Memory Scrubbing" to locate and correct errors in it's memory before they can accumulate.

Protection against system shutoff or power failure is assured by the Clipper's two-level data backup system, which uses an internal battery together with a wall-plug battery charger/supply. When primary power to the drive is switched off, the charger/supply maintains memory refresh. When a power failure occurs, the Clipper's internal battery can maintain data up to 12 hours for standard 32ms refresh DRAMs or for 3-4 days using Self-Refresh DRAMs.

The Clipper is available in both an OEM version for installation in any 5 1/4" drive bay, or in a desktop enclosure with internal power supply. List price for the OEM 5 1/2" version ranges from $2,615 for a 16 Mbyte drive to $38,995 for a drive with 512 Mbytes. The desktop version is available for $300 more. The Clipper is currently being sold on a direct basis and will be sold through reseller and distribution channels.

Company Background

Curtis, Inc. has been developing solid state disk and drive emulator products since 1984 and has established a worldwide reputation among systems integrators for innovative, reliable solid state storage solutions. Other Curtis, Inc. products include the ROMDISK line of solid state memory products for use with IBM compatible ISA bus computers and the CardSharkII series of PCMCIA Carddrives. ROMDISKs are used in industrial applications and embedded systems as well as diskless terminals for LANs and Point of Sale applications. ROMDISK products are particularly well suited to environments requiring operation in high performance, hostile or secure computing environments.

Original ROMDISK products include the PCF-l, PCE/2 and PCE-FERO. The PCF-l is a high performance multi-megabyte disk that can emulate a single high capacity disk or dual disks. It can provide autobooting from a floppy diskette image in addition to providing high capacity data storage. With Flash Memory and the Microsoft Flash File System (FFS), the PCF-l operates under MS DOS as a WORM storage device. Using batterybacked SRAMs with the SRAM loadable device driver, the PCF-1 operates as a

read/write SRAM Disk Emulator. Hard drive emulation mode is also supported. The PCF-1 is expandable with up to 7 MB of SRAM read/write storage or 14 MB of Flash Memory storage.

The PCE12 is capable of emulating 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" diskettes up to 1.3M, programming EPROMs or Flash memories and dual operation by emulating a secondary diskette with a battery backed SRAM daughterboard (SRDB) in capacities ranging from 64K to 1.44M.

The PCE FERO is a compact, low cost disk emulator that uses EPROMs or Flash Memories. Flash memories can be erased, programmed and read on the PCE FERO or EPROMs that have been programmed on a PCE/2 can be operated in a read only mode. It is particularly well suited for diskless LAN terminals that require autobooting and special safeguards for LANs and complex distributed networks.

The CardSharkII Carddrives allow PCMCIA PC Cards to be inserted and operated in a desktop PC. All types of PC Cards are supported including memory cards, I/O cards and PCMCIA harddrives. The CardSharkII comes with an ISA bus adapter card and either an internal or external 3 1/2" carddrive. It allows simultaneous operation of two type 1 or type 2 cards, or one type 3 PCMCIA harddrive.

Curtis Inc

418 West County Road D, St. Paul, MN 55112

612-631-9512,  fax 612-631-9508


AudioFile License TalkWorks to IBM for Mwave
AUDIOFILE ANNOUNCES LICENSE TO IBM

TalkWorks Will Be Included With Mwave Products

April 13, 1994 -- LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS--AudioFile announced today that IBM is licensing the company's TalkWorks software. Marketed under the name TalkWorks for Mwave, the new offering combines the premier Windows voice messaging system with IBM's market leading Mwave digital signal processor (DSP).

TalkWorks gives users the ability to record, playback and edit voice messages in Windows applications, employing state-of-the-art audio processing techniques. The Mwave platform offers board and system OEMs the ability to create advanced multimedia products including audio, voice, fax and modem capabilities.

According to Dave McLean, manager, Mwave marketing and business development for IBM Microelectronics, "TalkWorks highlights the powerful audio capabilities of the Mwave."

"We're excited about working with the IBM Microelectronics," noted Dr. Richard Goldhor, chief technical officer at AudioFile. "We have customized TalkWorks to take advantage of the functionality of the DSP. End users will benefit from unparalleled performance for voice messaging."

TalkWorks for Mwave includes both AudioRecorder, an OLE server for recording, embedding, and playing of audio, and AudioEditor, adding high performance editing of both compressed and uncompressed digital audio files. Audio compression packaged with TalkWorks for Mwave includes Microsoft ADPCM, IMA ADPCM, and a very high quality AudioFile 10:1 compression based on the European GSM mobile telephony standard.

AudioFile is a leader in the development of voice messaging products for personal computers. Founded in 1990, AudioFile is the first company make to business applications of audio practical, by using advanced audio processing techniques. TalkWorks is built by an engineering team with years of experience in speech recognition, text-to-speech and audio processing. TalkWorks is compatible with the Microsoft Windows Sound System, Compaq Business Audio and all major digital audio standards such as the Microsoft Audio Compression Manager. AudioFile customers other than IBM Microelectronics include the IBM PC Company, NEC, Lotus Development, Analog Devices, and Orchid.

TalkWorks is available from AudioFile for $59. AudioFile can be reached at (800) 52-AUDIO.

AudioFile

4 Militia Dr, Lexington, MA 02173

617-863-0890,  fax 617-863-0956


Gale Dir of Databases & ISMEC Mech Eng Abstract
Gale Directory of Databases and ISMEC: Mechanical Engineering Abstracts Now Available from SilverPlatter Information, Inc.

April 6, 1994 -- The Gale Directory of Databases from Gale Research, Inc. is now published on SilverPlatter. This product is a comprehensive guide to publicly available databases produced worldwide. It covers databases of all types in all subject areas. The Gale Directory of Databases contains descriptions of 5,300 databases accessible through more than 820 online services plus more than 3,500 databases available on CD-ROM, diskette, or magnetic tape, as a handheld unit, or through batch processing from 950 vendors. The Gale Directory of Databases is on a single disc and is updated semiannually. A single user annual subscription is $600*.

From Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, ISMEC: Mechanical Engineering Abstracts provides summaries of the world literature in mechanical engineering, production engineering, and engineering management. Theoretical perspectives as well as applications are presented. The database reports key developments in a wide range of technologically innovative areas. Topics covered include operations research, transportation engineering, robotics, CAD/CAM and CIM/CAE, and fluid mechanics. ISMEC is on a single disc and is updated quarterly with coverage dating from 1973 to present. A single user annual subscription is $1,995*.

SilverPlatter, a leading distributor of electronic information products and services, is committed to bringing right information and right software to the service of its markets.

SilverPlatter Information, Inc.

100 River Ridge Dr, Norwood, MA 02062-5026

1-800-343-0064 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-617-769-2599

Fax: 1-617-769-8763

SilverPlatter Information Ltd.

10 Barley Mow Passage

Chiswick London W4 4PH U.K.

Tel: +44(0) 81-995-8242 or 0800-262-096

Fax: +44(0) 81-995-5159

Internet: info@silverplatter.com


Interplay & Accolade Bundling Agreement
Interplay Productions and Accolade Sign Bundling Agreement

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 12, 1994 -- Interplay Productions, Inc. today announced that it has signed an exclusive bundling deal with Accolade Inc., a leading worldwide publisher of entertainment software. The agreement gives Interplay the right to OEM all Accolade CD-ROM and PC games in North America.

The first offer will be Accolade's All-Star Sports Collection, a CD-ROM featuring products from the award-winning Sport Accolade line.

"Accolade is happy to tie up with one of the industry's leading OEM programs," said Brenden Maloof, vice-president of new business, "and we are looking forward to maximizing our return on some of our already successful games."

"Interplay strives to represent the best in software with our OEM bundling, and Accolade certainly fits that title with their great sports software," said Jill Goldworn, Interplay's director of contract sales. "We are proud to have Accolade on our roster of top publishers that include Paramount Interactive, I Motion, Virgin Interactive, Informative Graphics and Lucas Arts Entertainment among others."

Founded in 1983, Interplay Productions, Inc. manufactures and distributes a wide range of award winning entertainment and educational software. Interplay, its MacPlay division and their affiliates release products for IBM and compatibles, CD-ROM, Macintosh as well as 3DO, SEGA and Nintendo platforms. Other company titles include: The Lost Vikings, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, Mario Teaches Typing, Battle Chess; and Clay Fighter.

Accolade Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software products for leading hardware systems. Accolade distributes its products worldwide under the Accolade and Sport Accolade labels. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Accolade is a privately held company with offices in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Accolade, 5300 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95129

408-985-1700;  Fax: 408-246-1053

Interplay Productions, 17922 Fitch Ave, Irvine, CA 92714

714-553-6655, Fax: 714-252-2820


DOS Beyond 640K, 3rd Edition
PC Users Can Beat DOS Memory Limits with New Edition of Bestselling Guide

BLUE RIDGE SUMMIT, PA--DOS has been slow to respond to the mounting memory appetites of many popular applications. But with DOS Beyond 640K, 3rd Edition, PC users can break through the 640K memory barrier and explore the exciting new level of computing potential that lies beyond.

Jim Forney tells readers how to maintain larger data files, create more flexible multitasking work environments, and run more powerful applications . . . without buying a whole new computer.

Now completely revised with over 75% new material to include in-depth information on the latest alternatives and options available to RAM-restricted DOS users, this third edition covers:

* Multiple startup configurations for popular operating systems

* New extended and expanded memory options

* Improved memory managers

* DOS-extended applications

* Real vs. Protected Mode memory management schemes

* Memory requirements for major software packages

Updated to cover Windows 3.1, MS-DOS 6, DR DOS 6.0, OS/2 2.0, and new memory management products

About the Author:

A consultant and former contributing editor to Computer Buyer's Guide Jim Forney is the author of Windows 3.1 Demystified. He currently writes for PC magazine and other computing publications.

DOS Beyond 640K, 3rd Edition

Jim Forney

Paper $24.95 Order No./ISBN 0-07-021610-X

Hard $39.95 ISBN 0-07-021609-6

288 pp., 43 illus., 7 x 10

Wincrest/TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850

1-800-233-1128,  FAX 717-794-2103


TRINZIC EXPANDS ALTERNATE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS

Keen Interest in Leading Client/Server Tools Draws Hundreds of VARs into New Affiliates Program

Palo Alto, CA, April 12, 1994--Trinzic Corporation (NASDAQ:TRNZ) today announced that it has established an Affiliates Program aimed at attracting and retaining a range of third-party providers who will recommend and/or resell its middleware and application development tools, or who will use its tools as an integral part of their own product development efforts.

The program provides for graduated levels of incentives as well as technical support and training depending on the needs of the third-party partner.

"Trinzic has recognized that resellers will represent an important source of revenue growth in the market. The establishment of this structured and formal program reaffirms our commitment to this strategy," noted Alan L. Codkind, Vice President, Business Development for Trinzic. "Our approach offers flexibility and strong incentives to meet the needs of a wide range of these providers." According to Codkind, a tremendous amount of interest in Trinzic has been driven by its InfoPump middleware product. One hundred twenty new resellers have contracted with Trinzic in the last 60 days, with hundreds more actively interested in the Affiliates Program

Program Matches Interest and Commitment Level of Partner

Trinzic's Affiliates Program, structured around five categories, offers flexibility and increasing incentives based on a third-party partner's needs:

Strategic Affiliate: Trinzic works closely with its Strategic Affiliates to develop a program customized to their particular business models. Under this program, mutually advantageous commitment levels, joint marketing programs, distribution elements and re-engineering agreements are reached. Trinzic's current Strategic Affiliates include Sybase, Micro DecisionWare, and Lotus Development Corporation.

Standard Affiliate: In this entry-level category, a reseller is afforded an opportunity to become familiar with Trinzic's products. Trinzic does not require Standard Affiliates to stock products or maintain a level of sales commitment. Trinzic offers its Standard Affiliates territorial coverage and distribution opportunities.

Premier Affiliate: Aimed at systems integrators and resellers who provide comprehensive educational, consulting, implementation and support services to their customers, this program category offers stronger incentives for those partners willing to commit to significant resale levels for Trinzic's products.

Developer Affiliate: This program category is intended for software development firms and value-added relicensors who are using Trinzic products to build or enhance their own products. For this category of affiliate, Trinzic offers development software, support, training, and promotional programs.

Consultant Affiliate: As a Consultant Affiliate, an organization has access to Trinzic's products for its own use as well as technical support and training for the products. As a Consultant Affiliate, an organization will not market Trinzic's products, but will work in a consulting and training capacity for deploying and supporting Trinzic products at customer sites.

As a Standard Affiliate, Noteable! Inc. of Calgary, Alberta has found the program helpful in meeting the challenging needs of its clients. As a technical and business application consulting firm, providing workflow solutions using Lotus Notes, Noteable! selected InfoPump to resolve an outstanding client requirement for data integration. "Trinzic responded with a solid support program which included on-time software delivery, qualified on-site technical support services, and responsive help desk support to our staff during installation," said Pat Dennis, Noteable!'s president. "The Affiliates Program encourages Noteable! to work as a team with Trinzic in addressing client issues and future needs."

Trinzic products--InfoHub, InfoPump, Forest & Trees, KBMS, Aion Development System (AionDS), and Intellect--enable customers to build, integrate and implement applications in a client/server architecture. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Trinzic Corporation has more than 275 employees and a combined installed base of more than 5,200 customers representing more than 35,000 product licenses. Trinzic products are distributed by a direct sales force and key marketing partners, as well as distributors throughout North America, Europe, the Pacific Rim and South America.

Trinzic Corp

101 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301


StarClass 3.0 Class Library for CA-Clipper 5
Toronto - Loesgen Software, Inc. is pleased to announce StarClass 3.0, the latest version of their popular class library for CA-Clipper 5. Many new features have been added with Version 3.0 including font remapping (for a character mode GUI appearance) and several new classes. Among the new classes is a complete suite of CUA menu classes and a context-sensitive help system. Version 3.0 also introduces radio buttons and check boxes, and adds more capabilities for data driving applications. Fully commented source code is included for all of the classes in this event-driven product, as are extensive sample programs and an OOP tutorial. StarClass 3.0 is based on Class(y) by AppSolutions, a class creation library for CA-Clipper and includes a runtime version at no extra cost.

For further details and upgrade information, contact Loesgen Software at:

1712 Avenue Road,

Box 54605

Toronto, ON CANADA  M5M 4N5

Tel (416) 784-3618;  Fax (416) 784-3768

BBS (416) 784-9712;  CompuServe 73063,1012


Info Industry Assoc Newsletter, Apr 1994
iiiiii   iiiiii   a                INFORMATION POLICY ONLINE

  ii       ii    aaa

  ii       ii     aaa                An Internet Newsletter

  ii       ii      aaa                  published by the

  ii       ii aaaaaaaaa        Information Industry Association

  ii       ii        aaa           555 New Jersey Ave., N.W.

  ii       ii         aaa             Washington, DC 20001

  ii       ii          aaa        Internet: <iia.ipo@his.com>

iiiiii   iiiiii       aaaaaaa   Volume 1, Number 2, April 1994

*****************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE:

[1]  How Washington Fights Crime

[2]  Health Care Reform Spotlights Privacy of Health Care Records

[3]  IIA Pushes Fair Information Practices Guidelines

[4]  Opperman on Internet

[5]  This Could (Really!) Be the Year for Telecommunications

     Legislation

[6]  Calif. Bill Would Require All State Govt. Information to Be

     Disseminated via Internet

[7]  Federal Software Copyright Proposal Revived

[8]  Seminar Announcement: "Copyright Protection and the

     Information Superhighway: Writing the Rules of the Road"

[9]  About "Information Policy Online" and the Information

     Industry Association

*****************************************************************

[1]

HOW WASHINGTON FIGHTS CRIME

by Steve Metalitz

Senior Vice President of IIA and

Editor of Information Policy Online

It is spring and an election year, so inevitably the

thoughts of Washington policymakers turn to crime -- not

committing it but fighting it. Crime bills are perennial

political crowd pleasers. This year, there have been some

particularly strange twists to this biennial federal ritual.

From both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, efforts are underway to

help the nation fight violent crime by... restricting the flow of

information. Information companies, not usually thought of as

major players in the crime policy fields, need to jump in to

protest this notion.

The Senate jumped the gun in this race last fall, when it

passed the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) as part of an

omnibus crime measure. Because, in a few celebrated cases,

criminals have located their victims by looking up their license

plates in public records maintained by state motor vehicle

agencies, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) persuaded her colleagues to

order all states to shut off all public access to these records,

with a few limited exceptions.

The House of Representatives broke ranks by actually holding

two hearings in February on the companion measure, sponsored by

Rep. James Moran (D-VA). Efforts have been underway since then

to moderate the impact of the legislation, which would set a

disastrous precedent for restricting access to all kinds of

public records held by state and local governments. The March 21

redraft of the DPPA takes some steps in the right direction. It

would allow, for example, broader access to motor vehicle records

for use in research, litigation, and security investigations, and

would make the penalties for improper disclosure more realistic.

But it leaves unchanged the basic premise: that these

traditionally public records should be "presumed secret" and that

the federal government should dictate which business uses of such

records are permissible or forbidden.

The House crime bill hit a last-minute snag just before

Congress' spring recess. The revised version of DPPA will be

offered as an amendment to the crime bill on the House floor,

probably during the week of April 10. It is almost sure to pass,

and the final text of the legislation will be written by a House-

Senate conference committee later in the spring. Now would be an

excellent time to acquaint your House member [write to him or her

at U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515] with the

value of access to public records, and to urge him or her to

share this concern with members of the House Judiciary Committee,

from which the conference committee members will be drawn.

A better publicized initiative to fight crime through

information policy is the brainchild of federal law enforcement

agencies. The Digital Telephony and Communications Privacy

Improvement Act of 1994 is a recycled version of a Bush

Administration idea -- to require all the nation's

telecommunications systems to be designed to facilitate law

enforcement interceptions of voice and data traffic in digital

formats. While the Republicans proposed to make telephone

ratepayers foot the bill for the cost retrofitting and design

changes needed to achieve this goal, the current Democratic

version would hand the check to the taxpayers. So far, Congress

has been unenthusiastic about the digital telephony proposal --

in great part, because a broad alliance representing the computer

and telecommunications industries, and public interest groups,

have raised so many questions about it. Speaking at a hearing on

March 18, FBI Director Louis Freeh portrayed an effort to prevent

digital technology from working a "de facto repeal" of law

enforcement's authority to fight crime and terrorism through

court-ordered wiretapping, while coalition witnesses denounced

federal attempts to impede the development of valuable

communications technologies and to turn the telephone network

into a gigantic surveillance apparatus.

The digital telephony proposal exemplified a trend. Several

pending federal initiatives have the stated aim of increasing

government's ability to monitor traffic on today's and tomorrow's

information networks. The proposals range from cutting-edge

cryptography such as the "Clipper Chip" proposal [see story in

last month's IPO] to simple "law enforcement exemptions to laws

such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act that were passed to protect

personal privacy. The motivation is to give law enforcement

better tools for fighting crime, but the impact could spread far

beyond, into the perceptions of consumers and businesses about

the security or insecurity of information networks and

technologies.

Not surprisingly, while federal officials are eager to talk

about fighting crime, they are not always so enthusiastic about

discussing these broader issues. For example, while the inquiry

by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration

into privacy and telecommunications covers as extraordinary range

of questions about how the private sector acquires, uses and

disseminates information, issues of governmental access to

personal information are explicitly off limits. In the NTIA

inquiry, as well as in the debate over DPPA and digital

telephony, the information industry will continue to offer a

broader perspective on attempts to fight crime by restricting the

flow of information.

*****************************************************************

[2]

HEALTH CARE REFORM SPOTLIGHTS PRIVACY OF HEALTH CARE RECORDS

Representative Gary Condit (D-CA) has introduced long

anticipated legislation regarding privacy guidelines for the use

and disclosure of health care records. "Regardless of how the

health delivery and payment system is restructured," said Condit,

"there is and will continue to be a need for a code of fair

information practices." He referred to several studies and an

Equifax/Louis Harris public opinion poll as support for the

necessity of introducing legislation addressing uniform health

confidentiality legislation.

The bill, H.R. 4077, specifies that it covers only

"protected health information," which is defined as "any

information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium, that

is created or received by a health use trustee or a public health

trustee in a state and relates to the past, present, or future

physical or mental health of an individual, or payment for the

provision of health care to an individual and identifies the

individual..." A health care trustee is a person who receives or

creates protected health information.

Although information companies generally support the

legislation, it raises question for them. What impact

will this legislation have for other types of information

regulated by the government? How broadly will the definition of

"protected health information" be interpreted? Will this bill

prevail or will it be one of the privacy guidelines in other

health care reform legislation?

Condit's version seems likely to prevail because the

subcommittee he chairs, the Subcommittee on Information, Justice,

Transportation, and Agriculture, has jurisdiction over any

section of any bill that addresses health care information. One

thing is certain: health care information collection and privacy

continue to be legislatively "hot" topics.

*****************************************************************

[3]

IIA PUSHES FAIR INFORMATION PRACTICES GUIDELINES

The Information Industry Association has adopted and is

espousing Fair Information Practices Guidelines. The FIP

Guidelines have three main audiences:

-    Policymakers at all levels of government contemplating

     regulation of corporate information practices to

     protect privacy [See previous story];

-    Information companies who can use the guidelines to

     make their own privacy policies to address customers'

     concerns; and

-    Members of the public who have growing concern about

     the way companies handle personal information.

     The guidelines consist of five general principles.

1.   Companies are encouraged to:

a)   establish a policy on fair information practices regarding

     personally identifiable information they collect, use and

     distribute;

b)   make this policy publicly available;

c)   review the policy periodically and update it if needed; and

d)   establish means and standards for monitoring compliance with

     the policy and establish accountability for it.

2.   Companies are encouraged to:

     take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect personally

     identifiable information against risks such as loss, and

     unauthorized access, use, modification, disclosure or

     destruction.  If such information is provided to third

     parties, companies are encouraged to require those third

     parties to have comparable protections.

3.   Companies are encouraged to:

promulgate policies and practices that address the conditions

associated with their receipt of all personally identifiable

information, including the following:

a)   When such information is requested directly from the

     individual, the company is encouraged to disclose to him/her

     how it intends to use the information.

b)   When a company obtains such information from other private

     sources, it should be used only for purposes consistent with

     the conditions under which it was obtained.

c)   Collection, use and distribution of personally identifiable

     information should be in accordance with all applicable laws

     and regulations, including those pertaining to records

     collected by a government entity and made available to the

     public.

4.   Companies are encouraged to:

take steps to attain and maintain the highest practicable level

of information quality, consistent with industry practice and

customer need.

5.   Companies are encouraged to:

establish and implement an inquiry and inspection procedure,

under which an individual can:

a)   Learn if the company has personally identifiable information

     about him/her;

b)   Have the information communicated within a reasonable time

     and under reasonable conditions;

c)   Have the company correct or delete inaccurate or incomplete

     personally identifiable information, or, if appropriate,

     have the company identify the source of the information so

     that the individual can seek to have the inaccurate or

     incomplete information corrected or deleted;

d)   Receive a prompt explanation if the company cannot fulfill

     an inquiry and inspection request, or if the company elects

     not to change or delete personally identifiable information

     which the individual has challenged as inaccurate or

     incomplete.

IIA publishes the Fair Information Practices Guidelines

together with a commentary on each principle and an 18-point Fair

Information Practices Checklist to help companies develop or

improve their fair information practices or privacy/data

protection policies.

*****************************************************************

[4]

OPPERMAN ON INTERNET

Vance K. Opperman, member of the U.S. Advisory Council on

the National Information Infrastructure, has established an

Internet address:  <opperman@research.westlaw.com>.

For persons without access to the Internet, a post office

box has been established:

  Opperman/Internet

  P.O. Box 64503

  St. Paul, MN 55164-0503

Vance K. Opperman is President of West Publishing Company

and a member of the Information Industry Association.

*****************************************************************

[5]

THIS COULD BE THE YEAR FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION

Some might call it March madness, but last month hopes were

raised that Congress will actually pass comprehensive

telecommunications reform legislation. The two House committees

charged with the issue reported out substantially similar

versions of legislation that is expected to go before the full

House in April. On the Senate side, the Commerce Committee

continued its hearings on schedule. Both chambers appear to be

making progress rapidly on the issues of greatest concern to

information companies.

In the House, the Energy & Commerce and the Judiciary

Committees have both completed action on H.R. 3626 (the Brooks-

Dingell bill) and H.R. 3636, legislation authored by

Telecommunications Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey. Before mark-

up, three primary issues of importance to information providers

arose. First, the issue of defining electronic publishing for

the purpose of establishing RBOC (regional Bell operating

companies) separate subsidiary requirements moved ahead. The

original version of H.R. 3626 contained language which almost

every information provider agreed was inadequate to guarantee

that the information services marketplace remain competitive.

After mark-ups were complete, the Judiciary Committee had agreed

to a definition that is very similar to what is contained in the

Senate bill, S. 1822. While Energy & Commerce members did not go

quite so far, the general consensus in Washington is that

Chairman John Dingell's (D-MI) acceptance of expanding the

definition can only bode well for future actions.

The second major issue that ended favorably for electronic

publishers was a clear recognition that states are not allowed to

regulate rates for information services. Chairman Markey, at his

subcommittee mark-up in February, had introduced a new version of

H.R. 3636 which would have changed longstanding FCC policy and

allowed states to regulate the rates charged by information

providers. In the final analysis, however, the bill maintained

the status quo, so that the marketplace and not regulators will

set the rates.

Finally, both Committees acted to endorse strong

requirements that RBOCs must provide customer proprietary network

information to all electronic publishers on the same terms and

conditions that they supply such information to any electronic

publishers, including their own subsidiaries.

Because of differences in the versions of the bills reported

out by each Committee, Chairman Brooks and Chairman Dingell are

expected to work together to iron out areas of conflict. It

appears that they will take a consensus bill to the House floor

for action before May 1.

On the Senate side, work continues. The Committee plans to

continue hearings on its legislation, S. 1822, through early

spring, but it is not certain whether mark-up will occur prior to

House floor action. However, Chairman Hollings has indicated

that he too believes this will be the year when Congress enacts a

comprehensive telecommunications reform measure.

*****************************************************************

[6]

CALIF. BILL WOULD REQUIRE ALL STATE GOVT.

INFORMATION TO BE DISSEMINATED VIA INTERNET

A bill introduced in the California legislation would

require that state public information which is currently

computerized be available to the public at no cost by computer.

The bill would require the CA Office of Information Technology in

the Department of Finance to develop a plan to make copies of all

information that is computerized by any state agency and that is

subject to disclosure under three existing statutes accessible to

the public in computer-readable form.

In its current form, the bill, AB 2451, prohibits agencies

from charging fees as a condition of accessing the information.

