Open Horizon Inc. (Belmont, Calif.) announced Connection for Java, the newest member of Open Horizon's family of data access and enterprise connectivity middleware. Connection for Java is a Java applet that lets corporate developers access remote databases and transaction-processing (TP) monitors by plugging into Open Horizon's existing Connection Enterprise Brokers. A Web server is not necessary as long as the user's Web browser can host Java applets. The Connection client must also be installed on the client's computer.
Connection for Java communicates with a Connection Server that provides access to many kinds of resources, including DBMS servers (Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and DB2), TP monitors (CICS, Tuxedo, Encina, and Top End), and server-resident business rules written in C, C++, Cobol, or application servers generated by Forté and Dynasty. Connection for Java will cost $995 per server and be available in the second quarter of 1996.
Open Horizon also announced the Java QuickBrew Series in partnership with the Claremont Technology Group (CTG), a worldwide systems integrator based in Beaverton, Oregon. CTG is a Netscape Preferred Systems Integrator. The software, training, and support bundle comes in three levels. The basic Java QuickBrew costs $7500, and the Secure and 3-Tier packages cost $14,900 each. Open Horizon Inc., 415-598-1200; info@openhorizon.com; http://www.openhorizon.com.
Every day another application development tool vendor announces a new product for Web and Intranet developers. Following is a small sample:
* Borland International (Scotts Valley, Calif.) announced a graphical debugger for Java. This product is written in the Java language, and it lets developers correct Java applet code locally or remotely across networks. Borland also announced its new AppAccelerator, a compiler that speeds up Java code running on Windows 95 and NT machines. The company is also working on a Java development tool code named Latte, and it is Web-enabling its C++, Delphi, Visual dBASE, and Paradox products. Borland International, 408-431-1000; http://www.borland.com.
* Symantec Corp. (Cupertino, Calif.) announced Symantec Café, a new Java visual development environment for Windows. Cafe builds Java applets and applications, but it does not require Symantec's C++ product. Café also includes a Java compiler, a graphical debugger, and a class browser. Café runs on Windows 95 and NT, and a Macintosh version will be available later this year. The product will be available on Symantec's Web site, and it has a estimated retail price of $299.95 (check for introductory discounts). Symantec Corp., 541-334-6054; http://www.symantec.com.
* HAHT Software Inc. (Raleigh, N.C.) announced HAHTSITE, a new integrated development environment (IDE) tool for building Web applications and sites. The product combines a Microsoft Visual Basic-compatible language named HAHTtalk, an editor and HTML page authoring environment, a debugger, site management tools, support for Java applets, ODBC access to data sources, and a cross-platform engine to run applications. HAHTSITE organizes applications into projects, and it interfaces with version-control software. The company expects to ship HAHTSITE in the second quarter, and a 30-day evaluation version can be downloaded from its Web site. HAHT Software Inc., 919-783-7803; info@haht.com; http://www.haht.com.
Development tool vendors are not the only companies flocking to the Web. Decision-support tool vendors are also joining the parade. MicroStrategy Inc. (Vienna, Va.) and Information Advantage Inc. (Minneapolis, Minn.) announced new products that allow end users to access and analyze data stored in data warehouses using their favorite Web browser.
MicroStrategy's DSS Web provides an interface between a Web server and MicroStrategy's DSS Server, which performs analytical transformations of data retrieved from relational databases such as Oracle, Informix, DB2, Sybase, Red Brick, Teradata, and Non-Stop SQL. DSS Web runs on Windows NT, and supports several Web servers including Netscape's Commerce Server, Microsoft's Internet Information Server, and O'Reilly's WebSite. Any browser supporting HTML 2.0 can display business reports such as crosstabs formatted as HTML pages by DSS Web. Developers can use Java and JavaScript to develop customized front-end applications running within a Web browser. MicroStrategy planned to ship DSS Web by the end of March. Pricing for a bundle including DSS Web and DSS Server starts at $50,000 and varies with concurrent user levels. MicroStrategy Inc., 703-848-8600; info@strategy.com; http://www.strategy.com.
Information Advantage announced WebOLAP, an enhancement to its DecisionSuite Server which provides an analytical server between relational data warehouse databases and end user query tools. WebOLAP uses CGI to interact with the DecisionSuite Server. Users working with Web browsers can perform drill-down analysis by clicking hyperlinks embedded in HTML pages dynamically generated by WebOLAP. Information Advantage also announced the WebOLAP Content Server, which bundles the DecisionSuite Server and WebOLAP with Red Brick's Warehouse for Workgroups, a DBMS limited to 5GB databases. These products will ship in the second quarter of 1996. Pricing for DecisionSuite Server with WebOLAP starts at $29,995. Pricing for the WebOLAP Content Server bundle starts at $40,000. Information Advantage Inc., 612-820-0702; marketing@infoadvan.com; http://www.infoadvan.com.