OS/2 Extended, Standard Editions 1.2 offer enhancements in all parts of the house There are significant enhancements in the 1.2 releases of OS/2 Extended and Standard Editions: in particular the new releases bring the user interface into compliance with IBM’s Systems Application Architecture. Standard Edition now uses icons to represent files, it has a new editor that is said to look like Windows Write, and a new file system that uses a B-tree indexing scheme for faster access; the new file system can also support files and partitions up to 2Gb in size. Extended Edition has been enhanced through upgrades to the Database Manager and the Communications Manager. The Database Manager can now share remote data via the Systems Application Architecture Remote Data Services facilities to provide OS/2 machines on a local net transparent access to databases in other workstations on the network. The Database Manager is enhanced with referential integrity, cursor stability, the ability to grant and revoke access authorisation capability, and adds pre-compilers for Cobol, Pascal, and Fortran. The Communications Manager is enhanced with an SNA gateway and now uses the Network Driver Interface Specification to support Ethernet and 802.3 local network protocols. According to Microsoft Corp, the IBM product will support 13 categories of local network application programming interfaces that are derivations of comparable Microsoft LAN Manager interfaces. OfficeVision makes use of the Extended Edition 1.2 LAN Requester, based on LAN Manager technology. OS/2 Extended Edition workstations running OfficeVision will be able to use resources on LAN Manager-based servers, and LAN Manager workstations will be able to access IBM LAN Server, comments Microsoft. Both new versions of OS/2 provide support for MS-DOS 4.0 in MS-DOS mode. OfficeVision expands OS/2 Extended role IBM reckons that with the OfficeVision announcements, the programmable workstation – personal computer to everyone else gets an expanded role within Systems Application Architecture because the OfficeVision Family uses the PS/2 to provide access to enterprise-wide function. And – with the new release of the OS/2 operating systems – the role of the workstation in SAA is further emphasised by extensions to the elements of Systems Application Architecture – Common Communications Support, Common Programming Interface and Common User Access – using more fully the PS/2 graphics and display. Commenting on the new 1.2 release of OS/2 Extended Edition, IBM notes that it uses the functions of OS/2 Standard Edition Version 1.2 as its base operating system, enhanced with the Dialog Manager that conforms to IBM’s Systems Application Architecture Common User Access. It also includes an SAA Procedures Language – a version of REXX, presumably – to enable programmers to write command procedures in a clear, structured way. As well as SNA gateway, Ethernet DIX Version 2.0 and IEEE 802.3, the new release offers X25, asynchronous and 3270 terminal emulator enhancements, with 3270 host directed print, 3270 host graphics enabling, and modifications so that they can run as Presentation Manager applications. Cobol/2 language support is added, and support for the AS/400 is enhanced with a 5250 Work Station Feature and twinaxial attachment. The LAN Requester supports the OS/2 LAN application programming interfaces and takes advantage of the performance improvements and large disk media management characteristics provided by the new High Performance File System option of OS/2 Standard Edition Version 1.2. As well as remote data services, Database Manager enhancements include an MS-DOS Database Requester, SAA Procedures Language support, and a Query Manager-callable interface, and a business graphics interface. The Query Manager is modified to run as a Presentation Manager application. Out in November in the US, and free to 1.1 users, it has a one-time charge of $830. Enhancements to the Standard Edition As for OS/2 Standard Edition, probably the most important enhancement is the addition of the Dialog Man
ager conforming to Systems Application Architecture, which is included in OS/2 Programming Tools and Information 1.2, and enables application developers to implement application dialogues that take advantage of Presentation Manager facilities, including the ability to be windowed. The user interface is enhanced through the Desktop Manager using iconic representation and direct manipulation for files and programs; Presentation Manager is enhanced for SAA Common User Access and application development, and there are Cobol/2 and Fortran/2 language interfaces for Presentation Manager. There is a new High Performance File System, Windowed System Editor; inclusion of an Adobe Systems PostScript device driver for the IBM 4216-030 laser printer. The Programmer’s Toolkit and Technical Reference are now combined into the single Programming Tools and Information, and is updated for the features of the new release of OS/2 Standard 1.2. Available September 29 in the US, OS/2 Standard carries a one time charge of $340, and the Programmer’s Toolkit and Technical Reference costs $650. OS/2 Image Support for non-specialists There is a new OS/2 Image Support program designed to enables office professionals (as opposed to amateurs) to create colour, grey, or two-level images for inclusion in documents, under OS/2, but it needs the speed and storage available in either Standard 1.2 or Extended 1.2 operating environment. Images can be created using a scanner or video camera, and can then be modified, printed, have their format changed, be displayed and manipulated as well as created, by users with no specialised computer skills. It prints on all-points-addressable printers supported by OS/2, and also on the Mitsubishi G650 and Shinko CHC-345 colour printers. OS/2 Image Support is accessed from the main OS/2 OfficeVision window via an image icon, or invoked automatically, and using the OfficeVision/2 communication links, images can be stored and retrieved from an OS/400, MVS, or VM host or local area network server. Images can also be used by programs such as OfficeVision/2.2 correspondence processor, Storyboard Plus, Interleaf Publishing, and image-capable IBM DisplayWrite products. The advanced Customer User Access (CUA) (spot IBM’s deliberate mistake!) interface provided by OS/2 Image Support is consistent with OfficeVision/2.2, IBM says. The product also extends image capability to application developers, who can use the programming interface to build OS/2 image applications without the developer having to have extensive training in image technology. The thing carries a one-time charge of $595, but don’t get all fired up – it won’t be out until March 1990, even in the US.
