[comp.software-eng] information about CASE tools

rdb@ktibv.uucp (Rob den Braasem) (02/27/91)

 Hallo all,   

We are trying to get serious, conserning software development and are looking
around for CASE tools.

Who has some information for me. All information is appriciated.

e.g. Who knowns about the product called EASYCASE, BLUES, SDW.

We are interested in programs that can make diagrams from the YOURDAN and
NIAM school; DataFlow, I/A, ERD, TSD, Structure charts, Bachman.

The package must be able to print these diagrams to all kinds of printers,
but also to make a format that can be included in WP50.

Also something like consistence checks are considered a must.


Thanks for the trouble,


ROB "PABRAS"
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hws@ICSI.Berkeley.EDU (Heinz Schmidt) (02/28/91)

In article <1991Feb27.110735.1389@ktibv.uucp>, rdb@ktibv.uucp (Rob den Braasem) writes:

[.. lines deleted]
|> We are trying to get serious, conserning software development and are looking
|> around for CASE tools.
|> 
|> Who has some information for me. All information is appriciated.
|> 
|> e.g. Who knowns about the product called EASYCASE, BLUES, SDW.
|> 
|> We are interested in programs that can make diagrams from the YOURDAN and
|> NIAM school; DataFlow, I/A, ERD, TSD, Structure charts, Bachman.
[.. lines deleted]

There is a Hypercard stack that you can get by anonymous FTP from
the info-mac/card directory at sumex-aim.stanford.edu. Perhaps it answers 
some of your questions. The version 1.1 runs under various Hypercard
versions including 2.0v2 on newer Macs:
-rw-r--r--  1 macmod     286168 Jan 29 12:13 case-products-11.hqx

For simplicity I include the announcement below.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heinz W. Schmidt                                     hws@icsi.berkeley.edu
International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley   (415) 642-4274   x175


---------
To: info-mac@sumex-aim.stanford.edu
Subject: CASE Products 90
--text follows this line--

Some time ago I wrote a survey in CASE tools. By and by, short tool descriptions
went into a Hypercard stack.

The stack now has more than 70 entries. Most of them give a list of what methods
are supported, on what platform the tool is running, vendor address, price, etc,
The stack includes an import facility, references and online help.  To the
extent that this dry matter allows, the graphics is cute. If you ever had a
chance to see Pat Lynch's public domain Bird Anatomy, you know what I mean.

I finished adding entries by end of last summer and finally, with the permission
of the German National Research Center for Computer Science (GMD), I can put it
in the public domain.  Although the CASE market is dynamic, I believe the stack
still represents its state modulo minor changes.  At least others can pick up
from here, repost it -- or may simply benefit and enjoy!

There is quite a number of Mac and PC CASE tools out there for low prices but of
course also the grand players have long entered the market offering their
mainframe COBOL CASE tools unbundled. Part of the market is moving to
object-orientation, often it is only lip-service. 

A short companion report (about 60 pp. including tool signal info and my view of
why and where this market is going) can be obtained from GMD. The stack contains
the reference and the address (oh, don't write to me for obtaining the TR, their
Western US office is: GMD, 1942 University Ave. #207, Berkeley CA 94704.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heinz W. Schmidt                                     hws@icsi.berkeley.edu
International Computer Science Institute, Berkeley, CA  
on leave from GMD-F2G2, St. Augustin, FRG

theo.bbs@shark.cs.fau.edu (Theo Heavey) (02/28/91)

rdb@ktibv.uucp (Rob den Braasem) writes:

> 
>  Hallo all,   
> 
> We are trying to get serious, conserning software development and are looking
> around for CASE tools.
> 
> Who has some information for me. All information is appriciated.
> 

Since your mail is bouncing on the internet please excuse the global post.

As many of you know I have been collecting information re: CASE tools
for a research project I am working on. Currently available is a 17K
file of just vendor information with contact name, address, phone and
product name. I am having trouble transferring here to USENET at the
moment but my able lab staff/bbs sysops assure me that this is a temp
condition. I expect that it should be fixed right after ACM CSC next
week.

If you are interested in this listing and cannot wait another 10 days
please send a note to theo@cs.fau.edu with Subject reading: Vendor
list request.

I hope that this will be helpful to you and many others.

Thanks to all of you who responded to my call for information and 
we hope to have a summary of comments available by anon ftp quite
soon.

theo
---

Theodora Heavey
Florida Atlantic University
Dept of Computer Science
theo@cs.fau.edu

oman@med.cs.uidaho.edu (03/01/91)

In article <1991Feb27.110735.1389@ktibv.uucp>, rdb@ktibv.uucp (Rob den Braasem) writes:
>
> e.g. Who knowns about the product called EASYCASE, BLUES, SDW.
>
EasyCASE is an MS-DOS based CASE tool that has a CAD-like diagram editor
(i.e., very easy to use). A review of EasyCASE will appear in an upcoming
issue of IEEE Software.  

