#: 470038 S 1/General Information  [CLIPPER]
    16-Aug-94  13:53
Sb: CLIPPER 5.3 FEATURE LIST
Fm: Philip Montrowe [CA] 74512,3067 
To: All            

CA-Clipper Release 5.3 Features

Here is a summary of features for CA-Clipper 5.3, which is currently in
Beta testing.

** A Windows-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE), providing a
user- friendly, productive desktop in which to develop DOS apps **

- Graphical editors to create forms and menus, and to import or create
database descriptions and field specifications, in a point-and-click
environment.

- Browsers to facilitate project management.

- Built-in repository with automatic build and make facility.  The
repository is seamlessly integrated into the IDE and its various tools. 
Dependency information is then used internally to manage the application
for you:  when possible, it automatically rebuilds only those parts of
the current application that have been changed, or are affected by
changes, since the application's last build and then does any necessary
recompilation and relinking.  Note that all compile and link options are
configurable.

- Integrated debugger.  With 5.3's sophisticated debugger, you can debug
your DOS applications from within the Windows-based IDE.  The debugger
supports a wide variety of features, such as single stepping, stepping
to cursor, setting and deleting breakpoints, viewing the stack, viewing
workareas, etc.

** Native Protected Mode Support **

CA-Clipper/Exospace has been integrated into the base CA-Clipper
product.  Now you can create and run CA-Clipper DOS-applications in both
protected and real mode.  Using protected mode eliminates the DOS 640 KB
barrier, and allows your CA-Clipper applications to access extended
memory directly without requiring swapping of any kind.

** Enhanced Linker **

In 5.3, the linker provides a selection of optional built-in packages
that provide protected-mode support for low-level operations, such as
mouse drivers, direct screen I/O, and network calls.

** Native Mouse Support **

CA-Clipper now has mouse support that is fully integrated with its
GET/READ system, which enables all the forms and menus you create to be
mouse-enabled. Additionally, mouse support has been added to the
debugger.

** New Objects **

In addition to such popular objects as TBrowse and Get, new, reusable
menu and user interface objects are introduced in 5.3, such as radio
buttons, push buttons, etc.

** GET/READ System Enhancements **

The GET/READ system has been enhanced to make it aware of the new forms
and menu objects, and now provides the ability to tie a message to each
GET field.

** Upgrade of Microsoft C **

CA-Clipper has been upgraded to Microsoft C 8.0.  This upgrade switches
from alternate to emulator floating point support, enabling CA-Clipper
to utilize a math coprocessor if present.

Note that with this new release, you still get all the functionality of
release 5.2 features (i.e., command line compiling and linking, DBU,
etc.), so you can mix and match the toolset as your needs require.

We think you'll find that the IDE will not only provide a powerful
development environment for all users, but will also make CA-Clipper
easier to learn for new users. Additionally, it is very similar to
CA-Visual Objects' IDE. Therefore, it acts as a way to productively
continue your CA-Clipper development, while serving as a "stepping
stone" in the move towards CA-Visual Objects for your Windows
development projects.

Philip

