First 100% Microsoft Foundation Classes Graphing & Charting Class Library Software Introduced

Business Wire, Feb 19, 1997

MORRISVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1997--Stingray Software Inc. is announcing the release of Objective Chart 1.0 -- the latest addition to Stingray's line of C++ class libraries for Visual C++ developers.

Objective Chart is the first 100% MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes) graphing and charting class library. In addition to supporting over twenty types of two and three dimensional chart types, Objective Chart features an unprecedented level of object-oriented design and extensibility.

Visual C++ developers have been asking Stingray for a completely object-oriented charting package and Objective Chart provides the solution they have been waiting for, said Scot Wingo, co-founder of Stingray Software. Objective Chart has been designed from the ground up with MFC and extensibility in mind. For example, you can create your own custom charts in a matter of minutes using our component-based charting system.

The Objective Chart component-based charting architecture allows the developer to create chart components (e.g. legends, axis, background, etc.) that can easily be mixed together to create new chart types. Charts themselves are components and can be mixed together in an infinite number of ways with other chart components. Each component features many properties including a fill pattern, dynamic position, relative position and a variety of shadow styles.

Objective Chart also features: -0-

-- Dynamic chart editing -- Allows end-users to dynamically manipulate charts to view the results on the data when new values are charted.

-- Objective Grid data binding -- Objective Chart can be dynamically bound to Stingray's popular grid control - Objective Grid. Using the power of MFC's document/view architecture allows the developer to create several charts on a single instance of Objective Grid that are dynamically updated. The user can even use dynamic chart editing to change the data in a grid by manipulating a chart which can be used for complex "what if" scenarios.

-- Objective Chart Editor -- Allows the developer to provide the end-user complete access to the components in each chart via the Objective Chart Editor. For example, using the Objective Chart Editor, the end-user could move a legend or change the axis from linear to logarithmic.

-- Chart zooming -- Allows the end-user to dynamically zoom in on any of the Objective Chart charts by selecting a region of the chart. This capability works on any chart type including three dimensional charts such as the three dimensional pie chart.

-- Widget architecture -- For line charts, the developer can use any bitmap or polygon as the data point in the chart which is convenient for large data sets.

-- A completely 32-bit solution -- Unlike many charting/graphing packages that have been ported to Windows 95/NT from DOS/Windows 3.1, Objective Chart is a completely Win32 solution which avoids undesirable constraints on memory usage or data points like many legacy graphing/charting systems.

-- Two dimensional chart types include: lines, bars, stacked bars, horizontal bars, pies, scatter diagrams, strata graph and several stock market graphs.

-- Three dimensional chart types include: rooftop, ribbons, Manhattan graphs, pies, Web graphs and web area graphs. -0-

Objective Chart 1.0 is available now for $495 and includes full source code and 60 days of technical support. Objective Chart subscriptions are available which provide support and upgrades for a year and cost $245. For more information, contact Stingray Software, at 800/924-4223 or 919/461-0672, Fax: 919/461-9811, Email: sales@stingsoft.com or visit the Stingray's Web site at http://www.stingsoft.com .

Stingray Software Inc., headquartered in Morrisville, NC, develops, markets and supports cutting-edge developer tools aimed at object-oriented programming environments such as Microsoft Visual C++/MFC and Java. -0-

Note to Editors: Objective Chart and Objective Grid are trademarks of Stingray Software, Inc. Microsoft and Win32 are registered trademarks and Windows, Visual C++, Windows NT and Windows 95 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other products mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

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Emily Armanetti, 847/291-1616