Microsoft Announces Kit to Port Windows Applications to OS/2 Presentation Manager

Goal to Run Windows Applications on OS/2 2.0

REDMOND, WA. -- April 30, 1990 -- Microsoft Corporation today announced the Microsoft® Windows™ to OS/2 Software Migration Kit, a software tool for porting Windows applications quickly and easily to Microsoft OS/2™ Presentation Manager. The new kit provides a special layer of code that allows converted Windows applications to look, feel and work like OS/2 Presentation Manager applications and allows applications to use advanced OS/2 features, if desired. Both independent software developers (ISVs) and corporate developers will benefit from the quick conversion time, decreased development costs and ability to implement advanced OS/2 features with a minimum of effort. Using the tool, developers can usually convert a Windows application to an OS/2 application in a matter of days.

Microsoft also announced today that it will work to add the technology in the Software Migration Kit to the next version of OS/2 to allow off-the-shelf Windows applications to run on OS/2 Presentation Manager.

"We think this is an important development for users and software developers. This tool will allow the broad base of Windows applications to quickly move to OS/2," said Steve Ballmer, senior vice president of systems division at Microsoft Corporation. "Further, our goal to put this technology in OS/2 2.0 means that users will have the benefit of the Windows applications base, while being able to take advantage of the advanced features of OS/2 Presentation Manager environment."

Windows to OS/2 API Mapping Layer

The kit provides a run-time translation layer that maps Windows APIs (application programming interfaces) into OS/2 APIs. It consists of a set of dynamic link libraries (DLLs), which the developer links into the Windows application. The converted Windows application appears and works like an OS/2 Presentation Manager application. The converted applications share all the OS/2 Presentation Manager environment benefits, including data transfers to other applications via the clipboard, dynamic data exchange (DDE) and interprocess communication. Overall performance of converted applications will be 5 to 10% slower than that of native OS/2 Presentation Manager applications.

Software Migration Kit Allows Use of Advanced OS/2 Features

Developers who want to take advantage of advanced OS/2 features can add OS/2-specific APIs such as long filenames, extended attributes and multiple-execution threads to their Windows source code, for running on OS/2.

Essentially, the developers can either (a) port a Windows-based application directly, without adding OS/2-specific features or (b) mix Windows and OS/2 APIs, thus adding new functionality to the application under the OS/2 system.

DOS® and Windows device drivers can not be converted by the Software Migration Kit to run on OS/2. Windows applications that run under such drivers must rely on OS/2-specific drivers to provide the same functionality.

Early Adopters Confirm Benefits

The Software Migration Kit has been well received by early testers of the software.

Tim Farrell, president of Future Soft Engineering, Inc. spoke of the practical benefits of the kit to the working engineer. "Because DynaComm was designed to run under the newest version of Windows, the port to OS/2 presentation manager using the Software Migration Kit was a breeze -- we were able to create our first version for OS/2 presentation manager."

"The kit does more than make SQL Windows™ quickly available to OS/2 Presentation Manager users," said Earl Stahl, development manager, Gupta Technologies. "The more fundamental benefit may be that the maturity and reliability engineered into SQL Windows since 1988 will automatically transfer from our DOS-Windows version to our OS/2 Presentation Manager version."

"The Windows to OS/2 Software Migration Kit is an excellent tool to allow developers to make a measured and deliberate transition from the Windows environment to OS/2," said Said Mohammadioun, president of Samna Corporation. "Using this tool, developers can make the transition step-wise, preserving all the testing and reliability work done in the Windows-based package. The time-to-market benefits are obvious."

Product Information

The Software Migration Kit will be made available as part of the OS/2 version 2.0 Software Development Kit and in an upcoming Windows software development kit in summer, 1990.

Converted Windows applications will run under OS/2 version 1.2 and 2.0, the upcoming 386™-specific version of OS/2.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ "MSFT") develops, markets and supports a wide range of software for business and professional use, including operating systems, languages and application programs, as well as books, CD-ROM products and hardware for the microcomputer marketplace.

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Microsoft and the Microsoft logo are registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

SQL Windows is a trademark of Gupta Technologies, Inc.

386 is a trademark of Intel Corporation.