Revelation ships OpenInsight for Workgroups Version 3.0; Industry's only repository-based development environment to support native Lotus Notes data access, Native SQL Server and ODBC in one package

Business Wire, Sept 18, 1995

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 1995--Revelation Technologies, Inc. today announced the availability of OpenInsight for Workgroups version 3.0.

Now OpenInsight for Workgroups, the only repository-based development environment for extending native Lotus Notes applications, delivers native access to Notes databases and SQL Server. It also provides access to a wide range of other industry-standard databases through ODBC (Microsoft's Open Database Connectivity standard). The net result is that developers can deliver applications to their customers and users that take advantage of the native features of both Lotus Notes and relational client/server databases in one package.

According to James Acquaviva, president and CEO of Revelation Technologies, third-party database connectivity is imperative to Notes customers. "Now that we enable our customers to access both native Notes data and relational data within the same application, our customers have the best of both worlds. They can preserve the investment in their legacy systems, while reaping the benefits of the team computing and information sharing Notes environment."

OpenInsight for Workgroups is an application development environment built around a central repository that stores and manages application components, and includes a rich set of development tools: a form designer; a report designer; a system editor and debugger; a sophisticated BASIC-compliant 4th-generation language used for database and text manipulation; and a Runtime Deployment Kit that enables the creation and distribution of runtime applications.

THE DATASET OBJECT: ENABLING CLIENT/SERVER CONNECTIVITY

OpenInsight for Workgroup's new DataSet Object is the key to unlocking client/server connectivity. The DataSet Object is implemented within the product's new visual Client/Server Workspace - an environment in which developers create and manage database components using a collection of visual tools. These tools include a query window, a SQL script building assistant, database connection builder, and a DataSet Object definition tool. The database access and manipulation components are separate from other application components and are, therefore, reusable across multiple applications. The components built with these tools can be integrated with the core set of OpenInsight for Workgroups development tools, yielding a single application development environment for combining high performance access to relational and Notes data.

ADDITIONAL VERSION 3.0 FEATURES

o In version 3.0, the OpenInsight for Workgroups implementation of rich text adds support for Notes DocLinks. DocLinks enable users to quickly traverse documents in the same or different databases.

o Through a new feature of the the Notes Registration tool, OpenInsight now allows mass registration of all forms and views associated with a Notes database. Additionally, a new Notes replication management tool enables developers to replicate Notes databases from within OpenInsight for Workgroups.

o A new tool, the OpenInsight for Workgroups Runtime Deployment Kit (RDK), has been added to the release enabling developers to build, manage, and distribute runtime versions of OpenInsight for Workgroups applications.

o To further enhance the team development approach to application development, the Check-In/Check-Out processes have been enhanced to allow applications to be checked-in and checked-out and distributed to other developers via Notes replication.

NEW VERSION OF REPORT DESIGNER FOR LOTUS NOTES FEATURES CROSS-TAB QUICKREPORT

The Report Designer, which is bundled with OpenInsight for Workgroups, provides the only support in the industry for native Notes rich text. Report Designer is an advanced report writer that allows both developers and end-users to design and modify reports that directly access Notes data. Report Designer features drag-and-drop layout tools, full banded and two-pass reporting, Object Linking and Embedding (OLE), and support for variable-length, multi-value fields.

Report Designer provides built-in templates called QuickReports to instantly generate four different types of reports, including new cross-tab QuickReports. A Cross-Tab report tabulates data in both rows and columns. In addition to providing native connectivity to Notes data, Report Designer provides ODBC connectivity to other corporate data sources.

EARLY SUPPORT

Alex Gleyzer, director of systems development at Ceridian, Inc., uses OpenInsight for Workgroups to develop its Ceridian Integrated Human Resources and Payroll System (C2). Gleyzer commented, "OpenInsight for Workgroups 3.0's client/server application development and deployment capabilities, in what has now become a Revelation tradition, combines ease of use through non-procedural visual development tools with unparalleled depth. We have found that this powerful combination of capabilities makes OpenInsight for Workgroups an ideal tool for rapid application development, allowing for fast iteration cycles through prototyping, and providing the depth and flexibility to quickly take prototypes to commercial applications."