ObjectVision 2.0 Questions
Q:  What's different about ObjectVision 2.0?
A:  ObjectVision 2.0 is a whole new product with many new features and
capabilities that allow the creation of a broader range of Windows
applications.  ObjectVision 2.0 is unlike any other Windows
development products because it maintains a completely Visual
Application Creation methodology.  Visual Application Creation is
faster, easier, and more suitable to develop a much broader range of
robust applications than standard tools.

Q:  What are the major new features of ObjectVision 2.0?
A:  The most significant new features are: Support for "one-to-many"
data structures, including cascading deletes/updates. Ability to
call separately created DLLs (Windows subroutines). Password
protection for developed applications. Table objects for database
query and viewing. Event Trees to provide greater control of
application behavior including menus, printing, prompting and
linking. 92 new @ functions and commands.  SQL database access. An
OS/2 2.0 version that includes all features of ObjectVision 2.0 and is
application-compatible with the Windows version.  An Object Bar for
"click and drop" and linking of objects.   A Property Inspector -- via
a click of the right mouse button -- to view and modify properties of
an object, form or stack.  Properties that can be manipulated,
depending on the object form or stack, include fonts, colors, field
type, alignment, password protection and Value and Event Trees.

Q:  What kind of applications is ObjectVision 2.0 good for?
A:  With its greater power and ease of use, ObjectVision 2.0 is
suitable for a broader range of Windows application creation.  These
applications could include:  order processing, contact management,
interface with electronic mail systems, interface with other Windows
software programs, development of applications intended for resale,
survey forms, highly detailed form printing, searching and querying
applications, and many more.

Q:  Who will ObjectVision 2.0 appeal to?  Why?
A:  ObjectVision 2.0 will continue its broad appeal to users
interested in Visual Application Creation of simple and complex
Windows applications without using a programming language or Macros.
Anything that can be done with version 1.0 can be done more easily
with ObjectVision 2.0.  Many new features have been added to benefit
users, including:  rulers, grids, color and font control, new @
functions and commands, and Event Trees which make application control
easy and fast. For more technical users, ObjectVision 2.0 provides the
ability to easily connect to other programs written in Pascal or C/C++
as a DLL.  ObjectVision 2.0 also includes:  enhanced DDE capability
(execute, poke), increased data linking control (Virtual Fields,
filters, record locate controls, SQL access, etc.), and improved
printing capability.  This significantly broadens the range of
applications ObjectVision can create.

In addition to these technical benefits, ObjectVision 2.0 provides
ISVs with the ability to "lock" an application with a password, and
keep the underlying logic from being visible (or copied).  This makes
the sale and distribution of applications much more attractive.  The
new ObjectVision 2.0 FREE Runtime is also an attractive improvement.

Q:  What makes ObjectVision 2.0 easier to use?
A:  Several key features to speed and enhance ease of use include: 
Rulers and adjustable grids which make interface layout easier.  The
Object Bar and Property Inspector make creation of new objects faster.
- The ability to set default properties for any object speeds design.
- Graphics can be imported from existing .OVG files to speed placement
of graphical objects on an interface.
- Table objects are now placed on a form as a single object and are
formatted by direct manipulation. - Event Trees allow explicit control
of the application.

Q:  What appeal does ObjectVision 2.0 have for professional developers?
A:  In addition to all the ease of use enhancements, professional
developers will appreciate the ability to be able to write separate
programs in the software development language of their choice (usually
Pascal or C/C++), and easily connect these programs to an ObjectVision
2.0 application as a DLL.  

Also, the database linking capability has been broadened to embrace
more technical options.  These options include:  Virtual Fields that
can span databases, filters that can be enabled dynamically and use
values from a form ("query by form"), record locates to easily provide
"one-to-many" links, and the ability to control the database creation
process, including specifying multiple index fields.  Also, password
protection lets developers control who is able to access and modify
their applications.

Q: What is the new pricing and availability?  Are there any
introductory promotions?  How do you upgrade from version 1.0?  What
about Runtime? A:  The suggested retail price of ObjectVision 2.0 is
$149.95 (see below). ObjectVision 2.0 will ship in early November.  An
ObjectVision 2.0 upgrade is available to version 1.0 users through
Borland for $49.95.

