NU087763@NDSUVM1.BITNET (Blayne Puklich) (04/01/88)
I'd better say that I've already considered MacPaint and MacDraw
for use as a tool, but there's one major problem with those packages:
If I draw a DFD with one of them, and decide to move a bubble or file
around, guess what happens? All the edges associated with that bubble
DON'T follow it. These two packages also don't support the use of
data dictionaries, which I also need.
MacPaint and/or MacDraw just won't suffice. I need something that
was meant for CASE, not for drawing pictures.
Thanks for any additional information in advance. There's gotta
be a package out there that will help me.
Blayne Puklich
NDSU Student ACM Chair
NU087763@NDSUVM1 BITNET
NOPUKLIC@NDSUVAX USENETfriedl@vsi.UUCP (Stephen J. Friedl) (04/02/88)
In article <686NU087763@NDSUVM1>, NU087763@NDSUVM1.BITNET (Blayne Puklich) writes: > MacPaint and/or MacDraw just won't suffice. I need something that > was meant for CASE, not for drawing pictures. > > Thanks for any additional information in advance. There's gotta > be a package out there that will help me. How about "Design", from Meta Software? At first it looks like a Mac{Paint,Draw} but the lines follow objects when you move them. Lots of control, really nice object alignment, hypertext capability, etc. It sure is not Structured Analysis software but it goes much farther than the common picture tools. They also have what appears to be strong IDEF tool (Design/IDEF). Data Dictionary, Simulation Capability, Graphics Engine, lots of diagramming support. I don't know what IDEF is but it is expensive enough ($2000) that it must be important :-). The demo of Design I saw at COMDEX looked very, very nice. I think they have this demo available, possibly via the net (the USENET address in my literature might be stale: call them and ask). I have not used this software extensively but it looks really nice and their docs seem good. My IBM PC version is slow and a little buggy, but it was the first port from the Mac and they are likely to have something better by now. Their technical guys I spoke with at the show seemed really sharp and were friendly to boot. The 1-Oct-87 price list says it costs $250 for the Mac, $350 for the PC. You can contact them at: Meta Software Corporation 150 CambridgePark Drive Cambridge, MA 02140 (617) 576-6920 They have a comprehensive literature pack that tells a pretty story, especially for the MAC. Disclaimer: I don't work for them, etc. etc. It just looks like a nice product and I like small software companies (like mine :-) -- Steve Friedl V-Systems, Inc. *Hi Mom* friedl@vsi.com {uunet,ihnp4}!vsi.com!friedl attmail!vsi!friedl