However, during the debate surrounding last year's legislation to

make CA legislative information available via the Internet, some

lawmakers suggested that there be a "two-tier" pricing scheme for

the information made available electronically. Under a proposed

two-tier pricing structure, members of the public would be

charged one price for the information or receive it for free and

commercial users would pay a higher fee. The proponents of

two-tier pricing want to use the higher commercial fees to raise

revenue.

*****************************************************************

[7]

FEDERAL SOFTWARE COPYRIGHT PROPOSAL REVIVED

Buried deep within a mammoth bill to reform the way the

military and federal civilian agencies buy products and services

is a bad idea that could make the federal government's

information less accessible to information companies and to the

general public. The idea is to allow the federal government to

claim copyright in computer software developed by its employees.

That would overturn a century-old policy that helps ensure that

federal data are accessible to all comers for all appropriate

uses.

In past years, the proposal to give the federal government

copyright over computer programs has been limited to software

developed in cooperative research and development agreements

between federal laboratories and non-federal researchers. The

current proposal is far broader. It would amend section 105 of

the Copyright Act -- the longstanding prohibition on copyright in

works of the U.S. government -- to make the government the

copyright owner of ANY computer program developed by a federal

employee on the job. Potentially, software that is needed to

access census data, Library of Congress files, federal scientific

and technical data -- even the planned Government Information

Locator Service itself -- could be claimed by the federal

government and licensed exclusively, creating a de facto monopoly

over previously public information.

Of all places, this sweeping government power play over

public information popped up in S. 1587, the Federal Acquisition

Streamlining Act, introduced by Sen. John Glenn (D-OH). In

February, as the bill moved onto the fast track for Senate

action, an industry coalition assembled to fight the federal

copyright provision. In March, fifteen coalition members --

including all the leading software trade associations, library

organizations, and some press and public interest groups -- wrote

the chairs of the two committees considering the bill. Calling

the federal software copyright plan "profoundly problematic," the

signers urged the committees to drop this provision.

It appears that no one involved with Congressional

consideration of S. 1587 had ever focused on this particular

provision of the complex procurement legislation, so it may be

possible to have it removed as the bill moves toward enactment.

The Administration has given mixed signals about the proposal,

and the outcome remains unclear. Letters from information

companies and concerned citizens to Senators, particularly those

serving on the Armed Services or Governmental Affairs committees,

would be timely NOW!

*****************************************************************

[8]

PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR AT INFO TELECOM '94

The Information Industry Association is sponsoring a pre-

conference seminar at Info Telecom '94.

TITLE: "Copyright Protection and the Information

       Superhighway: Writing the Rules of the Road"

DATE:  Monday, April 25, 1994

TIME:  1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

PLACE: Ritz Carlton Hotel

  2100 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.

  Washington, DC

COST:  $100 for IIA members; $195 for non-members

The seminar will focus on two major questions:

(1)  What are the practical risks faced by content providers in

     an online networked environment? and

(2)  What technological and/or legal solutions are essential for

     proprietary rights holders to do business in the new

     networked information environment?

Speakers include Howard Reblitz (CCH Inc.), Stephen L.

Haynes (West Publishing), Joseph L. Ebersole (Law Offices of

Joseph L. Ebersole), Henry Perritt (Villanova Law School), and

Kenneth Allen (IIA).

**************************************************************

[9]

ABOUT "INFORMATION POLICY ONLINE"

INFORMATION POLICY ONLINE (IIA-IPO) is an online newsletter

published on the Internet by the Information Industry Association

and distributed free of charge. The purpose of the Newsletter is

to inform readers of events and activities affecting information

policy, and to present an information industry viewpoint

concerning these events and activities.

IIA-IPO is copyrighted by the Information Industry

Association; however, IIA-IPO is distributed without charge and

may be freely reproduced and redistributed. Please acknowledge

IIA-IPO as the source of the information when quoting or

redistributing the newsletter.

TO SUBSCRIBE TO IIA-IPO:  Send the message "subscribe" to

<iiaipo-request@his.com>.

ARCHIVES.  IIA-IPO is archived. To get archived copies, ftp

to <ftpmail@his.com> with the message "GET FILENAME." Individual

monthly issues are archived with file names "iia0394.zip" for

March 1994, "iia0494.zip" for April 1994, etc.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT THE INFORMATION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

THE INFORMATION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION represents leading

organizations involved in the generation, processing,

distribution and use of information. IIA is home base for

businesses offering the innovative products and services

that make up the information marketplace.IIA fosters a responsive

and responsible forum for promoting a competitive and growing

information marketplace.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

President of the IIA: Kenneth B. Allen

Editor of Information Policy Online: Steven J. Metalitz,

IIA Vice President and General Counsel

Consulting Editor: J. Timothy Sprehe, Sprehe Information

Management Associates

For messages to IIA-IPO:  <iia.ipo@his.com>

Voice:  (202) 639-8262.  Fax:  (202) 638-4403.

*****************************************************************


CONSULT! Computerized Prof Consultant Office
GURU! Software Introduces CONSULT! The Computerized Office for the Professional Consultant

LAFAYETTE, CA, April 15, 1994--GURU! Software today introduced CONSULT! The Computerized Office for the Professional Consultants a combination PIM, Accounting, and Expert System software program for consultants.  CONSULT! is targeted at one-person consulting operations.

CONSULT! helps the small consulting operation become more effective by organizing and giving quick access to essential General Ledger, Billing, Client, Project, To Do, Contact, Notes, and other data. The built-in "Guru" expert system helps the consultant make important business decisions to build a highly effective business.

CONSULT! is built from the ground up to accommodate those functions and only those functions required by a consultant. CONSULT! 's Guru module is a highly innovative method of helping the consultant make important decisions. It is built on an extensive knowledge base culled from years of research and business experiences.

In addition, CONSULT! includes over two dozen Free Business Forms for helping consultants build reports, flyers, brochures, newsletters, business plans, strategic planning sessions, and many others business forms (in Microsoft Word and PageMaker). CONSULT!  also comes with a Business Hot-Line number that consultants can call for free business advice.

CONSULT! is written using the Helix Express database engine. It is priced at $495. The package includes the program itself with complete documentation and on-line context-sensitive help, the free Business Forms, and the free Business Hot-Line. A one year service contract, customization, and site license arrangements are available. Mac Hardware bundles are also available. The package is available directly from Roy Posner & Associates. Distribution inquiries and Joint Venture agreements are welcome.

ROY POSNER & ASSOCIATES

Roy Posner & Associates, founded in 1990, offers products and services to owners, CEOs, managers, and consultants for the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness, productivity, and financial position of our customers and clients.

The products and services offered include training sessions and workshops, productivity and decision support software tools, and management and computer consulting services. The company is also committed to pure research and development.

Roy Posner & Associates was founded in 1990 in Lafayette, California (in the San Francisco Bay Region). It services customers and clients locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Its credentials include membership in the American Management Association, Apple Consultants Relations, and Certified Helix Developer.

Roy Posner & Associates

3366 Mt. Diablo Blvd. #35

Lafayette, CA  94549 USA

510-283-1146

-----------------------------------------------------------------

OVERVIEW

Consult!, The Computerized Office for the Professional Consultant, is an all in one software application for independent consultants.

Consult! is a breakthrough program; part Personal Information Manager, part Accounting system, and part Business Advisor.   Consult! is the most comprehensive and integrated program ever developed for the consultant.

Personal Information Manager

Consult! is a Personal Information manager (PIM).  Consult! lets you establish your values and goals as a consultant, track projects and sub-tasks, keep a calendar and to do list, and track contacts and random notes.  In addition, you can analyze your performance in carrying out your projects and get advice on how to handle future projects.   Moreover, you'll be able to analyze future work potential for your clients, and keep track of the services you've performed for your clients if potential clients ask you for references.

Values Integration

Consult!'s Values Integration feature can help you energize and improve any activity you partake in.  By applying a business value to an activity (such as a to do, or a project task), your work comes alive, is freshly focused, and is becomes effective.

Many business advisors agree that implementing values in one's work may be the single key to the long term success of any business or businessperson.

Accounting Manager

Consult! is an Accounting manager.  Use the default chart of accounts.  Enter general ledger transactions, including deposits and disbursements.  Create recurring entry transactions.  Run a 1099 report.  Print checks.  Create invoices, track receivables, and enter payments against invoices.  See your cash flow, bank balances, credit card balances, profit and loss, and net worth.

One Stop Reminder Screen

With Consult!'s convenient single Reminder screen you will know at any moment how many to dos you have today and how many are past deadline, which goals and projects are falling behind and demand immediate attention, how much money is overdue, how much money is expected in the short and long term, your current bank balance, and much more.

Business Advisor

Consult!'s Business Advisor will help you make important business decisions as a consultant; in operating your business, in working with clients, and in examining your own perceptions and attitudes as a consultant.

Power Cross Referencing

One of Consult!'s most powerful features is Power Cross Referencing.  Never before have consultants had the power to cross reference  information in one area to related information in a different area.

Projects, clients, to dos, contacts, and billing information are dynamically interlinked. This helps the consultant see relationships between data never thought of before.

For example, from a To Do entry you could zoom to a related client's info card.  You could similarly jump to a related  project.  There are countless examples of power cross referencing throughout Consult!.

Customization

No two businesses work alike.  Consult! is the only program for consultants that can be completely customized by the manufacturer  to work exactly the way you do! Imagine, software that fits like a glove, and works like a charm!

Support, Training Available


OOTher V1.06b OO Documentation & CASE Tool
OOTher -- OO Documentation & CASE Tool Release 1.06b for MS-Windows 3.1

The tool is a complete documentation development package for the following methods/notations:

- Peter Coad's OOA method (Coad/Yourdon)

- State Machine diagrams using a subset of SDL

- allocation of objects to processors and processes

- Use Case diagrams and Object Interaction diagrams

  as proposed by Ivar Jacobson in his OOSE book

The tool also performs verification of consistency between the  diagrams, and by direct coupling assures for consistent naming of objects and methods/services.

The tool is build around 5 easy to use graphic editors and is  capable of documenting all objects, their attributes, services  and also associations between objects.

Each service may have a state machine (FSM) diagram. C++ Headers may be generated automatically from the OOA diagram - it assures consistent naming of member functions and attributes. The applied mark-up notation for C++ headers should be powerful  to give compliler ready headers for at least 80% of applications.

For a better integrability with other windows applications and to allow esthetical control, the tool allows free font selection and a copy-paste transfer of diagrams via clipboard in meta file format to e.g. Word for Windows 2.0.

The resulting file is ASCII with open & documented format, i.e. it's easy to add own utilities for data extraction.

Complete user documentation is attached in form of a hypertext windows-help file.

The tools distributed as:

- freeware for students

- as shareware for others (USD $70/home user license,

  USD $170 for corporate 1-5 user license).

- free upgrade form 1.0x to 1.06b for registered users if they

  fetch files from e.g. SimTel Software Repository

- free evaluation in 4 weeks

- an evaluation copy may be ordered from the author

  (USD $70, rest of the license fee if/when you register)

      Roman M. Zielinski

      Tre Kaellors Vaeg 7

      S-145 65 Norsborg Sweden

  (You may also reach me at conrozi@KK.ericsson.se until July-94)

*****   Version 1.06b contains bug corrections and updates:

1. Fixed UAE when calling FSM before any service is created.

2. Fixed printing when View,ShowServ/Attr was 'off' did suppress

   serv/attr in OOA graphics printout

3. New parameters PenWidthFine, PenWidthBold and PenWidthDash

   in win.ini allow user customizable line widths

4. By means of the new parameter viewer= in win.ini and

   File, Customize Paths. You may specify another viewer

   application than notepad.exe.

   (viewer may be path, file.exe or file.pif)

5. There was a bug in check that name of a copied object is

   already used

6. Corrected the lost current working directory at copy/import

   object handling

7. I made the copy/import object dialogue more consistent

8. Recompiled under Borland C++ 4.0

*****   Version 1.06a contains new functions:

- state machine editor administers diagrams per service

- improved drawing in FSM diagram (aligning functions)

- use case overview diagram editor

- object interaction diagrams (sequence diagrams) editor

- verification of consistency between diagrams

- C++ header generation

- name of file to be edited can be passed as argument when

  starting OOTher (e.g. from the File Manager)

- the recently edited files, as remembered by OOTher may

  be located anywhere

- all paths used by OOTher can be customized via a dialogue

  (it was earlier done by manual editing the WIN.INI file)

- description texts may now be up to 5000 characters

  (earlier 1500)

- bug corrections from 1.05a/b


DataSponge Data Acquisition Software
Data acquisition software for IBM PC

outperforms chart recorders in versatility, resolution and cost

8 April 1994 -- DataSponge--a high performance software program achieving major advances in speed, display resolution, data storage, and low-cost, flexible printing capabilities--has doubled its speed and added full Postscript support in addition to other powerful new features. These include: quicker user interface, on-the-fly data annotation, high resolution color display, an optional X-Y oscilloscopic display, instant digital readouts during sampling or playback using smart cursors and mouse, context-sensitive help, and full networking capabilities.

The proven features of this versatile research tool have been retained, too, including easy A/D board setup and preparation for sampling and real-time graphic calibration. Provides simultaneous storage to hard disk, and lag-free display even while sampling at the A/D board's maximum rate. Real-time VCR-style screen review of acquired data, easy data transfer to spreadsheet or analysis programs, and a variety of low-cost laser printing options make DataSponge a comprehensive data acquisition solution for high-volume, high-speed life science applications.

A free demo disk is available.

World Precision Instruments

175 Sarasota Center Blvd

Sarasota, Florida 34240-9258.

813-371-1003,  fax 813-377-5428


Open-Systems E-Mail Arch for Enterprise Network
                      White Paper

AN OPEN-SYSTEMS E-MAIL ARCHITECTURE FOR THE ENTERPRISE NETWORK

                      April 4, 1994

-----------------------------------------------------------------

                   Z-Code Software Corp.

                 101 Rowland Way, Ste. 300

                     Novato, CA 94945

            Tel: 415-898-8649,  Fax: 415-898-8299

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Electronic mail has emerged as perhaps the leading productivity tool for communicating within and between organizations. But the most widely-used architectures for implementing e-mail solutions -- based on mainframes or PCs, with central file servers and proprietary protocols -- are becoming obsolete as networks grow larger and more complex. A new e-mail paradigm is needed to address the emerging enterprise network -- a paradigm that involves standard protocols, separation of user and transport functions, and the use of a messaging "backbone" that in many enterprises already exists.

How Traditional E-Mail Systems Work

On a typical PC LAN-based network, e-mail packages are implemented through a common file system architecture, where the sender and recipient have access to the same shared file system. When one user sends mail to another, the mail is deposited directly into a central file server, or main message store, which resides on a shared network drive. This design assumes the use of some kind of PC LAN system (such as Novell) and a configuration in which all users share the same network file server and network drive.

While nothing is wrong with a centralized message storage design in principle, this solution breaks down when the user community grows or becomes geographically dispersed. Once a certain threshold of users is exceeded, bandwidth bottlenecks begin to occur at the file-server level. At this point the message-storage function must be distributed among multiple servers. The result is increasing expenditures on hardware, software and personnel resources as this configuration becomes more complex. Furthermore, network administration becomes difficult because this design allows no flexibility for segmenting the network and network drives into different (or even separate) configurations.

While some PC-based e-mail systems provide for add-on gateways that can forward messages to other LANs or disparate networks, these typically rely on proprietary protocols. Novell's Mail Handling System (MHS), for example, is a platform-specific implementation that operates only on Novell networks. Furthermore, the MHS specification and implementation are dependent on the Novell NetWare architecture and require the (also proprietary) IPX/SPX protocol suite. Similarly, Lotus cc:Mail and Microsoft Mail use proprietary message store protocols, requiring gateways when messages are sent to users on other systems.

In short, PC-based e-mail packages are not inherently "open" systems -- i.e., their design and architectural specifications are not openly available, and any two implementations are not interoperable. Because such packages rely on specific networking protocols, the user's choice of mail servers is limited to PCs -- not the server platforms of choice for widely distributed networking environments.

A New Paradigm for E-Mail Architectures

How, then should an e-mail system work? In today's growing networks and internetworks, a prime consideration is interoperability with other computers, networks and applications -- a true open system. For this reason, e-mail systems are best designed with two separate components: a Mail User Agent (MUA) and a Mail Transport Agent (MTA). The user interacts only with the MUA, which acts as his electronic mail manager, allowing him to view, compose and store messages, and perform other actions associated with e-mail.

The MTA is responsible for delivering mail to an address, usually another user. After a message has been prepared for processing by the MUA, it is given to the MTA for delivery. The user should not have to be concerned with the nature or function of the MTA -- only with the fact that his message will arrive at its destination.

This arrangement can be likened to that of the U.S. Postal System. The "user agent" here is anyone who receives mail at his residence. He can throw some letters away, save others, reply to still others; those replies can be composed in any language or format. The envelope, however, must be addressed according to accepted standards, so that, when he drops it into a mailbox, the "transport agent" - the post office -- can deliver it to its intended destination.

Without the use of open-systems technologies and standards, the U.S. Postal System would break down -- and so would a broad-based e-mail system. Three principles apply to constructing an effective enterprise e-mail system:

1 ) an end-user application must be available to help the user compose messages and manage his incoming mailbox:

2) a "messaging backbone" must be in place to move messages around the organization's computer network and deliver them to their destinations;

3) the end-user application must be able to submit messages to the messaging backbone for delivery, and access messages from the message store once they have been delivered.

In the open-systems paradigm, each of these three components is completely separate from the others, with which it communicates using standard network protocols. Price, performance and feature set can be optimized because the user can choose the best MUA, MTA and message protocols for his needs, rather than being forced to buy a single package containing all three. He can decide, for example, to acquire a new MTA but keep the old MUA with which his user community is familiar. (This could be compared to a company using Federal Express instead of the post office for all its mail: individual users would still write letters in the same way, but management would have to consider cost tradeoffs.) This approach alone gives users the flexibility necessary to configure their networks optimally for their specific mix of computers, networking hardware and software, and application software.

Open-Systems E-Mail -- Not a New Paradigm After All

The "new" e-mail paradigm described above has existed for some time -- as a peer-to-peer implementation in the classic UNIX environment. This approach doesn't rely on a file-system-supported central message store. If user A sends a message to user B, the message is actually sent from user A's computer to user B's computer via a Mail Transport Agent.

This solution has emerged in UNIX environments simply because such environments have provided a peer-to-peer model for electronic messaging, a model long recognized to be scalable to large environments. Using peer-to-peer communication for e-mail allows a network architecture to avoid bottlenecks at messaging servers, if too many users are based on a single server, the network topology can be dynamically reconfigured. This architecture is so flexible that a message store can be anywhere, or anything, from a single central repository to a separate entity on every user's desktop. And this open-systems e-mail design is not restricted to any one computer hardware or operating system configuration.

While an organization's end users may have PCs, Macintoshes, X terminals or workstations at their desks, certain fundamental business operations (e.g., inventory, payroll) require high-end databases that typically demand the multitasking and multiuser support and security available only on UNIX machines. Because of these and other business needs, UNIX -- along with its complete integral mail transport mechanism -- has found its way into many corporate environments. Once there, it is a natural choice for a mail backbone server for the entire enterprise network. Using UNIX as the backbone, all the "client" desktop computers can "talk" to the UNIX servers through the common networking layer, TCP/IP, which is now regarded as the de facto standard for networking in a multi-platform environment.

Mail Transport Protocols

The two most common mail transport protocols used today are X.400 and the Simple Mail Transport Protocol (SMTP). Both specify local mail delivery as well as intra-LAN and interLAN connectivity.

X.400

X.400, developed in 1984, has been positioned as the common e-mail transport standard that might establish unity among the non-standard LAN-based e-mail systems. The intent of its developers was to provide a unified way to describe not only standard text documents, but other kinds of binary data formats -- e.g., purchase orders, graphical data, database documents.

Widely implemented in Europe on mainframes and other large systems, X.400 in the U.S. is used mostly by large organizations that require connectivity between mainframes and PCs, but not to other networks or operating systems. The PC arena, which evolved from the mainframe world, has begun to embrace X.400 as LAN-based e-mail vendors have made their first halting moves toward an MUA/MTA approach. But the presence of X.400 in UNIX environments is rare chiefly because SMTP, bundled with UNIX systems since the 1970s (see below), became the standard UNIX e-mail protocol.

X.400 is tainted by problems both technical and market-oriented. First, it is so complex that no single implementation supports 100 percent of its specifications (there are 1984, 1988 and 1992 versions of the protocol). It has an overly complex addressing scheme. X.400 addresses are hard to read and typically too long to remember; they require that the sender either know which public telephone carrier the recipient uses, or go through the cumbersome process of checking a directory service for that information. Another issue is that of e-mail attachments: most X.400 transport agents today either implement only standard text messages or support incompatible extensions that cannot interoperate with other X.400 servers. Microsoft, for example, is using X.400 in its Enterprise Messaging System (EMS): but because there are no standards for identifying document types as attachments, EMS must preserve existing proprietary attachment specifications that only Microsoft Mail applications will be able to read. Lotus is experiencing the same problem with its Lotus Communications Server.

A key market obstacle to X.400's achieving critical mass is its absence from the Internet, the worldwide computer network encompassing some 20,000 computers and 20 million users. The Internet uses SMTP as its native mail transport protocol, and there is no indication that that will change.

SMTP and MIME

SMTP, initially funded by the government under DARPA, was derived as part of a project involving a networking layer for UNIX using TCP/IP as its lowest-level protocol. An extremely small and simple protocol, SMTP was well designed for small and large computers alike. Since its appearance in the 1970s as part of the Berkeley Systems Distribution (BSD) UNIX, SMTP has been implemented on all types of computers and remains independent of the lower-level networking protocol.

While standard SMTP does not support the exchange of non-printable ASCII data, there is another standard that addresses this issue. The Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) document describes how information about multipart documents that include non-text data can be sent through arbitrary transport agents. MIME-compliant user agents convert such documents into ASCII format suitable for network transportation and send them through SMTP without loss of data integrity. With MIME, e-mail systems can be built on top of existing networks and protocols and remain independent of the lower-level networking layer. But MIME's biggest advantage is that it is dynamically extensible -- if a new document type is introduced, the network doesn't have to be reconfigured, and the transport and user agents do not have to be modified.

The SMTP/MIME combination makes an excellent basis for an e-mail architecture. SMTP is simple, elegant, easily ported, independent of the networking protocol, and free on UNIX machines, the accepted server platforms for client-server computing (and thus the most apt choice for providing an organization's messaging backbone). Adding the openness and flexibility of MIME in the user agent, the user can build a power e-mail system on any platform with minimal effort and expense.

The Most Functional E-Mail System for the Lowest Price

The configuration of the most optimally functional network at the best price includes UNIX as the server platform, with TCP/IP and SMTP as the messaging backbone. Desktop devices will be determined by the specific needs of the organization, but any combination of PCs, Macs, character-based ASCII terminals, smaller UNIX machines and X terminals is possible.

In this environment, the cost of ownership of an e-mail system is driven as low as it can be. The cost of the e-mail component is that of the client e-mail software only. The user need purchase no mail transport. The need for gateways is completely eliminated (unless there is a need to connect non-"open" e-mail packages). As seen above, the cost of the messaging backbone is fully absorbed in the already existing cost of having UNIX servers in place to run the rest of the network and the business.


DataGrabber Automates Report Output to CDROM
New DataGrabber Automates The Output of Computer Reports to CD-ROM, Replacing Microfiche, Paper & COLD

New York City (April 19, 1994) -- IMR introduces DataGrabber, the PC software application that takes COM or print files generated from any computer database and extracts specified data through its automated parser, enabling direct import into an Alchemy CD-ROM database. Once in Alchemy, the data can then be indexed and copied to a recordable CD with either an MS DOS or MS Windows retrieval engine. The CD can be distributed royalty-free throughout the enterprise, replacing reams of paper, miles of microform, or expensive laser optical discs.

"Mainframes, minicomputers and PCs produce a very high volume of report files that have typically been output to paper, microfiche, or laser disc," said Robert Drucker, CEO of IMR. "With CD recorders under $4,000 and a 650MB blank CD selling for under $20, CD-ROMs are now an affordable alternative, and we realized that there was no automated application for computer report extraction to a CD-recordable format. DataGrabber is intended to provide that capability to the IS/IT department, enabling businesses to control their own report output on CD-ROM from 'cradle to grave'."

The Technology -- The beginning point is the production of a standard source electronic COM or print file, normally output from a database inquiry. Mainframe and minicomputer files are downloaded to a PC, where DataGrabber performs two operations. First, designated values are extracted from each logical record and placed in user-definable profile fields (the method used by Alchemy for indexing and retrieval). The extraction of data is accomplished by determining the location within the record by either byte offset or by identifying field labels. Second, the file is broken at designated points, creating a physical record and attaching the record to a profile. Once these operations are complete, an Alchemy database is created and can be searched by any of the profile fields. This database is then recorded to a CD-ROM using any ISO 9660 CD recorder.

Improves Upon Existing Solutions -- Before DataGrabber, users had to pay hefty charges for data conversion services by a third party or attempt to manually "massage" the data by writing a program. Now, users can vertically integrate the entire process, from data extraction of the report files to search & retrieval of the finished CD. Unlike some template or overlay programs with rigid conventions, DataGrabber is flexible enough to handle variations within a report. Storing reports on a CD will yield dramatic search efficiencies for end users, when compared to paper and microfiche. Compared to COLD (Computer Output to Laser Disc), CDs do not require an investment in costly, proprietary hardware and are readable on any CD-ROM drive.

Availability -- DataGrabber is available immediately from IMR, with a suggested retail price of $3,995. IMR also develops and markets the Alchemy software for CD recording. A total, integrated software solution for computer output to CD starts at under $5 ,000 for business end users. A professional version is also available for service bureaus.

Information Management Research Inc

5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Ste 210

Englewood, CO 80111

303-689-0022,  fax 303-689-0055


Design Center Joins Design Framework II
MicroSim's Design Center Joins with Cadence's Design Framework II

April 1, 1994 -- (Irvine, CA) MicroSim is pleased to announce that their Design Center is now fully integrated into Cadence Design Systems' Design Framework II, providing a complete analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuit design environment for Sun SPARCstation users. As such, the Design Center can be utilized within the Analog Artist design flow. Thus, designs entered in the Composer schematic editor can be simulated using PSpice or PSpice A/D with results graphically analyzed using Probe. Stimulus editing with the Stimulus Editor and semiconductor device characterization using Parts are also easily accessible from the Analog Artist environment.

The Analog Artist user interface has been augmented to fully support all of the Design Center features, including digital simulation and analysis. Cross-probing is also supported. Thus, nets and pins can be selected in the schematic to trigger automatic display of the corresponding waveform results in Probe. In addition, cross-probing can be used in a real-time mode whereby waveform results are displayed as the simulation proceeds (also known as Marching Waveforms). There is also the choice of running simulations locally or on a remote workstation.

