THE WEB OF DECISION SUPPORT

MicroStrategy Inc. released DSS Web 5.0, the latest version of its OLAP tool for data analysis via the Web. DSS Web incorporates push technology to automate information delivery to end users. Users can decide to which reports they wish to subscribe and have those reports pushed to their desktops automatically. This automation is enhanced by allowing users to run reports that provide textual alerts to exception conditions (such as high weekly sales or low item stock).
      DSS Web also gives users centralized maintenance and secure deployment. Administrative changes can be made once through DSS Web 5.0 and distributed to all Web browsers. DSS Web systems can have up to four tiers of security at the browser, firewall, DSS Web, and RDBMS levels.
      The tool also includes a Report Wizard that provides instructions to let users define and save new reports easily, and there are AutoPrompts that provide runtime customization of reports. Other features include on-the-fly sorting and outline mode, which allow users to view and modify their data in a variety of ways.
      Pricing for DSS Web starts at $17,500 for five concurrent users; DSS Web requires the purchase of DSS Server, which is sold separately.
      MicroStrategy Inc., (703) 848-8600, Fax (703) 848-8610, www.strategy.com.

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BUSINESS SYSTEM FUSION

Netron Inc. released Netron Fusion 3.2. The major new feature in this version is the Netron Connectivity Framework, which allows mainframe and Unix servers to integrate with front-end clients built with Java and Visual Basic. The Netron Connectivity Framework is a prepackaged, reusable system design that provides the infrastructure needed to tie client technologies, middleware, or native communication protocols with Cobol servers.
      In addition to including the new framework, Netron has improved Netron Fusion's Data Manager. The Data Manager now stores more information about a system's tables, files, and data structures, as well as enhancements made to the wizard and wizard scripting language.
      Pricing for Netron Fusion begins at $9,950 per license.
      Netron Inc., (416) 636-8333, Fax (416) 636-4847, www.netron.com.

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DESIGNING WITH POWER TOOLS

Sybase Inc. released PowerDesigner 6.1, its design toolset for building databases, data warehouses, and data aware components. PowerDesigner marks the introduction of such new features as Model Merge and Test Data Generation, interfaces to OLAP tools, and expanded Internet capabilities for data-driven Web site generation and Web-based reporting.
      PowerDesigner comprises six modules: ProcessAnalyst (for identifying and capturing data flow within a business), DataArchitect (for bilevel conceptual and physical database design and construction), WarehouseArchitect (for data warehouse design and construction), AppModeler (for physical data modeling and data aware component generation), MetaWorks (for model management and team design), and Viewer (for read-only access to model information).
      New features in the toolset include:

CAYENNE SPICES UP OBJECTTEAM

Cayenne Software Inc. introduced ObjectTeam version 7, which features compliance with the OMG UML 1.0 software development standard for modeling constructs and notations (previously known as Unified Modeling Language version 1.1).
      This release of ObjectTeam features improved reverse engineering and OMG UML 1.0-compliance for notation and diagram editors--including Use Case, Collaboration, Class, Sequence, and state diagrams. ObjectTeam also adds the ability of data models and object models to coexist, which lets organizations using both database modeling and object systems modeling to stay in sync across different development projects.
      ObjectTeam is available on six different platforms: Windows 95 and NT, Sun Solaris, IBM AIX, Digital Alpha, and HP-UX.
      ObjectTeam pricing begins at $2,200.
      Cayenne Software Inc., (617) 273-9003, Fax (617) 229-9904, www.cayennesoft.com. .

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BUILDING BLOCKS

Black & White Software released version 3.0 of its OrbixBuilder product. The OrbixBuilder package includes the components needed for creating distributed applications for the Web.
      Users can build server interfaces with OrbixBuilder's integrated IDL editor. After a server is build, it is deployed, registered, and monitored along with other servers across multiple hosts using OrbixBuilder's server management facilities. Java clients can also be created using the Visual Cafı builder capabilities. GUI components can be attached to CORBA objects, such as a button to invoke a specific server operation. This is done using the OrbixBuilder's interface repository browser's code generation ability: The user chooses an interface, attribute, or operation and then drags and drops it onto the source code editor for the GUI component. The associated bind is automatically written in Java.
      Release 3.0 includes:

      OrbixBuilder 3.0 is priced at $1,795 per user.
      Black & White Software, (408) 369-7400, Fax (408) 369-7406, www.blackwhite.com.

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ASKING ORACLE8

Teleran Technologies announced the availability of the Teleran System, a query-management system that is a Java-based middleware system designed to manage query-intensive applications, data warehouses, and data marts. Teleran acts as an intelligent agent that filters query traffic into databases, which lets DBAs monitor, manage, and analyze access to Oracle8 and other databases.
      Teleran provides realtime, 2437 monitoring and optimization of query and reporting environments. It can optimize and control LAN-based client/server environments as well as Internet/intranet-based applications.
      Using artificial intelligence, Teleran analyzes query patterns and adapts itself to changes in the user query pattern and database structure. Additionally, Teleran proactively stops poorly constructed, resource-intensive queries as they are executed to increase query manageability and maximize an organization's resources.
      The Teleran System also includes Active Advice, a prescriptive messaging system providing users with recommendations on how to query the data warehouse efficiently and effectively.
      Teleran supports Oracle 7.3 and higher. Pricing for the Teleran System begins at $32,000.
      Teleran Technologies, (973) 781-9699, Fax (973) 781-9688, www.teleran.com.

