Rational readies component tool
The company will announce a new software modeling tool aimed at developers building ActiveX and Java component applications.
Rational Rose 98, a new version of the company's tool for modeling software application development, will add support for Microsoft's COM (component object model) and ActiveX technology, as well as JavaBeans components, said Adam Frankl, director of marketing at Rational.
Software modeling tools let developers map out applications before writing code.
The update, expected to ship by next month, will also add multilanguage support. The tool can now be used to model components using C++, Java, Visual Basic, Oracle's Oracle 8 database software, and other languages, Frankl said.
Rose 98 will also allow multiple development projects to be accessed, so that developers can compare and reuse components.
Another new feature is the ability to support multiple team developers, through links to Microsoft's development repository.
Rational has also revamped packaging for the product. Three versions will now be available: Modeler, Professional, and Enterprise. The Professional version, priced at $2,400, supports a single language, either C++, Java, or Visual Basic. The Enterprise Edition, which costs $3,600, supports all languages.