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March 14, 1997 Announcements

Request for Information, Ideas, Comments.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal ("At Thousands of Web Sites, Time Stands Still", Tuesday, March 11, 1997), nearly five million of thirty million web pages indexed by AltaVista have not been updated since early 1996. We all know the frustration of reading web pages and not knowing how old the information is. There are techniques that can be used to often determine the age of a page (for instance with Netscape you can load document info) but these are manual procedures, they are slow, and they break up the rhythm of clicking from one link to another.

We are proposing to add a new feature to NetExtra for OS/2 (and WebWilly for Windows 95/NT) that would display a small window on your screen that shows the creation or last-updated date of each document at the time that it is downloaded into your browser. It would be a small window, not unlike digital clock windows, and can be located where you want on the screen. Settings might include: enable always, enable if date is older than ..., blink date if date is older than ..., colors, etc.

Is this a good idea? What features would you add? Should the date be included in the jump list, history logs, bookmarks, nickname lists, etc? We would like to hear from you. If we receive enough encouragement, we will add the feature. If implemented, it would be a no-charge feature that customers will be able to download.

Please let us know what you think. Send a note to Marianne Roderus, InnoVal Customer Support, at innoval@ibm.net.

Thank you for your support.
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SNG Releases Simpson Plus.

SNG CHICAGO today released M-C-M Simpson Plus, the newest product in its M-C-M Simple Family software line.

SNG's M-C-M Simple Family is a line of products for the easy creation and design of headline messages for Web and intranet pages. M-C-M Simple headlines make it easy to use Web sites for messaging and broadcasting by providing simple forms to update, design and modify Webpage headlines. This key feature allows Webpage owners greater control over content and provides unrivaled ability to utilize Webpages to broadcast information quickly, easily, and in an attractive, attention-getting format.

M-C-M Simpson Plus is a flexible product that allows the user ultimate control over the content and appearance of headline messages. Using simple forms, users can choose headline size, colors, and styles, and have control over such features as message intervals. Headlines may also be hypertexted to URLs or email addresses.

With M-C-M Simpson, updating message texts and making stylistic changes can be done on-line, from any net-connected machine and requires no programming knowledge. Once messages are posted, headlines are automatically updated on browser screens without necessitating a 'Reload' of the Webpage.

To see how the updating feature works, visit the M-C-M Simpson Plus practice site at http://www.sngchicago.com/products/simple/play/s_p/fe-or-west.html. Create your own messages [either in 'Western' or 'non-Western' (double-byte) languages] and see them updated instantly!

An outstanding feature of this product is its simplicity: SNG's technical staff has designed a product that uses only 40kb of server space and doesn't require a special server data base or a dedicated server. Installment is made easy through integration of HTML and complicated perl scripts whereby the set-up of perl scripts is done from a common html file. These features mean that not only can anyone use M-C-M Simpson Plus, but that almost anyone can install it.

M-C-M Simpson and M-C-M Simpson Plus are currently distributed by major ESD resellers such as software.net, Stream, UNBOXED, EarthWeb, Soft&Net (UK), Data Interlink (Thailand), and more. Products are sold and downloaded directly from ESD enabled Reseller sites. For non-ESD Resellers, SNG has established a clearing house with Digital River for ESD sales.

SNG is currently looking for VARs to penetrate the intranet and radio/television/cable TV Website markets. For more information, contact: sngsales@sngchicago.com.
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HSBC Group Selects OS/2 Warp.

Bank Migrates Global Teller Operations To OS/2 Warp

HONG KONG, March 13, 1997 . . . HSBC Group and IBM today announced an extended technology partnership to migrate the Group subsidiaries' global teller operations to IBM's OS/2* Warp platform11. It will encompass HSBC Group branches and subsidiaries in 50 countries worldwide, including the U.S. and Canada.

Under the agreement, many of the HSBC Group subsidiaries will migrate to the OS/2 platform in their respective bank branch teller machines. In addition, the agreement includes the licensing of IBM desktop software, Lotus software and selected Tivoli products for the bank's workstations worldwide.

HSBC Group subsidiaries include Hongkong Bank and Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong, as well as other Hongkong Bank Group subsidiaries in the Asia-Pacific. HSBC Americas subsidiaries also come under the agreement, including parts of Marine Midland Bank, and Hongkong Bank of Canada. In the United Kingdom, Midland Bank, an HSBC Group member, is currently using the OS/2 platform in its operations.

"As one of the world's leading financial services organizations, HSBC Group is committed to investing in information technology to increase our business efficiency, and to improve both the quality and the scope of our services we offer to our customers worldwide." said Robert L. Carlson, assistant general manager and head of technical services for Hongkong Bank. "This bank initiative to migrate our worldwide teller and branch banking support to an open, PC-based system is clear evidence of our commitment to continually improve customer service."

