Applix Inc, Westborough, Massachusetts is offering a version of its real-time spreadsheet for manufacturing that will supposedly access and analyse factory-floor data. Applix has configured a version of its spreadsheet, called Real Time for Industry, to collect information from Teknekron’s TIB software bus or Allen-Bradley Co’s Data Highway Plus networks (via Rockwell International Corp’s Software’s Interchange) and other proprietary mechanisms. It can do histograms and statistics functions. The spreadsheet uses an Extension Language Facility from the company’s once core Applixware software environment to create functions, applications and graphical front-ends for particular kinds of data. The Interchange bridge is $2,000.