As an integrated Cadence Connections Partner application, PSpice and PSpice A/D receive information from Cadence's central design database using an enhanced SPICE socket interface. Either hierarchical or flat PSpice netlists are automatically generated for input to the simulator. The net names used in the schematic are preserved in the netlist. Thus, waveforms displayed in Probe can be easily identified. Models that have already been developed for other Cadence simulators, and that are SPICE2G.6 compatible, can also be used with PSpice or PSpice A/D.

Cadence Integration protects the engineer's EDA investment in both Cadence and MicroSim products by providing Design Center functionality while continuing to build on their existing work within the Cadence environment. The Cadence Integration product sells for $4,950 domestically and $6,450 internationally.

For more information on the Design Center and integration into the Cadence environment, please contact MicroSim at (714) 770-3022 or (800) 245-3022, or FAX request to (714) 455-0554.

MicroSim Corp

20 Fairbanks, Irvine, CA 92718


SPICE-IT! For Windows v1.0 CAE Swr Pckg
SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0

Windows 3.1 and Windows NT Operating Systems

A Computer-Aided Engineering Software Package

Santa Clara, CA -- March 29, 1994 -- SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 combines a Berkeley-compatible "industry standard" simulation language with full-featured, graphical design tools. The engineer is furnished with a complete design-entry and analysis system for modeling circuits and systems at multiple levels of abstraction. Digital, analog, non-electronic system, and algorithms can be combined in a single simulation. Additional features include a symbol/device editor and librarian, a multi-layer schematic editor, a "point-and-shoot" interactive graphical simulation engine, circuit debugging, extensive device-model libraries, and alternate format import/export functions. The Code Modeling feature allows users to add new models directly into the simulator. This CAE package utilizes standard I/O drivers for printing/plotting as well as providing extended drivers for pen-plotter support. SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 may be utilized as an entry tool for CAD-Migos' PCB design and automation tool, THE WHOLE ENCHILADA for Windows v1.0 (Windows 3.1 and Windows NT Operating Systems) scheduled for release in Summer 1994.

PRICING/AVAILABILITY:

SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 will retail for $1,895.00. SPICE-IT! for Windows NT v1.0 will retail for $2,095.00.

SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 products are available directly from CAD-Migos Software. RELEASE DATE: Second Quarter 1994. Upon request, a free demonstration package is available. For further information, contact Pamela J. Schneider at (415) 369-5853.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 operates on IBM PC compatible platforms with system requirements of a personal computer with a 80386 processor (or higher); 4 MB of RAM; a hard disk with 10 MB of free disk space; and a VGA or higher resolution graphics adapter and compatible monitor. MS-DOS version 3.1 or later (version 5.0 recommended); Windows 3.1; Mouse; Matrix and Laser Jet Printers supported.

COMPANY BACKGROUND: CAD-Migos Software Tools, Inc., founded in 1990, is dedicated to the development, marketing, and distribution of advanced engineering software tools for the product design and development fields. The current "populations" of workstation platforms in these fields have guided the company to develop tools for the high-end "PC-compatible" workstation utilizing the extremely popular user interface, Microsoft Windows as their desktop environment. The company intends to introduce these same tools to other, lower population, platforms as secondary market opportunities.

Currently, engineers are searching for design tools that are:

1) integrated to run under a multi-tasking graphical unit interface (GUI), or framework with individual seat affordability;

2) designed to provide time-sharing (multi-tasking) coexistence and data sharing techniques with popular spreadsheet, wordprocessing, and other third-party products;

3) familiar-to-use without exhausting training classes to learn yet another GUI;

4) modular and seamlessly integrated allowing one, or many, individuals to perform all, or part, of required design phases; and

5) network-aware allowing geographically separated individuals to participate in designs.

The modem design engineer is not an isolated, "ivory-tower" individual in the current product design environment. At any moment, the designer is required to be a technologist, secretary, product manager, technician, manufacturer, and a librarian. Currently available engineering tools, running as dedicated, single-tasking programs, do not allow engineers to "jump from hat to hat" quickly and easily. In addition, those programs that are merely "ported" to a GUI platform do not allow the engineer to exchange information between his pre-existing desktop utilities and the ported programs as the new tools are designed with proprietary data interfaces. These facts provide a market opportunity for a company, such as CAD-Migos, to provide engineering tools that easily co-exist with the "other hat" tools that the typical engineer is already utilizing both in terms of multi-tasking and data-sharing.

PRODUCTS: The company development phases have been carefully designed to introduce the CAD-Migos products in the same general manner in which the end-user is expected to utilize them. This greatly simplifies the marketing task of logical product group introductions and enhances the ability of the development team to track the products during initial testing.

The design phases utilized today generally follow as:

1) Initial design conceptualization and organization

   (sometimes heirarchical)

2) Design entry and verification / simulation

3) Fabrication preparation (layout, materials lists, etc) and

   Manufacturing support

4) Documentation phases

5) Fabrication

Our product, SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0, consists of a graphical schematic editor, component library symbol editor, and a Berkeley-compatible, interactive Spice simulation package. SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 operates on IBM PC compatible platforms under the Microsoft Windows Operating System. This tool group, in conjunction with the word processing and spreadsheet utilities already on the engineer's desktop, provide solutions to steps #1 and #2 above.

SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0 features the ability to create, maintain, and manipulate individual graphical symbols using a powerful, full-featured symbol editor. The ability to maintain libraries of these symbols is also provided.

The ability to logically connect the library symbols is provided by the schematic editor as well as the ability to establish test points and stimulus points for subsequent simulation.

Full compatibility with Berkeley Spice Version 3E2 provides accurate modeling capabilities based on either text script input (Spice macro language) or the netlists created utilizing the schematic editor tools above. This compatibility provides simulation capabilities above and beyond the traditional simulation tools including transmission line support, noise and distortion analysis, and enhanced mathematical convergence.

Scheduled for release in the Summer of 1994, is our CAD/CAE tool package, The Whole Enchilada for Windows v1.0 (Windows 3.1 and Windows NT Operating Systems). This electronic design and engineering system provides these features (SPICE-IT! for Windows is incorporated into this package): graphical logic simulator, interactive and fully automatic PCB layout tools, post-processing utilities (Gerber, Postscript, EDIF 2.0.0 tools), and thermal analysis tools. These utilities are being developed to take advantage of full-network operation across multiple platforms and the expected releases of Win32 and Windows NT Operating System software. These tools, in conjunction with SPICE-IT! for Windows v1.0, completes the design phase steps outlined above.

Future releases will migrate these tools to operate under the UNIX / XWINDOWS / MOTIF workstation environments while adding a VHDL toolset for enhanced hierarchical design capabilities. These releases address the secondary markets existing in the higher end workstations where, today, capabilities are superior, but the ratio of capability to price is considerably lower than the overall "PC compatible" market.

CAD-Migos Software Tools Inc

1975 Fernside St, Redwood City, CA 94061

tel/fax: 415-369-5863


LINK! Advantage V1.05 w/Accounting Interfaces
NEW VERSION OF LINK! ADVANTAGE FEATURES DIRECT INTERFACE WITH LATEST ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE

ATLANTA, April 13 - Prentice Hall Professional Software today announced the release of Link! Advantage version 1.05, which interfaces with the latest versions of several accounting software products. Link! Advantage is a connectivity tool designed to import data into Prentice Hall products.

With the release of version 1.05, Link! Advantage now connects with the following updated packages: RealWorld version 6.5, CLS version 4.4, Peachtree version 7.0 and PC Software Accounting version 2.9.

Link! Advantage 1.05 works with Prentice Hall's FAST! Advantage and The Prentice Hall Tax System for business returns to import balances from over 75 general ledger packages, such as MAS 90, Great Plains, One-Write Plus, and Peachtree. Custom interfaces can also be created with any package that can export an ASCII, dBASE or Lotus 1-2-3 file.

Pricing and System Requirements

The suggested retail price for Link! Advantage is $350, which includes 12 months of toll-free technical support and all updates to the system. Link! Advantage also comes with a full 30-day money-back guarantee.

Link! Advantage requires an IBM PC or 100% compatible 80286-based PC with 510 KB of memory, MS-DOS version 3.1 or later and 510K RAM.

Prentice Hall Professional Software is an industry leader in professional accounting, tax and real estate management software, serving more than 10,000 customers. The company is a member of the Software and Information Services Division of Paramount Publishing's Business, Technical and Professional Group. Paramount Publishing is one of the world's leading publishers of computer, educational, consumer, and business, technical, and professional books. It is a division of the New York-based Paramount Communications, Inc., a global entertainment and publishing company which is a majority-owned subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. Prentice Hall Professional Software can be contacted at P.O. Box 723597, 2400 Lake Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 31139 or by telephone at (800) 241-3306, or in Atlanta at (404) 432-1996.


Artisoft LANtastic Network Gov't Intro Kit
ARTISOFT INTRODUCES LANTASTIC NETWORK GOVERNMENT INTRO KIT

Provides Complete 10-Station Starter Package Specially Designed for the Government Market

(TUCSON, AZ--April 11,1994)--Artisoft, Inc. announced today that it has begun shipping a LANtastic Network Government Intro Kit, a complete 1 station network designed as a starter package for government offices. The kit includes the LANtastic network operating system v6.0 software with integrated E-mail, scheduling, faxing and paging capabilities; ArtiSave Backup software; LANtastic for TCP/IP connectivity software; cabling; and 10 NodeRunner/SI 2000/A combination adapters. The kit is priced at $2169 for government users and will be sold to resellers involved in government sales. This price represents a 33% discount over the price of the items in the kit if purchased separately by a government user.

"We believe that Artisoft has many of the connectivity components available to provide a one source, total networking solution specially tailored for workgroups in the government market," said Artisoft's Vice President of Sales and Support Joel A. Davis.

"Flexibility is key. If necessary, a workgroup can move its network, even if the wiring scheme changes from twisted-pair to thin coax or vice versa. In addition, the network's universal client technology allows a government user to easily connect to server-based networks from Novell, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and IBM Corporation," Davis added.

The LANtastic Network Government Intro Kit is available through Ingram Micro, Inc.; Tech Data Corporation; Merisel, Inc.; and GSA Schedule B/C catalogs.

The kit's LANtastic v6.0 network offers high-performance multiplatform networking features key to the government market, which typically has a heterogeneous networking environment. The recently released upgrade represents the most significant enhancement of any previous version of the LANtastic network operating system. An integrated communication system includes advanced electronic mail, network scheduling, faxing and paging systems. Also included in the new network version are improved network performance and enhanced network management capabilities.

Kit users can also perform comprehensive backup and recovery of their entire network through the ArtiSave Backup software. The kit's LANtastic for TCP/IP connectivity software allows users on a LANtastic network to access a wide range of systems throughout the network, including DEC/VAX, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems workstations, IBM mainframes, and NCR and AT&T minicomputers.

Artisoft (NASDAQ "ASFT") is one of the world's leading suppliers of scalable, cost-effective networking solutions to departmental workgroups and small- and medium-sized businesses. The company offers the award-winning LANtastic network operating system as well as network management, backup and multiplatform connectivity systems. Under the combined Artisoft and Eagle Technology brand names, the company is also one of the world's leading providers of Ethernet adapters. Artisoft maintains 10 international offices and distributes its connectivity products in over 90 countries.

For more information about Artisoft or its product line, contact Artisoft, Inc. at 2202 N. Forbes Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85745. Sales 800/233-5564. Corporate 602/670-7100. Fax 602/670-7101.


4MOST Image Management Software
NEW VERSION OF 4MOST IMAGE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

IMAGE-ENABLES APPLICATIONS WITHOUT PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS

NEW YORK, April 19, 1994 -- 4i Solutions, Inc., a leading developer of host-based imaging software products, released a new version of its MS Windows-based 4Most Document Management software at the AIIM Show today that allows users to image-enable their existing data processing applications without software modifications or access to program source code.

The 4Most Version 1.2 document manager lets users associate data by file type so any file such as spreadsheets, word processing, etc. can be presented by whatever program is in use at the time. Users can then immediately and automatically find, select, view, print, scan or input multiple documents, specific pages or document folders at the same time from the same screen.

New features found in 4Most 1.2 include access to recognition servers for handprint, machine print and barcode recognition and a screen scraper for DOS or Windows applications.

In addition, an innovative "requester" interface enables users to access both text and image data from multiple networked database servers throughout an enterprise or workgroup, regardless of the database management system employed, i.e., Informix, Oracle, Sybase, Paradox, dBase, Btrieve, etc.

According to Douglas J. Russo, executive vice president and chief operating officer of 4i Solutions, 4Most 1.2 permits users to archive and retrieve document images from any storage device on the network on demand, using 4Most as a standalone system or with existing business applications executed on a PC or on a host computer.

Russo explained that with 4Most's new screen scraper feature, any other application's text information can be used as a search key. By entering a single keystroke or mouse click, 4Most users can, on demand, lift the text from a given application and execute a script defined by the user. The text area to "scrape" can be defined as a specific screen area (row or column) or text following user-defined keywords such as "account" or "policy".

4Most employs a distributed database scheme consisting of primary and secondary databases. For example, the network's primary database can be accessed to retrieve a given folder from one server, while a secondary database can be accessed to view the contents of the folder from another server. Users can archive and retrieve information by folder, by document within a folder, or by page(s) within a document, within a distributed processing or client/server network configuration.

Russo also stated that because 4Most runs in native MS Windows mode, current Windows users can access existing applications for terminal emulation, word processing, image editing, fax, voice, OCR, etc.

"4Most is a completely standalone system that requires no programming and is completely modular and scalable," said Khoi Turner, 4i Solutions vice president of product development. "There is no requirement to reconfigure an existing application. Existing security procedures can be maintained since 4Most supports multiple security levels by workgroup, user, document and even by page."

Turner noted that since all images and image indices are managed by 4Most, imaging functions (display, print, rotate, zoom, etc.) are directed by the user rather than the host application itself. Users can scan and/or import documents by batch or interactive mode, and documents may be text or voice annotated down to the page level and subsequently stored on disk.

"Since its inception, 4i Solutions has continuously conducted extensive market research. As a result, we have been dedicated to the principle that imaging is a technology that must be integrated with existing business applications. Business applications are the tools used to operate a company. Images are just one of several data types that must be accessible in an interactive environment, in order to make prompt, accurate decisions. As a benefit, the 'less paper' office becomes a reality," Russo concluded.

4Most is now shipping to 4i Solutions' worldwide network of value-added resellers. Pricing begins at under $2,000 for a basic archiving and retrieval system.

Established in 1991, 4i Solutions, Inc. is a privately-held company that develops and markets a family of hardware-independent image processing software products that can be integrated with any existing or new application program.

For further information, contact 4i Solutions, 22481 Aspan St., Lake Forest, CA 92630 (800) 228-1416 or (714) 586-4445.


Windows Version of 4Site Introduced
WINDOWS VERSION OF 4SITE SUPPORTS TRUE OPEN SYSTEMS OPERATIONS

Integrated Image Processing System Runs on Any Hardware/Software Platform Regardless of Operating System or Processor Type

NEW YORK, April 19, 1994 -- 4i Solutions, Inc. a leading supplier of image processing software for host-based systems applications, introduced a Windows version of 4Site (Seamless Integration TEchnique) at the 1994 AIIM Show here today. 4Site for Windows provides expanded features and increased performance benefits that make it easier for data processing users to implement image enabled business applications within client/server or host-based environments.

The Windows version of 4Site incorporates the same operations and functionality as the DOS-based version but provides greater flexibility under the Windows operating system via a DDE link between Windows-based programs and the 4Site software. Any Windows DDE emulator application or any host-based data processing application can be seamlessly integrated without extensive program modifications or system performance degradation. Using an existing application's database manager, access methods and security procedures, 4Site for Windows enables users to view image data as well as non-image data on a single workstation.

4Site image-enables applications running on any hardware platform and under any operating system. Applications can be written in any programming language. Image viewing, scanning, printing and faxing are controlled and directed by existing host-resident or client/server data processing applications.

"4i Solutions is committed to providing our customers with leading-edge image enabling technology for their business applications," said Douglas J. Russo, 4i Solutions' executive vice president and chief operating officer. "The new 4Site for Windows represents our continued product research and development efforts that respond to customer requirements to maximize the benefits available from integrating imaging into their business operations."

According to Khoi M. Turner, the firm's vice president of product development, 4Site for Windows incorporates several features that make it easier for users to control and access image processing functions without interrupting the host application. "For example, our "intuitive" graphical user interface employs icons and other visual control objects with on-line help menus to simplify imaging operations. In addition, we've included a comprehensive suite of host-based functions (remote procedures) in order to reduce complex and tedious imaging functions to a single remote procedure call," Turner said.

4Site's install procedure is intuitive and text-based. Minimum memory required is 8 MB. Documentation is user-friendly and features an on-line help menu. In addition, 4i Solutions' technical support hotline and bulletin board is available for downloading software updates and customer assistance.

4Site for Windows is now available through 4i Solutions' reseller network. Pricing is determined by resellers who seamlessly integrate 4Site's imaging functions with their new or existing application software products.

Established in 1991, 4i Solutions, Inc. is a privately-held company that designs, develops and markets a family of image-based software products that is sold to all industries through its worldwide independent reseller and systems integrator channel.

For further information, contact 4i Solutions, 22481 Aspan St., Lake Forest, CA 92630 (800) 228-1416 or (714) 586-4445.


Z-Mail Comes to Windows & Mac Systems
Z-CODE'S Z-MAIL COMES TO WINDOWS, MACINTOSH SYSTEMS; POPULAR UNIX E-MAIL SOFTWARE NOW OPERATES ACROSS MULTI-VENDOR ENTERPRISE NETS

ANAHEIM, Calif., Apr.18,1994 -- The first cross-platform electronic-mail system based on Internet-standard networking and messaging protocols has been introduced by Z-Code Software, a division of Network Computing Devices (NCD).

Z-Code has brought its Z-Mail e-mail system and Z-Script messaging engine -- used by more than 30,000 UNIX users -- to Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh systems as well as character display terminals. This represents the first time an Internet-style peer-to-peer model of e-mail has been available to provide a common mail environment to every desktop in the enterprise -- character and graphics terminals, desktop computers and workstations -- without the need for costly and cumbersome gateways.

Networks Outgrowing Traditional E-mail Systems

"Traditional PC-based e-mail systems such as Microsoft Mail and Lotus cc:Mail were originally designed for LAN-based workgroups," said Dan Heller, general manager of NCD's Z-Code Software division. "But as e-mail has evolved from a departmental requirement to an enterprise necessity, several problems have arisen with PC LAN solutions. They're not inherently scalable to thousands of users dispersed among multiple locations, and they can't tie into non-PC or non-Mac desktops, such as workstations, X terminals and character terminals. And -- what is becoming increasingly important -- they can't communicate directly with the Internet. Doing any of these things requires the addition of gateways that add cost and management overhead, and reduce reliability."

Z-Mail differs from LAN-based e-mail systems in two ways. First, it is architected using a layered approach which separates the "mail user agent" (the user interface) from the "mail transport agent" (the entity responsible for distributing mail over the network); LAN-based systems, on the other hand, use a network file server to share e-mail among users. Second, Z-Mail implements this approach through the use of key standard Internet protocols -- TCP/IP, SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and MIME (Multipart Internet Mail Extensions) -- as opposed to the proprietary protocols used by LAN-based systems.

"Because Z-Mail lets users send and receive messages to and from a network messaging 'backbone', and not to shared file-system disks," Heller said, "no gateways are needed to pass mail from one platform to another, or to send mail through the Internet. Z-Mail uses the mail-transport and routing capabilities already embedded in all UNIX systems as the standard delivery mechanism." Z-Mail also can be used with other commercial message backbone products that run on UNIX servers, such as Retix's X.400 Software.

Advanced Features Across the Enterprise: Scripting, Attachments, Flexible Directories

With the expansion of Z-Mail to multiple platforms, the entire enterprise can take advantage of advanced features previously unavailable to Macintosh and PC platforms.

Z-Mail's Z-Script, a powerful scripting language, today provides users with the rich functionality and flexibility that products such as General Magic's TeleScript have promised for the future. Z-Script can be used, for example, to customize the Z-Mail user interface to the needs of different users or organizations. It also can be used to develop a "smart messaging" capability that lets applications make decisions about processing information, automatically filtering or re-directing messages based on user-specified criteria. By encapsulating Z-Script commands in Z-Mail messages, the user can create remote messaging agents that facilitate workflow automation.

Z-Mail supports the MIME standard message protocol, which allows users to send and receive all types of documents, including audio, video, graphics and application data such as spreadsheets and schedulers, as attachments to messages. An unlimited number of files can be attached to a message.

With Z-Mail the user is not limited to a single specific directory service. The highly flexible system can be configured to provide access to virtually any directory service already in use in the enterprise, including X.500, NIS (Network Information Services), even an organization's own databases or flat files of directory information. Because Z-Mail establishes a network connection with the directory server to access data, the problem of distributing and synchronizing directory information is reduced.

Remote access and management is supported through widely-available remote access protocols: POP (Post Office Protocol) or SMTP over PPP, SLIP or UUCP (UNIX-to-UNIX Copy). UUCP is available on all UNIX systems; POP is offered by Internet service providers as a method for subscribers to download mail to home computers. Z-Mail also offers extended remote access functionality with the Z-Mail Synchronization protocol sync), which provides remote users the ability to reduce connect time to the message store.

Z-Mail System Requirements for Windows, Mac, Terminals

Z-Mail for Windows requires a minimum 25-MHz Intel 386 PC running Windows 3.1 in enhanced mode or Windows NT; 6 megabytes of RAM; 3 MB of available hard-disk space; and a TCP/IP stack for network connectivity.

Z-Mail for Macintosh requires a minimum 680x0 16-MHz system with 4 MB of RAM and 3 MB of available hard-disk space. For network connectivity, MacTCP 2.0.4 is bundled with Z-Mail.

Z-Mail Lite, for users of character terminals, is a full-screen character display version of Z-Mail with full system functionality.

Z-Mail is available on most UNIX platforms, including Digital Ultrix, HP9000/HP-UX, IBM RS/6000/AIX, SCO UNIX, Univel/UnixWare and SunSPARC/SunOS/Solaris, and is the basis for MediaMail, the standard multimedia e-mail system used on Silicon Graphics workstations. Z-Mail also operates on Windows/NT, DEC OSF/1, Apollo, NCR's SVR4, Pyramid, Sequent, Data General and other platforms. The UNIX version is Motif-based and can be used on workstations or accessed via X terminals.

Pricing/Availability

Z-Mail for Windows and Z-Mail Lite will be available in June, and Z-Mail for Macintosh in July. All products will be available from Z-Code Software or from NCD and its standard distribution channels. For 100 users the license fee is $ 150 each in the U.S., S 190 internationally; the single-user fee is $295 in the U.S., $370 internationally. All prices include technical support.

Network Computing Devices, Inc., formed in February 1988, provides information-access solutions for client-server computing environments. NCD is the leading worldwide supplier of X Window System terminals, with a broad family of color and monochrome units, and makes PC-X server software products which Integrate Microsoft Windows- and DOS-based PCs into X/UNIX networks. The company's Z-Code division supplies the Z-Mail family of cross-platform electronic-mail and messaging software for open-systems environments.

NCD is publicly traded over the counter on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol NCDI.

Z-Code Software Corp

101 Rowland Way, Ste 300

Novato, CA 94945

415-898-8649,  fax 415-898-8299


PointsAhead! Relieves Stock Market Jitters
PointsAhead! Software relieves Stock Market Jitters.

The Small Investor's Software Company has developed the first pre-investment analysis software package designed for the individual investor. Now armed with a PC and PointsAhead!, the individual investor can now use the same professional market-timing tools that are used on Wall Street. With these tools, the user can formulate their own strategy to scan for new investments or they can re-evaluate existing ones. PointsAhead! finally lets investors gain more control over their own financial decisions by enabling them to do their "homework" before making an investment.

This significant new entry raises the individual investors awareness to the inner workings on Wall Street. By allowing them to graphically view an investment and to perform numerous analyses on that investment, users can begin to learn how to use market timing to their advantage. Once exposed to these new tools, they cross the threshold of novice and become more inquisitive and more sophisticated with their investments.

Besides giving users 40 different analytical tools, PointsAhead! also gives users the freedom to choose from 30 of the most widely used data vendors so that they can shop around for the best value in electronic data. In short, PointsAhead! comes with a "universal data translator" which enables users to buy and use data from virtually anywhere. This gives the user the option to find the best value online and to switch data vendors at any time without buying additional software. These integrative features offer investors a total solution towards making it easier and faster to investing smarter.

PointsAhead!'s entry also marks a significant change by bringing professional analytical tools to the personal finance software market. PointsAhead! is not another personal organizer, nor is it another portfolio management package. It doesn't reconcile your checkbook nor does it track your transactions. However it does empower the user to become more sophisticated and proactive in the selection process of their investments. So by using and learning how to use those same analytical and statistical tools found on Wall Street, PointsAhead! helps them to find better investments and to optimize the entry and exit of existing ones. Market timing tools have never been more affordable and investors can now instantly react to new ideas and analyze any investment just like a PRO.

With the stock market's recent slide, low interest rates, and Hiliary Clinton's spectacular gains in commodities, PointsAhead! lets users learn and explore the exciting world of trading. Either by simulation or by experimenting with real world examples, PointsAhead! enables users to select investments based on the same market timing statistics that professional traders use daily. Whether the investor is interested in stocks, mutual funds, bonds, options, futures, or commodities, PointsAhead! is ready to help the investor evaluate these investments from around the globe.

By allowing any DOS, Windows, or OS/2 user to connect to virtually any online service in the USA, PointsAhead! enables them to process quotes, manage data, analyze data, and display hi-resolution graphs offline with one easy to use package for only $189 SRP. As a matter of fact, before PointsAhead!, only professionals could afford this kind of power and versatility. But now with PointsAhead!, anyone can begin to learn how to invest like a PRO.

The Small Investor's Software Company

138 Ocean Ave, Amityville, NY 11701

516-789-9368


Expert Labels for Windows
Expert Software Releases Labels Design Program

Expert Labels for Windows possesses powerful draw program and database features

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA (April 14, 1994) - Expert Software, Inc., announced today the release of Expert Labels for Windows, a labels design program in which users can customize existing label designs or create their own. Expert Labels for Windows has a Manufactures Suggested Retail Price of $14.95.

"While the importance of a professional looking label should not be overlooked, the design process does not have to be lengthy or expensive," said Sue Currier, president of Expert Software, Inc. "At only $14.95, Expert Labels for Windows provides a user with an inexpensive solution to quickly find a label that fits his or her needs and design it in an effortless manner."

Expert Labels for Windows comes equipped with 17 drawing and graphics tools, over 40 clip art images, and four barcode print formats. The program's design options start with more than 120 label designs, including templates for shipping, video and audio cassette, file folders, and price tags.

A user simply selects and previews existing label templates in the database and visually customizes any size label instantly with easy formatting options. The program's FastAddress button automatically pre-defines your layout. All you need to do is simply fill in the data to print labels in seconds.

