applixware

From: "Red Hat Software", sales@redhat.com
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce
Subject: COMMERCIAL: Applixware for Red Hat Linux available
Date: Thu, 11 Jul 1996 13:29:27 GMT
Organization: Red Hat Software
Approved: linux-announce@news.ornl.gov (Lars Wirzenius)
Reply-To: "Red Hat Software", sales@redhat.com

*** Applixware for Red Hat Linux is now shipping! ***
The leading office suite on UNIX(R) has now become The best office suite on Linux! see http://www.redhat.com

Applixware provides you with quality office applications:
o Word processing
o Spreadsheet
o Presentation Graphics
o Integrated Email
And advanced development tools:
o Extension Language Facility.
o ApplixBuilder.

Write clear, effective documents.
o Applix Words has intuitive menus, letting you concentrate on your document, not your word processor.

Create powerful, obvious spreadsheets.
o Applix Spreadsheets has full functions, graphics, and data handling, letting you build data models that accurately represent reality.

Build strong, sophisticated presentations.
o Applix Presents has powerful templates and abundant clipart, letting you create presentations in record time.

Communicate quickly and easily.
o Applix Mail integrates Internet email and Applixware, letting you exchange normal email and Applixware documents.

Comprehensive on-line, context-sensitive help for every Applixware feature is easy to find and use.

Want more? Build your own mission-specific graphical applications from Applixware components. Applixware is built with the Extension Language Facility (ELF), an object framework which allows you to use Applixware components as building blocks in your own applications, in true Unix style. Applixware includes Builder, a graphical application builder which makes using ELF even easier.

Runs on Linux!
o Applixware for Red Hat Linux includes a complete copy of the latest release of the Official Red Hat Linux.
o It can be run on any standard Linux system with the correct versions of required libraries.
o Motif libraries are NOT required.

All this for an introductory price of only $379 (valid until July 31, 1996). With student ID and recent transcript, a special student discount is available -- see our Web page for details.

Order from Red Hat Software, Inc.
(800) 454-5502 / (203) 454-5500
(203) 454-2582 (fax)
sales@redhat.com
http://www.redhat.com

FEATURES OF APPLIXWARE FOR RED HAT LINUX
- ----------------------------------------

Applixware for Red Hat Linux is a complete, integrated, and fully graphical Office Suite for Linux--and much more. Underlying all the Applixware components--Applix Words, Spreadsheets, Presentation Graphics, Mail, and Builder, is the Extension Language Facility (ELF), an interpretive programming language and powerful back-engine that provides Applixware with its unique capabilities, including:
o Automating mission-critical work processes and lengthy tasks
o Building user-definable applications to address your specific business challenges
o Developing graphical front-ends to Applixware and other applications
o Live-linking to and launching other business applications and external data sources directly from Applixware

With Applixware, your entire enterprise will experience improved communication, shorter development cycles and gains in user productivity.

Information Object Framework
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Increases productivity for the desktop user, workgroup and entire enterprise.

Each Applixware product shares an identical architecture or "Information Object Framework". With this unique framework, you can bring any data source into your Applixware documents--such as messaging APIs, other business applications, external database information and multimedia objects (such as video, audio and images). By providing immediate access to and manipulation of all of these objects directly from your desktop, productivity increases for all users throughout your enterprise.

Applixware Applications At-A-Glance:

Applix Words
++++++++++++
Combines all the features and functionality you need to create and present your ideas clearly and effectively.
o Mail-enabled compound document technology
o Live links to all the Applixware applications, external applications and data sources
o Tables and frames; borders and shading
o Landscape, portrait and merge printing
o Multiple undo and redo
o Multiple typefaces and type styles
o Hypertext
o International dictionaries, thesauri and spell checker
o Conditional text and cross referencing; find and replace
o Embedded equations and calculation support
o HTML Authoring Tool
Translates Words Documents into HTML version for updating your Web Site. Create new Web Pages including links to other sites. (This is currently unsupported beta-quality software.)