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SPEEDWARE'S HYBRID

Speedware Corp. announced Media/MR, which combines both multidimensional and relational OLAP to provide a multidimensional view of data regardless of where it is stored.
      Users can use Media/MR to access data in their warehouses or RDBMSs while simultaneously accessing summary data (aggregates) stored in the Media/MR multidimensional database (MDDB). Aggregates are precalculated and stored in Media's multimatrix MDDB, which speeds access to the aggregates. The results of all queries are stored in a permanent cache on the Media/MR server to make relational access instantaneous. Users access information through the Briefing Board, which provides a point-and-click graphical presentation for Windows or the Web.
      Rapid development is also facilitated through Media/MR's Dictionary Wizard. The Dictionary Wizard reads the metadata from the user's RDBMS and automatically suggests the appropriate multidimensional indicators and dimensions. Users can manually override the wizard's decisions to handle any exceptions.
      Pricing for Media/MR is $4,995 per developer license. Client pricing begins at $2,000 per user plus a server price beginning at $23,400 for 20 users.
      Speedware Corp., (800) 361-6782, Fax (514) 747-3320, www.speedware.com.

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THE FAIR SHARE

Comshare Inc. released Comshare Decision 2.1, software for client/server performance-measurement applications.
      The central new feature in this release is Comshare's Guided Analysis technology, which guides users to areas of opportunity or problems. Users can then perform ad hoc analysis. It includes several technologies, including Detect and Alert, OverView, and advanced exceptions.
      Detect and Alert is a software agent used for routine surveillance of information. It proactively monitors trends in customer databases and looks for anomalies. When a problem occurs, Decision alerts users to the anomaly and presents the information for further analysis. Decision also improves its visualization capabilities with OverView, which lets users see hundreds or thousands of data points at a glance. Using OverView, users can shift easily from views that establish context #and perspective to more detailed, close-up views focusing on specific information.
      Comshare's advanced exception technology combines visual cues with agent technology. It brings hidden exceptions in multidimensional data to the surface, so users are immediately aware that problems exist at any level of an application's hierarchy.
      Comshare Decision 2.1 is priced at $150,000 for 50 users.
      Comshare Inc., (313) 994-4800, Fax (313) 994-5895, www.comshare.com.

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EPIC JAVA PLATFORM

Novera Software Inc. announced the release of Novera Enterprise Platform for Internet Components (EPIC) 2.0. Novera EPIC 2.0 is a Java software platform.
      Core Novera EPIC features include CORBA/IIOP support, load balancing, dynamic service loading, multidomain management, and SSL support. It bundles a Java CORBA-compliant ORB, Visigenic Visibroker for Java 3.1, to give users the ability to integrate applications with existing system infrastructures, and you can use Novera EPIC to access services developed with other distributed object frameworks (such as RMI and DCOM). Other new features include a JavaBeans development interface, which makes enterprise development accessible to larger deployment teams of varying skill sets.
      Pricing for Novera EPIC begins at $150 per concurrent user.
      Novera Software Inc., (617) 270-4422, Fax (617) 270-0840, www.novera.com.

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In Brief

UniPrise Systems Inc. introduced a new release of its Access/DAL data access language middleware for Tandem 's NonStop server platform and Tandem Windows NT servers. Access/DAL for Tandem allows users to access data stored on a Tandem server from Macintosh or Windows clients, or via a Web browser through UniPrise 's I/DAL middleware. It also lets users access data anywhere on a network, regardless of database or server vendor and network protocol. (714) 864-2000, Fax (714) 864-2001, www.uniprise.com.

Cabletron Systems released Spectrum Data Warehouse and its set of management applications. Spectrum Data Warehouse uses data fusion technology to combine data from multiple sources into one common model. The converging sources can include data from networks, systems, and applications. Billing, accounting, and planning applications can access data as if it came from one source. (603) 332-9400, Fax (603) 337-2211, www.cabletron.com.

Silicon Graphics Inc. and Cray Research announced the availability of the Cray Data Migration Facility (DMF) 2.6. DMF 2.6 is a hierarchical storage-management system that provides file system capacity scheduling for users who have high data storage and retrieval-management needs. It lets you migrate data to and retrieve it from offline media, and it is interoperable with standard data export services such as network file system and file transfer protocol. (612) 452-6650, www.cray.com.

Adaytum Software released the latest version of its business-planning system, Adaytum Planning 2.1. Adaytum Planning now loads organizational hierarchy and live data directly from any general ledger system. It also lets users enter free-form text in the Adaytum spreadsheet view and annotate specific cell values. Additionally, multiuser security has been improved through access locking at the line item rather than the division level. (612) 698-7624, Fax (612) 698-7674, www.adaytum.com.

Positive Support Review released a new reporting tool, Zinnote. Features of Zinnote include data mapping with universal naming conventions, the ability to email Zinnote files between users, full Windows cut-and-paste ability, the ability to export the management reporting package as objects, and more than 25 different chart types. (310) 453-6100, Fax (310) 453-6253, www.psrinc.com.

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