May 97 Newsbits
Volume Number: 13
Issue Number: 5
Column Tag: Newsbits
By Jessica Courtney
Open Door Networks Ships HomeDoor 2.0
Major new upgrade to industry-pioneering product
Open Door Networks, Inc. announces the shipment of HomeDoor 2.0, a major new
release of the product that started the Macintosh multi-domain Internet services
market. HomeDoor 2.0, which works both conventionally and as a plug-in for
WebSTAR and compatible servers, provides Webmasters with unprecedented levels of
flexibility in setting up multi-domain Web servers using the Macintosh. HomeDoor
remains the only Macintosh product to offer "any browser, any server" compatibility,
and with the 2.0 release it becomes the only product to provide Webmasters with the
option of implementing either or both of the two current mechanisms for providing
multi-domain Web service.
HomeDoor 1.0 pioneered the multi-domain Internet services market on the Macintosh
by providing Mac Webmasters with the ability to serve Web pages for multiple
independent domains from a single Macintosh server. Apple Computer quickly
recognized HomeDoor's value by bundling the product with its Apple Internet Server
Solution soon after HomeDoor's introduction. Open Door continued to grow the
multi-domain services market through the introduction of its LogDoor and MailDoor
products, providing single server, real-time monitoring/logging and e-mail on a
domain-by-domain basis. Most recently, Open Door introduced its Multi-domain
Webmaster Suite, an integrated set of multi-domain products and accessories.
With the evolution of the World Wide Web and its underlying protocol, the HyperText
Transfer Protocol (HTTP), a new technique for providing multi-domain Web service
has recently become available. HTTP 1.1 includes a "host" field, which enables an
alternate way of providing multi-domain Web service. The host field is sent by most
current Web browsers, but is not supported by some old browsers, including Netscape
Navigator version 1.1 and many America Online browsers. Nonetheless, in certain
situations, "host field mapping" does provide advantages over the "any browser, any
server" technique pioneered by HomeDoor 1.0 (see
http://www.opendoor.com/MultiDomainFAQ.html). To provide for maximum
flexibility, HomeDoor 2.0 offers the Webmaster a choice between techniques on a
domain-by-domain basis, enabling Webmasters to "mix and match" as desired.
HomeDoor 2.0 also includes a completely redesigned Admin application. Written from
the ground up as a full-fledged Macintosh app, HomeDoor Admin 2.0 integrates both
multi-domain Web service techniques through a single, consistent user interface.
HomeDoor 2.0 also incorporates new features, such as the ability to export
configuration data to a tab-delimited text file.
All Open Door products, including HomeDoor 2.0 can be ordered securely from
http://www.opendoor.com/order.html.
Apprentice 6 is Now Available!
Weighing in at well over 600 megabytes, you'll find hundreds of high-quality and
up-to-date source code examples. And all of the source code is either new or updated
for this release! Included are some of the coolest new code, designed specifically to
demonstrate the latest techniques, and all of the code is in C/C++, or Pascal, using
CodeWarrior, Symantec, and MPW. You'll find complete working examples of
applications, games, control panels, extensions, utilities, and more.
If you are new to programming, the included "frameworks" will help tremendously.
These are complete program shells that take care of many of the tedious tasks
associated with Mac programming, including menus, standard dialogs, file handling,
and the like.
Looking for libraries or routines designed around a specific task? Apprentice contains
dozens of libraries and classes (including a complete suite of PowerPlant and Think
Class Libraries), from graphics and sounds to menu management and TCP/IP
communications. Many of the libraries include complete source code. If you are just
looking for a small routine to do a specific thing, you'll find hundreds of useful code
"snippets", small routines that perform specific programming tasks.
Programming languages interest you? There are over a dozen complete programming
environments to suit any taste. Basic, Clean, Eiffel, Lisp, ML, Modula-2, Python, and
Tcl-Tk are only a few of the languages included. Most come complete with
documentation and programming examples, and some include complete source code to
the language itself.
http://www.celestin.com/upgrade.html.
Roaster Technologies Licenses Object Design's PSE
for Java to Integrate with Roaster Release 3
Roaster Technologies today announced that Roaster Release 3 will include Object
Design's ObjectStore PSE for Java. Roaster, the pioneering Integrated Development
Environment for Java on the Macintosh, has added significant functionality by tightly
integrating ObjectStore PSE into its new release.
Written entirely in Java, ObjectStore PSE for Java is a high-speed, small-footprint
database that provides portable, transparent Java object persistence. This integration
will enable Roaster users to access data from their Java applications easily, without
having to map Java objects to sequential files or tables. When combined with the
ability of Roaster Release 3 to create stand-alone Java applications, the possibilities
afforded Roaster owners by this integration are limitless.
