Subscription Contents Volume 1/2000

Foundation subscription

Xbase++ 1.5
The 1.5 version of Xbase++ comes with quite a few new features we have added upon customer request. The painful times of printer configuration are over due to a new XbpPrintDialog() and a revised XbpPrinter() class, for example. Now you get transparent access to the standard Windows printer dialog or the properties of the printer driver.
    The SDFDBE and DELDBE are completely revised for Clipper compatible SDF and DEL import/export formats. Multi-threaded programs benefit from a revision of all SET commands. More than a dozen SET settings received thread-local scope allowing for better encapsulation of multi-threaded programs.
    More than a dozen new functions are added making a programmer's life easier. Is the Shift key pressed when a left click occurs? How many PRIVATE variables are declared? Which exported functions are available in a dynamically loaded DLL? What is the PRG source code of a code block? These are a few questions that can be answered now with a simple function call.
    Besides of new features, hundreds of PDRs have been closed in Xbase++ 1.5 and we are going to use this version ourselves for building the Alaska Software Developers Portal on our home page.

XbToolsIII 1.5
This new version focuses solely on bug fixes.

Web Application Adaptor 1.5
We concentrated on useability and reliability for the new WAA version. A major benefit comes from thread-local scope of SET settings in Xbase++ which allow two Web applications to use different character sets or date formats independently from each other, for example. The TCP/IP implementation is re-worked and user-defined error messages are possible.

Profiler for Xbase++
Speed, Speed, Speed! Many customers of Alaska Software have asked how to optimize the performance of their applications. Although we invest continuously into performance improvements of Xbase++, we want you to be able to analyze and optimize your own code. Therefore, we have invested in a profiling tool that allows you to trace all function, procedure and method calls of your Xbase++ application, no matter if they were written by yourself or by Alaska Software. You can trace things like: What parameters are passed? How often is a function called? How much time is consumed in total by a particular function? Even if speed is not your primary goal, the Xbase++ Profiler can help you in understanding the program flow of huge and complex applications.

OpenGL for Xbase++
Have you ever seen these great 3D animations on TV and wondered how this can be done? Do it with Xbase++! A class derived from XbpStatic encapsulates an OpenGL interface and does the job for you. It gives you access to the 3D rendering engine. An example program showing business graphics is included.

Pre-processor API
You are fond of the Xbase++ pre-processor and want to use its abilities in your programs? Go ahead! We have added an example program demonstrating how to dynamically load the pre-processor DLL and access the pre-processor API of Xbase++ with DLLFUNCTION. Build your own command-line interpreter or boost your data-driven programs with the "secrets" of the pre-processor API.

KnowledgeBase
Currently, this is a collection of documents in HTML, PDF or MS Word DOC format focusing on Alaska Software products and technologies. They cover technical details, explain how things are working inside of Xbase++, describe what technologies are in development or deal with other Xbase++ related issues. Each developer at Alaska Software is commited to write at least one paper per subscription. So stay tuned and watch this collection of technical articles growing over time.

Professional subscription

This subscription level includes all of the above plus:

ADS Database Engine 1.5
The ADSDBE integrates better into the Data Access Chain technology of Xbase++ and received PDR fixes. Also, an enhanced session management is included due to customer request.

ODBC SQL Database Engine 1.0 preview
Since its early beginning, Alaska Software has promised to deliver native SQL access. Software developers know that "to finish a software" usually takes more time than anticipated, but sometimes things take longer than anybody would have ever assumed. However, the ODBC DBE preview is just the beginning. We provide this preview to demonstrate how seamlessly other data sources, like SQL or MS Access, for example, can be integrated into your Xbase++ application. This preview also gives you some inside knowledge about the Data Access Chain technology and how you can prepare yourself today for seamlessly switching between DBF and SQL Database Engines tomorrow.

HTML Reflection Framework 1.0 preview
The HRF is an implementation of the DOM 1.0 standard from the W3C consortium and fully supports HTML 4. The HRF class framework eases the pain when applications are deployed in the Internet and cryptic HTML code is mixed with your business logic written as PRG code. With HRF, a HTML file can be loaded into an Xbase++ application and filled with data originating from a database file, for example, by calling methods of HRF objects. The modified HTML file can then be written back to disk or sent to the Internet.

Active Xbase++ Scripting Engine 1.0 preview
Scripting technologies are hot in these days! Just think about Perl, JavaScript or VBScript. The Xbase++ Scripting Engine enables you to write your script code in your favourite language - Xbase++! Future versions of the Scripting Engine will support Linux, Windows Scripting Host and more. Get in touch today with the technologies that will drive your success of tomorrow.

Source code for XbpBrowse(), XbpQuickBrowse() 
This Xbase++ source code gives you an insider's knowledge of how to code Xbase Parts to their limits. We publish the PRG code of the two browser classes along with an example of how to implement a "Sorting Browser" based on XbpQuickBrowse() that supports sorting and sizing of single columns.

XML for Xbase++
XML is a future technology for distributed applications, but only few programmers are using it today. A major hurdle in the acceptance of XML is the necessity of having an XML parser. To pave the path for your XML usage, we have developed a non-validating XML parser engine for Xbase++. It is easy to use from your PRG code and lightning fast, since it is entirely written in C. We have added a sample application using XML to describe input data, and a DAC database sample demonstrating how to create XML data from your database and access it using latest MS Internet Explorer 5.0 XMLDSO technology.

DSP five-pack (only with Prof. Subs. V.1.5)
A special bonus for Professional subscription members is a DSP five-pack. This gives you five support points you can use to have our technical support engineers resolve a Xbase++ related programming problem for you (only technical, no consultancy service). One DSP five-pack represents $370 in value and is only part of the Alaska Software Developer Subscription launch until the end of year 2000. Future Professional subscriptions will not include this bonus.

Availability

Subscriptions are sold exclusively by Alaska Software. Orders can be placed online using our eCommerce System. Simply click the Buy-Now! button on the left and follow the instructions.

Note: The subscription contents listed in this document are valid for the current subscription delivery only. Contents and pricing of Alaska Software Developer Subscriptions may be subject of change without notice.