Visual Edge Software Ltd of Quebec, Canada, is offering a way for users of its UIM/X graphical user interface builder to create complex Java front-ends or reverse re-engineer existing application interfaces into Java with release 2.0 of the Cross- Platform Toolset which includes its Instant Coffee Java code generator. Visual Edge says Instant Coffee used in conjunction with UIM/X provides a more comprehensive Java interface development environment than general- purpose offerings from SunSoft Inc, Imperial Software Technology Ltd or Active Software Inc, because developers can work at the level of application objects rather than with every separate control. This is achieved by enabling developers to create interfaces containing Java classes that encapsulate layout, behaviour and Java AWT event- handling code. The classes are dragged and dropped onto a palette from which the interface is created. Other Java interface builders do not support this feature, the company says, claiming that its system also overcomes the problem of matching Motif semantics to Java controls. In addition to Instant Coffee, Cross- Platform Toolset 2.0 is said to include expanded geometry management, support for drag-and-drop and pop-up menus, paned window controls, multi-column lists, outlines and grid components. Cross-Platform Toolset 2.0 is an add-on for UIM/X on Solaris 2.5, SunOS 4.1.3, Silicon Graphics Inc Irix 5.3, AIX 4.1.3 and Digital Unix priced from $2,500. The company has other tools that reverse-engineer existing interface code for Cross- Platform Toolset which can then generate Java code. It asserts that Instant Coffee is not designed to compete with full Java application development environments such as those from SunSoft Inc, Symantec Corp, Borland International Inc or Rogue Wave Software Inc, but can be used to create front-ends for applications that have been created with them. Visual Edge says it is waiting to land a couple of other important wins for its ObjectBridge bi-directional object translator before going public with another set of supporters.