Applix Spreadsheets
+++++++++++++++++++
Includes all the functions necessary to view and analyze numerical data and graphs.
o Live links to external applications
o Goal seeking
o Live graphs and editable graph styles
o Drag-and-drop (column widths, row heights and cells)
o Dynamic inter-spreadsheet links
o Implementation of external functions within spreadsheets
o Borders and shading
o Multiple windows and named views
o Relative and absolute cell references

Applix Presentation Graphics
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Offers the perfect environment to create, edit and customize graphics. A complete Presentation Graphics tool set for building sophisticated presentations easily and quickly.
o Feature-rich palette, fill patterns & drawing tools
o A large collection of clip art
o User-definable fill patterns, brush styles and shapes
o Horizontal and vertical shearing
o Text wrapping
o Unlimited color support and point sizes
o Rotating and scaling options
o Drop shadows

Applix Mail
++++++++++++++++++++
The fastest and most convenient way to mail your documents across different hardware platforms, operating systems and networks.
o Mail enables all Applixware products
o Personal and global user lists, distribution lists and aliases
o Audio support
o Sorting, filing and querying on incoming messages
o Automatic conversion of messages/documents to recipient's preferences
o UNIX sendmail transport and MIME compliance (Applix Mail)

Filter Packs
++++++++++++
Transparently translates external applications into Applixware file formats and vice versa. Applixware includes over 50 standard import filters including:

Standard Import Filter Packs
-ASCII -EPSI -HPGL -XWD -DCA -AX
-SYLK -CSV -TIFF -DIF/XDIF -GIF -SunRaster
-MS Windows
-MS Excel 3.0 & 4.0
-X Bitmap/X Pixmap
-WKS/WK1/WK3
-MS Windows Bitmap

Words Pack
-MS Word for Windows
-Rich Text Format (RTF)
-Office Writer
-MS Word (PC Version)
-MS Word for Macintosh (RTF)
-WordPerfect 4.2, 5.0 and 5.1

Graphics Pack
-CGM -I GES -GIF
-PCX -DXF -PICT and PICT(2)
-MacPaint

The Extension Language Facility (ELF) and Macros
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A unique macro scripting language to rapidly prototype, build and deploy solutions at the desktop, workgroup and enterprise levels.

Powerful features for developers/programmers
o Robust interpretive programming language
o TCP/IP socket interface and remote procedure calls(RPCs)
o Interactive debugger, compiler/interpreter
o Arithmetic, string and Boolean operators
o Over 2500 built-in macros. Time-saving features for all users
o User-definable menu bars, dialog boxes and keybindings, menu-bar editor across all Applixware products
o Keystroke and mousepick recorder
o Live-linking to and launching external applications from Applix Words, Spreadsheets, Presents, and Mail.
o User-definable ExpressLine icons for automating tasks
o Incremental zoom

Applix Builder
++++++++++++++
Applix Builder is a graphical rapid application development environment for cross-platform development and deployment of mission-critical applications.
o Object-Oriented programming model
o Leverage Applixware applications for integrated decision support systems
o Object-oriented database interface based upon ODBC APIs
o Powerful drag and drop dialog box editor
o Robust widget kit, including tables, cross-tables and canvas
o Complete font, attribute and color control
o Event-driven development and dialog programming
o Automated data-to-form updates
o Standard, reusable dialogs for file, open/save, color selection, mail/send and printer setup
o Full access to ELF macros and functions
o Extensive standard classes, including chart and print
o Supports external, reusable objects
o Shared classes, class libraries and definitions
o Interactive debugger
o Packaged source code distribution
o Single file cross-platform application distribution
o Remote application and object execution
o RPC and shared library support