The selection of the OS/2 platform will allow Hongkong Bank, in Hongkong, to further develop and strengthen its' relationship with IBM, which has been established with the use of the AS/400 systems in the banks operations. The global contract with IBM was negotiated by Hongkong Bank on behalf of the HSBC Group subsidiaries involved.

"IBM is committed to providing software solutions to financial institutions to run mission-critical applications in an open environment, supplying the flexibility they require to ensure long-term growth," commented Mark Elliott, IBM's general manager for Worldwide Software Sales and Marketing. "We are pleased that Hongkong Bank, one of the world's top banks, is making a commitment to move its teller banking system to an IBM platform, and we are dedicated to ensuring that the migration project is a success."

Implementation of the project will begin in mid-1997 with the customer counters, such as lending and mortgage services. Teller terminals in Hong Kong will begin migration by the fourth quarter of this year, and will be completed by 1999. Worldwide implementation is planned to be completed in the Year 2000.
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OS/2 DOS Games List Back Up.

The OS/2 DOS games list is back up at http://www.ifx.net/~crcomer/os2games.

I've been pretty busy so, large portions of the site have links that don't work. I'll be working on it some more this week. If you have a game you want on the list just send me a letter. I would *really* appreciate some feedback. I'll keep working on it if there's a demand.

Chris Comer
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REXX Classes Postponed.

Yes, the REXX class at http://www.zdu.com has been postponed. But it was among other classes postponed because there wasn't *quite* enough attendance to warrant it. The sooner you sign up for the class, the sooner it will be rescheduled.

If you missed the earlier notice about the class: it's a 7-week-long online class that takes place in a messaging system at ZD's web site. It costs $4.95 (that's right, 5 bucks) a month. The instructors are Bill and Esther Schindler, who will use their book _Teach Yourself REXX in 21 Days_ as the textbook. Head over to www.zdu.com to get more info on how the classes work.

Here's the note that went out from ZD University.

Dear ZDU Student,

There has been some feedback from the OS/2 community regarding ZDU's decision to postpone the REXX: Programming for OS/2 class which I'd like to explain further.

We haven't canceled the OS/2 class. Similar to another course, we decided to postpone REXX until we have enough students registered to justify the cost of running it.

If you'd like to be notified when this class is rescheduled, you'll find the syllabus listed in the "Future Classes" area on the "Course Catalog and Registration" page (http://www.zdu.com/zdulive/catalog/catalog.htm) on ZDU.

You should choose "Notify Me" to the left of the class description. We'll email you once the class is rescheduled.

Also, a clarification regarding what browser is required for ZDU. You'll need Netscape Navigator 2.0.2 for OS/2 Warp in order to participate in ZDU. If you need to upgrade, your instructor, Esther Schindler has recommended that you locate the browser directly from IBM's web site at: http://www.internet.ibm.com/browsers/netscape/warp.

I apologize for any confusion that may have resulted from our earlier notice.

Thanks,
Jennifer Golden
ZDNet University

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New REXX SuperSet/ 2supports Object REXX.

SofTouch Systems is excited to announce the REXX SuperSet/2 Version 2.0 is available for general delivery. REXX SuperSet/2 is SofTouch Systems' first product to support the new Object version of the popular REXX procedural program included with OS/2.

REXX SuperSet/2 provides the REXX programmer with the most extensive set of "classic" REXX external functions available from a single source. Over 300 external functions in seven DLLs are registered to the REXX processor supplied with OS/2. These external functions can be used in TCP/IP, NetBIOS, EHLLAPI, LANServer and Warpserver and CPIC environments.

REXX SuperSet/2 Version 2.0 supplies new REXX classes to create external objects. The new classes will create the following objects:

 o Named Pipes server and client objects
 o TCP/IP sockets server and client objects
 o NetBIOS server and client objects
 o CPIC server and client objects
 o FTP server and client objects
 o OS/2 semaphores encapsulated as objects
 o OS/2 VIO functions encapsulated as objects
Each of these object packages is supplied as a System Object Model (SOM) Dynamic Link Library (DLL). Because they are supplied as objects, the programmer can make full use of them by subclassing and inheriting from them to create their own Object REXX customized objects.

REXX SuperSet/2 improves the programmer's productivity because it organizes the classic REXX extensions by environment, establishes a consistent function syntax, and provides examples for every REXX function. A 650 page product manual describes the functions, their syntax, and lists examples from real working programs. REXX SuperSet/2 includes an on-line version of the product documentation as well.

The REXX SuperSet/2 Version 2.0 supports all versions of OS/2 2.x, 3.0, and Warp 4.0. Object REXX and OS/2 Warp 4.0 are required to use the new REXX SuperSet/2 object classes.

