PowerTools Software, a Minneapolis-based software engineering company
is proud to announce the first commercial release of their PTDataBar VBX.
PTDataBar has been used in all custom applications developed by PowerTools'
parent company Proficient Solutions and several commercial applications 
under contract to Aspen Software, Inc..

PTDataBar is a data-control aware toolbar which aides in the development
of larger scale database applications by centrally locating database
access and control code.  Never again will you have to write code which
manages the data control, form state and button state - PTDataBar handles
all of it for you.

The PTDataBar extends the standard VB data control by offering several
events commonly found in 4GL development tools -

   o  "Pre" and "Post" event triggers for data validation and user confirmation
      allow finer grained control over updates, deletes, inserts and edits.

   o  "Pre" and "Post" event triggers for database navigation ease development
      of master-detail relationships on a single form.

   o  "On" events locate all data-control methods in one place where they
      can be found and maintained easily.

   o  Form-state events FormReadOnly and FormReadWrite for changing a form's
      controls to better reflect the state that they're currently in.

PTDataBar can be configured visually using the Visual Basic property sheet
for a form.  This allows the developer to simply click on the buttons that
should be visible or enabled for a given DataBar, supply caption text for the
button and supply a status line message explaining what the button is used
for.  Buttons can also be configured programmatically using the ButtonChar,
ButtonEnabled, ButtonMsg, ButtonText and ButtonVisible properties.

PTDataBar can be configured to display help messages in a status bar on any
form.  These messages help the user better understand your application by
giving them the information they need to perform complex tasks.

PTDataBar comes complete with a medium-sized sample application and an on-line 
help file (PowerTools is an environmentally-conscious organization and doesn't 
provide printed documentation).  Also included in the same VBX is PTMenuSpy, a 
visually configurable menu watcher which can automatically display menu hints 
in a status line with no programming. Simply drop PTMenuSpy on any form with a 
menu and away you go.

PTDataBar is available now for $59.95 directly from PowerTools Software. For more 
information on PTDataBar, or to request a demonstration (development-only) version 
of the VBX, please call us at 612/860-3762, or fax your name, company information 
and phone number to 612/595-9743.  For fastest service e-mail mikem@rainier.com.