ORDERING INFORMATION
- --------------------

Red Hat CD Products:
* Applixware for Red Hat Linux - Office Suite
- 3 Manuals and 2 CDs, including Red Hat Linux 3.0.3,
in a shrinkwrapped box: $495.00 (list price)
$379.00 (until July 31, 1996)
* Official Red Hat Linux/Intel 2 CD Boxed set includes:
- 195 page Users Guide Book
- Installation support (by email and fax) $49.95
* Red Hat Linux Archives, Includes a complete
- edition of Red Hat 3.0.3 Linux as part of a 4 CD set of the Linux and UNIX archives, etc. $29.95
* Red Hat 3.0.3 Linux AXP, for Digital Alpha Computers $99.95
* Red Hat Motif CD with Motif Users Guide Book
For INTEL: $149.00
For ALPHA: $189.00
* Linux Library CD $29.95
* Red Hat "Live" CD (Intel) $29.95

Red Hat BOOKS:
* Official Red Hat Users Guide $14.95
* Dr Linux 1,700 page 4th Ed. reference Book $39.95 NEW Ed.!
* Linux Man Pages 1,100 page
Linux Command reference Book $24.95

All prices are in US Dollars.

Order on the WWW at http://www.redhat.com
Order by email at sales@redhat.com
Order by phone at (800) 454-5502, or (203) 454-5500 using your Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card.

Resellers are encouraged to contact the following distributors for information and volume pricing on Red Hat products.

* Red Hat Software, Inc.
25 Sylvan Rd South
Westport, CT 06880
(800) 454-5502
(203) 454-5500
(203) 454-2582 (fax)
sales@redhat.com
http://www.redhat.com

* Frank Kasper and Associates.
(612) 942-0566
(612) 942-5039 (fax)
kasper@kasper-cdrom.com

* American Software and Hardware Distributors, Inc.
(217) 384-0849
(217) 384-2055 (fax)

- --
Red Hat Software, Inc. Makers of Red Hat Linux
(800) 454-5502 or (203) 454-5500 fax: (203) 454-2582
info@redhat.com or http://www.redhat.com

--
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From rick Tue Sep 15 16:00:25 1998
Message-ID: 19980915160024.A28182@hugin.imat.com
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 16:00:25 -0700
From: Rick Moen <rick>
To: svlug@svlug.org
Subject: ApplixWare 4.4.1 for Intel Linux is out
X-Mailer: Mutt 0.91.2

I'm just about to place an on-line order for ApplixWare 4.4.1 for Intel Linux, via http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/advance_orders.htm.

There's been some confusion about the new version, so I'm posting this in hopes of clarifying. I have no connection with any of the named parties, and am not a good source for further information.

In particular, please don't blame Applix, S.u.S.E., or Red Hat for the following: The text is all mine, and is my best effort to summarise the results of my browsing the ApplixWare mailing list and sundry Web pages, and some telephone inquiries.

Q: What's in it/what's new?
A: The following modules: Words, Graphics, Spreadsheets, Mail, Data, Builder, HTML Author, and Presents. Y2K compliance, new filter framework including Word8/Excel8/PowerPoint8 support, support for both libc5 and glibc, a run-from-CD-ROM option, better use of shared libs, faster startup, ODBC link to PostgreSQL. More at http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/index.htm

Q: Where can one buy it?
A: Directly from Applix's on-line ordering system: http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/advance_orders.htm

Q: Isn't it also available through S.u.S.E. and Red Hat?
A: No. Applix's press release claims this is true, but it's wrong. S.u.S.E. and Red Hat's Web sites reference the prior 4.3.7 ApplixWare version, and evidently haven't been updated. Applix has effectively decided to deal directly with Linux users starting with this version, and so is no longer distributing through other companies.

Q: How much does it cost?
A. ApplixWare Deluxe (the regular version) costs $99, without support.
Options: 45 minutes of support, three calls, $45.
keyboard template, $1.99.
ApplixWare Developer (adds Developer Book Bundle): $189 without support.
Options: 45 minutes of support, three calls, $99.
keyboard template, $1.99.
Shipping via several UPS options from Massachussetts is said to occur seven days after confirmation of order. No California sales tax. International shipping appears to be $25. (All prices are in US $.) Note that the two versions' CDs are identical. Only the bundled documentation and cost of optional support differ.

