XVT Software Inc, Boulder, Colorado, has launched a visual programming tool dubbed XVT-Architect, and has inserted C++ features in its XVT-Power++ application framework, including the integration of Rogue Wave’s Tool.h++. The combination forms release 3.0 of XVT’s Development Solution for C++. Architect provides a means of developing portable C++ applications graphically. By reducing hand-written code and providing point-and-click interaction with the XVT-Power++ object hierarchy, it is claimed to make the in-depth functionality of the underlying application framework easier to access. It is used for the entire application development cycle and includes three modules: Blueprint, a browser used to view the object hierarchy; Drafting Board, a graphical layout tool; and Object Strata, a way to view the class inheritance of an object selected from either the Object Strata or Blueprint. Architect, or actually the Blueprint module, also generates application code. User code shells and graphical user interface code are generated separately, promoting a scalable design. Meanwhile, XVT-Power++ 3.0 now includes portable images, portable native font access and a portable hypertext help system. Portable images provides for single graphic design of items such as toolbars, palettes and other bit-map images on all supported systems, reducing time to migration. Full palette control and pixel manipulation are available for up to 24-bit colour. Portable images can be drawn off-screen before displaying so improving application performance. Portable native font access eliminates system-specific coding of font control and the hypertext system maintains one set of source material for the help text used on all target systems, the company says. The integrated Rogue Wave Tool.h++, the library of data structures for C++ which also supports Microsoft Corp’s DDE Dynamic Data Exchange under Windows 3.1, which will provide 100 classes for data, string and character manipulation. Supported systems include Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh, OS/2, OSF/Motif and Open Look. Power++ 3.0 is available immediately, Architect will ship with Power++ at no extra charge next quarter. Development Solution++ 3.0 is licensed on a per developer basis for $1,950 on personal computers, $6,300 on workstations.