Product info:

        EasyCASE Plus and EasyCASE Plus Professional Package

        Evergreen CASE Tools
        16710 N.E. 79th Street, Suite 104
        Redmond, WA 98052
        ph: 206-881-5149  fx: 206-883-7676

        EasyCASE Plus costs $295.  The EasyCASE Plus Professional 
        Package costs $395, which includes EasyCASE Plus and the 
        Analysis Manager which includes diagram verification and 
        balancing tools.

Paul W. Oman, University of Idaho, oman@cs.uidaho.edu, 208-885-6589

jackm@agcsun.UUCP (Jack Morrison) (03/02/91)

In article <1991Feb27.110735.1389@ktibv.uucp> rdb@ktibv.uucp (Rob den Braasem) writes:
>We are trying to get serious, conserning software development and are looking
>around for CASE tools.
>
>We are interested in programs that can make diagrams from the YOURDAN and
>NIAM school; DataFlow, I/A, ERD, TSD, Structure charts, Bachman.
>
>Also something like consistence checks are considered a must.

At the lower end of the CASE spectrum, you might want to consider our
product, ROBOCHART. This is an interactive, mouse-driven diagramming tool 
that supports all these types of diagrams. For dataflow-type diagrams,
rather than tacking on a "consistency check" function, it automatically
maintains consistency between hierarchical levels as you work on the
diagram. ROBOCHART is available for PC DOS and SunView, with OPEN LOOK
and MOTIF version under development.

For those of you still following along, here is the one-page blurb. We'd
be happy to send further information and sample diagrams to anyone
interested.

======================================================================

ROBOCHART is an interactive graphics program designed to create and 
edit flow diagrams. It is particularly geared toward Yourdon-style 
Data Flow Diagrams, but can generate many other similar diagrams,
such as state transition diagrams, system configurations, flow charts, 
entity-relationship diagrams, organization charts, etc. ROBOCHART is 
NOT a general-purpose drawing tool, but for these types of diagrams 
it's much faster and easier to work with.

ROBOCHART doesn't need complicated commands. You simply manipulate the 
diagram directly on the screen. The program knows you are drawing a
flow diagram, and keeps things perfectly connected and aligned as you
make changes.

Some of the features are:

	* Objects can be drawn, moved, or resized with a single mouse command.
	* Flows between objects can be drawn or moved just as easily.
	* Flows are automatically redrawn when a connected object moves.
	* Flows can be rerouted with intermediate vertices.
	* Labels are entered by simply pointing at an object or flow and 
		typing.
	* Labels are moved automatically when objects or flows move.
	* An optional snap grid simplifies diagram alignment.
	* Hierarchical diagrams are supported for logical zooming between
		levels of detail. Automatic level numbering is
		optional. Object consistency across levels is automatic.
	* Diagrams can be saved to disk and reloaded for editing.
		Multiple diagram pages can be stored in one file.
	* Pick, Cut and Paste functions handle hierarchical diagram sections.
	* Program defaults are user-configurable.

The program provides 18 object shapes, each of which can stretched to any
width and height. Flows can be solid or dashed lines, and each end can be
plain, single or double arrowhead, or crossed.

ROBOCHART runs on PC/XT/AT/PS2 and compatible machines with 275K free RAM.
A Microsoft-compatible mouse is required. Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, and 
super VGA displays are supported. Hardcopy output is provided for many 
laser, dot matrix, and PostScript printers, and HPGL plotters. ROBOCHART can
export your diagram in several graphics file formats. Diagrams can be up
to 16 times the graphics screen area.

List price is $96, with quantity discounts available.


ROBOCHART is also available for SUN 3 and SUN 4 systems. It runs under
SunView with SUNOS 4.0 or later, and provides PostScript, EPSF, and
HPGL output formats. A demo version with full manual is available for $25 
(refundable against purchase of licensed version). Full version licensed 
for a single node is $345. Additional licenses (including manual) are
$90 each. Open Look and Motif versions are under development.

For further information or ordering, contact

	Lynn Morrison, Marketing Director
	Digital Insight
	P.O. Box 2095
	Evergreen, CO 80439-2095
	(303) 674-5232

Send E-mail inquiries to Jack Morrison at ...ncar!boulder!agcsun!jackm

-- 
"How am I typing?  Call 1-303-279-1300"     Jack C. Morrison
Ampex Video Systems    581 Conference Place, Golden CO 80401