
Sage Technology, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) announces the release of DANTE
1.0b0 to any and all interested beta testers.  The software is
available via anonymous FTP. The resource listing at Sage is
`ftp://sagetech.com/pub/dante.zip', but we have uploaded it to
SimTel.

Use PK-ZIP or a compatible utility in order to extract the archive.
PK-ZIP can be used easily from within an MS-DOS window.  The
executable can be run via double-clicking on `dante.exe' from Windows
Explorer.

A detailed manual is included in Microsoft Word 6.0 format. Even if
Word 6.0 is not installed, the manual can be read with the WordPad
utility that comes with Windows 95.

This beta version is freeware and is freely distributable. 

DANTE is a Windows 95 utility that facilitates the process of
revising, and distributing revisions to, any type of file.  DANTE
operates by comparing a pair of files---for example, an original file
and a modified version of the original---in order to discern the
differences between them.  The differences are then saved as a
separate `delta file'.  If the compared files are similar, then the
DANTE delta file is much smaller than either of them.  One natural
application is to send an update to someone who has an outdated
version of a file.  DANTE will work on any pair of files: binary
executables, binary data files, text files, etc.

Although there are some known (and unknown) bugs in the user
interface, the current version of the proprietary comparison algorithm
is stable.  Therefore, we are releasing this package as `1.0b0'.

The next version, `1.0b1', will contain both bug fixes for and overall
improvements to the user interface.  Future beta releases will also
add performance enhancements to the comparison algorithm.

This beta version contains only the "General Utility", one of three
designed modules.  Commercial releases beginning with Version 2.0 will
contain an "Archive" module for managing successive versions of
files in a small space and a "Remote Update" module for automatically
synchronizing systems of files within or across platforms. Version 2.0
is scheduled for release in early 1996.

Releases are planned for Unix, Windows 3.1 and Macintosh.  Delta files
created in any version will be binary compatible with those created in
any other version. 

Please send us your comments and feedback on any aspect of the DANTE
program.

To reach us,contact:

  DANTE Product Manager
  Sage Technology, Inc.
  1850 Lake Park Drive
  Smyrna, GA 30080 

  (770) 431-0675
  (800) 728-7248
  (770) 431-9669 FAX

  dante@sagetech.com

