staylor@systime.UUCP (Simon Taylor) (04/19/89)
The DOS/UNIX integration product "PC-Connect" has been launched in a
shrink-wrapped package, and Sphinx Software are handling distribution
of the SCO XENIX version in the UK. PC-Connect, developed by the
VisionWare division of Systime Computers Limited, has previously been
available through OEM channels.
PC-Connect allows IBM-compatible PC or PS/2 personal computers
running Microsoft Windows to become multi-windowed workstations
connected to one or more UNIX host systems. It uses the graphics
interface of Windows to provide a homogeneous environment for DOS and
UNIX applications.
The physical links between the PCs and host systems can be RS232C
serial lines, and/or one of the several supported networks including
Ethernet with TCP/IP. Connections to one or more host system can be
established automatically when PC-Connect starts on a PC, or
alternatively made under user control. A Desktop window is displayed
on the PC screen, containing icons which show programs available to
be run. The icons can represent DOS or UNIX programs, and the icons
displayed are determined from initialisation files set up by the
user.
Clicking on an icon with the mouse starts an application, without the
user needing to know which computer the program will execute on. If
it is a DOS program it runs as a normal Windows application. A UNIX
program runs in a window which initially contains a terminal
emulator, so that standard UNIX applications can run unchanged. Up
to seven terminal emulator windows can be opened to each connected
UNIX host, subject to some limits on the overall number of windows.
Text sizes within a host window are chosen dynamically to display as
much as possible of a 25 line by 80 column virtual screen.
A PC-Connect Development System is available which allows programmers
to write UNIX programs which make use of the Microsoft Windows API on
an attached PC. A UNIX program can use windows, icons, menus and the
mouse to provide a user interface which appears similar to DOS-based
Windows applications. A full range of graphics functions is
available which effectively provides a graphics terminal in full
color for UNIX at a very low cost.
The mouse can be used for selecting and copying information from any
window to the Clipboard, which can then be pasted into another
window. This provides the simplest way to transfer information
between DOS and UNIX applications. To transfer whole files of
information between systems a File Transfer application is provided,
which carries out any necessary conversion of line terminators. A
more sophisticated data interface can be established using the
Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) which allows cooperating Windows
applications to exchange data. PC-Connect extends this facility to
UNIX programs, for example so that a UNIX program can supply data on
request to a DOS program.
Other products in the VisionWare range include:
PM-Connect, which is a version of PC-Connect implemented to work
under the Presentation Manager interface of OS/2.
A Microsoft Windows-based X Window System server which allows host-
based X clients to use standard X protocols to display information on
a PC screen.
SQL-Connect, which allows a PC user to make SQL requests of host-
based relational database management systems. SQL-Connect runs as a
DDE server on a UNIX host system, and any application which uses DDE
can pass an SQL request to it. For example, Microsoft Excel running
on a workstation can extract data from a corporate database and
display the information in a spreadsheet. Initially the RDBMSs
supported are Informix and Oracle.
A package of programs is being developed which will provide the UNIX
system administrator with a friendly Windows interface to commonly
used UNIX utility programs. The object is to allow a non-technical
system administrator to operate and manage a UNIX system without ever
leaving the Microsoft Windows environment.
Further information about VisionWare products can be obtained from:
VisionWare, Telephone: (0532) 529292
Systime Computers Limited, Intl: +44 532-529292
Leeds Business Park, Fax: (0532) 526614
Leeds, Intl: +44 532-526614
LS27 0NH, Telex: 556283
United Kingdom UUCP : vision@systime.uucp
BANGNET : ...!uunet!mcvax!ukc!systime!vision
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