NeXT Nugget News Digest (vol. 4, issue 5, July 30, 1992) This is vol. 4, issue 5 of the 1992 NeXT NUGGET NEWS DIGEST - a collection of items of interest for the NeXT User Group members. Please direct your comments and feedback on the content of this NeXT news to: nugget@next.com. Conrad Geiger Manager, International NeXT User Groups __________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Announcing "Jewel of the Matrix: For NeXT Computers" CD-ROM II. Frontier announces NeXTSTEP Object Palettes III. BANG Magazine Is Seeking Advertisers IV. BOSS Document Manager Gaining Momentum with NeXT Platform V. Italy NeXT User Group Activity Request VI. Simulation Kit Brings Continuous Simulation to the NeXT VII. Talkback, a multimedia conferencing program for the NeXT VIII. Announcing PixelMagician, version 1.11 is now shipping IX. MIB-II SNMP Agent and Workstation Monitor Application for NeXT Computers ___________________________________________________________________ I. Announcing "Jewel of the Matrix: For NeXT Computers" CD-ROM Object Horizons, Ltd. Announces Release of "Jewel of the Matrix: For NeXT Computers" CD-ROM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chris Traynor Steven Schuldt (617)499-9523 BOSTON, Mass., July 8 1992 - Object Horizons, Ltd. announced today the availability of their "Jewel of the Matrix" CD_ROM. "Jewel of the Matrix" is a comprehensive collection of NeXT and UNIX shareware, demos and public domain software. "Jewel of the Matrix" contains a large collection of applications, sounds, music, tiff and EPS graphic files, source code, newsletters, literature, animations, Backspace views, GNU tools and languages, icons, login images, comp.sys.next related materials, Frequently Asked Questions etc. All included, the CD-ROM contains nearly two gigabytes of data when fully uncompressed. "Jewel of the Matrix" has many additional features such as 10 digital books (including all of the comp.sys.next lists from 1989 on broken into threads) fully indexed for Digital Librarian, the definitive automatic untar and uncompress application, and a logical and understandable directory structure. For pricing and order information call (617)499-9523 or write: Object Horizons, Ltd. 167 Milk St., Ste. #212 Boston, MA 02109-4315 ___________________________________________________________________ II. Frontier announces NeXTSTEP Object Palettes July 1, 1992 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The software division of Frontier, Inc., a NeXT Partnership headquartered in Lancaster, PA, is pleased to announce the release of a new suite of palettized objects which are designed to further enhance the functionality of the NeXTSTEP object oriented operating environment, both for the end-user and for the developer. All new objects will be featured in a NeXTSTEP Object Catalog soon to be released by NeXT Computer, Inc. of Redwood City, CA. Frontier's new palettes and their attendant objects are as follows: Note: While all objects described below are grouped into palettes, each is available separately as listed in the forthcoming Object World Catalog. TextField Palette The TextField Palette contains three main objects: DateField, NumberField, and ValidateTextField. The DateField will allow, among other features, custom formatting of dates and times, as well as custom system clock displays for current date and time. The object evaluates a format string and the input string in order to properly display the formatted output. lt allows for validation to be performed on the input and the output. The DateField is equipped with a custom inspector for both lnterfaceBuilder and Applications, thus allowing run-time manipulation of a field by the user. The inspector will be used for selecting from a list of existing formats, as well as allowing custom creation of new formats. The NumberField maintains the same functionality as the DateField, except its main functions are to allow custom formatting of numbers and money. Similarly, Validate TextField will allow for the custom formatting of any character-based string. DBKit Companion Palette This package includes a number of objects which provide additional functionality to the DbKit and simplify some of the more complex elements of relational database management. This functionality includes, but is not limited to, master-detail specific functions, serial-type implementation for unique- key generation, and primary foreign-key modeling. The companion palette can be linked from lnterfaceBuilder for use over any database for which there is an adaptor. Graphical Control Palette The graphical control palette contains fully functional dials and gauges which may be linked into any application for test and measurement purposes. Each object is supported by Interface Builder for drag-and-drop linking, complete with a custom inspector to allow formatting of output/readings. The Interface Builder inspector enables the developer to select from a pre-defined list of formats, or to create a new format to which all related output will adhere. The inspector is also available to an application, thus allowing run-time manipulation of a field by the user. Also included is a clock and alarm object, which contains a number of graphical clocks that can be linked to any application with drag-and-drop functionality as supported by Interface Builder; it can be used both for displaying of current time on a variety of clock faces and for sending messages to another object (as an alarm clock would at some pre-determined time. Multiple alarms, each with its own target and action, are allowed; full inspector support is included for both lnterfaceBuilder and run-time manipulation. UNIX Palette The System Event Timing Object allows the developer