FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 1998
BLUE WORLD RELEASES LASSO 3 PRODUCT LINE
Blue World introduces industry’s first cross-platform database-independent
Web application development tool for both custom and instant Web database
publishing.
BELLEVUE, WA – October 7, 1998 – Blue World Communications, Inc. today
shipped the Lasso 3 Product Line providing Web application developers with
the first professional tool for custom and instant Web database publishing
for both FileMaker Pro and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) compliant
databases across multiple platforms. Lasso 3 lets Web developers build and
deploy sophisticated database-driven websites for Web browsers and Java
applets. The Lasso 3 Product Line provides a significant upgrade to the
company’s award-winning dynamic Web database publishing technology
currently deployed at tens-of-thousands of business critical websites
worldwide.
“The Lasso 3 Product Line provides unprecedented power, control and
ease-of-use,” said Blue World President & CEO Bill Doerrfeld. “Website
developers now have a mature tool to rapidly create and deploy powerful
cross-platform database-driven Web applications.”
The Lasso 3 Product Line is available in the following configurations:
Lasso 3 ISAPI for Microsoft Internet Information Server for Windows NT,
Lasso 3 ODBC Data Source Module for Windows NT and Mac OS, Lasso 3
FileMaker Pro Data Source Modules for Windows NT and Mac OS, and Lasso 3
Server, Plug-in and CGI applications for Mac OS.
New cross-platform configurations offer a ten-fold increase in performance
over prior editions when coupling Lasso’s multi-threaded capabilities with
powerful multi-threaded data sources. Key new features include a
high-performance internal security database engine, a server side Lasso
Java Application Programming Interface (LJAPI) for extensibility; and over
100 new commands including data validation filters, macros, file/directory
management, date/time controls, list variables, multiple named tokens,
robust error handling, MIME email, email attachments, extended math
routines, enhanced string functions, enhanced encoding controls and more.
Cross-Platform Scalability
The Lasso 3 Product Line allows organizations to quickly author Web
applications using popular entry-point Web database environments such as
FileMaker Pro for Mac OS and easily deploy business critical solutions on
Windows NT with multi-threaded ODBC data sources. Lasso’s unique database
and platform independent approach provides maximum flexibility for
Information Systems professionals desiring a single middleware programming
and deployment tool for enterprise intranet and Internet publishing needs.
Instant Web Database Publishing
The Lasso 3 Product Line provides unique Instant Web Database Publishing
capabilities allowing intranet administrators to immediately Web-enable any
ODBC-compliant data source or FileMaker database simply by pointing a Web
browser to a set of customizable Lasso 3 DHTML page templates.
Enhanced Authoring Capabilities
The Lasso 3 Product Line introduces a new alternative syntax allowing Web
developers the ability to author Lasso format files in popular graphical
website authoring programs such as GoLive CyberStudio 3.1, NetObjects
Fusion 3, Adobe PageMill 3.0, FileMaker Home Page 3.0 and more. Using the
updated FM Link 3* tool, developers can drag-and-drop Lasso dynamic
database publishing commands into graphical website editors for precise
positioning alongside static HTML page elements.
Multi-Database Support
The Lasso 3 ODBC Data Source Module communicates with ODBC 2.1 or greater
drivers for seamless connectivity to Windows NT, Windows 95/98, Unix or Mac
OS databases. Lasso 3 allows database queries (add, search, update, delete,
SQL) to be embedded directly within HTML files and provides a way for
direct two-way interoperability between FileMaker Pro and ODBC data
sources. For example, using the powerful Inline command, Lasso can query an
Oracle database, search a FileMaker Pro database, compare the results, log
the search terms to an Access database, insert a new row into a Sybase
database then return a resulting set of records to the Web user.
Enhanced FileMaker Pro Support
The Lasso 3 FileMaker Pro Modules build upon the early Lasso technology
embedded within FileMaker, Inc.’s FileMaker Pro 4.x Web Companion providing
a robust feature set designed for professional Web developers. Webmasters
can now use FileMaker Pro with SSL Web servers operating on Windows NT for
secure e-commerce. What’s more, the FM Remote module communicates with
FileMaker Pro 4.x Web Companion configured databases located anywhere on a
TCP/IP network for enhanced performance and flexibility.
Pricing and Availability
Lasso 3 Product Line applications, modules and documentation are
immediately available for download and free evaluation via the Blue World
download area at http://www.blueworld.com/blueworld/download/ and for
purchase online through the Blue World Store at http://store.blueworld.com.
Registered customers who purchased Lasso 2.5 between July 7, 1998 and today
qualify for free upgrades** to like editions. Lasso 3 Product Line
applications and modules are priced from $125 to $799.***
Blue World Store
In a concurrent announcement, Blue World today announced the launch of the
Blue World Store. The Blue World Store offers secure online shopping for
Blue World products and recommended third party Lasso 3 companion products.
Customers save up to 10% on companion products such as PrimeBase, a
powerful cross-platform multi-threaded ODBC-compliant database. The Blue
World Store also demonstrates advanced e-commerce capabilities powered by
the Lasso 3 Product Line. The Blue World Store is immediately open for
e-business at http://store.blueworld.com.
About Blue World Communications, Inc.
Blue World Communications (http://www.blueworld.com) develops
cross-platform Internet middleware software allowing Internet and intranet
information administrators to quickly build sophisticated database-driven
Web applications. Blue World provides the Lasso 3 Product Line and the Blue
World Store in fulfillment of its mission of “bringing business to the
internet(tm).” Recently cited as the State of Washington’s 12th fastest
growing technology company, Blue World, based in Bellevue, WA, is a
privately held company founded in 1992.
Lasso and Blue World Communications are trademarks of Blue World
Communications, Inc. FileMaker Pro is a trademark of FileMaker, Inc.,
registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks or trade
names are the property of their respective holders.
* Available only for Mac OS.
** Nominal processing, shipping and handling fees may apply to free upgrades.
*** Pricing, availability and features subject to change without notice.
Media Contact:
Bill Doerrfeld, President & CEO
Blue World Communications, Inc.
425.646.0288, bill@blueworld.com