Expert Labels powerful database and address book enables a user to add an unlimited amount of labels to the database and sort them alphabetically and numerically. The program's database can also store your company logo and print it on each label.

As a label's designer, you can add, delete, resize, or move text. Expert Labels lets you choose from a large variety of sizes, fonts, and colors. The program's tape measure and snap to grid tools display dimensions and create precise layouts.

Expert Labels page preview prints exactly what you see on the screen, verifies the margins and spacing before printing, previews and prints up to 256 colors, and zooms in to check your accuracy.

Expert Labels additional features include:

- A QuickSave button ensuring that no data is lost

- Support for 10 graphic import types

- Ability to view multiple labels simultaneously on one page

- Imports other database files in seven popular formats

- Automatically number labels sequentially

- One single desktop includes option to preview label designer,

  database, and print previewer simultaneously

Expert Labels requires Windows 3.1 or higher running in 386 enhanced mode, a VGA monitor, 4 megabytes of RAM, and 4 megabytes of disk space.

Expert Software is the leading value-oriented publisher of over 60 Windows, MS-DOS, Macintosh, and CD-ROM titles which have appeared on many of the industry's hot and best seller lists. Expert Software is located at 800 Douglas Road, North Tower, Suite 355, Coral Gables, FL 33134-3128. For consumer product information contact: 800 759-2562.


ACC Wins Data Comm Mag Testers Choice Award
ACC wins Data Communications Magazine Testers Choice Award

ACC Routers Put the Squeeze on Data (and the Competition) and Selected as the Only Remote Token Ring Bridge to Deliver 4:1 Compression

CUPERTINO, Calif. (April 20, 19941 -- In the April issue of Data Communications, Advanced Computer Communications (ACC) magazine has received the Data Communications Tester's Choice award for remote Token Ring bridge data compression. This award solidifies ACC's claim of leading the LAN/WAN connectivity market with its Bandwidth Optimization software, which is included to support ACC's entire LAN/WAN bridge/router hardware line.

The lab test was performed by, The Tolly Group, the independent testing organization, and profiled in an article entitled "Testing Remote Token Ring Bridges," by Kevin Tolly of The Tolly Group and David Newman of Data Communications. The lab test compared the data compression capabilities of seven different Token Ring bridges from seven top internetworking vendors. The lab technicians evaluated compression for two different kinds of internetwork traffic: non-random ASCII data and precompressed versions of the same ASCII data traffic. The results show that throughput varied widely by vendor, but clearly the top performer across the board was ACC, who bested the competition with a compression ratio of 4.2:1.

According to Data Communications, "in a field rife with dubious claims about data compression, Advanced Computer Communications actually delivers the goods. ACC's bridge, the ACS4200 compressed ASCII traffic at a ratio of better than 4:1, the highest of any vendor in the test. And the box combines top-notch performance with straightforward configuration and management utilities."

"Since the release of our Bandwidth Optimization software, we have laid claim to the title of the undisputed leader of bandwidth optimization," said Gary Krall, Vice President of Marketing for ACC. "The results of the Data Communications lab tests show the internetworking marketplace what we have been saying all along, that the data compression technology employed in our entire product line is superior to any competitive product offering."

Optimizing WAN Bandwidth

ACC's exclusive Bandwidth Optimization reduces the lifetime operating expenses for wide area connections. The most expensive aspect of maintaining a corporate internetwork is the cost of wide-area connectivity. Since network users don't own the WAN links but lease them, it's important to minimize the WAN charges. ACC's Bandwidth Optimization features include data compression, which can cut the size of data transmissions by an aggregate factor of 4:1 to reduce connectivity charges and, in many cases, eliminate the need to upgrade to a faster WAN link. ACC's Bandwidth Optimization features also include Express Queuing and such dial-up routing features as Dial-on Demand, Dial Backup, and Dial-on Congestion.

Advanced Computer Communications develops and markets products that offer corporate and institutional network managers the ability to interconnect and manage local- and wide-area data networks and gain mainframe connectivity. ACC is committed to supporting popular industry standard protocols and providing products that are designed to adapt to changing customer requirements at the lowest incremental cost. ACC's bridge/routers and SNA protocol converters are sold through 90 leading international VARs and OEMs serving corporate customers, educational institutions, governments, and PTTs in 24 countries around the world.

Advanced Computer Communications is headquartered at 10261 Bubb Road, Cupertino, CA 95014; telephone: (408) 366-9600; FAX: (408) 446-5234.


WORLD WAR II QUIZBOOK/CD-ROM

Including: The Sounds of War

Think you know about World War II?  Name the American baseball player who spied on Japan... the song the British stole from the Germans... Mussolini's mistress... the first member of Congress to enlist after Pearl Harbor... the first U.S. unit to cross the Rhine... the youngest German general... the future Pope hunted  by the Gestapo... the actor who actually made Churchill's "Fight on the Beaches" speech... the island on which Ernie Pyle died... the first combat between U.S and German troops... the top air aces of all nations... the otp submarine and U-Boat commanders... the first ship sunk at Pearl Harbor... Adolph Hitler's dog... the future U.S. President who signed Clark Gable's discharge papers... and much more!

Also on this disc - World War II: A Compact History of Ernest Dupuy - one of America's pre-eminent military historians.

Produced by: Scanrom

1-800-269-2237,  fax 516-295-2240


Doctor Data File V6.06 Released
Doctor Data Software recently released Version 6.06 of their Doctor Data File (DDFile) shareware Mailing List Manager for both professional and beginner users. DDFile can also be used as a general purpose database manager and database utility program.

Data files are dBASE III compatible and are fully user-customizable. Easily edit, add, delete and locate records. Easily Index on up to 5 fields at a time. Fully customizable printing on any labels (up to 9 across), letterheads (mail merge), forms, Rolodex cards, or practically anything else. Print both 9 and 11 digit POSTNET barcodes, Bulk & Carrier Route Labels & Reports. Check for duplicate records both before and after records are entered. Easily Filter data for a sub-set of your records. DDFile is very comprehensive and will allow you to do just about anything you would ever want to do in managing a mailing list.

Doctor Data Software

PO Box 11368

Phoenix, AZ 85061-1368

602-246-8907


Donate a Scanner, Help Somebody Out

Using low-power monitors and systems isn't the only way to be an environmentally and politically correct computer user. Save some space in your local landfill and get a tax deduction in one fell swoop by donating your old scanners to Arkenstone, a Sunnyvale, California-based nonprofit organization that offers reading systems for the blind, visually impaired, and learning disabled.

To DOS-based PCs, Arkenstone adds scanning, optical character recognition, and speech synthesis capabilities that allow text to be scanned in and read back to a listener. New systems typically cost about $5,000, but through its First Reader program, Arkenstone is reconditioning second-hand hardware to offer systems for less than $1,500. The organization needs functional IBM PC-compatible scanners, especially Hewlett-Packard models. A receipt for tax-deduction purposes will be provided for donations. For more information, contact D.J. Connell at Arkenstone at 800-444-4443.

Note: Above from the May 1994 issue of PUBLISH magazine,

      News Beat column.


New Odd Creations Shareware Releases
Just released/updated from Odd Creations:

FixFile - display and edit Binary or Text files with ASCII/HEX/Decimal popup. Search for text, type-over or insert mode. Increment/decrement byte-by-byte contents. Set time/date for single or group of files.

AutoLock - simple yet secure PC lock-up with screen saver. Popup prompt, hot-key activation, auto lock-up if left idle. Variable features. Memory resident. Re-boot protection utility. Auto expire password. Call by application for procedure security. User Friendly.

Cap2Text - Capture display screens to ASCII or extended ASCII disk files. Simple back-ground operation -- using 3K of memory. Features are easily configured. WordPerfect format too. User friendly.

Cap2WP - Copy screens direct to WordPerfect documents. Visible attributes and special characters are retained. Simple background operation -- 3K of memory. Easy to configure features. ASCII format too.

Shareware from Bob Snyder, Internet: Robert.Snyder@canrem.com

Odd Creations

201 - 7250 Yonge St

Thornhill, Ontario L4J 7X1 CANADA


SSN-21 Seawolf, Sequel to 688 Attack Sub
SSN-21 SEAWOLF -- THE SEQUEL TO 688 ATTACK SUB

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 25, 1994--Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the release of SSN-21 Seawolf, the most advanced submarine simulation to date.

SSN-21 Seawolf is the sequel to 688 Attack Sub, one of Electronic Arts' biggest hits in the PC marketplace. The game was coded by John Ratcliff who wrote the original, and produced for Electronic Arts by veteran simulations producer Paul Grace.

This game features the real-life in-design SSN-21 Seawolf Attack sub. The U.S. Navy initially combined five major programs in order to establish the Seawolf class: the 688 program, the new design SSN, SUBACS (Submarine Advanced Combat System), submarine electronic systems, and attack submarine research and development. But, since the Naval Sea Systems Command has more lately undergone budget cuts and the pattern of future military needs has changed in recent years, the scale of this operation has declined and the Seawolf is still on the drawing board.

However, the U.S. Navy states that the Seawolf will be "the fastest, deepest-diving, most heavily-armed United States submarine ever put to sea", and predicts that it will have three times the mission effectiveness of the 688. The SSN-21 will be equipped with a new conformal array sonar and eight torpedo tubes and it will carry Harpoons, Tomahawks, Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes and Sea Lance missiles and mines.

All of this, of course, makes for a great simulation: Economic, ethnic, and political unrest in the former Soviet Union are beginning to deepen, with intense pressure from Red Army generals upon the military stability of the various Eastern bloc nations. After a military coup, a new politburo declares the reunification of the USSR and all diplomatic ties with the West are cut.

Meanwhile, another coup has deposed Fidel Castro in Cuba, and a U.S.-recognized government seizes power. As border skirmishes break out at spark points along the perimeter of the USSR, a Soviet task force sails from Archangel bound for Cuba. With strict orders from military leaders to avoid nuclear confrontation, World War m begins.

SSN-21 Seawolf is a game of stealth and cunning, fully recreating the atmosphere of underwater warfare with much of the game action happening within the sonar room. More than 40 types of surface ships and 25 submarines can be identified individually from their own unique sonar signatures.

Over 100 sound samples are featured in state-of-the-art 16-bit stereo sound, such as torpedoes loading and firing, sonar pings, the waterfall room, and even whale songs. The musical score supports an extensive range of sound boards, including Roland SoundCanvas and LAPC-1, Adlib, Soundblaster 8- and 16-bit boards, Gravis Ultrasound, and Proaudio Spectrum. Electronic Arts strongly urges players to use a good pair of headphones when playing SSN-21 Seawolf - for a true feeling of 3D audio-imaging and greatly enhanced gameplay.

In periscope view, the player can see a variety of different animated water effects and backgrounds as well as thunder and lightning. Stunning digitized explosions, both underwater and surface, graphically illustrate the player's strike rate against mission objectives.

Thirty-three missions make up the overall campaign, with a random start mechanism ensuring variety of gameplay. Training missions are included, as are modem and network play capabilities.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


V_Graph Support/Future Upgrades for Tempra
Support and future upgrades for Tempra users.

April 14, 1994 -- V_Graph Inc., of Westtown, PA, is now supporting the authoring side of the Tempra packages. V_Graph originally developed and sold the authoring software as VirtualVideo before Mathematica started publishing it in April 1992. Mathematica created Tempra Show and Tempra Media Author by packaging their paint and animation software with V_Graph authoring software. Many users become familiar with this authoring software through bundles with Creative Labs and Cardinal Technology. Even with the self-inflicted demise of Mathematica users of the authoring software can be assured of continued support by the company that wrote it. V_Graph will continue to provide support, and keep DOS authoring software going.

V_Graph is not only planning to support the users, but also update the software. Rob Morris, president of V_Graph said, "We believe in DOS multimedia and we want to support those people who have committed to our products when they bought them from Mathematica. We now have a font factory for users who want to make new fonts, even foreign language fonts. We are also planning to support AVI, audio VESA, and JPEG in the near future. DOS multimedia users' biggest problem has been working with different audio boards. Now that the VESA group has come out with a software interface standard we will support it. Their Super VGA standard moved high resolution graphics into the mainstream, now the audio standard should make the DOS multimedia applications much more portable."

There are new DOS multimedia titles coming out all the time. DOS remains a suitable platform for multimedia with faster graphics than Windows. With greater hardware compatibility through audio VESA the developers who want to reach the largest number of PC users can use the new VirtualVideo system when it reaches the market.

V_Graph Inc., calls itself "The World's Smallest Software Giant" because it is a two man company with over 250,000 copies of their software on the market. V_Graph was the first to offer a fully digital multimedia authoring software in 1986. VirtualVideo was announced two weeks before Hypercard as announced by Apple. V_Graph is now working on a new object oriented Rapid Application Development (RAD) system for Windows, once again leading the way in software for personal computing, but that is another story.

V_Graph Inc

1275 Westtown Thornton Road

Box 105

Westtown, PA 19395


ProtoView Intros ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite
ProtoView Introduces The ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite

Dayton, NJ--March 28, 1994--ProtoView Development Co. announced today the release of the ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite, version 4.20. The ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite delivers an integrated best-of-breed toolset in an open architecture that includes database access, forms building, report writing, application management and quality code generation in C, MFC, OWL and Pascal.

Instead of relying on limited 4GLs, the ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite harnesses the power and speed of C and C++, the world's most popular development languages. It also makes the Suite open to any compiler, debugger, or text editor. To keep up with fast changing technology, ProtoGen+ has been designed with the ability to extend its Visual Programming and Code Generation through Visual Coders, custom controls, and window messages.

"The ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite is uniquely positioned as a visual development environment for building xBase and Client/Server applications in C and C++. Our goal is to provide an open environment with the productivity of a 4GL without the runtime overhead or limitations of proprietary languages. We have achieved this level of productivity through the use of visual programming, code generation, custom controls, and advanced forms building", said Dean Guida, President of ProtoView Development.

The ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite includes the following components:

ProtoGen+ - A Visual Development Workbench including everything needed to visually develop screens, create menus, link screens and dialogs, test the application and generate source code. Source code generators for Microsoft, Borland, Symantec, and Watcom C, MFC 2.0/2.5, OWL 1.0/2.0, and Borland Pascal with Objects 7.0 and Turbo Pascal 1.5 are included in the box.

SQLView Database Access - Creates forms from database tables automatically. Visually link control objects to database columns and attach database operations to buttons and bitmaps. SQLView provides access to all major database engines through Q+E Software's Q+E Library or ODBC drivers. SQLView also comes with a database independent API that gives the developer complete control of database access. Developers are able to build applications using Paradox, dBase, Btrieve, Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server, Informix, and DB2 to name a few of the DBMSs supported by the ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite.

DataTable Spreadsheet Control and DataTable Lens Object - A high powered grid control and database browsing object with the best features and the best performance for displaying large amounts of data in row/column format. Display and edit databases without coding. Set colors, fonts and picture formatting for cells. Programmers can visually gain access to any database table through point and click actions. Database records can be added, updated or deleted by the user with no coding needed.

Crystal Report Writer Pro with Report Writer Visual Coder - The Report Writer Visual Coder extends the Visual Programming and Code Generation capabilities of ProtoGen+ to include report writing. Now you can visually create reports using the latest report writing features of the Crystal Reports Pro for ProtoGen+ Ver 3.0. The Visual Coder will then display your reports live in test mode of ProtoGen+ and generate the code for the Crystal Report Engine.

WinControl Custom Control Library - An expandable DLL of 14 rich Windows controls that let users obtain, format and edit data entered by users. Common features found throughout the controls include 3D effects, picture formatting, context-sensitive help, DDE links, error messages, data validation, and setting custom colors and fonts. The WinControl Library includes numeric, date, string, currency, ticker tape, 3D text, 3D frame, bitmap, icon, color, icon/bitmap buttons, real, enhanced listbox and enhanced combobox controls.

Price and availability - The price of the ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite is $1795 with an introductory price of $995. Current ProtoGen users can upgrade for $595. Applications created using the ProtoGen+ Client/Server Suite may be distributed royalty free, including licensed components from Q+E and Crystal Services. For further information, contact ProtoView Development Corporation, 353 Georges Road, Dayton, New Jersey 08810, 1-800-231-8588 or (908) 329-8588.

ProtoView Development Corporation is a privately held company in Dayton, New Jersey. ProtoView is a leading supplier of C and C++ development tools for Microsoft Windows and Client/Server development. Over 100,000 developers use ProtoView tools to build advanced xBase and Client/Server applications.


Field Guides to MS-DOS 6.2 & Windows 3.1
Microsoft Press Introduces Field Guides to MS-DOS 6.2 and Windows 3.1

In the office or on the road, everyone needs ready information at their fingertips. Now all the information you need about the MS-DOS operating system and Windows 3.1 is available in two quick and easy guides from Microsoft Press, FIELD GUIDE TO MS-DOS 6.2 and FIELD GUIDE TO WINDOWS 3.1.

Inspired by traditional field guide identification handbooks to flora, fauna, and insect life, these colorful, easy-to-use, go-anywhere computing guides offer quick, reliable answers in a convenient package. For new users, they provide a visual path to finding the essential information necessary to start using MS-DOS and Windows 3.1. For experienced users, Field Guides provide concise, easy-to-find descriptions of tasks, terms, and techniques. They organize information visually with numerous illustrations, and provide lightning quick answers with a colorful touch.

One of the many elements that make the books so attractive to new and experienced users alike is the "Tipmeister"--the computing expert in safari gear--who leads readers through the guides and points out valuable tips to help them work smarter and faster. Screen illustrations show how the readers' screens should look. Step-by-step instructions help users accomplish exactly when they want to do. Alphabetic entries and rich cross-referencing make it easy to find information. There's even a special troubleshooting section to help readers pull themselves out of tight spots.

Field Guides are ideal for quick and easy lookups at home, in the office, or on the road. Their convenient size and handy organization make it easy to find answers right away--without having to wade through a much larger text. On the road, Field Guides are designed to slip easily into a briefcase or next to a laptop, ready to consult at a moment's notice.

Pricing and Availability

FIELD GUIDE TO MS-DOS 6.2 (1-55615-560-3) and FIELD GUIDE TO WINDOWS 3.1 (155615-640-5) are available in early April and work great together. Already available in the series are Field Guides for Microsoft Excel 5 for Windows and Microsoft Word 6 for Windows. Field Guides covering Microsoft Access 2 and Microsoft Works 3 for Windows will be available this spring.

Microsoft Press is the independent book division of Microsoft Corporation and the leading publisher of quality computer books about Microsoft products. More than 10 million users at all skill levels rely on a complete line of Microsoft Press books to make learning and using software easier. Titles ranging from self-paced tutorials for first-time computer users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800-MSPRESS.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080,  800-MSPRESS


The Way Microsoft Excel for Windows Works

by Brynly Clarke

128 pages, $18.95, ISBN: 1-55615-570-0

The Ultimate How-To Guide for Beginners -- In Full Color!

Just getting started with Microsoft Excel for Windows? You're probably thinking you'll have to wade through several thick manuals or take a class. After all, this is high-powered business software, right? But learning to use big-league software doesn't have to be difficult--or time-consuming. Introducing THE WAY MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR WINDOWS WORKS-the visual way to learn to use the latest version of the spreadsheet for Windows.

Pictures Tell the Story Seeing is believing with this exciting guide. Real-world pictures show computer users exactly how to do things, much as a video would. Vivid photography and easy-to-understand illustrations lead readers step by step through the basics and beyond. Bite-sized pieces of text deliver information fast and painlessly, with no second guessing or false starts. It actually makes learning to use a computer fun ! And even though the book is aimed at beginners, the highly visual approach is designed so that computer users at all levels can quickly turn to the information they need.

The WYSIWYG Concept THE WAY MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR WINDOWS WORKS is the newest title in the highly visual WYSIWYG Guide series from Microsoft Press. WYSIWYG (pronounced Wizzy-Wig) stands for "What You See Is What You Get," an acronym that describes the on-screen style of personal computing made popular by both the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Apple Macintosh. In the world of computers, WYSIWYG means "What You See" on the computer screen is exactly "What You Get" on the printed page. With the WYSIWYG Guides, what you see on the page is what you'll experience on the computer screen. Current titles in the series include The Way Computers & MS-DOS Work and The Way Word for Windows Works. Forthcoming titles include The Way Multimedia Works.

What's Inside

You'll first learn about the program itself and the elements that appear in the Microsoft Excel application window. Then you'll learn the basic skills for creating a simple monthly income statement--your first Excel for Windows worksheet. From then on, you'll perform a variety of increasingly complex tasks, such as moving and copying data, using formulas and functions, charting data, creating a database, and formatting and printing a worksheet. Screen shots and dialog boxes accompanying step-by-step instructions show exactly how your screen should look at a particular stage in an operation. Tips and shortcuts in easily identifiable colored boxes are strategically located throughout the book. And the WYSIWYG Wizard--an amusing cartoon character--pops up just when he's needed most, dispensing helpful tips and friendly advice to help you get the most out of Excel for Windows. At the back of the book, a reference section includes advice on organizing workbook files, a list of useful keyboard shortcuts, and a guide to Excel' s auditing tools for tracking down the source of worksheet errors. A comprehensive index helps readers quickly look up topics of interest.

About the Author

Brynly Clarke is a freelance computer consultant and long-time Microsoft Excel user. Microsoft Excel has contributed to the success of his projects in the UK, France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

WYSIWYG Guides are published in collaboration with Dorling Kindersley, a world leader in the creation of illustrated reference books. Dorling Kindersley books combine high-quality design with imaginative and sophisticated use of text and full-color imagery. Recent DK bestsellers include Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross Sections, David Macaulay's The Way Things Work, and the highly acclaimed Eyewitness series of books.

Microsoft Press is the independent book division of Microsoft Corporation and the leading publisher of quality computer books about Microsoft products. More than 10 million users at all skill levels rely on a complete line of Microsoft Press books to make learning and using software easier. Titles ranging from streamlined tutorials for first-time computer users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800-MSPRESS.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080,  800-MSPRESS


The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows
NEW BOOK OFFERS QUICK UPGRADE TO EXCEL 5.0 FOR WINDOWS

April 4, 1994 -- Excel for Windows users can quickly upgrade to version 5.0 with a book just published by Mike Murach & Associates, The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows. This book is the third in a series of Essential Guides designed to help PC users quickly upgrade or convert to the newest releases of today's most popular word processing and spreadsheet programs.

Although release 5.0 is easier to use than any of the previous version of Excel learning how to use its many new features and functions can take many hours. The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows provides the ideal solution by offering four benefits not found in other Excel books:

* it helps users upgrade or convert to Excel 5.0 in just

  a few hours

* it makes it easy for users to master the features that

  will help them the most

* it presents new Excel skills that can be learned in just

  10 or 15 minutes each

* it serves as a reference that allows users to brush up on

  any feature in just a few minutes

And for PC users who are new to Windows, Chapter 1 of the book presents the essential Windows skills needed for working with Excel 5.0 for Windows.

The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows focuses on increasing any user's productivity as quickly as possible by presenting the functions in most chapters in a top-down sequence, starting with the functions that are most useful, so users can quickly reach the level of proficiency they had with the older version of their software.

Murach's Essential Guide series includes books on 1-2-3 for Windows Release 4, WordPerfect 6.0 (for DOS and for Windows), and Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows.

The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows by Anne Prince

Price: $25.00 ISBN: 0-911625-79-8

497 pages, 295 illustrations

About the Author

Anne Prince, author of The Essential Guide: 1-2-3 for Windows Release 4 and VS COBOL II, also co-authored Murach's assembler books and served as editor for the 1993 revision of The Only DOS Book You'll Ever Need, one of Murach's best-selling PC books. Over the years she has also used her skills as a programmer and her technical knowledge of mainframe computers to edit other books on mainframe subjects such as CICS, TSO, and DB2. Her extensive editing background and writing experience combined with her educational background (a B.A. in Mathematics from CSU Fresno) made her the perfect choice to write this book.

Mike Murach & Associates

Mike Murach & Associates has been publishing mainframe computer books since 1974, and its list of mainframe titles is recognized throughout the data processing industry. The company began offering PC titles in 1991 with two books on DOS, both of which are now in their second editions. The Essential Guide: Excel 5.0 for Windows is one in a series of Essential Guides designed to help PC users get up and running with new versions of software as quickly as possible. Murach titles are available through major book chains, book distributors, and college bookstores. Titles can be ordered directly by contacting Mike Murach & Associates, 4697 W. Jacquelyn, Fresno, California, 93722-6427; 1-800-221-5528; FAX 1-209-275-9035.


Eidolon Now Electronic Arts Affiliate Label
Eidolon Announces New Affiliated Label Distribution Agreement with Electronic Arts to Bring "Intellitainment" Games to a Sophisticated Audience

MULTIMEDIA GAME TO BREAK GENDER AND GENERATION GAP

RIVERDALE, NY--April 19, 1991 Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), a worldwide leader in the expanding interactive entertainment industry and Eidolon, Inc., a startup software development company (formerly known as Personal Media International), have announced they have reached an Affiliated Label Distribution Agreement. Electronic Arts Distribution will distribute the "intellitainment" multimedia titles published by Eidolon, beginning with Eidolon's first title Millennium Auction.

Eidolon's first product, Millennium Auction, is a strategy game targeted to consumers 18-55, seeking a fresh, visually stimulating alternative from the ubiquitous shoot-'em-up, race-'em-up storylines of traditional electronic games. Millennium Auction will be releasing this June for MPC compatible computers, retailing at $69.95.

Electronic Arts Distribution, in helping to drive the evolution of new entertainment forms, recognizes Eidolon's Millennium Auction as an appealing product to the "first time" multimedia user. The game's rich look and feel, combined with sophisticated storyline, makes Millennium Auction appealing to grown-ups who may recognize the value of a multimedia PC for a child's educational use, but remain unaware of what multimedia entertainment has to offer them.

"We have to offer products that appeal to grown-ups if we want to create a mass market for multimedia home entertainment," says Michelle Blank, vice-president of marketing & business development for Eidolon. "This agreement represents the best of any win-win possibility. Electronic Arts wins by adding a talented, creative publisher with a unique vision, and we win by having Electronic Arts' considerable distribution clout behind our title. Our hope is that this is the start of an entire product line based on Eidolon's philosophy of enriching entertainment that is aesthetically pleasing to look at, mind-engaging, and most importantly, just plain fun for everyone."

Under the terms of this agreement, Electronic Arts Distribution will distribute Eidolon's CD-ROM multimedia entertainment titles to upwards of 10,000 retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada for three years. Eidolon will retain its corporate identity on all products sold under this agreement.

"Electronic Arts welcomes Eidolon, Inc. as our newest Affiliated Label," said Kelly Conway, director, Affiliate Labels. "Eidolon has a talented team of people that are producing adult oriented entertainment which they've coined "intellitainment." We feel Eidolon products will help to further develop our multimedia product line and contribute to the growth of Electronic Arts as a leading publisher and distributor of CDROM products."