to register events with the system to start at a specified date and time. For example, it can be used to automatically launch an application or to process a command-line argument at any given time. A complete inspector is included to allow jobs to be sent to the background, output to be redirected, input to be controlled, and other system- level features. The object maybe linked graphically from lnterfaceBuilder,or it maybe sent messages programmatically. Inspector support is included to allow run-time manipulation as well. Yet another object, the Time Bomb Object, utilizes a custom inspector to control the usage limits of public/commercial software. As an example, this object may be used to set an application to disable itself after 60 days of usage, or to destroy itself after 25 executions. System Control Palette The system control palette contains a Timer/Time and Billing Object which acts as a fully functional stopwatch that may be used with any application. lt provides the user with both system and process level timing capabilities. The object's feature usage, then is for time and billing; it may be used to log any account or application at any rate. Inspector support is, of course, included. Frontier, Inc. is a NeXT Partnership headquartered in Lancaster, PA which serves the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore markets as a value-added dealer/reseller exclusively committed to the NeXT platform, offering a full range of service, support, and training. Its software division specializes in custom software development in NeXTSTEP, both for customer-driven mission-critical applications and for more general applications directed at furthering the usability and programmability of NeXTSTEP. For more information, contact Frontier, Inc. at (800) 448-NeXT. ___________________________________________________________________ III. Bay Area NeXT User Group (BANG) Magazine Is Seeking Advertisers The upcoming issue of the BANG magazine, a new publication for NeXT users, is looking for advertising clients. BANG is a volunteer organization presently involved in producing a NeXT-dedicated magazine featuring a wide range of articles. The new magazine has been significantly revised from the previous publication, the BANG newsletter. The magazine is a quarterly publication aimed at the NeXT community. The new magazine format includes a full size publication style, color cover and multi-color advertisements. If you are interested in advertising in the BANG magazine please contact: Zacharias J. Beckman Editor in Chief 900 High School Way, #2106 Mountain View, CA 94041 415.966.8919 zac@dolphin.com Electronic mail is prefered. Zacharias J. Beckman - Dolphin Software - zac@dolphin.com 900 High School Way - Suite 2106 - Mountain View - CA - 94041 ___________________________________________________________________ IV. BOSS Document Manager Gaining Momentum with NeXT Platform As organizations grow and computerize their day to day operations, they begin to face a new set of challenges: the need to efficiently share, manage and reuse information. Most document processing applications have excelled at making individuals more productive, but not entire workgroups, departments, or organizations. At the center of this problem is the need for many people to share documents and information in an efficient, organized manner. BOSS Logic's Document Manager is a client/server application that solves this problem by allowing networked computer users to control document storage, retrieval, access, routing and revision of any electronic document. BOSS Document Manager is being used in: Office Automation Legal Case Management Medical Records Management Technical Document Publishing Advertising Campaign Management Manufacturing & Engineering Change Order Control BOSS Document Manager supports such unique features as: detailed edits of changes made document wait lists for co-editors dependency links between documents. user-defined approval processes for documents file permissions, including write, delete, depend and grant retrieval by category, content, date, owner, status, title, id number or type BOSS Document Manager uses electronic mail to automatically notify users that documents: have been modified are available for editing require managerial or editorial approval (and attach notes for feedback) Documents can be Image files (raster, bitmap, facsimile) Compound documents (such as FrameMaker files) Word Processed Documents (such as Word Perfect files) Desktop Published Documents (such as PageMaker files) CAD/CAM drawings (dwg, dxf, cgm, etc.) Spreadsheets (such as Lotus files) Animations and/or Sound files Best of all, BOSS Document Manager is "shrink wrapped", so it works right out of the box. To learn more about BOSS Logic or BOSS Document Manager call: Tom Urban Phone: 415-903-7033 Fax: 415-903-7009 Email: urban@bosslogic.com ___________________________________________________________________ V. Italy NeXT User Group Activity Request >From the Italian NeXT User Group: I would like to know which is the simplest way to start a newsletter in the USA, what should one do? Any suggestion will be appreciated. Thank you Gianfranco Pocecai Coordinator of "NeXT2You" The Italian NeXT User Group University of Milano - Computer Science Department Via Comelico, 39/41 20135 Milano - Italy E-mail: gpoc@cube.sm.dsi.unimi.it ___________________________________________________________________ VI. Simulation Kit Brings Continuous Simulation to the NeXT Doberman Systems 2027 East Ashley Ridge Road Sandy, Utah 84092-7260 Contact: Mike Panzitta 801 944-4329 doberman!mike@uunet.uu.net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Simulation Kit Brings Continuous Simulation to the NeXT SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 1992-Doberman Systems today announced the Simulation Kit, the first collection of objects specifically developed for continuous system modeling and simulation on the NeXT computer. Coupled with the NeXTSTEP application development environment, the Simulation Kit provides the ideal context for developing and analyzing object-oriented simulations. Unlike traditional methods, where the model to be simulated is programmed procedurally from derived equations, the object-oriented approach is implemented directly from a block diagram representation of the system. Both academic and commercial users will find the Simulation Kit to be a powerful yet easy-to-use tool for modeling, analyzing, and teaching linear and nonlinear continuous systems, numerical integration, and the numerical solution of differential equations. Typical application areas are numerical analysis, engineering systems (e.g. mechanical, electrical, thermodynamic, and chemical), and control systems. The Simulation Kit includes Objective-C objects such as processes, composite processes, simulations, signals, and clocks. Simulations are modeled by connecting processes together with signals. More complex subsystems can be grouped together into composite processes, which may then be manipulated and used as a single process. Commonly used processes such as summers, gains, limiters, and Euler integrations are included with source code; users can develop their own processes by subclassing and using the provided sources and documentation as a guide. A typical use of the Simulation Kit can be illustrated by simulating the motion of an automobile. The car's acceleration is determined by the pressure applied to the accelerator by the driver, the slope of the road (which depends on the location of the car), and the car's drag (which increases with the vehicle's speed). It is known that the car's location and speed may be obtained by successively integrating its acceleration. From this information, a block diagram composed of integrator, gain, and summer blocks can be easily assembled. These process blocks and the signals that connect them are implemented by Simulation Kit objects which are organized in the same fashion as the block diagram. Information such as the car's position, velocity, and acceleration may then be output as the car "moves" through its virtual environment. This approach to modeling provides greater insight and intuition into the behavior of the system and allows simple and rapid modification of the simulation. The Simulation Kit employs several advanced features that are unavailable in other simulation packages. Multiple clocks allow simulations to contain "fast" and "slow" subsystems. Process prioritization permits fine control over the execution of the simulation for techniques such as cascaded integrations. The Simulation Kit will be available in September 1992 for an estimated price of US$XXX.YY (US$XX.YY academic). Objects, full documentation, and example source code will be distributed on NeXT-compatible floppy disks. Technical support will be available by telephone or electronic mail from Doberman Systems Doberman Systems was launched in 1992 to develop hardware and software solutions for the NeXT series of professional workstations. The firm is committed to providing the highest quality products and services for NeXT users and developers worldwide. Doberman Systems, the Doberman logo, and Simulation Kit are trademarks of Doberman Systems. NeXT and NeXTSTEP are trademarks of NeXT Computer, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. ___________________________________________________________________ VII. Talkback, a multimedia conferencing program for the NeXT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NightShade Software is pleased to announce the release of TalkBack, a multimedia conferencing program for the NeXT computer. TalkBack is designed to allow multiple users to communicate simultaneously with each other over a network. The application allows file, text, and voice transfer between many people at once. A complete archive of conference activity is maintained on each machine, available for review at any time. This archive will contain all conference text and sound messages, and any file attachments Talkback is designed around a de-centralized network model, in which each conference node will run independently. This means that anyone can exit and join a conference at any time, without a need for a "central server". The de-centralized network model also means that any user can initiate a conference, and that any user in a conference can invite new users to join the conference while it is in progress. A beta-release of TalkBack is now available from sonata.cc.purdue.edu, in pub/next/submissions/TalkBack.tar.Z, and from cs.orst.edu, in /pub/next/submissions. For further information on TalkBack, or any other NightShade product, please email nshade@niagara.ucs.ualberta.ca or mail NightShade Software, P.O. Box 60063, U of A P.O., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2S4 ___________________________________________________________________ VIII. Announcing PixelMagician, version 1.11 is now shipping A new version of PixelMagician, Version 1.11, is now shipping. New features: Added support to read .FAX and .DCX files. Added support for viewing multi-page/multi-rep formats: .PS, .DCX, .FAX, .TIFF Bug Fixes: PICT 1bit b/w, TIFF aspect ratio, Image Inspector, Targa files, Convert window source browser size calc field bugs.) Demo Version 1.11 is now available via anonymous ftp from ... sonata.cc.purdue.edu ( 128.210.15.30 ) or nova.cc.purdue.edu (128.210.7.22) Location: /pub/next/2.0-release/demos/PixelMagician1.11.tar