Developers who use Roaster will have the added bonus that Netscape has licensed PSE
for Java for inclusion in their upcoming Communicator. Therefore, Roaster developers
will be able to write applets that allow users of Communicator to leverage the
distributed computing environment of the Web.
In addition to licensing ObjectStore PSE for Java, Roaster Technologies will port
Object Design's ObjectStore PSE Pro for Java to the Macintosh and resell it to Roaster
customers. ObjectStore PSE Pro for Java adds advanced transaction-level recovery and
support for multiple databases from a single application. Roaster's edition of
ObjectStore PSE Pro for Java will be available soon for electronic purchase from a
secure commerce server available on the Roaster Website at http://www.roaster.com.
Leverage the Power of your AppleScript and 4th
Dimension Applications with ScriptAgent.
ScriptAgent embeds AppleScript into the 4D procedural language, which enables 4D to
communicate bi-directionally with virtually any AppleScriptable application.
A user can enter a customer code into a 4D layout, press Tab, and instantly return the
matching customer record into the layout from an outside source (like MacP&L, an
AppleScriptable accounting application). Or build a complete publishing workflow
solution using QuarkXpress, 4D, and your favorite scriptable graphics cataloging
application.
ScriptAgent works great with the new 4D Version 6, and will provide the developer
with massive background processing power using the new EXECUTE ON SERVER
command.
ScriptAgent includes a complete users guide and tutorial in Acrobat format, tutorial
sample application, and the AppleScript external for 4D. Upgrades are free of charge,
as is Internet technical support.
http://www.prodenhance.com.
NeoLogic Augments Capabilities and Accessibility of
Object Database Technology
NeoAccess 5.0 brings added performance, capabilities and full support for the latest
releases of all major compilers and development frameworks
NeoLogic Systems, Inc., a leading provider of object-oriented database technology,
announced the release of NeoAccess 5.0, a significant enhancement to the company's
cross-platform, object database management system. Featuring added support for
large databases (over four gigabytes) and expanded schema evolution support,
NeoAccess 5.0 simplifies the development of sophisticated applications for a broad
range of professional developers. NeoAccess 5.0 includes full support for the latest
releases of all major compilers and application frameworks. It ships with full C++
source code to provide maximum flexibility for both commercial and corporate
developers. NeoAccess 5.0 is available today for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX
platforms.
NeoAccess reduces development time and costs for commercial and corporate
application developers by offering fast storage and management of database objects in
an easy-to-use class library.
NeoAccess supports all major compilers and application frameworks including
Borland's OWL, Microsoft's Foundation Classes and MetroWerks' Powerplant.
Applications built with NeoAccess take advantage of its powerful caching system which
keeps objects in memory, even after being disposed of by the application.
NeoAccess has been used as the backend database infrastructure for such applications
as ClickWorks by Scitex Corporation, NetObjects' Fusion by NetObjects and the mail
and newsgroup components in Communicator by Netscape.
A free evaluation copy of NeoAccess 5.0 sample applications and source code can be
obtained via the NeoLogic corporate web site at http://www.neologic.com.
VOODOO 1.8 integrates version control into
New release 1.8 of the popular version control tool VOODOO offers scriptability and
integration into Metrowerks' CodeWarrior IDE.
UNI SOFTWARE PLUS today announced that the new version 1.8 of its popular version
control tool VOODOO will be released soon. In order to bring the new features to the
customers as soon as possible UNI SOFTWARE PLUS further announced the immediate
availability of a full functional free pre-release of VOODOO 1.8.
In version 1.8 the delta generation process has been improved again and is much
faster. Besides that, the new version supports even the comparison of files of different
types.
Right now VOODOO can display the differences of text files, MS Word files and resource
files using different helper applications. Other file types will follow.
http://www.unisoft.co.at/e/products/voodoo.html.
VOODOO Engine For OEMs
In addition to the full version control tool UNI SOFTWARE PLUS will soon release a
"VOODOO Engine" which is a server application with an AppleEvent interface that can
be used to integrate version control functionality in other applications.
http://www.unisoft.co.at/e/products/voodoo.html.
PreFab's Player 1.1 - Essential Scripting Utility Gets
Even Better
PreFab Software, Inc. announced that version 1.1 of Player is now shipping. Player
adds verbs to AppleScript and Frontier to query and control non-scriptable
applications and control panels. The 1.1 release offers new verbs, enhanced options,
revised documentation and new example scripts.
PreFab Player 1.1 includes a feature for automating Adobe Photoshop. It is the only
product on the market that can control Photoshop dialog items by name. Scripts can
now "check" or "uncheck" a checkbox and call Player's standard query verbs, e.g. to
verify that a certain item is enabled or execute a difference sequence depending on
which radio button is selected. Photoshop 4.0 takes a preliminary step towards
automation with built-in "Actions." Player is still required for the many real-world
tasks that require the flexibility of scripting. Over the coming weeks, PreFab will
highlight examples and customer success stories on its new website at
http://www.prefab.com.