Q: When is it available?
A: Apparently now, subject to the above processing/shipping delay.

Q: Is there an upgrade option for owners of earlier versions?
A: An upgrade from ApplixWare 4.3 or 4.3.7 to 4.4.1 Deluxe will become available on Sept. 28, 1998, for $79. Its installer will produce a usable 4.4.1 binary only if you have 4.3 or 4.3.7 installed on your hard drive. Orders are now being accepted. Aside from the requirement of 4.3/4.3.7 being on your hard drive at installation time, the "ApplixWare Upgrade" is identical to the ApplixWare Deluxe package.

Q: Applix's Web site describes the "ApplixWare Upgrade" as being for Red Hat. My version of 4.3 (or 4.3.7) is from S.u.S.E. Will the Upgrade work for me?
A: Yes. Applix's Web page is misleading.

Q: Is there an upgrade/discount for owners of 4.2/4.1/prior?
A: No. Buy the full version.

Q: Is 4.4.1 available in RPM format, as were earlier versions?
A: No. There wasn't room on the CD-ROM.

Q: What are the system requirements?
A: 486/66, 32MB RAM, CD drive, X Window System. Space req'd runs from 133 MB to 494 MB, depending on options. Tested distributions: Caldera OpenLinux 1.2 Debian 1.3/2.0, RedHat 4.x/5.x, Slackware 3.x, SuSE 5.x. The glibc-based version requires libstdc++-2.8. On NIS-based systems, username must be in /etc/passwd.

Q: Will Applix honour my support contract on the copy of 4.3.7 I bought from S.u.S.E. or Red Hat?
A: No. You'll have to talk to those companies. There reportedly was some temporary confusion about this at Red Hat, which has now been corrected.

Q: Is the Developer Book Bundle available separately?
A: Yes. See http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/resources/documentation.htm. It costs $99 plus shipping. There's also a Technical Reference Manual for $29 (which is not included in the Deluxe or Developer packages).

Q: Is ApplixWare available for other platforms?
A: Yes: It's out for other major Unix platforms and Win32, plus there's a Java bytecode version called Applix Anyware Office.

Q: Is the product named ApplixWare, or Applix Office?
A: ApplixWare is the name for the complete package, including Builder, the ELF macro language, Data, and the real-time engine -- in addition to the core Office modules that the user generally encounters.

Q: What support options are there?
A: 1. The FAQ is at http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/resources/faq.htm

2. Applix has started a new mailing list at applixware-list@applix.com. Join by sending "subscribe" to applixware-list-request@applix.com. Applix monitors the list, but doesn't guarantee response. Web archive is at http://www.applix.com/appware/applixware-list/

3. Red Hat Software's existing list, applixware-list@redhat.com will continue to exist. Join by sending subscribe in the SUBJECT line to applixware-list-request@redhat.com. Web archive is at http://archive.redhat.com/applixware-list/

4. Paid telephone support is available in increments described above. (You must provide your unique customer code, which you receive with ApplixWare, when you call.) The higher support price for "developers" covers telephone assistance with Builder and the ELF macro language.

5. There are perfect-bound manuals shipped with the product, plus pdf-format manuals on the CD-ROM. Bug-fix updates will be available on CD-ROM for $5, when available. New-feature upgrades, in contrast, will be priced as appropriate.

Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 21:58:20 -0700
From: rmanly@applix.com, (Richard Manly [ext 256])
To: rick@hugin.imat.com
Cc: ericding@applix.com, dmiller@applix.com kent@applix.com, amico@applix.com
Subject: Applixware for Linux Buying FAQ

Rick the following is the slightly modified version of the FAQ that you put together.

Just a final check to make sure you're happy and that you don't mind the mention!