There will not be an introductory promotional price but buyers can
expect the usual "street" discounts off the suggested retail price,
varying in amount from store to store.

ObjectVision 2.0 provides a FREE Runtime version on a separate disk.
Developers have unlimited royalty-free distribution of ObjectVision
Runtime applications.  The Runtime disk also contains 20 custom
applications created for a variety of potential uses.

Product Suggested Retail Price
ObjectVision 2.0 (single user)                   $  149.95
Upgrade from ObjectVision 1.0                    $   49.95
ObjectVision 2.0 (10 count Volume Pack)          $  999.00
ObjectVision 2.0 (100 count Volume Pack)         $8,995.00
Runtime FREE with all ObjectVision 2.0 products  $    0
ObjectVision 2.0 Training Video                  $   39.95

International ObjectVision 2.0 versions for French, German and Italian
will be available within a few months of the October 1 announcement
date.

Q:  What is the Runtime policy for ObjectVision 2.0?
A:  With ObjectVision 2.0, there is no charge for Runtime.  The
Runtime disk will be distributed with the free sample applications
disk, and a developer may put his own applications on a copy of the
disk for distribution or sale.

Q:  What will you say to users who have tried ObjectVision before --
why should they look at ObjectVision 2.0?
A:  Borland has a strong industry reputation for listening and
responding to its customer input -- and ObjectVision 2.0  is an prime
example of this.

We have significantly enhanced all aspects of ObjectVision including
the Forms tool and linking, and have added the new event handling
capabilities and custom DLL support.  In summation, Borland has made
ObjectVision more powerful and even easier to use.  This widens its
capabilities to create many new types of applications.  Borland is
Broadening the Vision with ObjectVision 2.0. 

Borland received a number of suggestions from users about features
they wanted in ObjectVision 2.0.  In fact, our customer suggestions
were instrumental in Borland redeveloping ObjectVision so that it is
much easier and more powerful.  Borland's ability to redevelop
ObjectVision in only six months -- and include greater power and a
variety of UI features -- is testimony to the company's technology
leadership in object-oriented programming. 

Q:  How will ObjectVision 2.0 inter-operate with other Borland
products, especially Quattro Pro and Paradox for Windows?
A:  All of the products will support DDE (client/server), share data
sources and will inter-operate with OLE.  In addition, users will have
the benefit of collective Borland customer support and a common
Borland Windows (etched steel, Object Bar, etc.) user interface.

Q:  What are the features and schedule of ObjectVision for OS/2 2.0?
How much will it cost?
A:  The ObjectVision for OS/2 2.0 version will be an extension of
ObjectVision 2.0, and will include specific product enhancements to
take full advantage of the OS/2 operating system.  The OS/2 2.0
version will be a full 32-bit application that will support
multi-threading and access to the OS/2 data manager.  ObjectVision for
OS/2 will also support embedded REXX.

An application developed with ObjectVision is stored as a standard
.OVD file.  This means an ObjectVision application will operate
transparently in either Windows or OS/2, regardless of which operating
system it was developed in.  This capability provides a very portable
and multi-functional application development environment.

Pricing details are not being disclosed at this time.

Q:  What is OLE and how is it a benefit?
A:  Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is a feature of Windows 3.1 and
is being touted as a new way of managing Windows application
interoperability.  With OLE, an object, e.g., a bitmap, can be
embedded in a client application (ObjectVision) and displayed by a
server application (Paint).  The specific way this is accomplished is
very easy, and dependencies are much easier to maintain.

Q:  What are DLLs and what are the benefits of supporting them?
A:  A Dynamic Link Library (DLL) is a way for a Windows program to
call another Windows program as a subroutine at runtime, without
having to link it in as part of the normal application linking
process.  This allows easy inclusion or modification of the subroutine
without going back to the original application developer.

A result of the Windows revolution is that there are now a number of
software developers creating and selling libraries of DLLs to perform
a variety of specialized functions.  These functions include:
communications, data linking, math functions, and graphical displays.
ObjectVision 2.0 conforms to the "Excel DLL specification."
ObjectVision 2.0 also features extensions for using existing
Excel-compatible DLLs, and can create custom ObjectVision DLLs with
enhanced capabilities.

Q:  DLLs and DDE are not for end users.  I thought ObjectVision was an
end user tool?
A:  One of the advantages of DLLs is that, while you
must be a programmer to create a DLL, you don't need to be a
programmer to use one.  ObjectVision allows "registering" a DLL, and
once registered, it appears as a normal @ function or command.

DDE extensions, such as Execute, and Poke, are a bit more technical.
However, they do not require programming skills and offer significant
capabilities when inter-operating with other Windows applications.
With ObjectVision 2.0, users can simply cut and paste links to other
Windows applications by pulling down a menu and clicking.  This
capability provides even the most novice user an easy method to link
Windows applications and data.

Q:  What are the new DDE features and why are they a benefit?
A:  ObjectVision 2.0 adds the ability to do a DDE Poke, and DDE Execute.
The Poke is similar to a Write, where a user is writing a data value
into another application.  DDE Execute means that a user can send a
command to another Windows application to control it.  Examples of
this include:  loading another application, printing, sending mail,
etc.  ObjectVision 2.0 supports DDE Execute both as a client and a
server, meaning it can control, or be controlled by, other Windows
applications.

The DDE capability allows a very easy, but sophisticated, way of
creating a "meta-application" in Windows where a number of
applications are operating interdependently.

Q:  What is the level of SQL support?
A:  ObjectVision 2.0 will support access to SQL data on the Microsoft
SQL Server, or Sybase Server.  The SQL product will be sold separately
and is a family of DLLs that provide the linking capability.  The
ObjectVision SQL will be available in early 1992.


General ObjectVision Questions
Q:  What is ObjectVision?
A:  ObjectVision is an entirely new product that enables non-technical
 professionals and managers to visually create applications for
 Microsoft Windows.  Unlike other application development tools,
 ObjectVision uses a declarative, non-procedural style that
 incorporates a familiar, forms-oriented interface and visual
 programming techniques to allow users to quickly create interactive
 applications.  Applications can be easily connected to a variety of
 database file formats locally, in a multi-user network, or in a
 client-server environment.

Q:  How is ObjectVision different from other application creation products?

A:  ObjectVision differs is several significant ways:

1) ObjectVision has adopted a familiar business metaphor, the form,
for the application interface.  Other application development tools
typically adopt a computer programming paradigm as the metaphor, such
as relational database structures, cards, and books.  This effectively
limits their use to trained computer professionals.  Spreadsheets are
an example of a successful application creation tool that also uses a
business metaphor, the ledger, for the application interface.

2) ObjectVision uses a declarative style of logic, expressed in the
form of decision trees, to embed application logic and business rules.
Spreadsheet programs also use declarative logic, optimized for
numerical calculations, to define to value of a cell in relation to
other cell values.  With declarative programming, you simply declare
what you want done and a list of dependencies is maintained.  If a
dependent value is changed, all necessary recalculations are
automatically re-done.  Other application de velopment tools use
procedural logic, that is, a programming language, in which the
programer defines the steps to be taken to determine an answer.  In
procedural programming, you must define all the actions (procedures)
to take, in the right sequence, in order to arrive at the answer you
seek.
3) ObjectVision applications are developed with an incremental
development methodology, as opposed to the traditional
edit/compile/test methodologies of most procedural development
processes. This is important for two reasons:  (a) once developed, an
ObjectVision application can be easily expanded or modified as
requirements change;  and (b) the process of creating and testing an
ObjectVision application is very fast.  With live data, new fields can
be defined and results displayed immediately, in much the same manner
as adding a formula to an empty cell in a spreadsheet.
4) Applications are created visually.  Each of the three elements of
an application (form-like interface, decision tree logic, and links to
data) are created with the use of graphical tools.  Screens are drawn
in WYSIWYG fashion, decision trees are graphically created and edited,
and links to external data are connected to fields in the application
with a simple "point and connect" tool.  This makes creation of
applications fast and easy especially for n on-technical users.

Q.  Why is building an application with ObjectVision superior to using
other Windows application development products?

A:  ObjectVision is outstanding in three key areas of creating
business applications:
(1) ObjectVision offers a familiar business metaphor -- forms.  The
forms metaphor is one that business users easily recognize since most
businesses use forms.  Products like relational databases operate on a
"computer metaphor," in that, the relational tables on which they are
based have no business equivalent.   On the other hand, spreadsheets
follow the familiar business metaphor of the ledger.
(2) ObjectVision incorporates a visual, declarative method of
application creation.  Experience has shown that business
professionals will not take the time to learn procedural languages to
develop applications.  They need a method that is quick, easy and
intuitive to create applications. 
(3) ObjectVision provides strong data connectivity.  Almost all
applications developed in a business setting need to link to a variety
of business data sources.  These ObjectVision links are easy to set up
and can work in a networked environment.

Other products fall short in one or more of these areas:
- HyperCard --  Uses a card metaphor which makes developing business
applications difficult.  In addition, HyperCard requires procedural
programming through the HyperTalk language and offers no built-in
external database access.
- Forms products -- The paradigm is correct for business, but they
offer little or no programmability and have weak database access with
no network support.
- Application generators --  These products were created for users to
build applications.  However, to simplify the development process,
they address only a narrow domain of solutions.
- DBMS products -- Require procedural programming languages to build
complete applications.  In addition, these products utilize a computer
metaphor (relational tables) rather than a business metaphor.
- Visual Basic -- Adopted a visual model, but limited it to the
interface.  With Visual Basic, you must write Basic programs (old
technology) and it has no integrated data linking capability.
- Spreadsheets -- This is the only really successful software category
for  user-creation of applications.  Spreadsheets use a familiar
business metaphor (the ledger), offer a declarative style of logic,
and are optimized for numerical or financial computations.
ObjectVision shares certain traits with spreadsheet software, but
allows greater flexibility for qualitative decision logic and
simplifies application creation with visual programming.

ObjectVision provides the intuitive business paradigm of forms; a
declarative, user-oriented method of creating applications through
visual programming; and strong, multi-user data links.  Because of
these capabilities, ObjectVision applications can address a wide array
of business needs.  In addition, the applications are easy to maintain
and modify, and they can be integrated with corporate data.  The
nature of decision trees is such that any user can understand them,
and therefore can easily create and m odify the logic of an
application.

Q:  What makes up ObjectVision?
A: ObjectVision is made up of an application execution interpreter and
a set of graphical tools to create and manage the elements of an
application:

The FORM tool is a WYSIWYG graphical editor used to visually lay out
the interface.  It features a new OBJECT BAR to provide fast "click
and drop" of any object.  Additionally, the right mouse button invokes
ObjectVision's PROPERTY INSPECTOR, an example of Borland's
"Menus-on-Demand" development.  The PROPERTY INSPECTOR allows the
application creator to quickly and easily inspect or change any
object's properties, such as font, color, alignment, value tree, event
tree, etc.

The LINK tool provides all the functionality to create and connect to
any supported database.

The STACK tool manages the stack of forms within an application.

Q:  How does ObjectVision work?
A:  Using ObjectVision, a user easily builds Windows applications as
simply as drawing a screen interface, attaching properties to the form
objects, attaching decision trees to the fields, adding event trees as
necessary, and connecting fields to external data. Applications can
consist of multiple forms and links to a variety of different data
sources.  Data validation and integrity features, along with the
underlying decision expertise, are built into decision trees that can
be attached to any field on the application.  Event trees can be
attached to any object in the application.

Q:  How does a user interact with ObjectVision?
A:  Once an application has been created the user simply fills out the
form (or forms) on the screen.  The ObjectVision application
automatically prompts from left to right, top to bottom, as the form
is completed.  When a field is encountered that has a decision tree
attached to it, the program evaluates the decision tree to determine
the answer for that field.  The answer could be dependent on data
previously entered.  If new data is required, the program
automatically prompts the user for the needed info rmation.  This
could be as simple as displaying a single-value, scratch-pad form to
enter the data, or bringing up a different form in the application for
the user to complete one or more fields.  This is referred to as
"Intelligent Prompting" and is based on the decision-tree logic.

Intelligent Prompting happens automatically and allows the creation of
seemingly complex, multi-form applications without any special
programming.  If Event Trees have been used, a variety of "side
effects" can be generated, such as moving to another form, launching
another Windows application, connecting to external Email, or printing
a form.

Q:  What if you want to change a field value?
A:  To change a field value that has been already entered, simply
point to the field, select it, and enter the new value.  ObjectVision
automatically does a "minimum recalculation" for all dependent values
in other decision trees (similar to a recalculation in a spreadsheet).
This recalculation capability allows users to easily perform "what if"
types of analysis.

Q:  Is there any way to tell how a value is determined by a decision tree?
A:  Yes.  A user can look to see the underlying logic of a field by
displaying the decision tree.  This tree view capability can also be
used to see the active path through a decision tree, indicating which
branch conditions are taken and which conclusion is evaluated for that
field.  Decision trees are intuitive and graphical, and are easy to
understand, much like a flow chart.  

Q:  How is data prompted?
A:  ObjectVision uses intelligent, interactive prompting.  This means
that the user is not prompted for data whose value is not relevant.
For example, in an application for automobile insurance, the user
would not be asked to supply the "distance driven to work," if the
applicant is not employed.  The order in which the user is prompted is
based on the decision tree logic underlying the application and the
order that the trees are evaluated.  If the user changes a value, it
could cause a different branch of a tree to become active which could
result in additional data being prompted.

Q:  What is Visual Application Creation?
A:  Visual Application Creation means that the creation and
maintenance of the various elements of an ObjectVision application are
all done graphically.   Users directly manipulate the various objects
-- interface, logic and data links.  This means that there is no
programming language to learn and traditional programming skills are
not necessary for the user to create applications.  Users can easily
create applications with these straightforward techniques.

Q:  Why Decision Trees?
A:  Decision Trees are a graphical way of representing the way people
think and make decisions.  Given a situation, users choose from a set
of alternatives and take an action.  Decision Trees are graphical,
easily understood representations of logic or business rules with
branching alternatives and conclusions.  An easy and intuitive tool,
Decision Trees allow users to actively participate in the design,
creation and testing of applications.  An added benefit is that
Decision Trees are self-documenting expr essions of the logic of an
application.

Q:  What are the key benefits to using ObjectVision?
A:  ObjectVision is the fastest and easiest way to create Windows
applications.  This means Windows applications can be done quickly, at
a low-cost, and no programming language has to be mastered.  Users and
developers can rapidly create Windows applications that produce
consistent, quality business processes within an organization.

Declarative, non-procedural decision trees provide powerful, yet
flexible, capabilities using a familiar, forms-like interface.
Incremental development allows the fast creation of application
prototypes, and when the prototype is complete, the application is
complete.  Many repetitive tasks can be automated using the
decision-tree mechanism which leverages the expertise of the decision
makers as well as enhancing personal productivity with faster, more
consistent decisions, and less rework and paperwork. Additionally,
ObjectVision provides:  built-in audit trails, instant review of
decisions, reduced errors in interactive processes, consistent policy
administration, centralized control of procedures, and improved
training of new users.

Q:  Who would use ObjectVision?
A:  Any user who relies on PC-based automation or wants to be able to
develop applications without learning (yet another) programming
language.  Additionally, anyone wanting to develop Windows
applications with quick access to corporate data will find
ObjectVision fast to learn and use, fast to develop applications with,
and effective to run even the most complex applications.  

Experienced developers will also find that ObjectVision allows them to
prototype and create many of their applications faster and more
efficiently.  ObjectVision's capabilities give users the power to
create and modify their own applications based on their own knowledge
of business problems at hand.  It allows them to create applications
they couldn't before, or which required an understanding of computer
programming. 

Q:  Who is using ObjectVision?  What is it being used for?
A:  ObjectVision is being used for thousands of new applications
across a very broad industry spectrum, including many Fortune 1000
firms.  The majority of ObjectVision users are not professional
developers, but many have a technical background.  Consultants and
manufacturing companies account for about 1/3 of the industries using
ObjectVision.  The balance of users are spread across a range of
businesses.  

Current ObjectVision applications range an entire spectrum of uses
including:
Network diagnostics                  Criminal investigation
Country Club membership maintenance  Parcel routing
Survey data collection               Hospital admittance
Accounting                           Invoicing
Court docket maintenance             Insurance claims submissions
Equipment repair tracking            Contact management
Job cost estimating

A collection of reference accounts and detailed application stories is
available.  

Q:  What skills are required to use ObjectVision?
A:  No special programming skills are required to use ObjectVision.
Anyone familiar with computers will quickly adapt to ObjectVision with
minimal training. ObjectVision 2.0 is supplied with a "First Look"
document and a tutorial.  Separately, a training video and courseware
are available.