I am using Photoshop 4.0 and had great expectations when I heard about the action
palette. Unfortunately, it only records about half the activity that I am interested in.
Very top level. It provides no mechanism for plugging in custom values or detailed
control of the dialog boxes. It was so incomplete that I backed away from it and I am
using PreFab Player for all control. We now process thousands of images per month,
each anywhere from 50 to 90 megs in size.
--Mark R. Lucas, Technical Officer, ImageLinks, Inc., http://www.imagelinks.com
One of the most common uses of Player is to process a whole folder full of files,
opening each in turn and saving in a different format to a new folder. Player 1.1 speeds
this process with a new verb to directly set the folder for the standard file dialog.
Other user-requested speed enhancements include the ability to set multiple
checkboxes with a single verb and a fast way to list every menu item.
I was faced with the daunting task of updating approximately 1400 Illustrator files to
the most current version. Since the folks at Adobe can't quite deliver a scriptable
version of their product, I needed Player to get the job done. Great product!
--Patrice VanAcker, Simon & Schuster
Player was designed by script writers, for script writers. It offers the flexibility
required to handle diverse tasks while remaining simple, focused, and easy to learn.
Player 1.1 smooths the path even more, with over 60 example scripts, new libraries
for Photoshop and Illustrator containing dozens of useful subroutines, a revised
manual (in HTML format) and a new tech support FAQ (frequently asked questions).
I was pleased by the level of control afforded by Player. I am not a regular Applescript
programmer and I had never before used Player. Despite this, I was able to get a
working solution implemented quickly due to Player's ease of use. I tried QuicKeys
before Player and was disappointed by the lack of true AppleScript support. In my
implementation, QuicKeys would not remain stable and inevitably hung my system.
Also, QuicKeys did not allow me to get dialog values -- information that was required
for accurate document conversion.
--Sam Russo, Group Montenegro, Inc.
Although many new applications include some support for scripting, key features are
left untouched, beyond the reach of AppleScript and Frontier. Player fills the gap; the
1.1 release streamlines common scriptings tasks. The "choose menu" verb now
includes an option to continue trying until it is successful, e.g. to wait until a progress
window disappears with no extra effort by the script writer. Player 1.1 continues to
take advantage of features unique to the Frontier environment, including enhanced
"short" and "long" menus with improved support for inserting verbs into the
outline-based script editor.
I have written literally hundreds of scripts, using Player in 25% to 30% of them to
do things that simply couldn't have been done without it. There are so many apps out
there that just don't lend themselves well to scripting, or the particular things that
you want to automate aren't possible. Player allows me to add that functionality.
Thanks for a great product and for terrific tech support.
--Cliff Nowack, Microsystems Analyst, Harte-Hanks Communications
Player goes beyond just controlling an application, it can query the interface to
determine the name of the frontmost window, status of a checkbox -- or even the text
of an error message. With the release of 1.1, Player can resolve text that is inserted
by an application when posting a dialog (in addition to text that is stored with the
dialog resource). The query features are vital for in-house and commercial developers
who need a reliable solution for software testing & quality assurance.
We've been using PreFab Player in our Macintosh test automation effort as an
alternative to Apple's Virtual User. Player's ability to run on a single machine (as
opposed to Virtual User's networking requirement) was key to our initial purchase.
Since then, Player's robustness on all of the applications we test and its flexibility has
shown us that it's possible to use a Player/AppleScript solution for all of our Mac test
automation needs.
--Marlon Jackson, Manager, Test Tools Development, Electronics for Imaging
A free 30-day trial version of Player can be downloaded from the web; a disk is
available on request.
I'm convinced! I downloaded the demo at midnight and by 1 AM had solved all my
problems -- thanks to Player.
--Bernard Harte, 100111,2511 on CompuServe
Player continues to retail for $95; the price includes one license for Player Runtime.
Additional Runtime licenses are $25 each, with volume discounts available. Free
updaters to Player 1.1 and Player Runtime 1.1 are available on PreFab's website,
http://www.prefab.com/. Alternatively, a disk is available for a nominal shipping
charge (free on request for customers who purchased within the past 90 days).
PreFab Software, Inc. was founded to meet the emerging demand for scripting tools,
automation utilities and "pre-fabricated software components". Player(tm) 1.0
shipped in August 1994. Text Machine(tm), scheduled for release in Q2 1997, brings
the power of pattern matching search and replace to the desktop.
PreFab Player, Player Runtime, PreFab Text Machine, "The simple way to handle
complex text", PreFab Software and the PreFab logo are trademarks of PreFab
Software, Inc. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders.