lbs@mtunb.ATT.COM (was-Les Shupe) (08/22/89)
AT&T announces the general availability of ETIP Designer.
Developing window based user interfaces to software systems,
whether graphics or character based, can be a time-consuming,
development intensive task. In addition, older development
methodologies recommend prototyping systems before full-scale
development, but the prototype development itself can be time
consuming, and the prototype discarded, after evaluation. The
goal of ETIP is to make it easier to prototype systems and
reduce the work required to develop user interfaces.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
ETIP Designer is a prototyping tool that allows the quick creation
and modification of a window (frame) based user interface to an
application. This windowed user interface is entirely character
based, implemented with curses, terminfo, and the ETI Libraries on
the UNIX(R) System V Release 3 operating system, allowing ETIP to
be used on inexpensive character terminals.
ETIP is very easy to use, because of it's WYSIWYG approach to
creating frames. You don't have to learn a 4GL to create ETIP
user interfaces. Through ETIP you interactively create your
prototype. In addition, because it generates C code, it can
provide a developer with a compiled program that will execute
without the tool.
Currently the user, through ETIP, can create four different
objects: menus, forms, text, and shell objects. SHELL objects
allow a developer/systems engineer to make the prototype actually
work. Screen-labeled keys, associated with function keys, can also
be defined for each object. ETIP provides the capability to the
developer/systems engineer of branching from one screen object to
another screen object. ETIP includes a "RUN" mode that allows a
developer/systems engineer to test their prototype.
An important component of ETIP are the tsubs, C source files
provided with ETIP that a user compiles with the C code generated
specifically for their application. The tsubs make up a high level
"toolkit" interface to the ETI Libraries and provide an AT&T
standard user interface policy for the application. Each menu,
form, shell, or text frame, is created independently in ETIP and
linked together by the user within ETIP. Each screen "object"
corresponds to a single C source file. Each screen "object" is
independent of the other objects, but passes data/control to other
objects. The only dependencies are on the tsubs routines and
curses.
ETIP was originally designed for use by Value Added Resellers and
companies with their own internal development organizations.
These organizations need quick prototyping capabilities in a tool
as well as the flexibility and power that C code provides.
Product Summary:
+ ETIP Designer makes it easy, and fast, to create prototypes
and modify them. Thus the protoype can change quickly
depending on user feedback.
+ The person developing the prototype does not have to be an
"expert" programmer.
+ The ETIP Designer user interface is almost identical to the
user interfaces ETIP creates. Once you have learned ETIP,
you have a better idea of how to create user interfaces.
+ Because you can integrate SHELL scripts with ETIP Designer
screen objects, the prototype you create can actually
manipulate data collected with ETIP generated forms.
+ Both ETIP, and ETIP generated prototypes, can be displayed
in color on color terminals (or terminal emulators). Color
Curses from UNIX System V Release 3.2 is required.
+ ETIP has a "RUN" mode, that allows a developer to test out
their prototype. This allows the developer to test the
objects and the branching between the objects to make sure
they make sense.
+ With ETIP Designer, the developer/systems engineer does not
have to throw out the prototype when it is complete, the C
code generated by ETIP gives the developer a headstart in
creating an application.
+ Because ETIP generates a makefile, the inexperienced
programmer, or non-programmer, only has to type "make" and
the program will compile.
+ ETIP comes with a "toolkit" of C source code, which
provides the "look and feel". This source code can be
modified by the developer to change the "look and feel".
ETIP is compliant with AT&T AOE standards, using
Terminfo/Curses, and the ETI Libraries. Because ETIP is
character based it will run on any terminal identified in
Terminfo, from the most inexpensive to expensive graphics
terminals.
+ ETIP uses the AT&T standard character user interface, so
your product will have the AT&T "look and feel" which
allows easier user training for your application. This
standard character user interface is a built-in part of
FMLI (Forms and Menu Language Interpreter) used by AT&T as
a front end to UNIX(R) called FACE, and used for system
administration of UNIX(R) System V/386.
+ Developing applications/systems that require window-based
user interfaces is a time consuming task for a developer.
ETIP Designer frees the application developer from having
to write all of this extra code, and generates it for the
developer.
3B2 ETIP Designer Product Requirements
+ AT&T 3B2 Computer, with a MAU, running UNIX(R) System V
Release 3.1 or UNIX(R) System V Release 3.2. ETIP
generated code can be compiled to run on 3B2s that do
not have MAUs.
+ Minimum 1 Mb of free disk space for installation of ETIP
Designer files.
+ The AT&T C Programming Language Utilities (CPLU) Issue 4.2
or 4.1, as well as the Extended Terminal Interface
Libraries (PEC 1041-506), are needed to compile generated
source code. ETIP generated programs will only be
displayed in color if Color Curses, from UNIX(R) System V
Release 3.2, is installed.
6386 WGS ETIP Designer Product Requirements
+ AT&T 6386 WGS WorkGroup System (WGS) running AT&T
UNIX(R) System V/386 Foundation Set Release 3.1 or 3.2.
+ Minimum 2 Mb of Random Access Memory. Additional memory
is recommended for multi-user configurations or when
additional performance is desired.
+ Minimum 1 Mb of free disk space for installation of ETIP
Designer files.
+ The C compiler and ETI Libraries provided in the UNIX(R)
System V/386 Release 3.1 or 3.2 Software Development Set
to compile generated source code.
Ordering Information:
ETIP Designer Release 1.1 Ordering Information
PEC List Price
386 ETIP Designer R1.1 1331-013 $1195
3B2 ETIP Designer R1.1 1041-508 $1595
3B2 ETI Libraries 1041-506 $ 295
To order contact your local AT&T Account Executive
or AT&T Software Reseller. To determine local
resellers of AT&T software call 1-800-247-1212.
UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T
ETIP Designer is a trademark of AT&T