Industry-leading TASKING C166/ST10 Toolset Delivers Optimization Increases and New Features.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2003

Altium Limited (ASX:ALU), a leading developer of Windows-based electronic design and development software, today announced a significantly enhanced new version of the TASKING C166/ST10 embedded software development toolset. Building on TASKING's 12-year history as the leading software development toolset brand for the 16-bit C166 and ST10 architectures, version 8.0 of this toolset features a host of major enhancements and new and unique features. Improved code optimization, the addition of flash memory programming, major enhancements to the Embedded Development Environment (EDE), extended ROM monitor support, and a Standard Template Library are just some of the highlights of this new release.

Increased optimization

A new optimization process has been added to the compiler that gives C166/ST10 developers an average of 2.5% increase in code compression compared with the previous version of the toolset. The powerful Data Flow Analysis Peephole (DFAP) optimization increases both code execution speed and code compaction. In addition, packed structure support and memory usage improvements allow developers to further optimize applications to suit their specific needs.

Integrated flash memory programming

With version 8.0 of the C166/ST10 toolset, developers no longer need to purchase a separate flash utility. The new version delivers flash memory programming for both on-chip or external flash devices integrated into the CrossView Pro debugger. Developers can now specify the flash types and memory ranges in the EDE, and the debugger will manage the downloading and programming.

Major EDE enhancements

Version 8.0 builds on TASKING's industry-leading depth of control of the microcontroller, the application, and the code generation tools with dramatic enhancements to its award-winning EDE. It gives the developer better control over the initialization of applications while at the same time making significant improvements to ease of use.

The addition of a treeview menu increases makes project navigation much easier. It enables developers to configure their projects, and have full control over the setup of all tools, such as the compiler. Support for context sensitive help has been extended to the tool configuration menus. The EDE allows in situ editing of register values by enabling the developer to set the values at a symbolic level, rather than at the individual bitfield level. The result is a more flexible and intuitive method of setting registers.

Another new feature is the automatic customization of the control panel of the EDE according to the particular derivative selected. This makes it easier to remember all the necessary settings required for the specific chip as only the relevant controls for each derivative are shown. Once all the edits and settings have been made, the EDE now automatically generates the correct startup code for the application.

Addition of ROM monitor support

Responding to customer feedback, Altium has added full ROM monitor support for all derivatives, including the XC16x family. This adds development flexibility where on-chip debugging is not the ideal solution.

First Standard Template Library (STLport) for C166/ST10 toolsets

Version 8.0 of the TASKING toolset is the first and only C166/ST10 toolset in the industry to offer the Standard Template Library (STLport), provided with the C++ compiler package. SLTport is regarded as one of the de facto industry standards by the C++ community and enables C++ developers to avoid C++ conformance traps and portability issues.

Pricing and availability

The TASKING C166/ST10 toolset is a complete, integrated embedded software development toolset consisting of the TASKING EDE, C/C++/EC++ compiler, assembler, linker/locator and CrossView Pro OCDS, ROM monitor and simulator debugger.

The product is available for PC/Windows, PC/Linux, SUN/Solaris, and HP9000/UX platforms. Prices start at US$2,650 for the C compiler and simulator debugger package for PC/Windows.

Please visit www.tasking.com/products/c166-ST10 for more information on the TASKING C166/ST10 toolset, or go to www.tasking.com/company/contact.html for the details of your nearest Altium sales and support center.

About Altium Limited

Altium Limited (ASX:ALU), trading as Protel International Limited (ASX:PRI) prior to August 6, 2001, is a leading global developer and supplier of desktop Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and embedded software design tools for the Microsoft Windows environment.

Since the company's foundation in 1985 and its release of the world's first Microsoft Windows-based EDA tool in 1991, Altium has continued to apply the most advanced software design methods to provide powerful, easy-to-use and affordable design software to engineers and electronics designers worldwide.

Altium's current product brands include Protel, nVisage, P-CAD, TASKING, Accolade, CircuitMaker and CAMtastic. These products offer tailored solutions covering a range of hardware and software design processes.

Altium is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and operates a number of sales and support offices in Australia, the United States, Japan and Europe, as well as maintaining a large reseller network in all other major markets. More information about the company and its products and services may be obtained from our website at www.altium.com.

Note to Editors: Altium, Protel, DXP, Design Explorer, nVisage, P-CAD, TASKING, Accolade, CircuitMaker, CAMtastic, Situs and Topological Autorouting and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altium Limited or its subsidiaries. All other registered or unregistered trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners, and no trademark rights to the same are claimed.