Electronic Arts is a diversified entertainment and education company that develops, publishes, and distributes software worldwide. The company was founded in 1982 and has an annual sales rate of almost $400 million. Its corporate headquarters are in San Mateo, California, and it has offices in Texas, Canada, The United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Japan.

Eidolon is a privately held multimedia software developer based in Riverdale, New York. The company develops families of interactive multimedia products that embody the highest level of technological sophistication, artistic sensibility, and imaginative game design.

Electronic Arts is a registered trademark of Electronic Arts.

Electronic Arts

1450 Fashion Island Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94404


Great Naval Battles Vol II, Guadalcanal 1942-43
GREAT NAVAL BATTLES VOL. II: GUADALCANAL 1942-43 IN SVGA

IT WILL BLOW YOU OUT OF THE WATER

Game Category: Combat Simulator

Versions: IBM and compatible

Suggested Retail Price: $69.95

Sunnyvale, CA--March 28, 1994 - Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) is proud to announce the release of the sequel to the highly acclaimed naval simulation, Great Naval Battles, Great Naval Battles Vol. II: Guadalcanal 1942-43 (GNB II). It is now available for IBM PC and compatibles and carriers a suggested retail price of $69.95.

Great Naval Battles Vol. II Guadalcanal, 1942-43 is a full featured, comprehensive W.W.II combat simulation set in the South Pacific, 1942-43. GNB II is staged at Guadalcanal and gives players 5 tactical battles, 3 carrier battles, two campaigns, and night combat missions. Fog and star shell options and the ability to create battles, provide limitless hours of gameplay to naval simulation fans. "Our Goal, when we designed GNB II was to take all the suggestions from the owners of the original Great Naval Battles and incorporate as many as possible into this version," stated Dan Cermak, SSI Producer. "We wanted to make this the perfect naval simulation requested by gamers"

Strategists build forces from 100 ship types and 20 plane types to engage enemy forces on land, at sea, and in the air. With GNB II's sophisticated command and control features players can micro manage every detail, right down to the targeting of individual guns, or they can give the computer responsibility for the details while the player makes the big decisions.

GNB II features multiple views such as top down for that critically important strategic viewpoint, aircraft operations that let players view real-time action from the cockpit as well as the helm, and an all-new interface that makes playing a real breeze. Play screens are overlaid on real W.W.II digitized photographs adding an authentic and historical flavor, along with a fully animated real-time damage control screen. There's even a special VCR function to record and play back battles, all this in Super VGA 640x480 resolution.

Strategic Simulations, Inc. is the leading computer fantasy roleplaying publisher. The company is recognized as the premier war game publisher, and based on industry rankings, is also one of the top ten entertainment software publishers worldwide.

Strategic Simulations Inc

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

408-737-6800;  Fax: 408-737-6814


Multimedia Industry Leaders Support ART TECO '94

Creative Labs, Apple, AT&T, Kaleida Labs Among Sponsors of 1st Annual United Developers Summit & Exposition

ORINDA, CA--APRIL 12, 1994 -- Momentum is building for ART TECO '94, the first annual United Developers Summit presented by Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier, the technical publication for multimedia pioneers. The three-day conference, taking place June 16,17, & 18 at Cyberlab 7, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, will bring together some of the biggest names in the multimedia industry. ART TECO '94 will focus on the technical aspects of multimedia development, and will feature seminars, panel discussions, and hands-on interactive stations.

The discussion format of the event will resemble a television talk show, with a moderator who will control the flow of the conversation and take questions from the attendees. Attendees will be encouraged to challenge the speakers on the issues at hand and engage in what should become meaningful, if not heated, discussions about such topics as "Cross-Platform Development and Delivery," "Choosing the Right Authoring System," "Platforms and Installed Bases," and other issues facing the multimedia developer.

Endorsement for the event from the multimedia industry has been steadily growing, starting with Creative Labs as the Mega-Sponsor of ART TECO '94. Super-Sponsors include Apple Multimedia Program and ON LINE Design, and AT&T Network Systems, Altamira, Equilibrium, and Kaleida Labs are Power-Sponsors.

"The (multimedia) industry has told us that it is ready for a new kind of discussion format," said Doug Millison, editor-in-chief of Morph's Outpost. "We are planning some intense, technical sessions that address the state of interactive development, from platforms and standards to tools and resources. Our readers know the issues and have definite ideas on where the industry is headed. There will be no shameless self promotion, no podiums, just three days of work and a couple of great parties."

Confirmed participants to date include: Jack Harrington, AT&T; Joe Fantuzzi, Autodesk; Scott Page, 7th Level; Arnold Waldstein, Creative Labs; Dan Mapes, Cyberlab 7; Kent Ekberg, Tiburon Associates; Jim Myrick, Big Top Productions; Bill Fulco, New Video Corporation; Ken Rose, Artists for Multimedia; Michael Gosney, Verbum; David Kalish, Ceridus; Dave Biedny; Jim Ludtke; and David Traub.

After hours entertainment includes the Spoonman Salon, featuring cutting-edge interactive art and music, and the first annual "Golden Lobes" will be given to the most innovative multimedia development tools. "Temporary Ambient Zone ll," first presented by Morph's Outpost at SIGGRAPH '93, will entertain attendees in a late-night multimedia music extravaganza.

Exclusively targeted for the fastest-growing group of trade professionals, Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier covers the technical news, tools, and technologies crucial to the growth of multimedia. "Multimedia developers are blazing a new trail," said Craig LaGrow, publisher. "Our magazine provides them with the road maps and the tools to help them develop an entirely new set of skills."

Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier provides in-depth technical tips for creating multimedia titles and applications, and offers strategic and tactical business advice to help multimedia professionals increase their productivity and return-on-investment -- whether they be inhouse developers, VARs, systems integrators, or independent title developers, or any number of professionals converging on multimedia.

For more information about Art Teco '94 contact Tim Bigoness, V.P. Marketing at (510) 238-4547. For editorial information, contact Editor-in-Chief Doug Millison at (510) 238-4550. For subscriptions call (800) GO MORPH or write to Morph's Outpost on the Digital Frontier, P. O. Box 578, Orinda, CA 94563.


Expert Forms for Windows
Expert Software's Windows Line Takes Form With Expert Forms For Windows

Latest forms program increases Expert Software's foothold as leaders in small office/home office market

CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA (April 20, 1994) - Expert Software, Inc., announced today the release of Expert Forms for Windows, a forms design program offering a user the ability to create and design forms. Expert Forms for Windows has a Manufactures Suggested Retail Price of $14.95.

"If you own a small business or simply perform home productivity tasks, then Expert Software can take you a long way," said Sue Currier, president of Expert Software, Inc. "Our labels, fonts, and forms programs provide a small office/home office user inexpensive and easy-to-use business solutions."

Expert Forms allows a user to easily design, fill-in, and print professional forms. Expert Forms comes equipped with powerful line and box tools which make it easy to use any of the 14 line styles, 256 colors, and 20 fill patterns. Expert Forms also includes 64 popular pre-printed samples forms.

With Expert Forms, data design and input is a breeze. A user can toggle back and forth between the form design and form input windows, making changes to the design and then quickly entering pertinent data into the form. If a form needs to be increased in size a user can easily create multi-page forms and later access them by pushing the "Go To" button.

Expert Form's data fields offer flexibility. You can customize the sequence of data fields on your form, protect them from being overwritten, or group them to move, resize, or delete all at once. The program's fields are automatically numbered and labeled so that you can create mathematical calculations for quick tabulations.

As a design program, Expert Forms allows a user to change the color, size, and style of your text and move it to any part of the form. The text can also be justified or aligned to the left, right, and center. The Automatic Wordwrap feature adjusts the text to fit your margins.

Expert Form's print preview feature ensures your printout is correct the first time by verifying margins and the form layout before printing. Printing can be done in three resolutions (outline, medium, and high) in portrait or landscape orientation.

Expert Forms also allow you to:

* Import color photos, company logos, and clip art into forms

* Arrange the screen to fit your needs by moving rulers, toolbar,

  and floating toolbox

* Work in draft mode to save time, or in high resolution mode to

  view detailed graphics

* Fit forms to your screen size for easier data entry Scale to

  U.S. or Metric measurement

Expert Forms requires Windows 3.1 or higher running in 386 enhanced mode, a VGA monitor, 2 megabytes of RAM, and 2 megabytes of disk space.

Expert Software is the leading value-oriented publisher of over 60 Windows, MS-DOS, Macintosh, and CD-ROM titles which have appeared on many of the industry's hot and best seller lists. Expert Software is located at 800 Douglas Road, North Tower, Suite 355, Coral Gables, FL 33134-3128. For consumer product information contact: 800 759-2562.


A DOS User's Guide to the Internet

E-Mail, Netnews, and File Transfer with UUCP

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 2, 1993 -- PTR Prentice Hall today announced the publication of A DOS User's Guide to the Internet: E-Mail, Netnews, and File Transfer with UUCP by James Gardner. This new book brings the riches of the Internet and the power of advanced UNIX communications software to the world of DOS users.

"We are very excited about this book and our partnership with MKS," said Mark L. Taub, senior managing editor, PTR Prentice Hall. "The Internet has become increasingly important, and will become more so, as we move to an information-based society. This book, and the software included with it, will make the Internet easily accessible to the millions of computer users who work and play on DOS-based personal computers."

Much more than just a description of the Internet and its services, A DOS User's Guide to the Internet provides detailed, hands-on instructions on how to access the Internet using the bundled UUCP software for DOS from MKS. Using easy-to-follow examples, the book explains how to send and receive electronic mail across the Internet, how to receive and reply to any of the thousands of newsgroups on the Internet, and how to transfer files over the Internet. The book also explains how the UUCP software can be used to send and receive information between the home office and travelling business people. Three Internet service providers agreed to provide discounts on their services to purchasers of this book. Book buyers will find discount coupons ranging in value from $25 to $50 at the end of the book. The discount coupons offer book buyers a low cost way to "test drive" the Internet.

About the Software ...

MKS UUCP is advanced UNIX communications software ported to the DOS environment by MKS Inc. It is part of the MKS Toolkit, a unique application development package that provides a complete suite of powerful tools for the PC. Using the Store and Forward communications paradigm long familiar to UNIX users, MKS UUCP enables Internet users to transfer large amounts of data between their PCs and Internet hosts at low cost. This can result in a very significant savings for users who use Internet E-mail and Netnews extensively.

About MKS Inc....

Mortice Kern Systems Inc. develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art computer software for the global marketplace through proprietary, end user and OEM products and consulting services. The entire MKS product line tracks the emerging POSIX.2 and X/Open standards, and MKS is an active contributor to the standards process. Founded in 1984, MKS has established an international reputation for expertise and technical leadership in open systems, and is widely known for its high quality POSIX and UNIX related utilities that run on non-UNIX systems, including DOS, OS/2 and Windows

About PTR Prentice Hall ...

PTR Prentice Hall, a division of Paramount Publishing's Education Group, is the premier source of computer science books and documentation. Paramount Publishing, the publishing operation of Paramount Communications Inc., is America's leading publisher of educational materials from textbooks to computer-based learning systems, and has significant operations serving the consumer and business, technical and professional publishing markets worldwide. Paramount Communications Inc. is a global entertainment and publishing company.

A DOS User's Guide to the Internet: E-Mail, Netnews, and File Transfer with UUCP, J. Gardner. PTR Prentice Hall 1994. Book/Disk: ISBN 0-13-106873-3. 354 pp. $34.95. Available now.

Customers, to order a copy of this or any other Prentice Hall book call 515-284-6751 or fax your order to 515-284-2607.

Prentice Hall, Professional Technical Reference

Simon & Schuster Education Group

113 Sylvan Ave, Route 9W

Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632


Hands-On Internet, Beginning Guide for PC Users
Hands-On Internet

A Beginning Guide for PC Users

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, January 31, 1994 -- Can you imagine driving a car without practicing with an experienced driver or without a drivers education class? There would be accidents and frustrated drivers everywhere! Until now, PC users had to learn how to travel on the Internet, the worldwide electronic superhighway, without any practice or hands-on training. PTR Prentice Hall's Hands-On Internet: A Beginning Guide for PC Users, by David Sachs and Henry Stair, is a series of eight on-line tutorial sessions that lead PC users through the Internet. The book is available now.

PC users, don't get lost on the Internet! Written by experienced Internet users, this new book will help you get started exploring the Internet with a PC, even if you're a non-techie. Gently, Sachs and Stair take you through the Internet with eight tested tutorials. The authors show you how to start, where to start, and how to explore the Internet. Hands-On Internet includes a disk with communications software that you will need. All you need is your PC, a service provider and a modem. If you don't have a modem, the book includes a money-saving offer for a modem from Hayes, a leading manufacturer of modems in the United States. The book also includes discount coupons from service providers.

Eight easy-to-follow online tutorials show you exactly how to send e-mail, participate in Internet mailing lists and newsgroups, and access files on computers around the world. Step-by-step, Sachs and Stair explore the Internet with you, showing you how to:

* Access State Department Travel Information,

* Obtain long range forecasts, ski conditions and earthquake

  reports from the Weather Underground,

* Learn the latest findings on Project Magellan from the National

  Space Science Data Center.

Hands-On Internet gets you up and running on the Internet as fast as possible. Just like learning to drive a car, you don't want to drive on a highway without practicing on local roads. Each session builds upon what you learned earlier, so that by the end of the book you are ready to travel the Internet superhighway on your own.

About the Software ...

Telix Lite is a commercial communications software program designed especially for DOS platforms. Telix Lite is easy to use and allows PC users to access the Internet via a dial-up connection. Once you have a service provider, all you need to connect is a PC and a modem. With Telix Lite, you have FULL Internet connectivity. The software allows you not only to perform common Internet activities such as sending mail and participating in newsgroups, but to transfer files from computers around the world to your PC and to use full FTP (file transfer protocol) capabilities. Telix Lite is a limited version of Telix Communications Software. However, all key connectivity features are included in this version.

Here's what Internet Service Providers say ...

"For PC users this is really the one book they need to become fully functional on the Internet... One stop shopping in Internet how-to books. This book is a major step forward in demystifying the Internet for the novice user. It strips away the folklore and gets right to the heart of what you can do with the Internet and how to do it." -- Alison Brown, Director, OARnet

"Hands-On Internet should bring down the level of knowledge required for Internet access ... the presentation will open certain aspects of the Internet to more novice users." -- Thomas A. Powell, Analyst/Programmer, CERFnet

About the Authors ...

David Sachs is professor of office information systems at Pace University's School of Computer Science and Information Systems where he has been actively involved in teaching computer science for the past 10 years. He has previously co-authored Discovering Microsoft Works and Mastering Microsoft Works.

Henry (Pete) Stair is a senior consultant with Mycroft Information in New Canaan, Connecticut, where he specializes in high performance global telecommunications and computer networking. He previously co-authored the textbook, Megabit Data Communications. He is a registered professional engineer (CA) and a member of the IEEE and the Internet Society.

Hands-On Internet: A Beginning Guide for PC Users, D. Sachs and H. Stair. PTR Prentice Hall 1994. Book/Disk: ISBN 0-13-056392-7. 330pp. $29.95.

Customers, to order a copy of this or any other Prentice Hall book call 515-284-6751 or fax your order to 515-284-2607.

Prentice Hall, Professional Technical Reference

Simon & Schuster Education Group

113 Sylvan Ave, Route 9W

Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632


Zen and the Art of the Internet

Classic Bestseller in New Expanded and Updated Edition

Englewood Cliffs, NJ, February 10, 1994 -- Over 15 million people worldwide are connected to the Internet. Shouldn't you be one? If you are new to the Internet and want to know more about the electronic superhighway, this classic bestseller is for you. Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide, Third Edition, by Brendan Kehoe has been updated and expanded to reflect the rapidly changing Internet. Over 50,000 units of Zen and the Art of the Internet have been sold.

The third edition of Zen and the Art of the Internet makes learning about and traveling the Internet easier than ever before. Kehoe uses the same easy-to-read, straightforward approach for this edition as in the highly praised second edition. The improved and expanded third edition features a new two-color format and lay-flat binding that make it easy to use right at your computer. As in previous editions, the book assumes no knowledge of the Internet and helps new Internet users take advantage of the Internet quickly and easily. Unlike other books, Zen is for anyone, no matter what type of operating system they use since the book is platform (operating system) neutral.

Originally published electronically on the Internet by Kehoe, Zen and the Art of the Internet was the first users guide to the Internet. Zen is expanded to include new information about the Internet. All information in the book has been revised and updated to reflect changes in the technology. New topics covered include: Gopher; WAIS; InterNIC; Internet BBS's; how to connect to Compuserve, GEnie and BIX; the Online Career Center; and Internet Talk Radio. The book includes network basics, electronic mail, anonymous FTP, Usenet News, Telnet, various tools, commercial services, items available for their services via Telnet, country codes, and a comprehensive glossary and index.

About the Author ...

Brendan P. Kehoe has been involved in networking and Cyberspace for over eight years. In addition to writing Zen and the Art of the Internet, he has helped promote the usefulness and growth of the Internet by being directly involved in many of the cutting-edge projects that have made the Internet a more user-friendly world to explore.

Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide, Third Edition, B. Kehoe. PTR Prentice Hall 1994. Paper: ISBN 0-13-121492-6. 240 pp. $23.95. Available now!

Customers, to order a copy of this or any other Prentice Hall book call 515-284-6751 or fax your order to 515-284-2607.

Prentice Hall, Professional Technical Reference

Simon & Schuster Education Group

113 Sylvan Ave, Route 9W

Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632


Artisoft Upgrades Through Reseller Channel
ARTISOFT OFFERS UPGRADES THROUGH THE RESELLER CHANNEL FOR THE FIRST TIME

Upgrades Available on LANtastic Network Operating System 6.0

(TUCSON, AZ--April 18, 1994)--Artisoft, Inc. announced today that upgrades for its LANtastic network operating system v6.0 are available for the first time through Artisoft authorized resellers. Also available through Artisoft resellers are upgrades from Artisoft's Simply LANtastic network operating system to the LANtastic v6.0 network. The upgrades are priced at $39 MSRP per node and $49 MSRP per node respectively. Resellers can obtain upgrades through Artisoft's corporate headquarters.

"The upgrades are a wonderful way for us to enhance relationships with clients," said Jeff Kay, an Artisoft Authorized Five Star reseller and President of K-Squared Systems, Inc., Dallas, Texas. "This allows clients to come to us for everything now, including upgrades. Plus, we have the opportunity to provide them with other services," he said.

"We initiated upgrades through the reseller channel in direct response to reseller requests," said Artisoft's Vice President of Sales and Support Joel A. Davis. "This is a prime opportunity for Artisoft resellers to revisit existing sites to perform the upgrade and to offer additional products or services," he added.

"Artisoft resellers now have another means of generating incremental sales of software, hardware and service," Davis continued. "This is an excellent chance for them to help customers re-engineer their businesses to take advantage of the new groupware features in the LANtastic network."

Artisoft (NASDAQ "ASFT") is one of the world's leading suppliers of scalable, cost-effective networking solutions to departmental workgroups and small- and medium-sized businesses. The company offers the award-winning LANtastic network operating system as well as network management, backup and multiplatform connectivity systems. Under the combined Artisoft and Eagle Technology brand names, the company is also one of the world's leading providers of Ethernet adapters. Artisoft maintains 10 international offices and distributes its connectivity products in over 90 countries.

For more information about Artisoft or its product line, contact Artisoft, Inc. at 2202 N. Forbes Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85745. Sales 800/233-5564. Corporate 602/670-7100. Fax 602/670-7101.


TeleForm for Windows V3.0 Auto Data Entry Swr
CARDIFF SOFTWARE'S NEW V.3 TELEFORM FOR WINDOWS SETS THE STANDARD IN AUTOMATED DATA ENTRY SOFTWARE CATEGORY

Version 3. 0 Features Include A New Form Designer, BasicScript, Faster, More Accurate Hand Print Recognition and Improved Ease of Use

Solana Beach, CA, April 19, 1994--Cardiff Software, Inc., developer of the first fax- and scanner-based forms recognition software, announced today that it will unveil its latest release at the AIIM show in NYC and at the VOICE '94 show in Anaheim, CA. Among a cadre of enhancements, Cardiff s Teleform for Windows Version 3.0 offers an all new "Designer" for forms creation, BasicScript for implementing complex procedures, and improved hand print recognition.

Teleform is used to eliminate data entry, shorten response time and link PCs worldwide via the economical fax communication network. Teleform performs direct data entry from fax machines and scanners to leading databases and spreadsheets. The software interprets hand printed, typed and pre-printed text, and filled-in bubbles.

President and Founder Joseph C. Larson said, "With Teleform Version 3.0, we are setting new standards for price and performance in the automated forms data entry software category. We have rewritten Version 3.0 from the ground up and included many enhancements based on input from thousands of users."

Teleform's all new "Designer" module includes a tool bar and button bar which completely revamp the user interface and greatly increase ease of use and productivity during forms creation.

Unlimited font selections, color capabilities and a customizable grid view for precise alignment have also been added to the package. Bruce Genger, a Teleform user and reseller said, "Teleform's new 'Designer' module includes a great new selection of user productivity tools. I've cut the time it takes to build a form by at least 50 percent."

Teleform now includes BasicScript, a language for non-programmers to use in implementing complex operations. BasicScript provides skip-and-fill logic, cross field validation, and much more. Dennis Clerke, Cardiffs Vice President of Marketing and Sales said, "The addition of BasicScript makes Teleform the only automated forms data entry package to provide this flexibility."

Teleform's recognition power is now 40 percent faster and more accurate. This improves the accuracy of electronic interpretation of faxed data, thus reducing the need for human review. In addition, character-specific alpha/numeric field settings allows users to create fields that capture both letters and numbers, such as apartment addresses. Teleform recognizes unconstrained hand printing, eliminating the standard requirement of writing characters in boxes. Newly added TIFF support reduces image storage size and provides a wider range of compatibility options with imaging applications.

Teleform users span a wide variety of markets including health care, publishing, transportation and research. For instance, Kaiser-Permanente uses Teleform to administer pre-employment screening tests, PC World uses Teleform in readership surveys, Southern Pacific Rail Corporation communicates with 9000 vendors via Teleform, and the Harvard School of Public Health uses Teleform in medical research surveys.

Other notable enhancements include direct support for over 75 leading scanners including Bell & Howell, Canon, Epson, Ficus, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Microtek and Ricoh. Softnet's FaxWorks is now bundled with Teleform to provide fax send and receive capabilities from any Windows application.

Teleform for Windows is sold in multi- or single-user packages. The single user version is $1495. The price to upgrade from Version 2.0 to Version 3.0 is $249.

Founded in 1991, Cardiff Software, Inc. is the recognized leader in automated forms processing.

Cardiff Software

531 Stevens Ave, Bldg B

Solana Beach, CA 92075

800 659-8755 or 619 259-6444,  fax 619-259-6450


Ricoh Meetings Demands of American Market
Ricoh Meeting Demands of American Market Through New Research and Development Group

Ricoh Corporation is acting now to meet the technological demands of the future.

WEST CALDWELL, NJ (April 18, 1994) -- Ricoh, a major manufacturer and marketer of business equipment headquartered here, is opening a center for software and hardware product development in San Jose, California. The Systems Research and Development Group will apply Ricoh technology to developing new operating and control systems for its digital equipment products. The research group will also develop new application systems for the American market.

Systems developed by the San Jose group will be designed to be user-friendly and possess the flexibility to interact with major software programs in the American marketplace. "These new systems will be more sophisticated to satisfy the needs of our customers in the present computer-driven networks and connectivity markets, and also satisfy the needs of potential customers in the information highways of the future," said Ricoh President Eric Steenburgh.

Mr. Steenburgh said an indication of the importance of this group to Ricoh lies in the individual named to head it, Kazuyuki (Ken) Baba, a former board member of Ricoh Company Ltd., parent company of Ricoh Corporation. Mr. Baba's most recent responsibility in Japan was general manager of the Imaging Systems Business Group.

Ricoh already has invested substantial resources in its stand-alone core product lines and has made good progress in the development of digital systems products. Most of this work has so far been done by Ricoh Corporation's parent company in Japan.

"Now we are entering a new phase, one that will bring product and system development closer to the American marketplace, closer to our customers," Mr. Steenburgh said. The new systems development group will include experts from both America and Japan, working together as a team under Mr. Baba, who will report directly to Ricoh Corporation Chairman Hisashi Kubo.

"Ricoh's early entrance to the digital, computer-connected market gives us an opportunity to grow at an accelerated rate," Mr. Steenburgh said. "The advances we expect from our new research and development group should speed the development of our products and increase our share of the American market."

The Systems Research and Development Group will be located in the same facility as Ricoh's Peripheral Products Division at 3001 Orchard Parkway, San Jose.

Ricoh Corporation is a diversified office equipment and electronics firm with sales of nearly $1 billion annually. Ricoh is a leading supplier of copiers, facsimiles and multifunctional document systems sold both directly and through dealers. The company also markets scanners, printers and optical and magnetic storage devices, as well as photographic equipment.

Ricoh Corp

5 Dedrick Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006


Sybase Completes Micro Decisionware Acquisition
SYBASE COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF MICRO DECISIONWARE, INC.

EMERYVILLE, CA, April 18, 1993 -- Sybase, Inc., The Enterprise Client/Server Company, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Micro Decisionware, Inc. (MDI). The MDI acquisition is intended to establish Sybase as the worldwide leader in interoperability software products by combining the strengths of both companies in the areas of product, distribution, and support. The definitive agreement for this acquisition was previously announced on January 25, 1994.

Interoperability software consists of products that allow different hardware and software platforms, data sources, and communications standards to be connected, shielding users and application developers from differences in products from multiple vendors. Sybase believes that the availability of quality interoperability products is an essential enabling factor in the growing enterprise client/server market.

Under terms of the agreement, Sybase acquired the outstanding capital stock of MDI for shares of Sybase stock valued at approximately $25 million. MDI will operate as an independent Sybase business unit, focusing on client/server interoperability, and will be headed by Mike Forster, MDI's president and CEO. Forster will report to Dave Peterschmidt, Sybase Chief Operating Officer.

Existing SYBASE and MDI products will be combined in a unified product set designed to leverage the complementary features of both offerings. These products will be supported by Sybase/MDI, who will benefit from MDI's team of interoperability specialists (both North America direct and International indirect), and will be distributed through the Sybase/MDI worldwide distribution network.

MDI

Headquartered in Boulder, CO, MDI was founded in 1980 and has become an international supplier of multi-platform enterprise gateway and mainframe access products. MDI employs more than 105 people in the United States and Canada and was majority owned by Safeguard Scientifics (NYSE: SFE), headquartered in Wayne, PA.

MDI's products are deployed at about a third of the Fortune 1000 in markets including banking, finance, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, energy, retail, and government. Customers include Chemical Bank, Nations Bank, ARCO, The Prudential, J.P. Morgan, Intel, Speigel, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, Taco Bell, and Sony.

