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-------------------- Zinc Application Framework 5 -------------------
--------------------------- WHATSNEW.TXT ----------------------------
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This file lists some of the new features in ZAF 5.  During beta testing
this file will be updated to reflect new work completed during the last
beta cycle.

(Refer to the December, 1996 "Heavy Metal" newsletter for detailed
preliminary information.)


Beta 3 - March 8, 1997
=========================

GENERAL
-------
Examples -      Some example programs are now provided showing basic
                techniques.  Some examples provide additional objects
                suitable for inclusion in end-user applications.  (Many
                more still to come.)

Table -         ZafTable has been completed.  The API has been changed to
                promote ease of use.  Example programs showing the use of
                ZafTable are now present.

I18N -          Internationalization support is completed.  An example
                program shows how to take advantage of this feature.  Unicode
                (double-byte character) support is implemented.

Designer -      The user interface has been largely completed.  Derived
                object support has been implemented at the design level, but
                source code generation (to write the object table) has not
                yet been released.

Documentation - 32 new reference chapters plus changes to many others.
                Reference documentation is about 70% completed.

Persistence -   Persistence has been modified slightly for beta-3.  This will
                require that all v4 dat files be re-converted.  Existing ZAF 5
                data files will not work.  We do not anticipate any further
                changes in this area.

Motif Shared Libs -  Shared libraries are now fully supported for most Unix
                systems. Zinc Designer for Motif is supplied in a shared-lib
                version.





Beta 2 - February 7, 1997
=========================

GENERAL
-------
Make files -    New make files used to build user applications are much
                easier to understand and create.  Shared "includes" keep
                application and library compiler options consistent.

Font/Color -    AddFont() and AddColor() allow any system-available font or
                color to be added to ZAF's font and color tables.

Constructors -  ZafButton and ZafIcon constructors were changed to order
                parameters in the most logical way.

Designer -      Additional window-editor revisions.

Documentation - Reference manual 50% complete.  Electronic docs hypertext
                linked.

I18N -          Internal structure complete.  Locales working properly.

MDI -           Completed.




Beta 1 - January 8, 1997
========================

GENERAL
-------
Faster -    Application performance is indistinguishable from native
            applications on the same platforms.

Robust -    Cleaner and much more rigorously tested previous versions.
            Library test suite included.

Better looking - More attention has been given to "modernizing" the
            appearance of all objects.

Easier -    to learn and program.  API is intuitive and more consistent.

Portable -  Even better portability!  Starting with a totally new,
            rigorous definition helped eliminate the minor "tweaks"
            formerly required between platforms.  The best got better.



NEW OBJECTS
-----------
Chart -     Created by a Zinc partner, this will allow sophisticated
            2D graphs and charts.  A 3D extended version will be
            available separately.

Tree -      Heirarchical tree control works like your users expect, and
            programs much easier than native implementations.

Progress Bar - Convenient graphical display of progress.

Table -     Completely new for ZAF 5.  Fast and easier to use.

Data Manager -  Automatic allocation and deletion of data.  Easy sharing
            of data between UI objects, or between UI and other parts of
            your applications.

Storage -   Rewritten to be 80% smaller (code) and faster than before.



NEW FUNCTIONALITY
-----------------
Tool Tips - A more flexible version of the essential Windows
            functionality.  Works on all objects, not just toolbars.

Help Tips - Updates status bar or other controls.  Shares low-level
            mechanism with tool tips.

Toolbar -   May be docked on any side of a window.

MDI -       Separate class avoids limitations of previous versions.

Notebook -  Scrollable tabs.



ZINC DESIGNER
-------------
General -   Takes advantage of tree and property sheet controls to
            create a design environment that is much easier to use,
            more logical, more extensible.  (PropertySheet is not yet
            a library object.)  Will generate real source code to ease
            development further.

Persistence -  Objects are now stored fully heirarchically so they may
            be edited, retrieved, and stored individually (rather than
            at the window level).



WINDOWS
-------
DLL -       32 bit DLLs are supported.



MOTIF
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General -   100% better than before in every way.  Fast, Stable, Easy...

Platforms - Many more Unix platforms are now supported.  Code is even
            more portable between Unix variants than before -- no
            differences so far!



DOS
---
New look -  Windows 95 look and feel.

Graph lib - Graphics library changed to MetaWindows for maximum speed
            and supportability.
