Evergreen Software Tools introduces EasyER 1.0; Affordable, easy-to-use, powerful database design tool.

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Evergreen Software Tools Inc. (ESTI), developers of award-winning EasyCASE(R) Professional and Database Engineer(TM), today announced the release of EasyER(R) version 1.0, an affordable, powerful tool for database modeling and design using entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs).

Priced at under $500, EasyER is a viable alternative to other products that cost several times more.

EasyER can generate new databases and reverse-engineer existing databases, via an industry-standard ODBC connection, generating entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs) from them and capturing details about table structures, columns, primary and foreign keys, indexes, triggers, referential integrity (RI), etc.

After reverse-engineering an existing database and creating a chart from it, users can then modify the database design for regeneration to the same, or a different database type.

"EasyER is for organizations that need to focus mostly on data modeling, leading to the generation and reverse-engineering of desktop and client/server databases," explained Rob Pritt, founder and president/CEO of Evergreen Software Tools.

"Users of our EasyCASE products have for some time been requesting a product that provides considerably more focus on data-modeling, physical database design and reverse-engineering than is provided by a traditional CASE tool. EasyER has been developed to meet those needs and to complement our EasyCASE product line."

Features

EasyER includes the Watcom SQL 4.0 run-time database engine for storage of all of a user's project information in a central repository. EasyER also includes the Crystal Reports Pro 4.5 reporting engine and a wide-selection of pre-built reports. Users can export reports in a wide-variety of formats, including text, record, CSV, DIF, RTF, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, Word, and more.

Database Schema Generation

EasyER generates database schemas directly from the user's ERDs, via ODBC or SQL DDL scripts, including details about table structures, indexes, primary and foreign keys, cardinality, referential integrity constraints, domains (user defined types), triggers (with RI trigger generation), stored procedures, etc.

From these, users can select which specific entities from a chart to include in schema generation, and the order in which to generate them. They can also select which specific domains, triggers and stored procedures to include.

Support for Industry Standards

EasyER supports a wide-range of both desktop and client/server databases via an ODBC driver, including Access, dBASE, Paradox, FoxPro, ORACLE, SQL Server, Sybase, SQLBase, Informix, DB2, Progress, InterBase, R:BASE, XDB, Watcom SQL, and more. EasyER can also use the Access JET database engine (included) to generate and reverse-engineer databases for Access 1.x, 2.0 and 7.0; and to reverse-engineer dBASE, FoxPro and Paradox databases, eliminating the need for an ODBC driver for these database types.

Users can select the target database type from a wide-range of supported desktop and client/server database types, and select an ODBC data source connection to use when generating a "native" schema directly into the target database.

Chart Notations Supported

EasyER supports several popular entity-relationship diagramming notations, including: IDEF1X; Martin Information Engineering; Bachman; Shlaer-Mellor; Rumbaugh OMT; and more.

Support for EasyCASE

EasyER supports importing of information (data dictionary entries and ERDs) from EasyCASE Professional (including DBE and DBE/PB) so that users can build upon the data models that they created with EasyCASE.

Visual Basic(R) 4 Interface

EasyER for Visual Basic 4 adds the ability to define and generate Visual Basic projects and forms from a user's database design in the form of entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs). It supports the creation of multi-table and master-detail (related, one-to-many tables) forms.

Visual Basic forms are associated with ERD entities that define database tables and VB4 data-bound controls are associated with column definitions. EasyER for VB4 works with ODBC database connections as well as with the Access JET engine. EasyER works with Visual Basic 4.0 standard, professional and enterprise editions.

PowerBuilder(R) Interface

EasyER for PowerBuilder adds the ability to import, export and update PowerBuilder extended attributes (tables, columns, edit styles, display formats and validation rules) between PowerBuilder and EasyER. All available PowerBuilder edit styles are supported (check boxes, radio buttons, drop-down list boxes, DataWindows, edit boxes, masked edit boxes and spin controls).

EasyER allows users to associate PowerBuilder extended attributes with ERD entities and edit them. A visual synchronization feature reconciles entries between the EasyER and PowerBuilder repositories and import, export, update or delete entries in either. EasyER works with PowerBuilder desktop and enterprise versions 3, 4 and 5.

Pricing:

EasyER $495

EasyER for Visual Basic 4 $695

EasyER for PowerBuilder $695

EasyER for Visual Basic and PowerBuilder $795

Note: Special upgrade pricing is available to registered users of EasyCASE Professional 4.

System Requirements

EasyER is available as a 16- or 32-bit application for Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows NT 3.51, or Windows 95. EasyER requires a minimum of 8Mb RAM (16Mb recommended), and a 486 processor (Pentium recommended). Disk space requirement is 10-20Mb.

The Company

Evergreen Software Tools Inc. is a worldwide supplier of affordable, easy-to-use, award-winning PC-based software development tools that address systems analysis and design.

For more information, contact Evergreen Software Tools Inc. at 15444 N.E. 95th, Redmond, WA, 98052, USA; 800/929-5194, 206/881-5149; FAX [phone]. Visit ESTI on the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.esti.com or CompuServe (GO SDFORUM) EasyCASE library (#17). -0-

Editor's Note: (To obtain a review copy of EasyER, or for more information please contact Chris Kent at 206/881-5149 x18, Internet: [e-mail] or via CompuServe at 104103,47).

CONTACT: Verne McCullough, 206/881-5149 x52

Internet: [e-mail]

CompuServe: 104103,47

NOTE TO EDITORS: In the Internet/email addresses noted in this news release, there is an "at" symbol between: marketing AND esti.com; marketing AND esti.com. This symbol may not appear properly (or at all) in some systems.