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products along with technical support, consulting, and educational services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated servers, tools, interoperability, and systems management products provide complete desktop-to-mainframe solutions. Headquartered in Emeryville, CA, Sybase employs over 2,900 people worldwide. The company markets its products in 47 countries through its direct sales force, distributors, OEMs, VARs, and systems integrators.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441


Microsoft & Sybase Evolve Partnership
MICROSOFT AND SYBASE EVOLVE PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER NEXT-GENERATION DATABASE PRODUCTS FOR WINDOWS NT ADVANCED SERVER

Product Plans Give Customers Choice and Compatibility

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 12,1994 -- Microsoft Corp. and Sybase, Inc., today announced an agreement that defines how the companies will work together to deliver complete, compatible solutions across the enterprise, based on Sybase's SQL Server relational database and Microsoft's Windows NT Advanced Server. Under terms of the agreement, which extends Microsoft and Sybase's existing partnership:

* Sybase w ill develop and market the SYBASE System 10 family of products, including SQL Server 10 for the Windows NT Advanced Server, as part of its focus on providing an architecture for heterogeneous, enterprise client/server computing.

* Microsoft will develop and market new versions of the currently available Microsoft SQL Server and related products, further extending the software to integrate with Microsoft's distributed client/server architecture, including the component object model of OLE and Cairo.

* Both the SYBASE SQL Server 10 software and the Microsoft SQL Server software are compatible and will maintain application compatibility based on a common set of APIs.

* Sybase will continue to resell the current version of the Microsoft SQL Server for the Windows NT Advanced Server as a strategic complement to System 10.

The agreement allows customers to choose a solution tailored to their current needs while ensuring a solid migration path for customers who want to move applications in the future.

Microsoft and Sybase Together, A Powerful Combination

"SYBASE System 10 is a powerful suite of enterprise client/server software that we expect to play a significant role in businesses' adoption of the Windows NT Advanced Server as an important platform for enterprise-level computing," said Paul Maritz, senior vice president, systems for Microsoft Corp. "Moreover, its compatibility with Microsoft SQL Server means customers will have a family of complementary database products for Windows NT Advanced Server that are optimized for their client/server computing needs and provide a highly effective solution for tying critical information into corporate-wide information systems."

"Windows NT Advanced Server presents a powerful platform for enterprise-level computing, combining a robust, advanced, hardware-independent operating system with the ease of use and applications compatibility of the Windows operating system," said Dr. Robert Epstein, executive vice president for Sybase. "SYBASE System 10 on Windows NT Advanced Server represents an important extension of our strong commitment to providing solutions for managing critical, on-line information across today's heterogeneous, enterprise, client/server environments. At the same time, Microsoft SQL Server provides a strategic complement to System 10 in linking data distributed throughout the organization."

History of the Microsoft/Sybase Relationship

Microsoft and Sybase have worked together for seven years in a partnership based on a complementary vision of client/server computing. Under the original agreement, Sybase licensed its SQL Server software to Microsoft for OS/2. Microsoft and Sybase jointly developed the SQL Server software for the Microsoft operating system. Microsoft sold the resulting software, called Microsoft SQL Server, through its resellers, with Sybase serving as a reseller for the shrinkwrapped product. More recently, Microsoft and Sybase extended the agreement to include Windows NT Advanced Server as well as OS/2.

SYBASE System 10 Products for Windows NT Advanced Server

The suite of SYBASE System 10 products for Windows NT available through Sybase include: SQL Server 10, Backup Server, Replication Server, OmniSQL Gateway, Open Server, Open Client, SYBASE Embedded SQL, SA Companion, SQL Monitor, SQL Debug, and Replication Server Manager.

System 10 products for Windows NT Advanced Server will be available through Sybase, in addition to System 10 versions for OS/2, Novell's NetWare and UNIX. Additionally, System 10 software for Windows NT Advanced Server, will be backed by a broad range of services and consulting designed to support companies implementing heterogeneous, enterprise-wide client/server environments.

Microsoft SQL Server Products for Windows NT Advanced Server

Today, Microsoft's line of products for Microsoft SQL Server includes SQL Bridge, SQL Administrator, SQL Object Manager, SQL Transfer Manager, Open Data Services, VBSQL, and Microsoft Embedded SQL.

Microsoft distributes the Microsoft SQL Server through its value-added distribution channels worldwide, including more than 4,500 Microsoft Solutions Providers. Microsoft SQL Server is backed by a comprehensive support, services and consulting framework.

SQL Server Compatibility/Migration

SYBASE SQL Server 10 software and Microsoft SQL Server are compatible and will maintain application compatibility, and both vendors will provide customers and developers with guidelines for maintaining compatibility. The compatibility w ill be based on the Transact-SQL language and a common set of APIs. This level of database compatibility facilitates interoperability and ensures a solid migration path for customers who u ant to move between the two database systems.

Product Availability

The first System 10 products for Windows NT Advanced Server are currently in beta and are scheduled for general availability in Q3 1994. These include SQL Server 10, which comes bundled with Backup Server; Replication Server; Open Server; and Open Client. In addition, OmniSQL Gateway is scheduled for general availability in Q4 1994. Pricing will be announced at the time of availability.

Microsoft Corp.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Sybase, Inc.

Sybase, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBS) develops and markets a leading family of client/server-based software products along with technical support, consulting, and educational services for on-line, enterprise-wide applications. Sybase's integrated servers, tools, interoperability, and systems management products provide complete desktop-to-mainframe solutions.

Sybase Inc, 6475 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 04608

510-596-3500;  Fax: 510-658-9441

Microsoft Corp, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080,  fax: 206-93MSFAX


Track It! Videos/Books/Stamps/Coins/Inventory
Keep track of your Videos, Books, Stamps, Coins and Personal Possessions by using new Windows software

BOUNTIFUL, UTAH -- April 20, 1594 -- Insight Software Solutions today announced the initial release of Track It! Videos, Track It! Books, Track It! Stamps, Track It! Coins and Track It! Home Inventory representing its first five products in its new Windows collection series. The five DBase compatible programs are capable of tracking, organizing and cataloging your home video collection, your home book collection, your stamp collection, your coin collection and your personal possessions.

"We are trying to make it possible for people to track their favorite hobbies in a very user friendly Windows environment." said Michael D. Jones, President of Insight Software Solutions.

All three programs allow you to enter a vast amount of information on their respective topics. They provide easy access to adding, editing and deleting information. An advanced search function is available to help locate specific items. And a multitude of report options are available for generating reports on screen or on paper.

Track It! Videos is designed for anyone who has a video collection and is tired of keeping track of their collection by hand. You may select the Content (Movie, TV, Home Video), Format, Category, Rating, Personal Rating, Sound, Picture, Record Speed and Miscellaneous options. Enter Title, Stars, Producer, Director, Released By, Year Released, Tape Number, Counter Start, Counter Stop and Description. The Category and Personal Rating lists can be modified to your personal liking. You may create 1 line, 2 line or multi-line reports sorted by Title, Category, Rating, Year or Personal Rating. Reports can be narrowed down to just Movies, TV Shows or Home Videos and they can be narrowed down to one Category, Rating or Personal Rating.

Track It! Book is designed for anyone who has a book collection and is tired of keeping track of their collection by hand. You may enter the Title, Author, Publisher, Year Published, Cost, Value, ISBN, Date Purchased, Where Purchased and Description. You may select and modify the Book Categories and Personal Ratings. You may create 1 line, 2 line or multi-line reports sorted by Title, Author, Category or Personal Rating. Reports can be narrowed down to one Category or one Personal Rating.

Track It! Home Inventory is designed for just about anyone who has personal possessions and wants to track them for insurance purposes or personal net worth. You may enter the item, Brand, Model, Serial #, Cost, Quantity, Date Purchased, Where Purchased, ID Marks and Comments/Description. You may select and modify the Categories and Rooms. You may create 1 line, 2 line or multi-line reports sorted by the Item, Room or Category. Reports can be narrowed down to one Category or Room.

Track It! Stamps is designed for anyone who has a stamp collection--both novice and experienced. You may select the Country of origin, Topic, Cancellation, Stamp Type, Grouping, Condition and Miscellaneous items. You may enter the Face Value, Market Value, Description, Catalog Number, Year Printed, Quantity, Date Acquired and Personal Comments. The Country and Topic lists can be modified to your personal liking. You may create 1 line, 2 line or multi-line reports sorted by Country, Topic, Condition, Stamp Type, Catalog Number or Group. Reports can be narrowed down to just one Country, Topic, Condition, Stamp type or Group. The help system contains much information to help the beginner as well as the experienced. Clear explanations are given for many stamp topics including conditions, groupings and types. A large list of stamp inscriptions and their respective country can be easily accessed for locating the stamp's country of origin.

Track It! Coins is designed for anyone who has a coin collection--both novice and experienced. You may select the Country of origin, Topic, Condition and Miscellaneous items. You may enter the Face Value, Purchase Price, Market Value, Premium Value, Mint Mark, Description, Year, Quantity, Date Acquired and Personal Comments. The Country and Topic lists can be modified to your personal liking. You may create 1 line, 2 line or multi-line reports sorted by Country, Topic or Condition. Reports can be narrowed down to just one Country, Topic or Condition. The help system contains much information to help the beginner as well as the experienced. Clear explanations are given for many stamp topics including conditions, commemoratives and controller coins. Information is provided listing U.S. mint marks, U.S. controller coins and more. A list of coin inscriptions and their respective country can be easily accessed for locating the coin's country of origin.

The Track It! series programs are designed to run under Windows 3.1 or greater and requires under 1 megabyte of initial space on a hard drive.

The price of each product is $15.00 plus shipping and may be obtained directly from Insight Software Solutions, P.O. Box 354, Bountiful, UT 84011-0354, Phone: (801) 295-1890. Fax: (801) 299-1781.

Founded in 1990, Insight Software Solutions is a producer of financial software packages designed for the professional and the average user. The company provides easy-tc-use and feature-rich software at a reasonable price. The Track It! collection series represents a new line of products offered by Insight Software Solutions.

Insight Software Solutions

PO Box 354, Bountiful, UT 84011-0354

801-295-1890,  fax 801-299-1781,  BBS 801-963-8721 (conf 4)

CIS: 71672,3464


CD-Romance Personal Ads on CD-ROM
Romulus Productions introduces CD-Romance, the first interactive CD-ROM containing personal ads for singles "who perfer not to rush into love blind".

Subscribers will be able to search for a complete or new listing of advertisers and conduct text searches to find prospective matches. Searches will bring up a list of names and thumbnail photos. Clicking on the photo will launch a full-motion video clip of the advertiser; clicking on the person's name will call up that advertiser's profile, which includes a personal fact sheet, a scanned-in handwritten message from the advertiser, and information about how to contact the advertiser through a confidential post office box, Email, or voice mail. Romulus reserves the right to review all content and reject vulgar and blatant sexual references.

"We hope to become the premier established provider of introductory services," says Peter Weisz, Romulus president and software designer. "That means maintaining qualitative standards. CD-Romance is designed to appeal to cultured, discriminating individuals who are simply too busy to play the dating game the old-fashioned way."

The first issue of CD-Romance will be published in June; quarterly updates will contain at least 50 percent new advertising. Ad rates start at less than $50 per issue. The CD-ROM will cost less than $40 an issue; updates for registered users will sell for less than $20. Mac and Windows versions will be available. Romulus Productions can be reached at 317-290-4557; or via Internet Email to romuluscd@aol.com


Visual Calendar Planner 1.1 for Windows
Visual Calendar Planner 1.1 for Microsoft Windows

April 18, 1994 -- Metatec's NautilusCD Multimedia Magazine (Feb '94) rated Visual Calendar Planner as a "HighFive" Shareware program, together with Above & Beyond, Almanac, Times & Chaos Pro and On-Schedule for Windows. Windows On-line Magazine (Vol. 35) commented Visual Calendar Planner as "A Desktop Planner That Rises Above The Rest! " Plus many other superb reviews and comments from other magazines and users from all around the world!

This is the chance for you to boost your file libraries, catalogs and brochures. Users will be delighted to use Visual Calendar Planner. It completely replaces user's office desktop planner, with the ability to reposition itself to the bottom-most among other applications. It is an extremely easy to use program compared to other PIMs. Studies have shown that users are able to learn the whole package under 15 minutes! The program is completely customizable; choose the fonts, sizes, attributes and colors you like in each daily cell text and dates. These properties are also applicable to clock and day-of-week! Zoom in on daily cells to see the To-Do item for the day. Cut, Copy & Paste between cells. Set different chimes to alert users, and many other unique and enhanced features! Visual Calendar Planner looks very real with a full 3D appearance. Even the on-line documentation is fully graphical. A setup program helps user install Visual Calendar Planner easily.

System Requirements

Microsoft Windows 3.1, DOS 4.x or later. 1 MB RAM. Hard disk and VGA monitor required.

Price and Order Information

Registration fee is US$19.95, which include unlimited technical support and upgrades to 2 future versions FREE. Telephone orders can be placed by calling toll-free 1-800-2424PsL. Visa and Mastercard are accepted.

Availability

If you're a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals, Visual Calendar Planner is available on the latest ASP Advantage+ monthly Author to Vendor CD. Filename is 3DVCP11.ZIP. If you subscribe to JCS Marketing Author to Vendor CD, Visual Calendar Planner is located at the directory /CL820/3DVCP11.ZIP. A scanned vendor distribution permission and bit-mapped snapshot of Visual Calendar Planner is also available in the JCSM CD.

Bok Nan Lo

PO Box 9132

Reno, NV 89507

702-348-7358,  fax 702-348-7358

CIS: 73523,2502;  Internet: lo@cs.unr.edu


Business Software Alliance Takes Action
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is kicking butt and taking names on both the domestic and international fronts.

After complaining for several years about how much piracy has hurt software developers the BAS has sprung into action and raided a university that played free and loose with software copying rules.

In its raid in February, the Washington-based BSA hit a computer-training center at Denver's Colorado Free University. U.S. marshals and BSA auditors stormed the center and uncovered a heap of illegally copied software from Aldus, Lotus, WordPerfect and other vendors. The school was fined $60,000 and, according to the BSA, is now changing its software-copying policy, or at least setting up one.

On the international front, the BSA asked the U.S. Trade Representative to add three countries -- China, Brazil and India -- to the priority list of countries that need to battle software piracy.

The BSA estimates that in China alone, rampant software copying and reverse engineering knockoffs divert more than $322 million annually from U.S. software publishers. The report also added 27 more countries to the priority watch, hoping to embarrass them into cleaning up their software policies.

For more information, contact the BSA at 202-872-5500


FOR_STUDY FORTRAN Program Analysis Tool
Cobalt Blue, Inc.  announces the second release of FOR_STUDY v1.2, a new Windows version of their FORTRAN static analyzer. FOR_STUDY studies and analyzes FORTRAN programs, then generates complete program documentation (which is often missing from FORTRAN legacy code), identifies excess or unnecessary code, and pinpoints hidden bugs. It extracts many local and global reports, issues call tree diagrams and isolates items affecting code portability, such as proprietary extensions and functions. Available on MS-DOS, HP-PA, Sun-OS and 88Open, FOR_STUDY is invaluable for anyone who has inherited FORTRAN legacy code due to downsizing, or is actively programming in FORTRAN.

Version 1.2 for Windows uses a powerful, intuitive browser for searching FORTRAN programs interactively by common, I/O and call tree views. FOR_STUDY lets the user jump to any function in the code via an alphabetized list or the application's call tree. It instantly displays the function interface for any routine, showing arguments and their types, and displays any common used in the routine, noting where it was set or referenced, along with any common usage differences. The user can then jump to a specific function with a simple keystroke - a valuable timesaver when maintaining large FORTRAN programs!

FOR_STUDY provides useful consistency checks for arguments, common checks for size and composition, numerous error and warning messages to highlight potential problems, Fortran-90 style function/subroutine interfaces, plus many local and global reports to document the FORTRAN code. Global reports offer both summary and detail reports on common usage size and member differences, lists of all I/O performed on each unit in every routine, summaries on all routines and listings of inactive functions. Local reports focus on excess code, reports on implicitly typed names, and a variety of cross-reference reports.

Available on MS-DOS and UNIX, FOR_STUDY is an essential tool for any FORTRAN programmer who needs well documented, concise code. FOR_STUDY provides the information necessary to make informed decisions before modifying FORTRAN programs, and can save thousands of dollars in code maintenance costs. Fully compatible with FOR_STRUCT, Cobalt Blue's FORTRAN restructuring tool, both products represent a cost-effective FORTRAN maintenance solution.

For more information, contact Cobalt Blue, Inc. at 875 Old Roswell Road, Suite D-500, Roswell, Georgia 30076. Phone (404) 518-1116, FAX (404) 640-1182


Baker's News Bits (4/24/94)
From assorted news sources come the following short news items of general interest.....

An industry specification that overcomes the 528MB capacity addressing barrier in hard disk drives is quickly picking up steam. The specification is supported by such companies as Conner Peripherals, IBM, Microsoft, Novell, Phoenix Technologies, Quantum, SCO, Seagate, and Western Digital. To integrate AT-interface disk drives into PCs, the system BIOS and operating system must address each drive's capacity uniformly. Until now, drives with a capacity greater than 528MB lacked that uniformity. BIOS implementations containing the open specification are available now, and formal standard approval should be granted by the summer. Efforts are still underway to aid users of older systems built with a non-upgradable BIOS.

Add two more mergers to the growing list of industry changes: Symantec teamed with Central Point, and London-based Financial Times publisher Pearson Plc. has acquired Software Toolworks.

Microsoft reportedly plans a 10,000 site test of the next release of Windows NT, code-named Daytona and now known as Windows NT 3.5 according to Richard Tong, general manager of the company's corporate systems group. Microsoft hopes to get the product out by June according to Tong. Windows NT 3.5 is smaller (12MB vs 16MB) and faster, plus provides interoperabilty between 16 and 32-bit Windows applications running simultaneously.

IBM will introduce the first PC running its AIX Unix operating system, a low priced PowerPC system, within the next few months. IBM executives say they're working to "humanize" AIX by enhancing the operating system to support multimedia applications involving voice and touch.

AT&T and Microsoft are close to an agreement to jointly provide a variety of information services such as a nationwide electronic mail netework according to published reprots. Bill Gates has said the companies have been holding talks for three months and a deal is likely to be completed within another month. Gates previously put up both personal and Microsoft corporate money behind three communications ventures.... investing in a $9 billion satellite network to bring the information superhighway to developing nations by the year 2001... $10 million personal/$30 million Microsoft money into MTel's planned 300-market wireless data network... plus signing a joing development agreement with Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone to provide multimedia access to Microsoft At Work and other applications via NTT's network.

ComputerLand has a new identity. Vanstar Inc., the company's new name, was unveiled in late March by president and CEO William Tauscher and corporate division president Jay Amato. Vanstar will function primarily as an integrator for multivendor PC services and technologies for corporate end users, making it one of the largest distributors with more than 400 blue-chip accounts. The ComputerLand franchise and distribution divisions were sold to Merisel Inc. in January for $80 million.

The Justice Department is considering bringing one or more antitrust suits against an unspecified high-tech company, says Robert Litan, deputy assistant attorney general in the antitrust division. "We're concerned about instances where intellectual property protection is pushed too far," Litan said in mid-March. Microsoft is known to be under investigation by the antitrust division.

The Open Software Foundation will be reorganizing in an effort to make the industry consortium leaner and meaner, and get users more involved. OSF's plan, announced at UNIFORUM, includes a new project method that will eliminate redundant engineering efforts and eventually allow vendors to get Unix products to market quicker. Also, Sun Microsystems finally joined OSF, six years after the group was formed.

Sun Microsystems recently bought out its Unix licensing agreement from Novell. Now that Sun will no longer have to pay millions in annual royalties to Novell, the company says it can cut prices on its Unix-based Solaris operating systems. Previously, Solaris packages were typically priced $10 to $200 more than comparable Windows NT packages from Sun rival Microsoft. Also part of the recent deal, Sun also will license Novell's NetWare networking software, allowing Solaris-based systems to communicate with NetWare users.


MacTimeLiner Evolves, TimeLiner 4.0 Shipping
MacTimeLiner Evolves

The All New TimeLiner 4.0 - Now Shipping

Hot off the press! The completely redesigned TimeLiner 4.0 for the Macintosh! Formerly called MacTimeLiner, this time line making tool now has color, sound, an easy-to-use tool box always on screen, and a host of other features requested by teachers over the years. Still only $69.95, we guarantee TimeLiner 4.0 will be one of the most valuable tools in your software collection. Upgrade policy: If you purchased MacTimeLiner within the 93/94 school year, the upgrade to the new TimeLiner 4.0 is free. For those who bought MacTimeLiner before Aug 31, 1993, you may purchase TimeLiner 4.0 for half price - $34.95. Call 1-800-342-0236 to place an order, request an upgrade, or ask for a 30-day free trial.

Other recent releases for the Macintosh include:

* EasyBook

* Fizz & Martina Videodisc Software

* HIP Physics

* Research Paper Writer CD-ROM

Tom Snyder Productions

80 Coolidge Hill Rd

Watertown, MA 02172

800-342-0236


Space Station Redesign Uses Presenter Prof.
Space Station redesign configured on visualization software for the Macintosh

Presenter Professional Visualization Software was recently used by a group of industrial designers at John Frassanito & Associates, in conjunction with NASA engineers, to redesign a Space Station, as well as provide visual support for NASA presentations made to the President and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. The Macintosh-based Presenter Professional features functions such as Digital Clay, Library, Grouping and Quick Render to allow the user to efficiently make modifications, check for design errors and produce high-resolution renderings during the redesign strategy. The hardware includes a Macintosh IIce with a Daystar Accelerator and YARC board. A specialized version of Presenter Professional, called VISIxpress, that operates on a RISC board, was used to quickly modify Space Station modifications.

Visual Information Development Inc can be reached at 818-358-3936


Pursuit Plus Account Management System
Let's Play "WHAT DO YOU NEED TO GET YOUR JOB DONE?"

(Answer): The right information, right now!

When everyone works together, they get more done; they save time, reduce expenses and increase sales. Give your staff what they need to get their job done, better serve your customers and make you more money!

PURSUIT PLUS - Account Management System for Computer Companies

(integrated modular design)

For everyone to get organized and in control: PURSUIT v4.0 includes:

. calendar/followup list

. past due/future schedules

. accoutn activity report

. call results log report

. contact manager

. lead/prospect tracking

. scheduling appointments

. recurring scheduling

. technician scheduling

. multiple coded followup letter/wave mailings

. marketing analysis

. contacts/sales analysis

. sales forecasts

. unlimited user text fields

. help desk ref. library

. over 20 reports, includes report writer

Bottom line: who is working on what, what's not getting done, and show me a sales forecast.

Add for the Service dept. SERVICE v2.0, includes:

. service tickets with notes

. maintenance contracts

. RMA tracking/escalation

. track all types of service

. track parts & labor used

. invoice for service work

. service profit analysis

. track serialized product

. manage tech schedules

. multiple locs/contract

. track hot line support

. access to help desk

. print tickets, contracts

. log tech time to ticket

. tech labor profit analysis

. problem escalation alert

. over 30 reports

. import existing data

Bottom line: control service calls, are you profitable? What RMA's are out?

Add for the Sales dept. QUOTE$ v2.0, includes:

. prepare quotes fast

. use 7 level price book

. flexible item pricing

. easily give discounts

. print profit report

. profit margin analysis

. print detailed quote

. print work order

. print pick list, invoice

. track quotes by customer

. duplicate a quote

. maintaine assemblies

. vendor history

. fast price book search

. detailed sales forecast

. import vendor pricing

. A/R & G/L interface

Bottom line: print quote, invoice; immediately see profit! Print workorder.

Add for Operations: PART$ v2.0, includes:

. inventory control

. serialilzed inventory

. physical counts

. adjustments

. overstocked items

. sales analysis

. LIFO/FIFO/AVERAGE

. unlimited locations

. location transfers

. order tracking

. purchase orders

. purcahse receipts

. bar code support

. interface to QUOTE$ and SERVICE

. over 20 reports

. import inventory

Bottom line: Where are the parts? What's on order? What did they buy?

Join thousands of successful, satisfied PURSUIT PLUS customers in gaining control! Interfaces to fax, WordPerfect, Word, AccPac, Platinum, DacEasy and more. 30 day warranty. Multi-user NETBIOS, Novell, Lantastic, SCO UNIX versions also available.

IMC

7318 Harrison St

Omaha, NE 68128

402-592-4544,  fax 402-592-7317


Assorted Multimedia Books from Vision River
Entertainment & Education Products

Multimedia Book List

Adventures, romances, biographies and reference works spring to life on your computer the way no paper book ever could! We've mixed the sound, colorful graphics, and fun-to-use features of computer games with the best of the printed page to bring you true Multimedia Books.

ELEKTRON Books

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Tech Support Series

Computer help for the new user.

1. EmergencyHelp

2. DOS On Disk

3. Troubleshooting (in process)

4. Modem Mysteries Demystified

$9.95 per individual title on 5 1/4" 360k disk.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Disklist Series

Need to know Marilyn Monroe's real name, or what country code to dial to call Tokyo? Hard to find information is only a keystroke away (only Disk One is available at this date.)

Disk One: Birmingham, Alabama: City, County, State & Federal Phone Directory, State & Federal Information, US Mail Rates, and more.

$9.95 per individual title on 3 1/2" 720k disks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Carsickness

Humorous but practical guide to saving money in all phases of car ownership. Text-only universal display and EGA/VGA graphics versions available.

Either version: $9.95

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Live To Spend It (text and graphics versions) Nonfiction: Information for the adventurer. How to survive crime, war and revolutions.

(A) $9.95 VGA graphics 3 1/2" 1.4 MB disk.

(B) $9.95 Universal display 5 1/4" 360k disks or 3 1/2" 720k

-----------------------------------------------------------------

MINDBENDERS Nonfiction: Your mind is their target. The US govemment's psychological warfare and psychoactive weapons tricks and tactics. Universal display, text-only version. $9.95 (see end of list for more detailed information -- ed.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The MKULTRA Secret Nonfiction: Was Lee Harvey Oswald involved in the CIA's MKULTRA mind control program? Newly released documents reveal an overlooked aspect of the JFK assassination. EGA/VGA graphics and text only universal display versions available.

(A) $14.95 EGA/VGA graphics version

(B) $ 9.95 Universal display version

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The Apocalypse Program Fiction: Computer espionage.

(A) $9.95 VGA graphics 3 1/2" 1.4 MB disks

(B) $9.95 Universal display version 5 l/4" 360k disks or 3 1/2" 720k

-----------------------------------------------------------------

SHAMAL (text & graphics versions)

Fiction: Coup in Saudi Arabia

(A) $9.95 VGA graphics 3 1/2" 1.4 MB disks

(B) $9.95 Universal display version 5 1/4" 360k disks or 3 1/2" 720k

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Special Operations (text & graphics versions) Fiction: A Special Ops commando mission in Laos goes fatally wrong.

