Borland International Inc has announced version 4.5 of its C++ language, with an OLE 2.0 encapsulation, making implementing Object Linking & Embedding in applications easier. Borland gave an example of the complexity facing developers in writing Object Linking & Embedding applications. The command to print the message HELLO WORLD in Basic takes one line of code; in C three lines; for an OLE 2.0 around 35,000! So Borland believes that developers need as much help as they can get. Borland also estimates that the area of client-server tools is the fastest- growing market sector, citing a study from the Forrester Group that predicts there will be 180,000 clients worldwide by year end; 330,000 by the end of 1995 and 700,000 by the end of 1996. The Meta Group estimates that in 1995, 90% of new applications will be client-server-centric. C++ 4.5 includes an Object Component Framework, a C++ class library to help developers to upgrade applications to OLE 2.0. The Framework supports other application frameworks, including Object Windows Library 2.0, and developers can add OLE 2.0 functionality to legacy applications because Borland’s Framework works with the existing code base. The Framework uses Windows messages that correspond with Object Linking & Embedding events. C++ also includes support for Visual Basic extensions controls in 32-bit programs and claims its new compiler will reduce compile times by as much as 50%. Version 4.5 has an OpenHelp facility that enables developers to configure help files used into a single virtual file and there are Dynatect Online Manuals as well. It provides compatible support for both 16- and 32-bit development environments, whereas Microsoft Corp’s Visual C++ 2.0 only provides support for 32-bit development. It also enables 32-bit applications to use standard 16-bit VBX controls. Owners of C++ will get a free upgrade to version 4.5 when Windows95 ships. It costs UKP350, with an upgrade price of UKP100 for existing C++ users. Owners of any Borland product and owners of Microsoft Corp’s Visual Basic, Microsoft Visual C++, Watcom or Symantec C or C++ will pay UKP150.
