Object Linking for Apple developers
Admittedly Microsoft is a very successful marketing organisation and the Apple market is ripening in the business sector, but can Microsoft really convince Apple users that they need Object Linking and Embedding? Well, it is offering its Software Developer’s Kit for Object Linking on the Macintosh. The kit, which will ship in January 1992, is being tested at some 50 developer sites. As we all know, Object Linking and Embedding has been developed as an open, industry-wide specification, incorporating input and contributions by Microsoft, Aldus Corp, Lotus Development Corp, Micrografx Inc and Wordperfect Corp and as we all also know it will not become the industry standard if IBM and Apple and Hewlett-Packard have their way. The technology provides graphical applications developers with a powerful new set of capabilities for integrating information created by different applications. The specification enables developers to access these capabilities by making simple extensions to existing graphical applications which run under System 7.0. In fact it builds on the Apple Events foundation using customer events. The developers kit contains libraries of code that developers can implement into their applications. Object Linking and Embedding is designed to enable applications to work closely together, even if they were developed by other vendors, employing different data formats.
Excel declares all-out war on 1-2-3
Microsoft also said it is developing technology that enables Excel to run macros written by Lotus Development Corp 1-2-3 users unmodified. The company says it is actively soliciting real-world macros written by 1-2-3 users to test and refine the technology, which is expected to ship in the first half of 1992. Innovative features being touted in the Excel macro language include user-defined dialogues, custom pull-down menus, custom worksheet functions and templates, to enable developers to create powerful graphical applications. Getting more aggressive in the spreadsheet market by the moment, Microsoft says that Excel functions, including a graphic layer, the ability to attach macros to any object, object linking and embedding support, outlining and consolidation, aren’t in 1-2-3.
Enhancements to Microsoft Mail
Not neglecting the networking side of things, the company announced Microsoft Mail version 3.0 for PC Networks, described as an advanced electronic mail program designed to serve as the infrastructure for workgroup applications, which are widely viewed as the next major advance in business computing. The new release of Microsoft Mail contains enhancements to the server as well as a completely new implementation of the Windows operating system client. The Mail 3.0 server package now includes, at no extra charge, automatic global directory synchronisation, which automatically updates directories on all Microsoft Mail servers. Furthermore, all Microsoft Mail clients now have access to a global address book for fast directory searches. Administrators can now also conserve hardware resources because the Microsoft Mail 3.0 task scheduler enables them to schedule multiple mail processes on a single MS-DOS machine. Windows client enhancements include Message Finder, Object Linking and Embedding support, intelligent file attachments and spell-check.
Call Level Interface Database linking
Open Database Connectivity is an application program interface that enables applications running under Microsoft Windows and other environments to communicate with both relational and non-relational database management systems. It is based on the SQL Access Group’s Call Level Interface specification which uses structured query language to access database environments, and it supports access to both SQL and non-SQL data. In addition to the CLI Specification, Open Database has optional enhancements. These include support for additional data types, asynchronous requests and scrollable cursors. The Software Development Kit for ODBC will ship in the first half of 1992, along with a core set of ODBC
drivers. The ODBC technology will be incorporated in future versions of the Excel spreadsheet and other applications, including those for the Macintosh, and in a future version, after the upcoming version 3.1, of Windows. And SQL Server will also support Open Database Connectivity.
Word for the Macintosh version 5.0
New features in Word for the Macintosh version 5 include an integrated grammar checker, drag-and-drop text and a new Print Merge Helper. Also, it exploits System 7.0, including Balloon Help, TrueType fonts, Publish and Subscribe and support for AppleEvents. The new Ribbon on-screen bar simplifies text formatting by allowing users to change fonts, format text, create columns or a drawing with one click of the mouse. In addition to support for required AppleEvents, 5.0 supports a suite of Object Linking and Embedding AppleEvents defined by Microsoft. This technology enables users to double click on an embedded equation in a 5.0 document to access the equation editor, and this is accessible from other applications that support OLE AppleEvents. Version 5.0 introduces plug-in modules, a new modular architecture that enables users to choose the specific features they want to install. Microsoft plans to add a new module, WordBasic, within six months and this editable macro programming language will be consistent with the one in Word for Windows. Version 5.0 will be available January 1992 for $500. Minimum requirements are a Macintosh Plus, System 6.02 and 1Mb of memory, although 2Mb is required for those that want to use the grammar checker. Word for the Macintosh users and other word processors for the Macintosh can upgrade for $130, and users that buy version 4.0 after November 1 can upgrade for free.
Multimedia Works for Windows 2.0
Microsoft’s Multimedia Edition of Microsoft Works for Windows version 2.0 is available on compact disk and includes a word processor, spreadsheet, charting tool, database and drawing capabilities. The Online Tutorial contains 42 lessons with sound and animation, and the Online Reference has an index, explanations of tasks and step-by-step procedural instructions. It enables users to size the work space automatically to view instructions on-screen while they work, and to print out information. The Multimedia Edition of Microsoft Works for Windows costs $200 and it ships during December 1991. It requires a personal computer with a Multimedia upgrade kit or the equivalent components which include MS-DOS 3.1, Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions 2.and a personal computer with 16MHz 80386SX.