Q:  Is ObjectVision a database management system?
A:  ObjectVision shares some of the features of a database management
system but the product's focus is on creation of front-end
applications for data.  That is, in data collection and processing,
but not in reporting or manipulation.  The forms-based interface and
non-procedural logic differentiate ObjectVision from traditional
database programs.

Q:  When do you use Paradox and when do you use ObjectVision?
A:  ObjectVision should be used for the creation of interactive
business applications with embedded business rules, connected to
Paradox, Btrieve, dBASE, or SQL data.  Applications which involve
extensive queries data manipulation, or reporting are typically best
done with database products, such as Paradox.  While database
structures can be created with ObjectVision, a database program is
more suitable for modification of the data structures.

Q:  How is ObjectVision different from forms software?
A:  Currently available forms software is aimed at replacing
paper-based forms with computer-generated forms.  The ideology behind
this is to either speed the creation of a paper form for printing, or
for filling in forms on-screen.  

This class of software has little or no logic capability and weak (or
no) links to networked data.  While forms products share the forms
metaphor with ObjectVision, they are not capable of creating an
application.  ObjectVision is designed to create applications and it
uses forms as the business-oriented metaphor for the user interface.
ObjectVision provides all of the features typically found in forms
software including WYSIWYG screen creation and printing.  However,
this is only one part of the application creation process.

Q:  Is ObjectVision really an expert system shell?
A:  Expert systems technology is embedded into ObjectVision.  Through
the use of the graphical decision-tree editor and forms-metaphor
interface, ObjectVision eliminates many of the difficult problems
encountered by builders of expert systems.  For example, how to
represent knowledge in a manner that is easy to define and maintain,
as opposed to written rules which are both slow to create and
difficult to support.  However, ObjectVision is not an expert system
shell and should not be viewed as such.

Q:  Who is the competition?
A:  ObjectVision represents a new class of software aimed at providing
users with the ability to create their own Windows applications.
Competition will come from other products that aid in the creation of
applications. 1) Application creation products, such as ToolBook,
HyperCard, Visual Basic, and ObjectView:  while these programs make
claims about user programming, the fact is users must learn a new
procedural language to create applications in those environments.
While they may each have positive features, they are not truly user
application creation tools and all suffer from the difficulties and
lengthy development process associated with a programming language. 2)
Programmer productivity tools that provide partial solutions to the
task of creating applications.  Products such as Easel, or other
so-called "screen scrapers," are examples of this product class.
These products improve the productivity of a professional programmer
by helping with one of the elements of an application, such as
creation of the screen interface.  The programmer must the finish the
task in 'C ' or some other computer langu age.

Q:  Is there a network version of ObjectVision?
A:  ObjectVision runs with Windows-supported networks.   Data,
applications and executable files can be stored on a server for common
access.  A special network version of ObjectVision is unnecessary.
Like most software, Borland sells a 'single use license' which means
multiple license holders can share a common copy of ObjectVision on a
server, but each user must have purchased a license.

Q:  What is the Runtime version of ObjectVision?
A:  With ObjectVision 2.0, the Runtime is free -- it's included with a
custom applications disk available free to all purchasers.  The
Runtime version can be distributed with no 'per copy' cost once the
user has purchased ObjectVision and has received the free
Runtime/custom applications disk.  

The Runtime version is identical to ObjectVision, but without the
application creation tools.  This means that a user can run, but not
modify, any Runtime application developed with ObjectVision.  A
company or VAR  can freely distribute the Runtime version with their
applications.

Q:  Why is Btrieve access provided in ObjectVision?
A:  First, our customers indicated that significant amounts of their
corporate data is stored in Btrieve files.  Novell's commitment to
networking and providing enhanced corporate data access through
Btrieve and Netware SQL provides Borland with the motivation to
include Btrieve support.  ObjectVision Btrieve support is an
opportunity to provide Borland customers with better solutions to data
access.

Q:  What hardware is required?
A:  ObjectVision runs on any IBM, Compaq or 100-percent compatible
system using the Intel (or compatible) 286, 386 (386SX, 386DX), or 486
running Windows 3.0 (or compatible).  At least 1 Mb of random-access
memory.  One 5-1/4" or 3-1/2" disk drive and 2.5 Mb of available
hard-disk space.

