Software tool checks Web-site performance.

WebTest, an automated test tool for World Wide Web servers, improves the reliability of Web-based systems by letting you measure response time to a browser request, determine the maximum number of hits the server can handle, and validate a system's ability to function correctly under varying conditions. You must first develop test scripts with the vendor's WinRunner or XRunner graphical-user-interface test products. To test performance and capacity, WebTest works with Mercury's LoadRunner to simulate thousands of Hypertext Markup Language hits against the server. WebTest costs $195 for WinRunner, $495 for XRunner, and $995 for LoadRunner. Mercury Interactive Corp, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 523-9900.

Software searches Internet documents.

HotSearch full-text-retrieval software lets you instantly locate information in documents that you download from the Internet. You can find documents using ranked retrieval in order of relevance, fuzzy searching, agent searching, Boolean searching, and range searching of date and number fields. The program highlights search words in the document. You can index World Wide Web Hypertext Markup Language, Acrobat, and word-processing documents and TIFF (tagged-image format-file) Group IV and color images. HotSearch, which runs under Windows 95 and 3.11, costs $39, and you can download it over the Internet for a free 90-day trial. Executive Technologies Inc, Birmingham, AL. (205) 933-5494.

Data-acquisition server runs on Ethernet networks.

The NetAcquire 3000 server connects to any Ethernet network and acquires, processes, and updates real-time analog data at >750k samples/sec. The system's standard Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol interface works with a variety of computers and operating systems, including Unix and Windows 3.1, 95, and NT. The NetAcquire protocol is also Internet-compatible. You can run as many as 10 NetAcquire boxes in parallel with each networked client computer. You can expand the basic model, which comes with 16 analog inputs, two analog outputs, and 16 digital I/Os, to 512 analog inputs, 64 analog outputs, and 256 digital I/Os. NetAcquire 3000 costs $8495, including server and client software for Windows. Real Time Integration Inc, Redmond, WA. (206) 883-7563

Math package works within Microsoft Word. Mathematica Link for Microsoft Word performs mathematical calculations within a Word document without switching between programs or copying and pasting equations from one program to another. You can use Word's macro language, WordBasic, to create new interface elements, including custom dialog boxes, tool bars of common functions, and on-screen forms with buttons and pop-up menus. Mathematica Link lets you import Mathematica notebooks directly into Word and to edit existing calculations. The program requires Word Version 6 or later running under Windows 95, NT, or 3.1. Versions are also available for the Macintosh and Power Macintosh. It costs $129. Wolfram Research Inc, Champaign, IL. (217) 398-0700.

Data-acquisition processor takes 3.2M samples/sec.

The DAP 3400a/445 comes with four A/D converters that each simultaneously acquire 800k samples/sec at 12-bit resolution for an aggregate throughput of 3.2M samples/sec. The processor achieves an aggregate throughput of 12.8M samples/sec across the 16 simultaneous inputs by using four synchronized DAP 3400a boards in a single PC. The system, which complies with electromagnetic-compatibility requirements, comes with DAPL 2000, a 32-bit implementation of the DAPL multitasking real-time operating system. The DAP 3400a/445 costs $4995; a tool kit for controlling the board from a Windows program costs $195. Microstar Laboratories Inc, Bellevue, WA. (206) 453-2345.

Development kit includes PCI bus performance analyzer.

The PCI SANDesigner ADVantage tool kit provides the design, verification, and performance-analysis tools necessary for developing ASICs and boards based on the PCI bus. In addition to a PCI synthesizable core and bus model, the kit comes with the PCI performance analyzer (PPA), which checks for timing and protocol errors in simulation before silicon fabrication. SANDesigner ADVantage works in VHDL and Verilog simulation environments and runs on Sun and Hewlett-Packard platforms. A floating license for the PPA component, which operates with any commercial PCI bus model, costs $7500. Sand Microelectronics Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 441-7138.

Windows software analyzes test strategies.

Version 2.0 of the Evaluate test-strategy software expands the range of test strategies that you can model to those that use a test or inspection stage before the main board-test stage. Evaluate, which runs under Windows, performs life-cycle cost analysis of alternative electronics testing strategies. Version 2.0 adds a time-to-market model, PIPA (profit impact of product availability), which determines the effects on a project's revenues and profitability from alternative strategies having different implementation times. The updated software also includes a universal return-on-investment calculator. Evaluate V2.0 costs $450. BD Consulting, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. +44 1628 781 450.

Color sensor gives instrument-level accuracy.

Based on the Chroma/II CRT color sensor for calibrating desktop color monitors, the C/II-CCS targets instrumentation, process-control, and machine-vision applications. The 1.5 X 1.2 X 0.75-in. bracket- or pc-board-mount sensor provides repeatable measurements of a D65 white-light source to within ±0.002 in the x and y axes. You can program the C/II-CCS for various speeds and resolutions via an RS-232C interface. You can set the device to take interval readings in <50 µsec every 10 msec. Longer measurement times increase resolution. An evaluation kit, including two C/II-CCS units and DOS-based data-collection software, costs $750. Sequel Imaging, Londonderry, NH. (603) 425-2170.

Software solves math and science equations.

StudyWorks, a graphical calculation and document-preparation program, covers algebra, trigonometry, precalculus, calculus, statistics, earth sciences, chemistry, physics, and other science topics. The software provides tools for math calculation, text, and graphing; an interactive reference library to explore and understand math and science concepts; and >500 formulas that you can drop and drag into lab reports. StudyWorks addresses calculations ranging from high-school-level algebra to college-level math and science. The software, which runs under Windows 3.1, 95, and NT, costs <$50. MathSoft Inc, Cambridge, MA. (617) 577-1017.

