GeoWorks and Dimensions Research Sign Run-Time License Agreement for PC/GEOS-based 3-D Spreadsheet
BERKELEY, Calif. — March 14, 1991 — GeoWorks, creator of PC/GEOS and GeoWorks Ensemble, and Dimensions Research, developers of the VP Planner family of spreadsheet products, jointly announced Thursday that they have entered into a PC/GEOS run-time license agreement.
Dimensions Research will develop several professional-level applications for the award winning PC/GEOS environment, the first of which will be a three dimensional (multi-page), professional-level spreadsheet.
The run-time license allows Dimensions Research Inc. to sell products into the IBM compatible PC market that have the underlying system capabilities and Motif-compliant look and feel of PC/GEOS without requiring the user to purchase the PC/GEOS environment or GeoWorks Ensemble. PC/GEOS provides full object-oriented programming support, preemptive multithreaded multitasking, a PostScript-like single image model for true WYSIWIG display and output and high performance virtual memory management.
PC/GEOS requires only an 8088 microprocessor, 512K RAM, graphics capability, a hard disk, and a mouse.
The PC/GEOS project marks Dimensions' entry into graphical user interface (GUI) environments. "Although graphical environments have been around for several years, PC/GEOS is the only GUI we have found with the combination of system performance, technology and code efficiency that allows us to develop advanced products which run on all classes of PCs," said James Stephenson, president of Dimensions Research.
"The PC/GEOS object-oriented development tools, including a multitasking debugger, are all implemented in assembler for speed and compactness, and so comprehensive that our development time will be substantially less than if we were developing for any other GUI environment now in the marketplace."
"Dimensions Research is a leader in three-dimensional spreadsheet technology and we are excited to be working with them," said Brian Dougherty, GeoWorks chief executive officer. "Together, we will bring an easy-to-use, graphical spreadsheet with state-of-the-art functionality to all PCs, including the installed base of 35 million IBM compatible systems that are unable to effectively run other GUIs."
Three dimensional (multi-page) spreadsheets allow users to stack pages of data on top one of another, a technique that saves time, increases manageability, and minimizes the risk of accidentally destroying data when adding or deleting rows.
The PC/GEOS-based three dimensional spreadsheet will have powerful macro capabilities and a range of compatibility features allowing easy access to data from other popular spreadsheet and database formats including .WK1 and .DBF files. It will be targeted at a cross section of users, providing high-end power for the sophisticated user that won't get in the way of the novice who needs only a subset of that power.
Dimensions Research, located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, is a developer and publisher of professional level spreadsheet products with integrated database capabilities. Dimensions pioneered the development of multidimensional database technology to meet the financial planning needs of major corporations.
Its character-based products, the VP-Planner family, was formerly published by Paperback Software International.
GeoWorks, located in Berkeley, is the developer and publisher of the acclaimed PC/GEOS graphical operating system and GeoWorks Ensemble application software. The company provides sophisticated and highly efficient system and application software solutions for business, home and school computer users. GeoWorks products are available worldwide through OEM and dealer channels.
CONTACT:
GeoWorks, Berkeley
Lee Llevano, 415/644-0883
or
Dimensions Research, North Vancouver
Jim Stephenson, 604/985-5482