Recommended:
 EGA, VGA, 8514/A, Hercules graphics or compatible graphics adaptor.
 Mouse or other Windows pointing device.

Q:  Why are you revving the product now -- is it in response to the
success of Visual Basic?
A:  No.  We were developing ObjectVision 2.0 immediately after we
launched ObjectVision 1.0 -- it's a normal part of our product
development cycle.  However, in order to make ObjectVision
incrementally better than version 1.0, we wanted to get as much input
from our customers as possible.  We sought out, and compiled,
ObjectVision feature requests from version 1.0 users on Compuserve,
via our Technical Support department, User Groups and ObjectVision
Special Interest Groups, and at t rade shows.

We do not see Visual Basic as competition, as it requires scripting
and forces the user to learn and rely on Basic, an antiquated computer
language.

Borland's ability to redevelop its products so quickly and with such
feature-rich architecture is due to our technology leadership in
object-oriented programming and our talented team of programmers.

Q:  You're lowering the price -- is this because demand is down?
A:  No.  On the contrary, ObjectVision 1.0 demand was triple our
projections.  It is Borland's custom to develop products that combine
outstanding capabilities, technology innovation and high value.  Our
customers expect and receive outstanding value in every product they
purchase from us.

Q:  Why isn't ObjectVision connected to Oracle databases?
A:  We are currently evaluating a number of different data platforms
for future connectivity.  ObjectVision SQL is the first step towards
even broader data access.

Q:  You say Visual Application Creation -- isn't that concept still a
little extreme for the average user?

A:  Actually, we found that our user base is evenly distributed across
both end users and developers.  End users have found it as easy to use
as a spreadsheet -- with far greater power and functionality.
Developers have adopted it as an excellent prototyping and development
tool, and in some cases, have eschewed hard-code programming in favor
of a robust ObjectVision application.

Visual Application Creation is an intuitive "if-then-otherwise"
process that mirrors how we make decisions.  Value and Event Trees
provide a flow chart-like process that takes the application creator
step by step to his value conclusion.  Since most computer users are
familiar with spreadsheet use and creation, ObjectVision is a natural
extension of their data management process.

Q:  Are you developing ObjectVision for other operating systems?
A:  Borland is continuously evaluating other platforms for our product
development.  Already, we have announced, and will ship in early 1992,
ObjectVision for OS/2 2.0, a product that will include all the new
features of ObjectVision 2.0.  However, it is Borland's policy not to
disclose unannounced products.

Q:  Isn't ObjectVision just a high-end forms software package?
A:  No.  As mentioned above, ObjectVision is a Visual Application
Creation product that uses the forms metaphor as the basis for
developing an application.  ObjectVision is creating a new product
category -- Windows user Visual Application Development -- much like
how VisiCalc established the spreadsheet market well before people
were familiar with the concept.  

Already, thousands of ObjectVision applications have been created by
Windows users and developers.  Many of these users have told us that
they have discontinued the use of Forms software packages.  These
products simply do not allow them to easily create an application,
link it to data and add business rules.

Q:  Why do you think Windows users will use ObjectVision to develop
their own applications?

A:  The PC has been around for more than ten years -- creating a
population of existing and new users who are increasingly computer
literate.  Plus, as they have collectively increased their computer
capabilities, the volume of data they must manage or access has
increased exponentially.  

At the same time, new hardware technology has brought computing power
to the desktop that was at one time only available on a mainframe.
Add to this the emerging popularity of GUI operating systems and the
result is an increasingly sophisticated, inquisitive, capable and
growing population of computer users.

In the past, users also suffered from a "double competency" challenge.
Either the programmer developing the application for them had to know
how they worked in their business and made decisions, or they
themselves had to learn to program, and sacrifice the time and effort
that would normally be going into that business.  

ObjectVision has eliminated the need for the double competency person
by empowering users with a fast, easy way to Visually Create their own
Windows applications.  Users can now create simple or complex
applications that integrate their corporate data and business rules,
without having to learn a new programming language.

Thus, users have the desire, need, experience and computing power to
create applications that help them access and manage their data, and
make complex decisions based on that data.  ObjectVision provides them
with that capability -- allowing Windows users the opportunity to
create an unlimited number of applications, faster and easier than
ever before.

B  O  R  L  A  N  D  ObjectVision 2.0 Questions & Answers