OLE library speeds motion-controller programming.

An object-linking-and-embedding (OLE) custom control library eases building operator interfaces for the vendor's motion controllers. Part of the company's Visual Basic Tool Kit, the library uses object buttons in the Visual Basic interface to represent OLE custom controls (OCXs) or control programs for the controller. Prebuilt objects supplement the Visual Basic Extensions (VBXs) that the tool kit provides. The OLE library can also convert the vendor's VBXs into OCXs to support 32-bit computing platforms. A complete Visual Basic tool kit with the OLE custom control library costs $595. Galil Motion Control Inc, Mountain View, CA. (415) 967-1700.

Math software gives tips, imports data.

Macsyma 2.1 math software now includes MathTips Advisor, which shows you sample computations in all areas of mathematics. The most commonly used sample problems appear as "hot tips." Extensive data-acquisition capabilities let you import and export, view, edit, graph, and analyze large data sets. Macsyma 2.1 also offers scientific notebooks with formatted display of mathematics, customizable graphics, text processing, and user-defined hypertext links. The software runs under Windows 95, NT, 3.1, and workstations. Prices range from $499 to $1249. Macsyma Inc, Arlington, MA. (617) 646-4550.

Data-acquisition board for SPARCstation runs at 10 MHz.

The ADDA1210, a data-acquisition board that fits into an SBus slot of any Sun SPARCstation, acquires analog data at 10M samples/sec. The board samples one channel of data with 12-bit resolution at 10 MHz, two channels simultaneously as fast as 5 MHz each, or four channels as fast as 2.5 MHz each. The unit also simultaneously issues two 12-bit analog signals as fast as 5 MHz each. Four TTL I/O lines operate at 5 MHz. You can program the ADDA1210's sampling rate from 100 nsec to 51 µsec per sample. The board costs $4495 and comes with 16 Mbytes of dual-port RAM. Ultraview Corp, Orinda, CA. (510) 253-2960.

Data-acquisition drivers add 32-bit Windows OLE support.

Version 4.0 of the DriverLINX series of multitasking, multiuser data-acquisition drivers now accepts 16- and 32-bit object-linking-and-embedding (OLE) controls (OCXs) for applications running under Windows 95. The software maintains the same application-programming interface as that of previous versions, letting you upgrade 16-bit Windows 3.x applications to 32-bit Windows 95. Applications communicate with DriverLINX through a dynamic-link-library or OCX interface. DriverLINX displays dialog boxes for configuration management and includes error checking and reporting. The program costs $149; upgrades cost $79. Scientific Software Tools Inc, Paoli, PA. (610) 889-1354.

PC card grabs 200k samples/sec.

In addition to performing standard single-channel scanning, the dual-ADC DT7102 simultaneously samples two separate input channels at an aggregate rate of 200k samples/sec. The card acquires 16 single-ended and eight differential channels of analog input with 12-bit resolution and an effective number of bits equal to 11.6. The DT7102 also has two high-speed DACs with programmable FIFO buffers, each of which runs at 100k samples/sec and produces either uninterrupted analog signals controlled from a PC or a continuously repeated waveform. The plug-and-play-compatible board runs under Windows 95 and costs $595. Data Translation, Marlborough, MA. (508) 481-3700.

Remote PC software gives enterprisewide access.

WinDD for PCs client software allows mobile and remote PC access to Windows applications hosted on an application server running WinDD server software. Together, the programs provide enterprisewide distribution of 16- and 32-bit Windows applications to Unix-based workstations, net stations, X terminals, and remote and mobile PCs. WinDD for PCs runs under DOS and Windows. Prices start at $995 for a five-user license. Tektronix Inc, Beaverton, OR. (800) 547-8949.

Utility compresses data under Windows 95.

PKZIP data-compression software now comes in a version for Windows 95. The 16-bit program lets you create, open, and extract files from .ZIP archived files. PKZIP also adds and updates files within the .ZIP file, compressing files from 50 to 70% and, in some cases, >90%. To ensure data integrity when extracting compressed files, PKZIP generates a 32-bit cyclic redundancy check. The program costs $49. PKware Inc, Brown Deer, WI. (414) 354-8699.

Mathematical software eases problem-solving.

The Power Edition of Maple V mathematical software comes with a set of routines for handling piecewise-defined functions, an improved equation solver to handle inequalities and inverse-trigonometric functions, and tools for working with 2-D geometry. Updated features for processing technical documents include hyperlinks; collapsible outlining; and typeset mathematics in input, output, and text regions. Maple V Power Edition runs under Windows and OS/2 Warp. Both versions sell for $995. Waterloo Maple Software, Waterloo, ON, Canada. (519) 747-2373.

DSP software works with MatLab.

DSPower-Block Diagram V2.0 offers a graphical block-diagram interface to MathWorks' MatLab software, so that you can simulate, analyze, and debug designs that depend heavily on DSP, data-acquisition, or math algorithms. Diagrams can contain code, control, function, display, filter, instrument, or utility blocks. The software, which runs under Windows 3.1x and 95, generates two types of source code: MatLab .m files and Hypersignal macro language. A C/C++ source-code generator is optional. Prices start at $795. Signalogic, Dallas, TX. (214) 343-0069.