Palo Alto, CA, May 18, 1992 -- Micro Focus is shipping the Micro Focus
Operating System Extensions (OSX) 3.0. OSX is designed to provide COBOL
programmers the opportunity to develop applications which will run
successfully in different operating system environments, including DOS,
Microsoft Windows and OS/2. OSX does this by creating a "level playing
field" in which all operating systems appear to an application to have the
same facilities. This means that applications developed on one system can
be "ported" to another, usually without code modifications.

In addition, OSX components help make applications easy to install, enhance
application functionality and integration, and provide run time support
for applications built using Micro Focus Toolset. (Toolset provides
development facilities for OSX-based applications. Please see accompanying
press release on Toolset for more details).

"OSX helps deliver on the promise of application portability," said Cal
Whitham, product manager for Micro Focus. "Developers can write
applications on DOS, Windows or OS/2, and know that those applications
will be able to run under the other environments, in most cases without
change."

Component Integration 

This release marks the first time all the components are shipping together
as a separately packaged product. Prior to this release, various OSX
components shipped as subcomponents to Micro Focus COBOL/2, Micro Focus
Toolset and the Micro Focus Workbench. The unification of these features
in a single product gives developers increased flexibility and ease of
use, as all the OSX features they need can be found in one place.

In addition, one copy of the Micro Focus Operating System Extensions
product is bundled with each Micro Focus Toolset, Micro Focus Professional
COBOL or Micro Focus COBOL Workbench. OSX is designed so that its
components may be distributed along with, or as part of, user
applications. Such distribution requires an OSX license for each machine
on which the applications will run. The documentation for OSX is included
with Toolset and Micro Focus Workbench.

Common Communications Interface (CCI) Modules 

OSX now houses all the Micro Focus Common Communications Interface Modules.
With the release of OSX, several new communication protocols have been
added, including Novell IPX on OS/2, TCP/IP on DOS, and NetBIOS and Novell
IPX on DOS with Windows.

Enhanced Network File Sharing 

Several new features have been added to Fileshare V2, Micro Focus' network
transaction-based file handling product. Included among these new features
are support for the FSVEW component of Micro Focus Toolset, support for
Byte Stream I/O, support of new CCI modules, support for simultaneous use
of multiple communications protocols, and a Logon access security system.

Portable Graphical User Interface (GUI) Support 

Panels V2, Micro Focus' portable GUI support, previously available on an
early release basis in Micro Focus Toolset, is now available with OSX. It
has been enhanced with a number of features designed to increase the
support for GUIs. Panels V2 now supports selection boxes, multi-line entry
fields, system clipboards (for text only), virtual windows and generic
attributes for cross-platform development. In addition, Panels V2 also
offers modifiable colors for graphic objects, bitmap display, bitmaps in
buttons instead of text, user-defined events and bell support.

Enhanced Support for Microsoft SQL Server (Initial Release)

Users of Microsoft's SQL Server can now develop larger COBOL applications
by making use of Micro Focus' Extended Memory Manager (XM). COBOL programs
accessing SQL Server are no longer restricted to running within 640K.

Directory List and Search Facility (Initial Release) 

The Directory Facility 2 utility provides a variety of directory list and
search capabilities. It employs a graphic user interface (GUI) and can be
called from an application program or initiated directly from the command
line. It provides facilities for copying, deleting and renaming single
files or groups of tagged files or members of a Micro Focus library file.
Directory Facility 2 also has a file search function and can display
multiple directories in the form of a directory tree.

Additional Features 

OSX continues to offer the Micro Focus Extended Memory Manager (XM),
Application Integration Tools, an Application Installation Facility, the
Co-Writer Reporter and the On-line Help System Access and Display
Program.

Pricing and Availability 

Micro Focus Operating System Extensions (OSX), list priced at $50, is
available for immediate delivery.

Micro Focus is the leading developer of COBOL compilers and programmer
productivity tools for business application development. Micro Focus
products are available on micro, mini and mainframe computer systems and
support many standard and proprietary operating systems. The company
developed the first National Bureau of Standards-certified ANSI'85 COBOL
compiler. Micro Focus COBOL also conforms to the IBM Systems Applications
Architecture (SAA) standard, the X/Open standard, and is FIPS PUB 21-2
compliant. Micro Focus is a member of the IBM International Alliance for
AD/Cycler.

Micro Focus Inc. 2465 East Bayshore Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303
(415) 856-4161    Fax: (415) 856-6134

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