(A) $9.95 VGA graphics 3 1/2" 1.4 MB disks

(B) $9.95 Universal display version 5 1/4" 360k disks or 3 1/2" 720k

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Brad Sinclair:

Fine-Tuning Your Life

Multimedia handbook with practical exercises for self-improvement of various areas of your life. Includes improving finances, the work environment, your romance life, and additional procedures for general all around well being. Provides a complete list of procedures at the end of the volume, as well as answers to commonly asked questions. Uses colorful illustrations with music, graphics and text. Each chapter provides either a text or multimedia display and then returns you to a main menu. $9.95

Universal Survival Guide

Important and valuable information regarding emergency and disaster procedures. Covers fires, earthquakes, first aid and more. Colorfully illustrated with music, animated graphics and text. $9.95

Improving Your Relationships

Discussion and helpful tips for relationship improvement and development. Illustrated with animated graphics, music and text. Each chapter offers either a multimedia or text display and then returns you to a main menu. $6.95

Improving Your Writing

Helpful hints and tips regarding how and where to get those creative ideas about what to write. Tells how to market your writing and where to find the appropriate markets. Discusses suggestions and remedies for Writer's Block and other writer's barriers. Provides the winning formula used in writing most best selling novels and other fiction. Colorfully illustrated with music, animated graphics and text. $6.95

It's All About Dreams

Discussions about dreams. Are they real? What are they? How do they happen, and what can we do to make them happen and improve them more to our liking? Colorfully illustrated with animation, music, graphics and text. $6.95

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Stan Lowe:

Handbook for Effective Speech Volume I

A book intended for speakers and singers, and those who want to reach their human potential. This book has been used for self-improvement by effective speakers for over twenty years. This latest update explains how the brain works to aid speech, memory and gestures. You learn how to use a daily check list to:

Become aware of habits and develop new skills.

Manage your time to be free for self-improvement.

Learn how speech influences the entire personality.

Classroom tested exercises for improvement.

$9.95

Handbook for Effective Speech Volume II

(How-To Handbook for Effective Speech)

How to:

Dress for Effectiveness

Have Stage Presence

Maintain Audience Contact

Sum up audience before speaking

Exhibit and maintain a Positive Attitude

$9.95

Handbook for Effective Speech Volume III

Say a Lot with Little Time: quickly memorize speech outlines. Use Mnemonics. Use elements to accentuate your ideas in a way that will make audiences hang on to every word. Put the right kind of "flesh" on statistics while using props that everyone will understand. Learn to illustrate your thought so that you can communicate directly from you to your listeners. $9.95

Handbook for Effective Speech Volume IV

(Talk Supplement)

Over 100 literary subjects for use with exercises of speech and voice. Recently written to cover many modern topics to help take the drudgery out of practice sessions and to add appetizers to your talks. This type of exercise is a must for any serious speaker. A computer program in BASIC is included to aid study with speech drills. $9.95

Music Adventure I

Music Adventure I is a private tutor's lessons put on disk using full color graphics and explanations. You can be interactive. It has easy to follow instructions and menus, sound and animation. This approach has been used for over twenty years with success for children and adults from 5 years to 85 years of age. 108-120 chords are learned with half-steps; whole steps. Version 2.0. $9.95

Music Adventure II

(Chords and Scales)

Chords: major; minor; diminished; augmented in sixths and sevenths. All scales are learned in one or two sittings and practice methods (from the simple to the detailed) are suggested for putting the quickly learned information into the subconscious mind. Because of the method's simplicity and speedily-grasped nature, you are freed to apply practice to music lead sheets. This is "Keyboard Harmony"! $9.95

Voice Culture Volume I

This author has successfully taught voice culture to individuals and groups for over 30 years. The information and exercise trains the person's ear to hear when the voice is defective due to improper care and haphazard nature of modern living. You learn to clarify, remove defects, expand range, beautify and strengthen your voice. $9.95

Voice Culture Volume II

(Deep Breathing)

You learn to remove obstructions to proper breathing and extend the breath of life through proper posture. Conserve your breathing to apply more to voice clarity without being breathy. Rejuvinate your natural breathing processes. $9.95

Voice Culture Volume III

(Advanced Voice Methods)

Use aesthetics to enhance persuasion. Learn to apply nerve force to "electrify" yourself and your audience. How to renew your energy for rejuvinating your voice's effectiveness. $9.95

Virtual Reality

Particularly for the intuitive computerist. Try to find out how to turn the keyboard around and "blast" the keys into vaporized invisibility from any angle to remove keys that form the c-chord; f-chord; g-chord. A short brief program that could be re-run as often as the imaginative ability of the user would allow. Keyboard is in the sky, on the ground, all round if you can discover how to do it! This program is looking for courageous non-timid futurists with imagination. It's not as simple as it looks. Try it! $5.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Klaus Hofenchter:

Herb Power

The ultimate guide to the power of herbs. This spectacular, colorful and user-friendly program will teach what you need to know about nature's medicines, and how they will affect your life. Among the many features you'll discover is a full description of 50 herbs. This includes Cultivation, Cooking and Medical uses with the latest research findings and remedies. System requirements: IBM compatible computer, EGA, VGA monitor, mouse and hard drive recommended but not necessary.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Greenia:

Abbreviations-on-Disk Glossary

A unique, on-line Glossary of over 10,000 abbreviations and acronyms used in computer science, information systems, accounting, finance, business, real estate, banking, securities trading, investments, law, medicine and much more. Includes separate listings for computers, organizations, associations, automatic text-search feature, Help feature and Install program. Supports DOS or Windows. The most up-to-date reference of its kind. New for 1994! $9.95

Computer Security and Privacy: An Information Sourcebook

Learn how to safeguard your home computer or business computer system with this complete reference guide to Computer Security and Privacy on disk. Provides an introduction to the concepts of computer security, privacy, virus detection, disaster recovery, and related issues. Also contains over 400 sources of information on security topics, including books, journals, video tapes, seminars, organizations, products, services and much more. This is a complete reference guide with an automatic text search feature. Supports DOS or Windows. Includes Help feature and Install program. New for 1994! $9.95

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Weapons Against The Mind

Written especially for electronic publication

In 1974 the CIA was investigated for abuses of its charter and authority by a special commission under Vice President Nelson Rockerfeller, and admitted to over two decades of "mind control" experiments on hundreds of unwitting people, some of which who died or were driven insane.

MINDBENDERS, by Frank Camper, a U. S. covert operations veteran who served from Vietnam to Iran-Contra, and Dr John McClure, who has a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology and worked as a consultant for the U. S . Department of Justice, is an updated account of the history of CIA and military mind control projects, going beyond previous books to detail current psychoactive weapons and techniques used by espionage, military, and law enforcement agencies.

MINDBENDERS includes both the methods of these invasions of the mind, and accounts of the experiences of some of the victims. Among the documented subjects of the book are:

* An inside look at the astounding CIA MKULTRA mind control project.

* Secret U.S. use of psychochemical warfare in Vietnam which was intended to incapacitate enemy units, but evidence indicates it may also have accidentally affected U.S. troops, creating severe post traumatic stress due to altered brain chemistry.

* Efforts by the U.S. Army to chemically create a super soldier.

* The tricks of psychological warfare, especially as it is in

  use today.

* How law enforcement uses "psychological operations" in counter

  terror and hostage situations.

MINDBENDERS is now available as an IBM-compatible "book on disk" in 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" disk sizes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Policies: We accept MasterCard and VISA. Add $4.00 per order for shipping within the U.S (we ship Priority Mail,) $10.00 for overseas. "God remains the same; everything else is subject to change."

Vision River

4646 North Shallowford Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30338-6304

Phone (404) 394-1000,   Fax (404) 394-1006


IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups on CD-ROM
IBM ANNOUNCES ADVANCED SERVER FOR WORKGROUPS, A POWERFUL AND AFFORDABLE GROUPWARE SOLUTION

AUSTIN, Texas, April 13, 1994 ... IBM today announced the availability of Advanced Server for Workgroups, a suite of industry-leading groupware functions from IBM and Lotus Development Corporation, which together provide a powerful workgroup computing solution at a very attractive price.

IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups combines IBM's OS/2 2.11, LAN Server Advanced 3.0, System Performance Monitor/2 2.0 and Lotus Notes 3.0 on CD-ROM with a single integrated manual and a videotape to facilitate installation.  The Notes software includes an OS/2 Server and six Lotus Notes clients.

"IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups brings together the extensive functions of Lotus Notes and the strength of IBM OS/2 and LAN Server to give customers a simple and powerful entry into workgroup computing," said Phil Powers, director of marketing, LAN Systems, for IBM's Personal Software Products division. "With this product, customers can easily install and be productive in a LAN groupware environment at a very attractive price."

The Lotus Notes component of Advanced Server for Workgroups provides users with knowledge-sharing applications, mail and messaging capabilities, a development environment for distributed applications, and discussion and collaboration databases.  OS/2 2.11 provides the "workplace shell" graphical user interface and lets users run OS/2, DOS and Microsoft Windows applications simultaneously.  IBM's LAN Server Advanced provides high performance resource management across the network with the fault tolerance and security features customers require.  IBM's System Performance Monitor/2 2.0 enables load balancing and performance tuning.

"The IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups gives customers a powerful solution for supporting information-sharing and collaboration in a platform-diverse environment," said John Landry, senior vice president of software development and chief technology officer for Lotus Development Corporation.  "This package also offers customers an easy way to install Notes as well as an immediate service option that can accelerate their return on investment."

The product is scalable from small LANs to large enterprise-wide, interconnected networks. It is ideal for customers seeking an entry point for workgroup computing and for large corporations which need to share applications over the LAN, across the nation and around the world.

In addition to the single installation guide and videotape, IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups comes with 90 days of IBM customer support and a U.S. promotional offer for a discount on IBM consulting services for application design, implementation, and customization of Lotus Notes applications.

IBM Advanced Server for Workgroups will be available April 15, 1994 in the United States and Canada directly from IBM and from software resellers shortly thereafter, for a list price of  $4,695.  The product has been certified by IBM's Integration Test Lab in Austin, Texas, as "Tested and Approved for LAN Systems."

IBM's Personal Software Products division, which is headquartered in Austin, Texas, is an industry leader in the development of operating systems, including PC DOS and OS/2, as well as networking software and other advanced technologies.

Lotus Development Corporation, founded in 1982, offers high quality software products and support services that reflect the company's unique understanding of the new ways in which individuals and businesses work together.  Today, Lotus markets its products in more than 80 countries.


InfoMagic CICA Archive on CD-ROM
InfoMagic is pleased to announce a new release of the CICA archive on CD-ROM. This release is a double CD set and includes all of the files in the archive unzipped and ready to run (or install) directly from the CD's.  InfoMagic has provided a frontend using the Microsoft Multimedia viewer and a custom DLL that supports both browsing and full-text searches of the descriptions.  The frontend allows any program on the disc to be run, installed, or copied to the directory of your choice.  An icon is optionally added to any new or existing program manager group.

The 2-CD set retails for $24.95 and may be ordered via email, FAX, or phone as shown below.  We accept Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.  Shipping is $5.00 within the US, and $10.00 outside.  A percentage of the sales of this disc is returned to CICA to help support the archive.

InfoMagic, Inc.

Tel:    800-800-6613 or 609-683-5501

Fax:    609-683-5502

email:  orders@InfoMagic.com


LA Times v3.3 NNTP News Reader for OS/2
LA Times 3.3 - RELEASED!

Copyright (c) 1993-1994 by Steven Gutz

LA Times is an NNTP news reader for IBM OS/2 2.11 (2.1 with CSD) and TCP/IP version 1.2.1 or later.  It has been designed to be a replacement for the NewsReader/2 product currently shipping with TCP/IP.

It offers:

- Significant speed improvement over previous versions of

  LA Times, and is, in many cases, faster than NR/2.

- Optional Toolbars for all windows

- Subject Keyword searching (favorite subject searching)

- Automatic UUENCODE/UUDECODE of binary information, including

  binaries spanning multiple articles.

- Article body/header/both string searches

- Optional notification and higlighting of replies to articles

  you post

- True support for "spoiler" characters within articles

- Ability to arrange subscription window

- Multiple selects for marking, subscribing and unsubscribing.

- ROT13 support.

Fixes/Features:

- All bugs/weirdness reported for V3.2 have been corrected

- Deleted temporary files used by the program no longer get

  placed in the OS/2 undelete directory.

- Posting Address information dialog now supports right clicking

  in the "Newgroup(s)" field for a quick selection of groups

- UUDECODE feature now supports long filenames on HPFS

  partitions

- Fonts and colors are now Drag-and-Drop like in LA Gopher

Where to get it:

You can get a copy of LA Times for a 30-day evaluation via anonymous ftp from ftp.cdrom.com.  The cost for a full version is $25US (See help file for the specifics of registering).  If you order LA Times and LA Gopher at the same time, you can get both for $40US.

Contacting the Author:

You can reach Steven Gutz at:    gutzs@crl.aecl.ca

Please view the help of INF files for further contact information


Field Guide to Microsoft Access 2 for Windows

by Stephen L. Nelson

$9.95,292 pages, ISBN: 1-55615-581-6

All-New Illustrated Quick Reference Guide Provides Fast, Easy Answers

Where do you turn when you need information on Access in a flash? To the FIELD GUIDE TO MICROSOFT ACCESS 2 FOR WINDOWS' a new, quick-and-easy reference guide to Microsoft Access that answers your questions about this powerful Microsoft Access database management system.

The Field Guide series is a colorful and creative new twist on the Quick Reference Guide that is informative, attractive, and easy to use. Inspired by traditional field guide identification handbooks to flora, fauna, and insect life, this colorful, easy-to-use, go-anywhere computing companion offers lightning-quick answers with a lighthearted touch. Even the most reluctant novice or most experienced power user will find the Field Guides informative, friendly, and inviting.

For new users, the FIELD GUIDE TO MICROSOFT ACCESS FOR WINDOWS provides a visual path to finding the essential information necessary to start using Microsoft Access. For experienced users, it provides concise, easy-to-find descriptions of tasks, terms and techniques.

One of the many elements that make this book so attractive to all users is the "Tipmeister." This friendly computing expert in safari gear leads readers through the computing jungle and points out valuable tips to help them work smarter and faster. Screen illustrations in the book show how the reader's screen should look; step-by-step instructions help users accomplish exactly what they want to do; and alphabetic entries, a comprehensive index, and rich cross-referencing make it easy to find information.

Field Guides are ideal for quick and easy lookups anytime. On the road, Field Guides are designed to slip easily into a briefcase or next to a laptop, ready to consult at a moment's notice. There's even a special troubleshooting section to help readers pull themselves out of tight spots. The books are intended as guides for people in the field or wherever their business may take them--even their offices.

Field Guides covering Microsoft Excel 5 for Windows, Microsoft Word 6 for Windows, Microsoft Windows 3.1, MS-DOS 6.2, and Microsoft Works 3 for Windows are also available.

Microsoft Press is the independent book division of Microsoft Corporation and the leading publisher of quality computer books about Microsoft products. More than 10 million users at all skill levels rely on a complete line of Microsoft Press books to make learning and using software easier. Titles ranging from self-paced tutorials for first-time computer users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800MSPRESS.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080,  800-MSPRESS


Running Microsoft Access 2

by John L. Viescas

$39.95, 960 pages, with one 3.5-inch, 720KB disk

ISBN: 1-55615-592-1

The Complete Guide to the Newest Version of the Microsoft Database Management System for Windows

Information access is the key to success in any business. RUNNING MICROSOFT ACCESS 2 from Microsoft Press provides users of Microsoft Access 2 for Windows with the knowledge they need to put the newest version of this powerful database management system to work right away.

This new edition of the bestseller by database expert John Viescas brings users a depth of understanding not found in any other guide. Whether readers want an introduction to database concepts or detailed information on how to transfer data between Microsoft Access and other databases, they'll find all the information they need.

Viescas' example-rich coverage, hands-on style, and winning tips and strategies will help longtime developers and DBMS newcomers alike get the performance they need from this exciting business tool. Completely customizable customer lists, inventory tracking records, order entry forms, and sales reports can be designed in a snap. Anyone who needs access to data-from a small business manager to an enterprise wide information system administrator--will get expert advice and learn how to design, build, and modify an efficient database.

The book provides a solid foundation for designing databases, forms, and reports, and for getting them all to work together. Readers will discover how to create complex applications by linking design elements with the powerful macro facilities of Microsoft Access or with Microsoft Access Basic language.

Plus, the book includes a disk that contains five sample databases that illustrate the examples in the book and show efficient table designs for common applications. RUNNING MICROSOFT ACCESS 2 is a one-stop information source!

Appendixes include instructions on installing Microsoft Access and sample database schemas, which contain the table designs that can be used as the foundation for other databases. A comprehensive index quickly points readers to any subject in the book.

John L. Viescas is an independent database consultant with more than 25 years of database design consulting experience. He is a contributing editor for Access Advisor magazine, and has lectured at conferences and user group meetings around the world, including highly rated sessions on Microsoft Access at the Microsoft Tech Ed conferences.

Microsoft Press is the independent book division of Microsoft Corporation and the leading publisher of quality computer books about Microsoft products. More than 10 million users at all skill levels rely on a complete line of Microsoft Press books to make learning and using software easier. Titles ranging from self-paced tutorials for first-time computer users to technical references for professional programmers are distributed to book and software retailers worldwide. Consumers in the United States can also order directly from the publisher at 1-800MSPRESS.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft Press, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399

206-882-8080,  800-MSPRESS


Sigma Designs ReelMagic MPEG Tech to Asian Mkt
Sigma Designs Expands Availability of its ReelMagic MPEG Technology in the Asian Market

Midori Electronics Co. of Japan and Oksori Co. of Korea Sign Purchase Agreements for ReelMagic

FREMONT, Calif., April 20, 1994 -- Sigma Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMM), a leading manufacturer of multimedia computer products, today announced that it has expanded the availability of its ReelMagic MPEG playback technology in the Asian market. Purchase agreements for ReelMagic have been signed by Midori Electronics Co., Ltd. of Japan and Oksori Co., Ltd. of Korea. These new agreements represent Sigma Designs' commitment to penetrating the technology-intensive Asian market with its breakthrough ReelMagic technology.

Under the terms of the agreement between Sigma Designs and Midori Electronics Co. Ltd., Midori Electronics will custom design an add-in board for NEC PC-9800 series systems, using key ReelMagic technology and components. The new product, ViewMagic 98, will be manufactured by Sigma Designs and available to Midori Electronics in June 1994 for distribution in the Japanese market.

In addition, the agreement with Oksori Co., Ltd. and Sigma Designs stipulates that Oksori will customize Sigma Designs' ReelMagic controller for the Korean market, bundle with Korean software tides and distribute to the Korean market as a complement to Oksori's existing PC sound products. Shipments of ReelMagic to Oksori will commence immediately.

"We are extremely pleased to be partnering with major forces in the Asian computer electronics market to offer Sigma Designs' ReelMagic MPEG technology, " said Thinh Tran, chairman and CEO of Sigma Designs. "The immense popularity and acceptance of Karaoke CD and full-motion video in the Japanese and Korean computer markets make ReelMagic the ideal addition to multimedia computer offerings sold in those countries. Both Midori Electronics and Oksori have significant presence in their respective markets, enabling us to bring the benefits of ReelMagic's full-screen, full-motion video capabilities to a new, technology-savvy audience."

Midori Electronics Co., Ltd. of Japan is a leading peripheral manufacturer for the NEC PC-9800 series systems. The NEC 9800 architecture controls over 50% of the PC market share in Japan*.

Oksori Co., Ltd. is a major multimedia computer company in Korea. According to company officials, Oksori's products represent 80% of the computer sound board market in Korea.

Sigma Designs' ReelMagic, announced in Fall of 1993, is the industry's first consumer-priced, full-motion, full-screen video and CD-quality sound playback card. Allowing playback of up to 72 minutes of 30 frames-per-second (fps) theater-quality video and stereo sound from a standard CDROM, ReelMagic displays 32,768 colors at resolutions of up to 1024 x 768, bringing astounding realism to multimedia applications.

ReelMagic is based on the emerging MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard for video and audio compression. A new generation of MPEG software titles designed for the entertainment, education, corporate training, and business presentation markets are available or currently under development for ReelMagic. ReelMagic also supports the Video CD and Karaoke CD formats, enabling users to watch feature films and interact with music videos on their computer screen.

Sigma Designs, headquartered in Fremont, CA, is a leading manufacturer of technologically advanced multimedia products, including affordable MPEG video and audio decompression hardware. All Sigma products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers, distributors and original equipment manufacturers. For sales information call 800-845-8086 or 510-770-0100.

Sigma Designs Inc

47900 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538

510-770-0100,  fax 510-770-2640


FAST! Advantage w/Automatic Conversions
AUTOMATIC CONVERSIONS HIGHLIGHT NEW RELEASE OF PRENTICE HALL'S FAST! ADVANTAGE

ATLANTA, April 25 -- Prentice Hall Professional Software has shipped version 2.02 of FAST! Advantage, the company's comprehensive trial balance workpaper product. This release features automatic conversion from other workpaper products, such as ATB, without purchasing additional software.

With the release of version 2.02, FAST! Advantage now automatically converts account numbers, descriptions, and balances from the current and prior year, allowing accountants to make a smooth transition to Prentice Hall's product. "Including these conversions makes switching from another workpaper package to FAST! Advantage quick and efficient," said Senior Product Manager, Accounting Products, Suzanne E. Phillips, CPA.

Automatic Data Import

FAST! Advantage version 2.02 also includes an automatic data import from Prentice Hall's new suite of integrated accounting modules, Business Ties, and the company's client write-up package, Financial Reporting. Using FAST! Advantage to import balances from these products can save accountants a tremendous amount of time entering data. For example, Business Ties clients can simply hand their accountants a data diskette, which the accountant can use to prepare a trial balance, workpapers and financial statements. This same client's information can then be used to prepare 1120, 1120S and 1065 business tax returns using The Prentice Hall Tax System. This level of integration eliminates hours of data entry and the associated risk of error for accounting professionals.

Availability, Support and System Requirements

The suggested retail price for FAST! Advantage is $395 and comes with a 30-day moneyback guarantee. FAST! Advantage requires an IBM and 100% compatible 80286-based PC, DOS 3.1 or later, and 510K RAM. Prentice Hall recommends an 80386 or 80486-based PC, a color monitor, and DOS 5.0 or later for optimum efficiency.

Prentice Hall Professional Software is an industry leader in professional accounting, tax and real estate management software, serving more than 10,000 customers. The company is a member of the Software and Information Services Division of Paramount Publishing's Business, Technical and Professional Group. Paramount Publishing is one of the world's leading publishers of computer, educational, consumer, and business, technical, and professional books. It is a division of the New York-based Paramount Communications, Inc., a global entertainment and publishing company which is a majority-owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc. Prentice Hall Professional Software can be contacted at P.O. Box 723597, 2400 Lake Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 31139 or by telephone at (800) 241-3306, or in Atlanta at (404) 432-1996


ADev to Distribute ASD Pipe Router
ADev Announces Distribution of ASD PIPE ROUTER

April 8, 1994 - Applications Development, Inc. (ADev) has announced a Distributor agreement with Advanced Software Design, (ASD) Inc., to market a "first-of-it's kind" optimized process pipe router, the ASD PIPE ROUTER.

This new system automatically routes process piping in MicroStation 3D design files. Using any MicroStation 3D model equipment, structures and other obstacles in a process plant, the ASD PIPE ROUTER will generate an optimized process pipe route between any two points.

Best used as a conceptual/preliminary design tool for P&ID transposition, the PIPE ROUTER effectively reduces expensive and time-consuming front-end design work. ASD PIPE ROUTER inserts pipe centerlines into OMNI-PIPE files, and OMNI-PIPE automatically populates the centerline with pipe segments and elbows by the OMNI-PIPE software.

"ADev provides PC Plant Design Solutions to the engineering community and ASD now provides optimized plant design tools. The combination of the ASD PIPE ROUTER and ADev's OMNI-PIPE fills a basic need of the Process and Power Industry. That is, to complete lump-sum fast-track projects on time and under budget," says Manu Chatterjee, Chairman, ASD, Inc.

"We are very excited to have this unique opportunity to team with ASD, an industry leader in optimized plant design, to create the next generation of PC-based optimized plant design for Process and Power Industry," said Robert Keith, President, ADev, Inc.

Applications Development, Inc. will feature ASD PIPE ROUTER and a powerful array of other products and product enhancements for the OMNI-SERIES, their MicroStation-based plant design software packages in booth #306 at the International Intergraph Users Group Conference held at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama May 2 through 5.

COMPANY BACKGROUND

Founded in 1986, ADev is the only developer of plant design solutions for both MicroStation and AutoCAD. Applications are available for 2D and 3D piping, isometric piping, process and flow diagrams, structural steel, plant and equipment arrangements, and electrical diagrams, plans and details. For further information, contact ADev at (504) 835-1627; 3850 North Causeway Blvd., Suite 900; Metairie, LA 70002-7251.


WindowMagic v3.0 Windows Pgm Mgr Enhancement
WINWEAR SHIPS PROGRAM MANAGER ENHANCEMENT WINDOWMAGIC 3.0

Major Upgrade Offers Simplified Customization--Increased Productivity

(Bellevue, WA, April 18, 1994)--WinWear Inc., a leading manufacturer of Windows productivity enhancement software, is now shipping version 3.0 of WindowMagic, an enhancement product for the Windows Program Manager and Desktop. WindowMagic 3.0 provides Windows users with a simplified, user-customizable interface for shortcuts on the desktop.

"Other products replace Program Manager; WindowMagic enhances it," said Troy Werelius, Vice President of Sales and Marketing with WinWear. "WindowMagic lets you clear away the clutter on your screen and customize your Windows environment to suit the way you prefer to work."

Designed to serve both novice and experienced Windows users, WindowMagic is the only available application which adds productivity-building enhancements to Program Manager. For example, WindowMagic enables the user to Drag-and-Drop icons onto minimized groups and applications to create a manageable desktop. Users can then view and launch programs from minimized groups by using the right mouse button.

Users can choose from 3,800 icons arranged by category. Users can create pushbutton toolbars that enable instant application launches. An additional benefit is WindowMagic uses only 3%-7% of the available resources, as opposed to its competitors' who use up to 25%.

New Features of WindowMagic v3.0

* A one-button task manager to let users instantly Switch to

  any application or launch a Favorite application from ANYWHERE

* Complete printer management, Drag-and-Drop printing

* Iconic drives are displayed for quick disk management

* A resource monitor which displays and alerts users of

  exceeded thresholds

* An enhanced run dialog that saves commands for repeated use

* Text customization for minimized groups

"WinWear is dedicated to developing high-quality, low-cost productivity enhancement products for Windows users." said Werelius. "WindowMagic 3.0 allows users to become more productive on a daily basis by providing features no other competitor's products offer."

