COBOL spII Version 3.0 Available

Version 3.0 has been released for the following platforms:

* Microsoft Windows
* OS/2 Presentation Manager
* MS-DOS

The COBOL spII Version 3.0 Panel Editor has been completely redesigned

COBOL splI's Panel Editor, formerly called the Panel Definition Facility,
has been redesigned for faster and easier panel creation. Here are just a
few of the new features supported in version 3.0:

* 8 Character Panel Names 
* Network Version with File Share & Panel Locking 
* Icon Based Toolbar (GUI) 
* Easier Menu Bar/Pulldown
* Creation Combination Boxes (Drop Down Choice Lists) 
* Variable Font Size & Type Support for GUI versions 
* Automatic List Boxes 
* Custom COBOL Oriented Entry Fields 
...and Much More!

Introducing the COBOL spII Version 3.0 Panel Editor

COBOL spII Version 3.0 also supports a new easier-to-use programming
interface

In the past, some of our customers have told us that the COBOL splI
programming interface can get a bit complex at times. Version 3.0 solves
the problem.

COBOL spII version 3.0 uses Functions, Parameters and Data Items expressed
in standard COBOL Working Storage variables to completely control the
entire user interface.

The Version 2.2 way to open a panel file:

CALL "FSP" USING WRK-AO WRK-FUNC WRK-FILE

where WRK-AO is a parameter list, WRK-FUNC is the function and WRK-FILE is
the panel file name. The Version 3.0 way to open a panel file:

CALL "SP2" USING SP2-OPEN-FILE SP2-FILE-DEF

where SP2-OPEN-FILE is the function to open a panel file and SP2-FILE-DEF
contains all the information regarding the panel file to be opened.

Easy GUI Control Implementation

COBOL spII Version 3.0 supports the easy creation of all the major GUI
controls. With Version 3.0 you can create these controls with the click of
an icon,
so developing your user interface is very easy!

As you already know, controlling the user interface in COBOL spII is done
in a manner that was specifically engineered for the professional COBOL
programmer. You don't detect mouse events and pushbutton events with COBOL
spII. You test for function keys when a pushbutton is pressed!

Here are just a few of the many types of GUI controls supported by COBOL
spII, version 3.0:

Entry Fields available in COBOL spII include default and custom style entry
fields.

Pushbuttons can be assigned a function key for easy processing in your
program.

Checkboxes can be assigned an "on" and "off" value to make it easy to
detect if a Checkbox is selected.

Just like a Checkbox, Radio Buttons can also be detected by a value
assigned during screen development.

Combination Boxes in spII may be made enterable or only selectable.

Icons are handled just like pushbuttons in COBOL spII. This means that you
simply assign a function key to an icon and test for the function key in
your program.

Scroll bars in COBOL spII are completely automatic. You don't have to worry
about writing any complex, cryptic API code to control the movement of the
slider box in a scroll bar. In addition, you don't have to worry about
controlling the movement of the data in a scrolling area.

Special Font Size and Type Support

COBOLspII version 3.0 allows you to take advantage of special fonts
available in the Graphical User Interface Environments supported.

Even when you use special fonts in a GUI environment, your window
definitions are still portable to character mode environments. COBOL spII
will substitute the standard character mode font for the special GUI
font.

Open Access to Screen Definitions

COBOLspII version 3.0 is the most "Open" COBOL user interface tool
available. With version 3.0, you have full access to the spII panel file
definition.

You can write COBOL programs to invoke panel file maintenance functions.
This lets you to maintain your panel definitions independently of the
COBOLspII panel editor.

Just think of the possibilities...

* Create panel definitions dynamically
* Modify existing panels dynamically
* Global panel editing using a COBOL program
* Write custom panel conversion programs

With COBOLspII version 3.0, you're not locked into a proprietary user
interface tool, because you have full access to the panel file
definitions.

Should You Upgrade Now or Wait?

During the past year, COBOL spII has undergone extensive re-engineering.
The modifications made to COBOL spII were made to make the panel editor
and programming interface easier to use in addition to providing better
support for GUI environments.

Purchase COBOL spII Now if...

...you haven't used spII in the past and want a powerful user interface
tool. If the following COBOL spII characteristics are of interest, you
should purchase COBOL spII version 3.0 today!

* Regular Updates Provided
* Supports Latest User Interface Technology
* Easy To Learn & Use
* 100% COBOL Oriented
* Supports Text & GUI Systems Transparently
* Supports Operating Systems Transparently
* Supports COBOL Compilers Transparently

Purchase COBOL spII Now if...

...you evaluated spII in the past, but found it a bit complex. Version 3.0
is much easier to use than version 2.2. Take a second look at COBOL spII.
We know that you'll be pleased with the changes.

Upgrade to spII Version 3.0 Now if...

....you are an existing COBOL spII customer and plan to completely overhaul
your program user interface. You may want to consider moving to version
3.0 now. If your original user interface design didn't include COBOL
spII's advanced features and you want to run in a GUI environment, you can
continue using the existing spII CALL statements and parameters. Although
your program will run in a GUI with no problem, your traditional menu and
screen design may not have the general appearance of a GUI based
application.

In this case, you may need to make some changes to your panels and source
program for your programs to look like a standard GUI. This might be a
good time to use the version 3.0 powerful features.

Upgrade to spII Version 3.0 Now if...

...you are an existing COBOL spII customer and are embarking on a new
project, the new programming interface provided with COBOL spII version
3.0 should make life a bit easier. Although you'll need a brief period of
time to adjust to the new programming interface, as an existing customer,
you should become productive very quickly.

Because COBOL spII has been completely re-engineered, panel files and
source programs developed with earlier versions are not yet compatible
with version 3.0.

During the first quarter of l 994, Flexus will release conversion tools for
converting existing COBOL spII panel files to version 3.0 panel files.

Also during the first quarter of 1994, Flexus will release a COBOL spII
runtime system which will recognize the existing CALL statement and
parameter format in addition to the new CALL statement format. These two
facilities will allow existing COBOL spII programs to work with version
3.0.

Flexus has always provided upward migration for COBOL spII customers and
always will.

Upgrade to Version 3.0 Later if...

...you are maintaining existing programs with COBOL spII and prefer not to
rewrite any of the source code or repaint any of the screen definitions.
We suggest that you wait for our general announcement in the first quarter
of 1994 when we'll provide you with conversion tools. These tools will
allow your existing source programs and current panel files to work with
version 3.0.

Upgrade to Version 3.0 Later if...

...you need to develop or maintain your COBOL application in an operating
system for which COBOL spII version 3.0 has not yet been ported.

COBOL spII is currently available for MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows and OS/2
Presentation Manager. The software will be ported to UNIX, VAX/VMS and
Motif in the near future. If you have an immediate project for a UNIX or
VMS environment, we suggest that you continue to use version 2.2 until the
conversion tools are available in the first quarter of 1994.

Still Not Sure? Call Us!

If you're still not sure whether you should upgrade to COBOL spII Version
3.0, give us a call at 215-588-9400 or send a fax to 215-588-9475. We'll
do our best to answer your questions.

Flexus International Corp
PO Box 640, Bangor, PA 18013-0640 USA
215-588-9400,  fax 215-588-9475

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