From The Editor
Written by Larry Salomon, Jr.
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From The EditorWritten by Larry Salomon, Jr. |
AdministriviaWelcome once again to a new issue of EDM/2. Today is May 27 and I'm making an honest effort to get this issue out on time for a change. Who knows what role fate will take in this attempt. My wife, for example, might have something to say about this. I have been constantly working for the past few weeks, whether it is at my job or at home, and she hasn't see much of me lately. This might change during the next three days since it isn't often that one gets a long weekend at the same time that the weather decides to cooperate. World Wide What?EDM/2 would like to officially announce its home page on the World Wide Web. The URL is http://os2man.sysdev.telerate.com, which is the jumpboard to the EDM/2 page. I will add a disclaimer here that this is my machine at work which may or may not have the server running at any given time. I do expect to receive another, more powerful machine on which I can do my development which means this machine can keep the server running more of the time. Additionally, my employer does not have a problem with me running this site from work, given that the magazine is still non-profit. This might change in the future, so I will not guarantee that this address will always be the URL. If it does, EDM/2 will find another home quickly. What does the home page get you? Using the INF-HTML package on hobbes.nmsu.edu, one can now read the issues on-line with minimal effort by yours-truly, something that is always good given that I currently don't have enough time to do the things that I want to do. The package is quite nice and does a good job of translating the INF files to HTML. Images, unfortunately, do not get translated, but the author has assured me that he is trying to decypher the internal format of images. Time for Some FunSince my machine at work has a display resolution of 800x600x64K, I decided to download the POVRay package and play around with it. After some simple images, I was completely addicted. If you like graphics, I highly recommend getting this package. If your graphics file viewer support Error Diffusion for viewing images, you can even view the results on a VGA display with decent results, but I highly recommend supporting 16K or more colors for best results. New Version of the Article Submission GuidelinesBetween issues, I updated the Article Submission Guidelines to account for things that I've noticed which slow down the time to release of each issue. Please get the latest version from hobbes.nmsu.edu before submitting something for publication. The Postscript file is dated May 18 and the text file is dated May 20. No Letters?Suprisingly enough, there are no letters to publish this month. I hope this section hasn't already seen its day and is ready for retirement. Keep those cards and letters coming! I would especially like to hear what people thought of the VIOWIN series, but I'm sure the other authors would like to know how they're doing also. Missing in Action IIGordon's "OOPS Avenue" column will regrettably be absent in this issue. That's it for this month; enjoy the issue! AnnouncementsMultiQuest Announces S-CASE 2.0 For OS/2Schaumburg, IL (April 18, 1994) - MultiQuest Corporation has announced the release of S-CASE 2.0 for OS/2, an object-oriented analysis and design tool that uses the Booch notation to graphically illustrate and model software systems. S-CASE satisfies the demand for visualizing complex software architectures prevalent in today's demanding applications. High quality C++ code can be generated directly from the models. S-CASE allows iteration through the design, code and test cycle while keeping the models and code in sync. This iterative approach allows developers to enhance their design through successive refinement without worrying about outdating their models. S-CASE 2.0 Features:
Platforms Supported:
Available immediately, S-CASE 2.0 for OS/2 lists at $495. Evaluation versions can be downloaded via anonymous ftp to ftp.netcom.com, directory /pub/sh/showcase/demo_os2. MultiQuest Corporation, based in Schaumburg, Illinois, was founded in 1989 to provide innovative and affordable software engineering tools to software developers worldwide. For further information, please contact: MultiQuest Corporation Prominare Unleashes Validator For OS/2 Error DetectionThe nightmare of quickly locating and correcting errors in OS/2 APIs has been eliminated by Prominare Inc., with the release of Prominare Validator, a dynamic tool that detects problems on a parameter by parameter basis. Since first appearing on IBM's Developer Connection in beta form as Validator for OS/2 last summer, the tool's existence has created a world-wide following. Says Prominare lead architect Matt Smith, "We received an enormous number of requests for the product and soon realised what had been a useful offering could become a major tool." Demand for it by programmers who saw its advantages have caused Prominare to make Validator generally available and it now includes all of the new APIs added to Warp and Pen for OS/2 Version 1.1, and for