WindowMagic 3.0 is priced at $89.95 MSRP. A special Introductory Offer of $49.95 is available on version 3.0 directly from WinWear and popular computer retail stores worldwide. Upgrades are also available directly from WinWear for $25.00 plus shipping and handling. WindowMagic works with Windows 3.1, WFW 3.11 and is network aware.

WinWear, 14150 N.E. 20th St.,Suite 346, Bellevue, WA 98007

Sales: (800) 803-9358,  (206) 635-0856,  Fax: (206) 635-0823


IconAuthor 5.1 for OS/2
AIMTECH CORPORATION SHIPS ICONAUTHOR 5.1 FOR OS/2

Robust Authoring System Helps OS/2 Developers Create Interactive Multimedia Applications

NASHUA, NH, April 22, 1994 -- AimTech Corporation, a leading developer of cross-platform multimedia authoring products, recently began shipping its IconAuthor 5.1 for OS/2 software that lets users create interactive applications including computer-based training programs, performance support systems, and self-service kiosks.

IconAuthor is a full-featured, icon-based authoring tool that enables non-programming multimedia professionals to create advanced, interactive multimedia applications that combine text, graphics, animation, full-motion analog and digital video, and audio into a single application.

"AimTech is the first multimedia software company to provide broad support for cross-platform multimedia authoring development and playback which now includes PCs running Windows or OS/2 and leading UNIX workstations including IBM, Sun, SGI, HP, and DEC," said Usman Ismail, AimTech's president and CEO. "With the growing acceptance of OS/2 in corporate America, AimTech continues to address the needs of our large corporate customers with this introduction of an OS/2 version of our best-selling software."

With this first OS/2 version of IconAuthor, PC users running OS/2 can now take advantage of all of the advanced technologies needed to create sophisticated multimedia applications without programming, according to Ismail. These multimedia capabilities were previously only available on Windows or Macintosh platforms. "The combination of IconAuthor and OS/2 enables developers to create a new level of multimedia applications for the business, education, and federal markets. We look forward to working with the IBM OS/2 team to serve the multimedia needs of this expanding market," said Ismail.

IconAuthor 5.1 for OS/2 includes editors for creating graphics, text/objects, video, and animation; free internal run-time licenses (effective July 1, 1994), and 90 days of free technical support. Priced at $4,995, IconAuthor is available direct from AimTech Corporation. Special pricing is available for educators, course developers, and resellers.

AimTech Corporation, a privately held company with offices in Nashua, N.H., Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., develops and markets multi-platform software products for creating interactive multimedia applications.

AimTech Corp

20 Trafalgar Square, Suite 300

Nashua, NH 03063-1987

603-883-0220,  fax 603-883-5582


Cascade Voice Tools V2.01 for Voice Response
CASCADE TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF CASCADE VOICE TOOLS VERSION 2.01

(April 25, 1994; New York, NY) Cascade Technologies announced today that it has released Cascade Voice Tools version 2.01, the company's application generator for interactive voice response systems. According to Cascade, this latest version of Voice Tools contains over l 00 new features and enhancements and represents pro-active monitoring of the voice processing industry for technical enhancements as well as an in-depth analysis of user requests and market requirements.

Cascade Voice Tools includes a development module for scripting and recording as well as a runtime system that operates under OS/2, to provide simultaneous call processing options and database integration within a wide range of technical platforms. "We take full advantage of the power and flexibility OS/2 offers including true multitasking, the large memory model and a wide range of connectivity options; critical requirements for most voice processing applications," cited Michael F. George, Cascade's Vice President of Marketing & Sales. "The maturity and stability of our underlying design has resulted in extremely reliable systems that work with the operating system directly."

"For organizations looking at client-server technology, Cascade Voice Tools is an ideal solution," noted Frank Joicy, Chief Technical Officer at Cascade. "As a 'Voice Server', the system responds to caller requests and can make queries of multiple application servers (and other computer resources) simultaneously to fulfill those requests." With Cascade Voice Tools 2.01, the system has native database support for dBase III Plus, dBase IV, Btrieve, and Oracle file formats, all utilizing standard SQL syntax. This is of particular importance for companies looking at standards in computer architectures, vendor design philosophy, operating systems, and database management systems. The company is currently working on similar support for Sybase and SQL Server for Windows NT. "Our array of native database support makes it easy and very cost-effective to integrate Voice Tools with third party and internal systems, especially when we are in a client-server or networked environment" added Joicy.

The new release of Cascade Voice Tools also provides for an integrated call center facility. With this option, Voice Tools acts as an automated IVR front-end to customer service representatives. Voice Tools handles the majority of frequently asked questions, but if a caller needs to speak to someone, the system transfers the caller along with their specific data, to the appropriate service representative. The caller may then be greeted by name and serviced quickly and efficiently.

Founded in 1985, Cascade Technologies is a leading provider of interactive voice response tools. Cascade Technologies is a member of Dialogic's Toolkit Development Program and their Open Solutions Program. Cascade is also a firm supporter of Dialogic's open architecture initiative - Signal Computing System Architecture (SCSA). For more information about Cascade Voice Tools, you may contact the company at (212) 768-7380.

CASCADE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

1430 Broadway 7th Floor

New York. New York 10018-3308

Telephone: (212) 768-7380,  Fax (212) 768-7806


eNote for cc:Mail Front-End Messaging Swr
E Ware Ships 'eNote for cc:Mail' Front-End Messaging Software

New York, New York, April 25, 1994 - E Ware, a division of Visual Cybernetics Corporation, today began shipping a cc:mail version of its popular messaging software, eNote. eNote for cc:Mail acts as a front-end to Lotus Development Corporation's cc:Mail electronic mail package. For the first time, cc:Mail users can filter important messages and route them directly to the screen. eNote for cc:Mail is one of the first PC-based E-mail product to offer text-to-speech capability.

eNote for cc:Mail makes E-mail easy-to-use and more effective. cc:Mail users will benefit from using eNote for cc:Mail, even if they are the first to use eNote in their workgroup. Opening cc:Mail is not required and there is no need to leave the application currently in use. Messages are easily created using eNote's floating control panel. eNote uses cc:Mail as the carrier and messages can be sent instantly to any individual or group found in the cc:Mail directory. If received by someone using only cc:Mail, the message will be stored like any other in the mailbox.

eNote for cc:Mail users will have many delivery options. eNote takes advantage of cc:Mail's filtering ability, enabling the user to screen messages by user name, priority or subject. Filter settings give users control over which messages eNote delivers to the screen and which are stored in the mailbox. When both sender and recipient are eNote for cc:Mail users, E-mail communications between the two users are faster. In this scenario, eNote-specific data, like sound and voice files, can be attached to the message.

eNote's new text-to-speech feature makes electronic messaging even more convenient. eNote for cc:Mail is one of the first PC-based E-mail application to include BeSTspeech T-T-S text-to-speech conversion technology from Berkeley Speech Technologies, Inc. Users can now choose to have their messages read aloud.

With eNote for cc:Mail's text-to-speech feature, recipients can tell the software to read their eNote messages aloud. The talking feature makes electronic messaging even more convenient.

"The combination of cc:Mail's filtering and eNote's pop-up messaging ensures that critical messages are delivered instantly to the recipient's screen," said Joseph T. DiMauro, president of Visual Cybernetics. "eNote for cc:Mail strengthens the accessibility, ease-of-use and efficient delivery critical to the effectiveness of any E-mail application."

"Including text-to-speech capability in eNote for cc:Mail is our first step toward making eNote a true multimedia messaging product," DiMauro added.

eNote for cc:Mail is similar in features to eNote version 2.0. Among the similar features are group messaging, drag and drop operations, folders, a spell checker, context searching, and DDE support. eNote also supports multimedia by allowing users to add .WAV sound files to their written messages.

eNote for cc:Mail is available as a single-user add-on with a $59 suggested retail price. Software for a second user will be included free for a limited time. Additional licensing packs are available for $33 per user. E Ware sells the software directly, as well as through its growing network of VARs and distributors.

E Ware

145 West 28th St, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10001-6114

212-564-7791,  800-743-8645,  fax 212-564-7499


Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals
SilverPlatter Publishes the Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals

The Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (IFLP) on SilverPlatter provides a comprehensive index to articles appearing in approximately 450 legal journals from around the world covering international, comparative, and foreign law. Exclusively available on CD-ROM from SilverPlatter, IFLP provides vital information for all legal professionals, academics, legal researchers, students, and those interested in the law.

Published by the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), the disc contains the entire contents of the Index since 1985. IFLP analyses the content of about 80 individually published collections of legal essays, Festschriften, and congress reports each year and contains over 120,000 records in all.

Journals and publications from all countries are represented and their contents analyzed. The journals indexed from the United States, the British Isles, Canada and Australia have been selected because they deal with international or comparative law, or because they cover legal systems other than Anglo-American. The majority of key foreign language publications are included with the exception of publications in Arabic. Updated quarterly with about 22,000 records added annually, just one compact disc provides you with a decade of international coverage. Annual single-user subscription price is $ 1,095.

The release of this database further supports SilverPlatter's commitment to bring the right information with the right software to the service of its market.

SilverPlatter Information, Inc.

100 River Ridge Dr, Norwood, MA 02062-5026

1-800-343-0064 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-617-769-2599

Fax: 1-617-769-8763

SilverPlatter Information Ltd.

10 Barley Mow Passage

Chiswick London W4 4PH U.K.

Tel: +44(0) 81-995-8242 or 0800-262-096

Fax: +44(0) 81-995-5159

Internet: info@silverplatter.com


HP Works With Avail to Promote NetSpace HSM
HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY WORKS WITH AVAIL TO PROMOTE NETSPACE HSM

Boulder, Colorado--April 19, 1994 - Avail Systems Corporation received further support for its NetSpace software today when Hewlett-Packard Company announced plans to introduce the hierarchical storage management (HSM) technology to its storage hardware customers. Through HP's Optical Referenced Solutions program and Avail's NetSpace Ready program, HP will work with Avail to provide NetSpace compatible optical jukebox software to HP's Value Added Reseller channel.

This agreement denotes HP's support for Avail's "NetSpace Ready" program. In the NetSpace Ready program, hardware manufacturers bundle NetSpace storage capacity drivers with their jukeboxes to ensure plug-and-play compatibility with NetSpace. HP's optical jukeboxes will carry the "NetSpace Ready" logo in their specifications and catalogs to identify them as tested with NetSpace, ensuring the user complete compatibility and simple installation. HP's Optical Referenced Solutions Program recommends Avail NetSpace HSM software as a high quality storage solution that reliably supports its optical jukeboxes. Avail and HP begin co-marketing NetSpace on April 19, 1994, when HP launches its Optical Reference Solutions Program at the AIIM show in New York City. The HP optical jukeboxes and Avail NetSpace storage capacity driver will be available through national distributors and VARs worldwide beginning in May 1 994.

"Avail is proud to have HP as a member of our NetSpace Ready program. As the leading supplier of optical jukeboxes and tape drives around the world, HP's support of NetSpace software and the NetSpace Ready program is a very important endorsement of hierarchical storage management tools for networks. We look forward to a strong and valuable relationship promoting HSM with HP," said Robert Wight, president and CEO of Avail Systems.

Hewlett-Packard Company is an international manufacturer of measurement and computation products and systems recognized for excellence in quality and support. The company's products and services are used in industry, business, engineering, science, medicine and education in approximately 110 countries. HP has 96,600 employees and had revenue of $20.3 billion in its 1993 fiscal year.

Avail Systems Corporation was the first company to develop Hierarchical Storage Management software for Novell networks. Avail's software has won several industry awards, including finalist for PC Magazine's Technical Excellence Award for Networking Software (12/93) and VAR Business's Storage Product of the Year Award (1/94). Avail Systems, founded in 1991, is a privately held corporation. The company's investors include Hambrecht & Quist and Aweida Ventures.

Avail

4760 Walnut St, Boulder CO 80301

Tel 303-444-4018,   Fax 303-546-4219


Making TeX Work

By Norman Walsh

522 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-051-1, $29.95 (US)

We have just published this guide through the maze of tools  available in the overall TeX system, including myriad drivers,  macro packages, previewers, printing programs, online documentation  facilities, graphics programs, and more.

TeX is a powerful tool for creating professional-quality typeset  text and is unsurpassed at typesetting mathematical equations, scientific text, and multiple languages. Many books describe how you use TeX to  construct sentences, paragraphs, and chapters. Until now, no book has described all the software that actually lets you build, run, and use TeX to best advantage on your platform. Because creating a TeX document requires the use of many tools, this lack of information is a serious problem for TeX users.

Contents include:

   - How to assemble the software you need to build and install

     TeX on all common platforms: UNIX, DOS, Macintosh, and VMS.

   - How to get TeX and its associated tools from public domain

     and commercial sources (a complete buyer's guide).

   - How to select and use the tools that let you incorporate

     graphics into your documents and create bibliographies,

     indices, and other complex document elements.

   - How to install and use fonts to best advantage, including

     PostScript and TrueType fonts and LaTeX's New Font Selection

     Scheme (NFSS).

---------------------------------------------------------------

This and other O'Reilly products are available in the Americas  and Japan through bookstores, or directly from the publisher  (credit card orders 800-889-8969; email order@ora.com).

For information: telephone 707-829-0515 (800-998-9938 in US &  Canada); FAX 707-829-0104; email nuts@ora.com; or write O'Reilly &  Associates, 103A Morris St., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, USA.   GSA # GS-02F-6095A.  Access our online gopher catalog via "telnet  gopher.ora.com" (log in as "gopher" -- no password needed).

Our international distributors:

* EUROPE (except German-speaking countries), MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA  International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High  Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK.  Telephone 44-71-497-1422; FAX 44-71-497-1426; or email danni.dolbear@itpuk.co.uk

* GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.  International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strasse 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 49-228-445171; FAX 49-228-441342; or email 100272.2422@compuserve.com

* ASIA. International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone 65-272-6496; FAX 65-272-6498

* AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.  WoodsLane, Unit 8, 101 Darley Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103, Australia. Telephone 61-2-979-5944; FAX 61-2-997-3348; or email woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au


HyperAct HLPDK V11.5 Released
HyperAct Inc. is proud to announce the availability of HLPDK V11.5.

HLPDK is a Multi-Platform and Multi-Target Hypertext, Hypermedia, On-line Help and Printed documentation Development Kit.

HLPDK Includes :

4 Help Compilers         (Dos, DPMI, Windows, OS/2)

4 Help Engines (Readers) (Memory, Paradox on Dos, DPMI)

Built-In Cross Reference Tool.

Supports creation of DOS help databases, popular source files,  Windows (WinHelp & Multimedia Viewer), OS/2 (IPF), World Wide Web and DESQview/X help source files!.

Creates text and word processors documents with automatic table  of contents, glossary and index from the same source.

HLPDK - *Write once, help many!*

Features :

Topics, PopUps, Links, Keywords, Text Formats, Navigational and  Structural facilities, Target Code insertion, Multiple module files,  Automatic Pascal/C/C++ reference generation, Exception handling,  Multiple file target databases, Graphics, Sound, Groups, Application  Launch, Automatic exports creation, user defined link templates, trigger actions and more.

Library : (Expanded HDKLIB is included)

HDKLIB is an extention library to HLPDK that adds functionality to the HLPDK package, by including special "User Link Templates" that  add support for special links, special graphics, enhanced text  attributes, graphic links, normal text links, 256 color bitmap  support, video, CDAudio, Multimedia MCI interface etc .. WINHELP users have access to the complete macro API, using !xxx  user links. The library contains a short video sample! *Now with UN-DOCUMENTED WinHelp macros Support!*

Targets :

Native(PX), Native(MEM), winHelp 3.0, winHelp 3.1, Multimedia Viewer, THELP, QuickHelp, TVHC, PopHelp, DESQview/X, OS/2, Text, Word  Processors Documentation (Via RTF), Sony MM Player (Via MM Viewer), World Wide Web HTML supported readers (Windows, Macintosh, Unix-Motif,  VMS and more). (And all from *ONE* source!)

Developing help text is an important but often neglected  part of application development. Developers often run out  of time and/or money long before they even start it.  Not a easy task to begin with (it requires skills in both  application design and technical writing skills), today's  help systems also require programming expertise and a good  measure of time. As a result many applications have  inadequate help systems that do not really fulfill their  objective - HELP THE USER.

The problem is even more complex when an application has  more than one target environment, each one using different  formats and programming techniques to generate help text. HLPDK cannot solve all the problems involved in help text  generation, but it helps A LOT !. It allows you to write  one help text source and compile it to many different  targets !

You can take existing text like user manuals, technical  notes, etc., add simple help commands, compile it and you  have a complete help system !

Releated tools you might be interested in include :

IL2HDK   Ralf Brown's Interrupt List -> HLPDK converter.

NG2HDK   Norton Guides -> HLPDK converter.

POPHDK   POPHELP -> HLPDK converter (Yaniv Golan).

HPCHDK   HelpPC -> HLPDK converter  (Y. Golan).

TPFHDK   Convert Timo Salmi's Pascal FAQ -> HLPDK.

CPFHDK   Convert The C++ FAQ to HLPDK (Y. Golan).

RC2HDK   Help template generator from windows resource files.

NEWSDB   Usenet News hypertext generator :

         The Tool that will allow you to store and

         navigate through "Other People's Wisdom".

JARG2HDK Convert the Jargon File -> HLPDK

         (Slren Pingel Dalsgaard)

SCANHELP Document Pascal Programs. (Duncan Murdoch).

CVTOPHLP OPRO Help -> HLPDK convert program.

and coming soon ... Windows Help -> HLPDK.

HyperAct Inc.

PO Box 5517

Coralville, IA 52241

319-351-8413

CIS:76350,333 or CIS:100274,162


Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog, 2nd Ed.
The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog, Second Edition

By Ed Krol

574 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-063-5, $24.95 (US)

We have just released the long-anticipated second edition of  Ed Krol's critically acclaimed and bestselling guide to the Internet. We believe that this new edition is a significant event for it  captures (as well as any book about something as dynamic as the Internet) the present state of Internet's tools and resources.

As a complete introduction to the Internet, this book covers  the basic utilities you use to access the network: mail, telnet, ftp,  and news readers. But it also does much more. The Guide pays close  attention to several important information servers (Archie, Wais,  Gopher) that are, essentially, databases of databases: they help you  find what you want among the millions of files and thousands of  archives available. There's also coverage of the World Wide Web,  including the Web's multimedia browser, Mosaic. We've also included  our own database of databases: a resource index that covers a broad  selection of several hundred important resources, ranging from the  King James Bible to archives for USENET news.

Now more comprehensive than ever, here's what you will find in  the second edition:

- An expanded, easy-to-use resource catalog. New and experienced

  users alike can refer to the catalog to discover what's

  available on  the Net.

- Descriptions of three resources that serve as the Internet's

  "card catalog": InterNIC, GNN, and Almanac (what they are, what

  they're for).

- A detailed look at Mosaic, the most powerful World Wide Web

  Browser around.

- An explanation of multimedia mail (MIME): what it means, how

  to deal with it.

- An introduction to pine, a popular mail program that supports

  MIME.

- More on ftp-mail servers, and different kinds of mailing list

  managers, including Majordomo and Almanac.

- An introduction to xarchie, a popular X-based Archie client

  with  an FTP client built-in, along with other improvements to

  the Archie  service.

- What's new in the "white pages," or the Internet's telephone

  book.  In particular, the book covers Netfind.

- An introduction to tin, another popular newsreader.

- New features of Gopher, including Veronica and Jughead.

- New coverage of the swais line-oriented WAIS client.

- An expanded list of internet access providers.

---------------------------------------------------------------

This and other O'Reilly products are available in the Americas  and Japan through bookstores, or directly from the publisher  (credit card orders 800-889-8969; email order@ora.com).

For information: telephone 707-829-0515 (800-998-9938 in US &  Canada); FAX 707-829-0104; email nuts@ora.com; or write O'Reilly &  Associates, 103A Morris St., Sebastopol, CA, 95472, USA.   GSA # GS-02F-6095A.  Access our online gopher catalog via "telnet  gopher.ora.com" (log in as "gopher" -- no password needed).

O'Reilly & Associates

103A Morris Street, Sebastopol CA 95472

707-829-0515, Fax 707-829-0104

Our international distributors:

* EUROPE (except German-speaking countries), MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA  International Thomson Publishing, Berkshire House, 168-173 High  Holborn, London WC1V 7AA, UK.  Telephone 44-71-497-1422; FAX 44-71-497-1426; or email danni.dolbear@itpuk.co.uk

* GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.  International Thomson Publishing, Konigswinterer Strasse 418, 53227 Bonn, Germany. Telephone 49-228-445171; FAX 49-228-441342; or email 100272.2422@compuserve.com

* ASIA. International Thomson Publishing, 221 Henderson Rd., #05-10 Henderson Building, Singapore 0315. Telephone 65-272-6496; FAX 65-272-6498

* AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.  WoodsLane, Unit 8, 101 Darley Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103, Australia. Telephone 61-2-979-5944; FAX 61-2-997-3348; or email woods@tmx.mhs.oz.au


SilverPlatter Announces New Pricing Strategy

April 6, 1994 -- SilverPlatter is pleased to announce that it has established a new pricing strategy that strives to be fair and equitable, easily understood, technology independent, and predictable and easily budgeted.

The new pricing strategy is based on customer feedback which led SilverPlatter to conclude the following: customers prefer pricing based on simultaneous users as well as network access of databases.

With these considerations in mind, SilverPlatter established a new pricing structure which:

* defines terms such as 'simultaneous user', 'remote access',

  and 'site';

* creates flexible usage pricing points including:

  - Single networked user

  - Two to four simultaneous users

  - Five to eight simultaneous users

  - Nine to twelve simultaneous users

  - Site license

  - Remote access (dial-in)

* strives to be media independent.

Most SilverPlatter databases fit into this new strategy easily. However, there may be exceptions, depending on the characteristics of a specific database.

In April, SilverPlatter began introducing new prices, starting with many of its most popular information products. Before any new prices take effect, SilverPlatter will have informed its customers of all aspects of the new pricing strategy, including definition of terms to ensure complete understanding of all points.

SilverPlatter Information, Inc.

100 River Ridge Dr, Norwood, MA 02062-5026

1-800-343-0064 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-617-769-2599

Fax: 1-617-769-8763

SilverPlatter Information Ltd.

10 Barley Mow Passage

Chiswick London W4 4PH U.K.

Tel: +44(0) 81-995-8242 or 0800-262-096

Fax: +44(0) 81-995-5159

Internet: info@silverplatter.com


Candela Enhances Color Mgmt System, Rel 2.0
CANDELA ENHANCES COLOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - RELEASE 2.0

Candela is a leading licensor of high-precision color transform technology -  over 500,000 licensees worldwide!

Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 2, 1993 -  Automatic color gamut mapping is the featured addition to the Candela Color Management System (CCMS). The CCMS library is a comprehensive set of color functions and transformations being marketed by Candela, Ltd.  The three-year old Minneapolis company lists names like Corel, LaserMaster, ScanView, Purup, CCI Europe and other international companies among its high-precision color transform licensees.

Release 2.0 Major Features

- Automatic Color Gamut Mapping between any two color gamuts using either colorimetric or photographic modes with non-linear lightness and chroma compression to the target gamut, automatically preserving CIE hue angle.

- On-line interface to X-RiteTM  spectrophotometers - allows device calibrations to be made in minutes.

- A raster format library - facilitates interfacing the CCMS to applications using TIFF, Targa, EPS, DCS and Scitex CT image formats support ing gray scale, RGB, CMYK and Lab image data.

- Support for the ANSI Standard IT8.7/1 and IT8.7/2 scanner calibration targets

  1. Digital test target generators as either calibrated RGB

     or lab.

  2. Automatically extracts average scanner responses from

     scan of target.

  3. Automatically extracts XYZ values from IT8 data

     reference file.

- Two unique ColorCircuitr transform types -  Lab and PhotoYCC - have been added to the existing RGB and CMYK ColorCircuit offerings. For example, this allows direct calibrated conversion from PhotoYCC to CMYK.

- Development environments expanded - Release 2.0 now supports the Silicon Graphics IRIX 4.0 & 5.1 operating systems as well as the PC Watcom and Codebuilder "C" compilers. The CCMS includes a complete object library of functions for linearizing and characterizing devices, color gamut mapping and Macintosh application which gives developers step-by-step assistance in creating the necessary links and transforms for managing color among scanners, monitors, and output devices. Other environments supported are: Macintosh (MPW & Think C 6.0), NeXT (NeXTSTEP 3.1), Sun SPARC (Solaris 1.1 and 2.x), PC (Windows 3.1 DLL, DOS 5.0, DOS 6.0 and NeXTSTEP 486).

With this set of color tools, any serious OEM, system integrator, or software publisher interested in providing their customers with professional level color solutions to color calibration, color gamut mapping, color device profiles, and color management can significantly shorten their time-to-market and gain considerable competitive advantage.

The Candela technology is based on high-order, non-linear, non-separable mathematical functions which provide the smoothest color and gray tonal transitions while executing at speeds significantly faster than traditional floating point solutions. The implementation of the Candela technology is made possible through the use of Candela's ColorCircuitsr Each ColorCircuit carries the essential parameters for a complex color transform.

"The Colorcircuit is not a look-up-table nor is it an algorithm" says Candela's president, John Grimaldi, "but it is rather like the coefficients in a super-matrix". "The beauty of the Colorcircuit", continues Grimaldi, "is that several individual color transforms can be cascaded together into one end-to-end transform (say from a scanner to a monitor to a co lor hardcopy output device). This complex transform is calculated using floating point precision and made into Colorcircuit. The neat part is that the ColorCircuit produced by this process can be executed at integer arithmetic speeds. This means that large image files, that have millions of color pixels, can be transformed at very high rates. The end result is the optimum tradeoff between a high-quality transformation and a high throughput algorithm. Developers now have an extensive set of proven color tools ready to integrate into their product using their graphical user interface (GUI) that best fits their company's look-and-feel."

"Candela's business focus is providing the best color transform technology to its clients. The company is investing a good portion of its retained earnings in additional environments for hosting the Candela technology. This means that we are committed to supporting our developers in their chosen color environments; whether they be DSP accelerators, powerful workstations or popular personal computers. Candela's color transformation quality has never been equaled in any competitive benchmarks. We have a growing list of international clients, using our technology, that are bringing their products to market now."

Release 2.0 of the Candela Color Management System Library is now shipping to existing master-distribution licensees for a $1,500 upgrade fee and to new master-distribution customers for $9,500. The single user price for Release 1.1 is $7,500.00.

Both versions include a CCMS library, the CCMS Evaluator, and API documentation.

A 138 page detailed Application Program Interface (API) is available to qualified developers.

Candela, Ltd.

1676 East Cliff Road

Burnsville, MN 55337-1300

Phone: 612/894-8890,   FAX: 612/894-8840