With this release, SofTouch Systems is dropping the requirement to license runtime DLLs. According to Jones, "Our customers urged us to drop the runtime license charge because it was too time consuming to administer and monitor DLL usage. By dropping the runtime DLL charges, the market's acceptance of REXX SuperSet/2 will increase significantly," Jones said. "Application developers will now know in advance how much their REXX development projects will cost and no longer have to manage the number of runtime licenses used in their company," he added.

With this release, SofTouch Systems is announcing REXX SuperSet/2 Professional Edition and REXX SuperSet/2 Personal Edition. REXX SuperSet/2 - Professional Edition consists of the 300 classic REXX external functions, the classes for creating new networking objects with Object REXX, and the printed and on-line documentation.

REXX SuperSet/2 - Personal Edition is a subset of the REXX SuperSet/2 Professional Edition It is intended for the casual user interested in using REXX for personal use. It includes the complete documentation and examples but does not include the networking DLLs (TCP/IP, NetBIOS, LAN Server/Warp Server, CPIC, and EHLLAPI functions) or the new networking Object REXX classes.

REXX SuperSet/2 Professional Edition lists for $249 for a single-user developer license and $79.95 for the single user license.

SofTouch customers may purchase REXX SuperSet/2 Professional Edition for $199 and REXX SuperSet/2 Personal Edition for $69.00.

Registered REXX SuperSet/2 Version 1.0 customers may upgrade to REXX SuperSet/2 Professional Edition for $49.00. There is no upgrade to the REXX SuperSet/2 Personal Edition.

The deadline for upgrading to REXX SuperSet/2 2.0 is May 30, 1997. Anyone buying REXX SuperSet/2 1.0 between now and May 30, 1997, is eligible to upgrade to the REXX SuperSet/2 Professional Edition for $49.00, plus shipping and handling, with valid proof of purchase.
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FontFolder v3.0A Released.

FontFolder 3.0A is a maintenance release of FontFolder that provides fixes for the following problems:

* Install program will not install to a directory path longer than 31 characters.

* Helvetica and Times New Roman fonts that come with OS/2 can not be registered in a Library. (You normally don't need to register these fonts because they get added automatically. The automatic addition works; it is only if you try to manually register them that they are rejected.)

FontFolder 3.0A can be obtained from the following sources:

    - BMT Micro at
        http://www.bmtmicro.com
        ftp.bmtmicro.com/bmtmicro/fntf30a.zip
    - ftp-os2.nmsu.edu/.4/os2/wpsutil/fntf30a.zip
    - ftp.cdrom.com/pub/os2/wpsutil/fntf30a.zip
    - ftp.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/leo/pmtools/fntf30a.zip
    - Compuserve: FNT30A.ZIP in library 1 in the OS2BVEN forum.
If you have version 3.0 and either of these problems affect you, you should download this maintenance release. Otherwise there is no new functionality beyond version 3.0.

NOTE: In particular, this release does not fix the problems of crashes while browsing fonts in Warp 4. This is NOT a FontFolder problem; it is caused by bugs in both the Type 1 and TrueType support in Warp 4. Please report these problems to IBM.
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FTP Browser Available.

Experience FTP like you browse the web.

FTP Browser is a powerful and intuitive FTP solution for OS/2 Warp that features drag and drop, server to server and directory tree transfers across a variety of hosts.

The following features will surely enhance your FTP experience:

FTP site manager that stores sites in folders
Drag and drop enabled for transfers, queuing and site manipulation
Ping feature to test site responsiveness before connecting
Unlimited number of simultaneous connections to the same site
Graphical file transfer display
Host redialing for busy sites
Seamless and smart reconnects for lost connections
Automatically resume interrupted transfers
Transfer queue for storing items to transfer
Recursive directory tree transfers and deletes
Server to server tree and file transfers
Tree synchronize feature for maintaining identical trees on local and remote systems
Archive content and text file viewer
Configurable file associations for viewing downloaded files
Classical and transparent proxy firewall support
Firewall support for traveling (laptop) users
Configurable directory listing cache
"Quick paths" allow access to frequently accessed directories
Previous directory button to travel to parent directories
Communications log with save to file option
Hooks for command file execution after file transfers
Download information optionally written to file EAs
File list filter and search facility
Hover help for all toolbars
Tabbed notebook style
Drag and drop color and font configurability

Look for FTPB16.ZIP at any of the following FTP archives:

   ftp://ftp.cdrom.com/.4/os2/internet
   ftp://hobbes.nmsu.edu/os2/internet
   ftp://ftp.bmtmicro.com/bmtmicro
   http://www.bmtmicro.com/catalog/0internet.html
   ftp://ftp.leo.org/pub/comp/os/os2/tcpip/ftp
   ftp://sky.chph.ras.ru/os2/tcpip/ftp
   ftp://os2.musthave.com/OS2
   http://www.os2ss.com/internet/ftp/
   ftp://ftp.os2bbs.com
   bbs.os2bbs.com    Area #35
Inquiries: rushton@netcom.ca
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