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SpectraBuilder

Our SpectraBuilder™ application is a professional GUI development tool that allows designers to create platform-independent user interfaces without having to write code. Unlike similar tools that produce script (JavaScript™, HTML, XML) or generate C or C++ code, SpectraBuilder produces a fully platform-independent binary output file in a format called BUILD (binary user interface logic description). The BUILD file contains all the necessary fonts, compressed graphics, strings, widget positions, UI hierarchy and base navigation in a pure binary format that’s accessible from your application through simple APIs using our SpectraCore™ UI engine.

Small size, platform independence
Use of a binary data format allows SpectraBuilder to achieve two primary design goals. First, a binary format enables the file size to remain as small as possible. A binary format also means that the UI will be platform-independent and functional across multiple devices and operating systems without any code changes.

SpectraBuilder components
Design and preview in a single tool: The intuitive interface of the WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) design methodology ensures the designer will have the tools needed to handle even the most challenging of UI concepts.

Project Starter: Project Starter gives your design and engineering teams more ways to communicate with each other and to quickly and easily start building and executing your Windows® PC platform prototype. ProjectStarter lets your design team generate “C” code application “plumbing” and Visual Studio 2005 project files based on the design UI components. These files can be used immediately by the engineering team to begin coding the personality of the device UI. With SpectraWorks, the finished design and application move seamlessly to the target platform, resulting in an overall quicker time to market.

Text Bounds Checker: Text Bounds Checker detects text strings that overrun the bounds of a UI widget and cause display issues that would otherwise go undetected until the UI widget is executed. By highlighting the offending text strings, they can be edited during the initial design process, saving valuable time and resources.

SpectraWorks Visual Effects: Our visual effects library offers professional, value-add modules for easily including popular UI paradigms, such as slide, turn, fade, spin and scale. In addition, you can now integrate advanced menu effects, such as a carousel, where images appear as if they’re sitting on a rotating disc. Each module includes both SpectraBuilder design files and Visual Studio® source code level project files that can be used quickly and customized as needed.

Skin editor: Multiple styles (called “skins”) can be created for each widget type, giving the designer the power to create unique interactive elements and still reap the benefits of a single graphic to control all widgets within a type. Skins are used to efficiently change device resolutions, GUI personalities or product models and brands.

String table editor: Language localization strings can be modified and previewed in-line using SpectraBuilder or by editing them in any Microsoft® Excel® format compatible application, allowing edits to be easily managed and imported directly into your project.

Navigation design mode: You’re able to create and preview the "spinal navigation" on each screen of your UI through our navigation design mode, enabling faster changes and a reduced code size.

SpectraBuilder Features:

• WYSIWYG design methodology
• Spinal navigation definition and preview
• Import and export string tables for multiple languages
• Simplified worldwide language localization
• Complete widget set
• Skin technology to reduce asset size and increase design flexibility
• TrueType®, vector & bitmap font support
• C API to SpectraCore
• Platform-independent binary output
• Direct download to platform via SpectraLink
• Interactive preview mode
• Support 10 common native color modes including;8/15/16/32 bit modes of RGB and YUV

Minimum PC Operating Requirements:

• Intel® Pentium® III or 4 processor
• Microsoft Windows XP
• 1GB of RAM (2GB recommended)
• Color monitor with 16-bit color or greater video card
• 800x600 or greater monitor resolution

Click here to download the PC-based SpectraWorks SDK, and here to download the SpectraBuilder brochure.