versions 2.0, 2.10 and 2.11 of OS/2. Prominare Validator does not require debug code to determine precise problems quickly, it automatically compares every parameter with its OS/2 Technical Reference definition. When a parameter is incorrect, Prominare Validator will return additional error information that details what is wrong. It monitors each OS/2 API for error returns so that both expected and unexpected error returns can be viewed. To make it even easier to use, Prominare Validator includes a utility called Prominare ViewPort. The validation routines will relay information to Prominare ViewPort where the programmer can actually watch - in real time - the validation error information. ViewPort records the parameter error, along with the module and line number in the source code. Prominare Validator can be used for in-house development and testing as it allows dynamically caused error logs to be created in application beta test sites, making it easier to see where problems may be occurring. Specific information on which, why, and where API failures occur is provided, making distance problem solving much simpler. Added Matt Smith, "Prominare Validator can improve productivity by reducing significantly the amount of time tracking down errors that do occur when using a particular OS/2 API." Prominare Validator is available for OS/2 Version 2.0 and above, through Prominare's normal distribution channels, including Indelible Blue in North America and One Stop OS/2 in Europe. More information can be found through Prominare's WWW site: http://www.prominare.com/prominare GUI Corner Now Has a Home PageThe authors of GUI Corner in OS/2 Developer magazine would like to announce the availablity of a WWW home page for sample code, continuing discussions, and the odd "guest" appearance of well known OS/2 personalities. The home page, located at http://www.prominare.com/prominare/guicorner.html, contains a list (and ftp'able links) of current and past source code samples. It also provides further jump off points to areas of interest regarding reader's comments and insights on the topics of the column. The desire of the home page is to have it evolve into a power programming hang out for OS/2 developers. Both authors welcome comments, suggestions and tips from readers that can be shared by all. Further information regarding the home page can be received from either author: Mark Benge (banzai@vnet.ibm.com) or Matt Smith (msmith@prominare.com). RexxBase - The dBase Database For Rexx - 2.00 is AvailableAmerican Coders, LTD. RexxBase is a Rexx External Interface DLL that allows OS/2 V2.x and WARP command procedures to access dBase III and IV files. Rexx programs can control files by reading, writing and updating data fields directly. RexxBase provides support for DBF, DBT, NDX and MDX files. System requirements: Operating System: OS/2 Version 2.0 or higher. Disk Storage Space: 1 meg. As an added bonus for registering a copy of RexxBase, additional functions are included in the registered version package. RexxBase generates dBase field names and values that are available directly to a Rexx program. The Rexx program can change this data and update dBase files directly. Also database file control information is available to the Rexx program. This information includes such data as last date the database was updated, number of records on file, field names, etc. Along with the DLL file, the package contains an executable program to provide simple front-ends to database development. This program is still in beta but users will find it a practical tool. RexxBase is distributed using the Shareware system. Every shareware copy of the program will come with a 30 day trial offer. If after 30 days the user finds the RexxBase product acceptable they are expected to register and pay $95.00 plus shipping/handling/taxes. Registered users of the product receive the next release, free upgrade to the current release, 30 days free telephone support and royalty free distribution of the RexxBase DLL. Copies of version 2.00 can be found at: CompuServe - Go OS2SHARE Lib 1. (RXBASE.ZIP) OS2SHAREWARE BBS (Pete Norloff's board) - 1-703-385-4325. (RXBAS200.ZIP) Internet Applications for OS/2 Home PageIf you haven't been there yet, check out the "Internet Apps for OS/2 Page" located at http://www.phoenix.net/~vccubed/os2apps.html. You will find this to be a fairly complete listing of the Primary shareware/freeware/demo applications available on the Internet, and a wonderful place to do one stop shopping. The next step is to create a "What's new in OS/2 for the Internet Page" to facilitate distributing the newest apps. This should be posted within a few days. If you're an author and your application is not on the page or is listed incorrectly, please send me a description following the basic format of the page and include the programs "ICON" and I will add it if it is appropriate. Custom Device Driver DevelopmentDataledge Software (France) is announcing its new department, specializing into the development of customized device drivers for OS/2 2.1 or above, real-time data acquisition and digital signal processing. Dataledge Software can be contacted at: Dataledge Software |