LOOX V2.1 Extends Graphics Possibilities for UNIX Applications  

LOOX Software Introduces New Features for Motif   Graphics Development
System at UNIFORUM '94 

March 22, 1994 -- SAN FRANCISCO -- At UNIFORUM '94, LOOX Software, Inc.,
introduced the latest release of its object-oriented software development
tool for X Window, LOOX Version 2.1. In addition to the extensible,
real-time, object-driven graphics support already incorporated into LOOX,
LOOX Version 2.1 includes a number of enhancements such as a new Component
Editor, added support for Solaris x86, CD-ROM distribution, improved
on-line documentation, and much more. 

LOOX is a graphics development environment that runs with X Windows' Motif
and provides a series of Graphical Interface Graphics (GIGs) that allow
users to interact with UNIX applications through mouse-driven, animated
graphics, rather than through conventional commands and menus. Unlike a
graphical user interface (GUI) builder, LOOX's GIGs make use of the GUI
functionality already incorporated into Motif. With LOOX, corporate
programmers can create a versatile, intuitive graphics interface for any
UNIX-based application or environment in a matter of hours. 

What's New with LOOX V2.1 

Foremost among the new features included in LOOX V2.1 is a new Component
Editor that lets users create self-contained, autonomous graphics
components that can be ported from application to application and are
completely self-verifying. For example, using the new LOOX Component
Editor you can create a graphic element used in a neuron network display
and give the component the intelligence to verify network connections and
configurations. The Component Editor was designed to let the user create
components using the LOOXMaker drawing tool, then connect various
components (i.e., automatic links) and assign various characteristics to
the default mode of operations for each component. Source code is provided
so users can modify these characteristics to match their specific needs.
Once they are created, these graphics elements can be ported to support
other graphics applications. 

LOOX V2.1 has also been expanded to support images developers may have
already created in other graphics formats. Using a converter provided by a
third party or previously developed by the programmer, LOOX is instantly
able to incorporate images in any format. It is also now possible for
programmers to choose which graphic attributes may be modified by the end
user, such as the color of graphic objects. Etc. 

In addition, LOOX V2.1 has more extensive sample and demonstration programs
that can be used to help programmers develop their own applications. New
complete and commented source code has been added to help developers
understand LOOX and develop their own programs. Included are sources for
the "GED" graphics editor program, which is included as part of a
demonstration of a network analyzer tools. All the programmer has to do is
change a few segments of the "GED" code to adapt it to meet their own
needs. There are also new sample programs bundled with LOOX 2.1, including
a puzzle application to illustrate the independence of the graphics
applications from the programming layer, the "GED" graphics editor and
network analyzer, and a tree demonstration that not only displays the
components of a drawing but now functions as a useful tool to analyze and
modify a drawing. 

With the release of Version 2.1, LOOX is now available on CD-ROM so the
on-line documentation can remain resident on an external drive rather than
taking up valuable disk space. LOOX V2.1 also adds support for Solaris
x86, the recently released UNIX platform for the PC developed by SunSoft.


The support documentation included with LOOX has also been improved. The
entire documentation set is now accessible on-line through an intuitive
program that provides quick and easy access to information. The
documentation is made even easier to use thanks to an integrated table of
contents and index. 

"Since we introduced LOOX to North American UNIX users earlier this year,
we have gotten some very positive feedback," said Blaise Barrelet,
president of LOOX. "This new release just makes it that much easier for
our customers to design and use interactive graphics environments for
their UNIX applications. In fact, with LOOX 2.1, most users can develop
their own customized graphics interfaces only hours after they open the
package. That's real proof that LOOX is easy to use, since conventional
graphics interfaces usually take man-months to create." 

The LOOX Graphics Development System 

The LOOX graphic development system for Motif consists of LOOXMaker, a
graphics design system for Motif, and LOOXLib, a library of callable
program functions.  

LOOXMaker is a precise, vector-based drawing program that lets you create
sophisticated, real-time X Window graphics quickly and easily. The first
step is to create diagrams, schematics, toolboxes, and related graphical
objects for on-screen display. Then you associate specific tasks and
functions with each object by drawing from the LOOXLib library of
functions calls. LOOXMaker also supports scanned images and images from
other sources, and dynamic links can be created between objects. LOOXMaker
contains a wide range of graphic objects, including vectors (lines,
rectangles, ellipses, arrays, polygons, etc.) and widgets (buttons,
switches, text, charts, axes, pie charts, etc.). LOOXMaker also uses
traditional editing commands, such as create, destroy, move, clone, copy,
paste, etc., and it provides complete control over all graphical aspects
of any drawing using show, hide, foreground/background, color, font, and
fill patterns. The system is completely WYSIWYG. 

LOOXLib is a vector-based C function library with more than 200 functions.
LOOXLib includes the same graphics design capabilities as LOOXMaker,
allowing the user to create graphic drawings or objects and then assign
attributes and animated functions to each object or drawing. Once the
objects have been created using either LOOXMaker or LOOXLib, you can
include those objects in your applications and use LOOXLib to assign
computer code to each user interaction. In fact, you can change the look
and feel of an entire graphic environment using LOOXLib calls. It includes
a full library to edit mouse events for customized graphics editing, so
rather than forcing users to select from text menus, LOOXLib assigns
specific functions to any object, making it simple to create a truly
intuitive, custom point-and-click interface. And LOOXLib allows the user
to exchange drawings between Motif-based applications. LOOXLib also
handles all save and Postscript print functions. 

LOOX is compatible with all popular UNIX operating systems, and supports
OSF/Motif for X Windows, and LOOXLib uses mechanisms similar to those
found in Motif. A complete self-training kit is provided with sample
applications, a library of ready to use graphics and clip art, and on-line
documentation. LOOX Software is also offering custom application
development services to companies who do not have their own programming
staff. 

LOOX V2.1 begins shipping this week. The complete LOOX graphics development
system, which includes both LOOXMaker and LOOXLib is available now for a
$9,950 development license. LOOX is compatible with the Sun OS 4.1 or
later, Solaris 2.3, HP-UX 8.0 or later, AIX 3.2 or later, IRIX 4.0.1,
OSF/1, SCO ODT, and Solaris PC operating systems, among others. It also
requires Motif, X11R4 or X11R5, and will work with X-Terminals. 

LOOX Software, Inc., specializes in creating graphics solutions for open
architecture computing platforms. The company has offices in both the
United States and Europe, and has its U.S. headquarters at 151 South
Bernardo Avenue, Ste. 45, Sunnyvale, CA 94086; telephone: (415) 903-0942;
FAX: (415) 390-0942

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