Creative Systems, Inc., makers of GHS (General HydroStatics) ship stability
software, has released GHSCOM, a software interface that allows GHS to be run
from within common application programs such as Microsoft Office and AutoCAD.
GHS users can now write Visual Basic functions in Excel, and with
very little effort have a spreadsheet where cell values are calculated by GHS.
GHSCOM provides access to the GHS main calculating engine through Microsoft
COM technologies. This allows GHS to be tightly integrated into other
programs. Any application written in a language that supports the COM calling
convention can link to GHS through the GHSCOM module. Such languages are,
C/C++
C#
Delphi
Java (COM Bridge)
Visual Basic
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)
VB Script
This creates an opportunity for software developers to make use of the GHS
calculating engine within programs where hydrostatic properties of floating
bodies or vessels containing liquids are dealt with in the application. In
addition to properties such as volume, center of volume, surface area,
waterplane and lateral plane, GHS provides a host of powerful functions
related to stability and strength characteristics, including ground reactions
and multiple-body interactions.