Features: - Wildcard conversion - Drag/Drop - Miniwindow thumbnails - Scaling /Resampling - Rotating - Screen grabbing - Error diffusion dithering - Multiple bit depths - Alpha support - Supports viewing of multi-page/multi-rep image formats. Formats: - JPEG ( JFIF ) - TIFF - DCX - FAX - EPS - PICT (Raster only) - Targa - PCX - Windows BMP - Sun Raster - GIF - IFF/ILBM - MacPaint - XBM/XWD - MTV and others For more information, please contact: BACCHUS, INC. 2210 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 330 Santa Monica, CA 90403 Tel: 310/820-9145 Fax: 310/820-5930 NeXTMail: info@bacchus.com or bacchus!info@uu2.psi.com ________________________________________________________________ IX. MIB-II SNMP Agent and Workstation Monitor Application for NeXT Computers For more information, contact: Errol Ginsberg Telephone: 310/456-6094 Fax: 310/456-9715 Email: info@ridgeback.com or zulu!info@uu4.psi.com NeXT E-mail: info-next@ridgeback.com or zulu!info-next@uu4.psi.com Malibu, CA - July 28, 1992. Ridgeback Solutions announces the availability of an SNMP Agent and ServerWatch, a powerful workstation monitor for NeXT computers that allows network managers to monitor and generate alarms on key workstation parameters. This is the first SNMP management solution for NeXT computers and now allows users to integrate their NeXT computers into any SNMP network management environment. Good network management is essential to keeping LANs operating smoothly and minimizing the time required for a network manager to find and fix problems. "I feel that Ridgeback Solutions' SNMP agent and ServerWatch application are among the most important third party applications to be offered on the NeXT platform," said Tim Kreps, developer advocate for communications and connectivity at NeXT Computer, Inc. "Because the average size of each installation of NeXT computers is large, network management has become very important to our customers." The SNMP Agent for NeXT computers The SNMP agent is a complete implementation of the MIB-I and MIB-II specifications and makes use of standards such as the Internet Protocol (IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Ridgeback Solutions took advantage of the Private Extension capability supported by the SNMP standards to define and add its own Private Extensions for NeXT computers. These extensive enhancements to MIB-II allow the monitoring via SNMP of Swap File size, Disk Space Available, Disk Space Used, Applications running, Memory Status, User Login Information and CPU loading. ServerWatch for NeXT computers The separate ServerWatch application runs on a NeXT workstation and uses the Ridgeback Solutions Private Extensions to monitor and generate alarms for Swap File Size greater than a user-specified Threshold, Free Disk Space less than a user-specified Threshold, Loss of Communication to a workstation, a Login or Logout on a user-specified workstation and SNMP Authentication errors. For each alarm occurrence, alarm details are written to a log with the IP Address, Hostname, Time and Date. The user may scroll through the Alarm Log to review all the alarms. A different threshold and alarm condition may be specified for each of the workstations monitored by ServerWatch. Alarms are configured for each workstation using the Alarm Inspector. Multiple workstations may be set up simultaneously if they each have the same thresholds and parameters. Alarm settings may also be viewed using the Alarm Inspector. Once a workstation is selected from the Network View (an iconic view of the workstations), it may be queried using a menu for Swap File Information, File System Information, Process Status and Login Information. All these queries are via SNMP with no need to remotely log in to a workstation to obtain this information. Thresholds may be set by the network manager to monitor these critical parameters automatically and be alerted when there is a problem. By choosing the threshold values carefully, the network manager can be alerted to potential problems, and fix them before the end-user is even aware that there was a problem on his machine. HP Openview and SunNet Manager The Ridgeback Solutions private extensions have been successfully compiled and tested with Hewlett Packard's Openview 3.0 Network Manager and Sun's SunNet Manager. Network Management applications such as Openview or SunNet Manager. and the Ridgeback Solutions SNMP agent allow network managers to easily integrate NeXT computers into their overall network management framework. Ridgeback Solutions has also developed an application that runs on SunNet Manager allowing network managers to easily integrate NeXT computers with SunNet Manager. Pricing The SNMP agent has a suggested retail price of $XXX per workstation and is currently shipping. A discount schedule is available for large installations. ServerWatch is bundled with the purchase of 10 or more SNMP agents and is currently shipping. The SunNet Manager application is available for a suggested retail price of $XXXX per network management console. Company Background Ridgeback Solutions, founded in 1991 and based in Malibu, CA, specializes in the development of network management and communications applications for UNIX workstations. The company was founded by Errol Ginsberg, who was previously vice president of engineering for Fibermux, a $50 Million manufacturer of LAN hubs and multiplexors. Ridgeback Solutions is privately held and funded. **** ServerWatch is a trademark of Ridgeback Solutions. NeXT is a trademark of NeXT Computer, Inc. All other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Ridgeback Solutions 23715 W. Malibu Rd., Suite 376 Malibu, CA, 90265 ______________________________________ end