Micro Focus Announces On-line Transaction Processing System for Rightsizing
and Distributed Computing 

Expands Client/Server Offerings with Micro Focus Transaction System

Orlando, Fla May 10, 1993 -- At its Fifth Annual International User
Conference in Orlando, Fla., Micro Focus, Palo Alto, Calif unveiled the
latest component in its industrial-strength client/server Solution. The
new Micro Focus Transaction System version 1.1 is a multi-user,
multi-tasking, multi-platform online transaction processing (OLTP) system
supporting client/server, cooperative, distributed and rightsized
applications. This comprehensive transaction processing system provides
compatibility and connectivity with mainframe CICS systems. The core
engine of the product has been designed for scalability, flexibility,
robustness, speed and CICS compatibility as well as integration with Micro
Focus Dialog System' and nonCICS applications. Micro Focus Transaction
System provides a high level of data integrity and security either on
standalone workstations or as part of a client/server network environment.
It is available in both production and development versions.

Rightsizing, Cross-Platform Client/Server, Cooperative and Distributed
Processing 

Micro Focus Transaction System enables rightsizing, cross-platform and
distributed computing. It provides application developers the ability to
distribute mainframe OLTP applications to the right platforms based on
corporate requirements. Micro Focus Transaction System was designed for
expandibility and can take advantage of multi-processing hardware. Its
unique architecture was designed to enable cooperative and distributed
processing systems and to provide wide area connectivity.

Micro Focus Transaction System enables cross-platform facilities such as
Function Shipping, Transaction Routing and Distributed Program Link for
distributed computing. Function Shipping allows a user to access data from
a remote server. Transaction Routing provides for a transaction to be
initiated on a client and redirected for execution on another platform.
Distributed Program Link provides for Remote Procedure Calls.

Multiple Server Options and Thin Client Support 

Micro Focus Transaction Systems on AIX, UNIX, OS/2, and Windows NT can act
as servers for other copies of Transaction System and for CICS OS/2,
CICS/6000 and Transaction System thin clients. DOS and Windows systems
cannot be used as servers since they are limited to single-task
processing; however, they can operate as standalone Transaction Systems or
clients. Network attached OS/2, DOS, Windows/NT, Windows, AIX and UNIX
workstations can be used as "thin clients" to a Micro Focus Transaction
System in three ways:

* As Remote 3270 Emulators
* As Remote Dialog System Terminals
* As Remote ECI Requesters

Scalability 

Micro Focus Transaction System's high level of scalability allows
applications to be moved easily from platform to platform, normally
without code changes. This simplifies rightsizing and allows companies to
maximize the value of existing resources. Cross-platform portability and
"look and feel" provides for easy moves from the mainframe to UNIX, DOS,
OS/2, Windows, Windows NT, or AIX, all with maximum efficiency.
Additionally, there are extensive application debugging facilities
including transaction dumps, system traces and Animator, Micro Focus'
powerful source code debugger, which is available on all the platforms on
which Micro Focus Transaction System operates.

Data Integrity, Transaction Security, EBCDIC and ASCII Support

Micro Focus Transaction System can be used for mission-critical
applications because it provides a high level of security, integrity,
performance and connectivity. The ability to conduct development on the
workstation increases programmers' options and provides for increased
productivity, integrated tools, access to systems (both old and new), and
data integrity (no lengthy recoveries). VSAM file processing can be shared
between the Transaction System and BATCH programs, with full integrity
using Micro Focus Fileshare. BCDIC and ASCII environments are supported
within the same region. Suites of programs and files with different
character sets can reside not only on the same hardware and operating
system but actually running under the same application.

"Unlike other OLTP offerings, Micro Focus Transaction System is a complete
OLTP solution that uses Micro Focus' own compiler, CICS, communications
and data access products, and allows access to relational databases and
other tools," said Mike Vinten, Micro Focus client/server group manager.
"Other OLTP solutions depend on a combination of tools provided by a
variety of vendors. As a result, we believe that the Micro Focus
Transaction System will provide greater consistency, throughput, user
interaction and level of data integrity."

Integration with Client/Server Development Tools and Database Systems 

Fully integrated with other Micro Focus development products, Micro Focus
Transaction System provides a completely flexible, highly efficient
client/server and CICS application program development environment. It
features comprehensive support of the CICS/ESA command-level application
programming interface, allowing programmers to use COBOL applications and
BMS mapsets ported from CICS or other copies of Transaction System.
Transaction System provides support for a variety of relational databases
and for the -- Micro Focus IMS Option or Micro Focus IMS Production System
on those operating system platforms where they are available. 

Platforms          Relational Databases Supported
------------       ------------------------------
UNIX and AIX       Informix and Oracle
OS/2               IBM Database Manager or DB2 for OS/2
OS/2, DOS,         Microsoft SQL Server, XDB and Gupta's
 Windows,          SQLbase
 Windows NT
                   ...support for other major database systems
                      is planned

For those wishing a greater degree of DB2 compatibility with IBM Database
Manager or DB2 for OS/2, Micro Focus Transaction System also supports the
Micro Focus Host Compatibility Option.

System Resources 

Programs, resource tables, configuration files and application data may be
shared between multiple network attached Micro Focus Transaction Systems
allowing centralized management of system resources. Applications and data
access can be distributed across networked workstations, servers and CICS
systems including Micro Focus Transaction Systems and IBM CICS Systems
(e.g. CICS OS/2 and mainframe CICS for MVS and VSE). Network
communications between workstations, servers and host systems are
supported via a variety of protocols, including LU 6.2, TCP/IP, NetBios,
Named Pipes and Novell IPX. Tn addition, Micro Focus Transaction System
supports batch data access; data can be accessed with complete integrity
from outside the Transaction System.

Micro Focus enables enterprises that use information systems to benefit
from adopting new hardware and software technologies while leveraging
available skills and system resources. We do this by providing
state-of-the-art programming tools to empower application developers,
coupled with software technology to enable them to create new
industrial-strength applications, and bridging software to access and
enhance the value of existing systems. Micro Focus is located at 2465 East
Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, California 94303. Telephone:415-856-4161.

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