MKS Announces the Next Generation of MKS RCS

Critical Configuration Management for Every Project

March 15, 1994 (Waterloo, ON)--Mortice Kern Systems today announced the new
version of MKS RCS, which marks the beginning of the next generation of
configuration management products. Version 6.2 for DOS/Windows includes
complete project management facilities, an automated building process,
file promotion, hooks into Visual Basic, and NetWare specific
functionality. MKS RCS also has a documented API to enable seamless
integration into other applications.

"With this release, MKS RCS is on a pace to become the new leader in the PC
configuration management market," said Chuck Lownie, product manager, MKS
RCS. "As a market-driven company, we continue to respond to customer
requests, providing the features and platforms they need at an affordable
price."

Projecting the Future

MKS RCS 6.2 thinks and works like most software development teams do--in
terms of projects. Integrated project management facilities allow the end
user to create and manage projects, using MKS RCS functionality either on
individual files within the project or on the entire project at once.

MKS RCS automatically tracks files included with each project, the revision
of each archive file that was used for the most recent project build,
which files within the project have changed since the last build, and
which archive files are currently locked for editing. MKS RCS project
management also tracks dependencies between files and automatically
converts these dependencies to a make file. This tracking enables software
developers and software development managers to easily find the
information necessary to perform their jobs.

Production Control

Production control is the process of promoting a project (or source file)
from one level of the software development lifecycle to another. MKS RCS
6.2 allows the user to "promote" either specific archive files or entire
projects to the next level.

For example, at the stage when most of the code is being written, it may be
considered the "experimental" or "development" stage of the lifecycle.
Once the coding is complete, the project can be promoted to the "testing"
phase, ensuring that every member of the development team is aware that
they are now in this next phase.

Documented API

MKS has documented the MKS RCS application programming interface (API).
This feature not only allows third party vendors, such as Powersoft, to
provide integrated access to MKS RCS within their packages, it also allows
any end user to integrate MKS RCS into their internal development systems.
Priced separately from MKS RCS6.2, the documented API can be purchased
directly from MKS.

Visual Basic Hooks

MKS RCS6.2 provides hooks to seamlessly integrate MKS RCS into Visual
Basic. For users developing with Visual Basic, the version control
capabilities of MKS RCS can now be integrated as a menu option.

Special NetWare Functionality

MKS RCS 6.2 has new features specific to the Novell NetWare environment.
MKS has added a NetWare Loadable Module (NLM) that provides enforced
security access to archive files. Files are created as read only, and a
call to the NLM is required to check for access rights, to modify access
rights, or to provide access for creating, renaming, or deleting archives.
These additional security features make the job of the system
administrator much easier.

ISO 9000

MKS RCS 6.2 includes templates for documenting software development
projects and complies to ISO 9000-3 guidelines for software development
and the IEEE Software Engineering Standards. The documentation
requirements of Military Standard 2167A were evaluated and adopted where
applicable. MKS RCS 6.2 has supplied these internationally recognized
standards in a practical and easy to use methodology.

Availability and Pricing

MKS RCS 6.2 for DOS/Windows can be seen in beta form March 15-17 at the
Software Development/ Business Software Solutions Show, booth #1817. MKS
RCS 6.2 will be shipping in May 1994. It will be available for a suggested
retail price of US$389 and as an upgrade from any previous version for
US$149, with a special upgrade offer of US$99 for a limited time. MKS RCS
6.2 for other platforms, including OS/2, Windows NT, and UNIX, will be
available in Q3 1994.

About MKS

MKS develops, manufactures and markets state-of-the-art computer software
for the global marketplace through OEM products, consulting services, and
retail products sold through a two tiered distribution channel. The entire
MKS product line tracks the emerging x/Open and POSIX.2 standards, and MKS
is an active contributor to the standards process. Founded in 1984, MKS
has established an international reputation for expertise and technical
leadership in open systems, and is widely known for its high quality
packaged products that run on most operating systems, including Windows,
DOS, OS/2, Windows NT, and UNIX.

Mortice Kern Systems Inc
35 King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2J 2W9
Tel: (519) 884-2251,   Fax: (519) 884-8861

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