Regards

R
_

[RM notes: I didn't mind what they did, but was somewhat amused to note that their changes added only a few minor details, and mostly consisted of snipping the bit about Applix's upgrade page being misleading, and substituting a rather nonsensical rationale for omitting RPMs in place of the real reason (plus news about prospects for Alpha and SPARC releases).]

___________________________________________________________________

The buying FAQ, portions courtesy of Rick Moen of the Silicon Valley Linux User Group, thanks Rick!

This FAQ is designed to answer most of the more common questions that we here at Applix are receiving in connection with the launch of Applixware for Linux 4.4.1

_________________________________________________________________

Q: What's in it/what's new?
A: The following modules: Words, Graphics, Spreadsheets, Mail, Data, Builder, HTML Author, and Presents. Y2K compliance, new filter framework including Word8/Excel8/PowerPoint8 support, support for both libc5 and glibc, a run-from-CD-ROM option, better use of shared libs, faster startup, ODBC link to PostgreSQL. Data is a new module. Builder is included in the standard Deluxe package. Applixeware Developer package contains identical software but adds printed books to the offering.

More at http://linux.applixware.com

Q: Where can one buy it?
A: Directly from Applix's on-line ordering system:
http://linux.applixware.com, click on the Buy It! button.

Q: How much does it cost?
A. ApplixWare Deluxe (the regular version) costs $99, without support.
Options: 45 minutes of support, three calls, $45.
keyboard template, $1.99.
ApplixWare Developer (adds Developer Book Bundle): $189 without support.
Options: 45 minutes of support, three calls, $99.
keyboard template, $1.99.
Shipping US domestic via several UPS options from Massachussetts. International shipping appears to be $25 or $50 dependant on weight of order (All prices are in US $.) Note that the two versions' CDs are identical. Only the bundled documentation and cost of optional support differ.

Q: When is it available?
A: Orders taken today, credit cards debited on day (within 24 hours) of shipping. Shipping of Applixware Deluxe and Applixware Developers and all book offerings start Monday September 21st. 1998

Q: Is there an upgrade/discount for owners of 4.2/4.1/prior?
A: No. Buy the full version.

Q: Is 4.4.1 available in RPM format, as were earlier versions?
A: No. Only in the upgrade offering at this time.
The reasoning behind this is that Applix wanted to create a release that would install on all Linux platforms. All Linux platforms do not run RPM, therefore a generic ASCII based installer was written.

Q: Is the Developer Book Bundle available separately?
A: Yes. See http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/resources/documentation.htm. It costs $99 plus shipping. There's also a Words Technical Reference Manual for $29 (which is not included in the Deluxe or Developer packages).

Q: Is ApplixWare available for other platforms?
A: Yes: It's out for other major Unix platforms and Win32, plus there's a Java bytecode version called Applix Anyware Office. Anyware is not yet ported to Linux.

Q: Is ApplixWare available for other Linux platforms?
A: Not currently but Applix are working on a version for SPARC and Alpha running Linux. They are experiencing some delays due to compiler/linker bugs on these platforms, but they have committed to release once these problems have been resolved. Keep an eye on the What's New section of the http://linux.applixware.com site for updates.

Q: Is the product named ApplixWare, or Applix Office?
A: ApplixWare is the name for the complete package, including Builder, the ELF macro language and Data in addition to the better known Words, Graphics, Presents, Spreadsheets, HTML Author and Mail.

Q: What support options are there?
A: 1. The FAQ is at http://www.applix.com/appware/linux/resources/faq.htm

3. Red Hat Software's existing list, applixware-list@redhat.com, will continue to exist. Join by sending subscribe in the SUBJECT line to applixware-list-request@redhat.com. Web archive is at http://archive.redhat.com/applixware-list/

5. There are perfect-bound manuals shipped with the product, plus online manuals on the CD-ROM available and searchable when running the product. Bug-fix updates will be available on CD-ROM for $5, when available. New-feature upgrades, in contrast, will be priced as appropriate.

____________________________________________________________