posted 08-31-2004 05:34 PM         

In this beta, support for multithreading was restored. The temporary speed slowdown was removed. The help file Contents Table was re-organized for much greater clarity. Overall, nuts and bolts were tightened in preparation for the final release.

The Readme.txt file says that this beta is faster than ever. The speed difference between version 2.0 and this beta is dramatic on the Pentium 4. Some adjustments have yet to be made so that other systems can experience a comparable speed difference.

Release date estimate
The soonest that the final beta can be released according to schedule is 3 or 4 months from now. And then it will likely take a minimum of one month of sitting time after the final beta before the official release. Keep in mind that this is a minimum time frame estimate. Hopefully it won't take much longer than that, though it may.

In order to fully spend time concentrating on finishing the product, all marketing efforts were put on hold for a very long time. This worked ok for quite a while, but gradually sales have dwindled. Currently it may be necessary to spend a month or more (not counted in the above time-frame estimate) to attempt to revitalize sales before resuming work on finishing the product. Every sale that comes in will make it less necessary to divert time on early marketing efforts. A free upgrade is now being offered to encourage customers not to hold off until later to place the order.

Free upgrade
If you have been holding off on purchasing a license for the current version, in order to avoid later paying an upgrade fee, then it is no longer necessary to hold off. Those who order from now on (the Professional license) are entitled to a free upgrade, even if the price goes up. See the message at www.ucalc.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000012.html for more details.

Disclaimers
* There is no guaranty as to the date of release for the next version.
* There is no guaranty as to which features will make it in the next version.
* There is no guaranty as to the suitability of the beta versions for purposes other than beta testing.
* All parts of the beta version are subject to change without notice, and without regard to compatibility from one beta version to the next.
* Hints by me about the next version given via e-mail, online forums, or other method of contact should not be considered as promises of any kind.
* A license for the beta cannot be purchased. While the next version remains in beta, only a license for version 2.0 can currently be purchased.

To download the August 2004 beta, click on www.ucalc.com/mathparser/beta/ucaug04b.zip (709,429 bytes)

posted 09-14-2004 02:15 PM         

- Go to http://msdn.microsoft.com
- In the search box, enter this word: Msvbvm50.exe
- Click on the first link that is returned. That link has the following title:
"180071 - FILE: Msvbvm50.exe Installs Visual Basic 5.0 Run-Time Files"
That page gives you information about the VB 5 runtime, and lets you download it.

If you do not want to install the VB 5 runtime, you may still run the demo, by removing the line of code with ucVBLibInit in it, and re-compiling. You'll be able to test everything, except functions that are VB-specific. The 3 VB routines that are listed in the demo file combo box are "Like", "DateAdd", and "NPV".