Informix Wingz
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Spreadsheet software |
| Predecessor | Innovative Software (developer) |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Roger Sippl (founder of Innovative Software) |
| Fate | Withdrawn from desktop software market by Informix; licensed to Claris as Resolve |
| Successor | Claris Resolve |
| Headquarters | Lenexa, Kansas (initial development) , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Roger Sippl, Phil White, Joe Erickson |
| Products | Wingz spreadsheet application |
| Owner | Informix (original), Claris (licensee for Resolve) |
| Parent | Informix |
Wingz was a spreadsheet application promoted by Informix during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Originally created for the Macintosh, it was subsequently adapted for Microsoft Windows, OS/2, NeXTSTEP, and several commercial Unix systems. Although it received favorable critiques, including one describing it as "undoubtedly the spreadsheet of the future," the industry rapidly gravitated toward Microsoft Excel. By the mid-1990s, Informix withdrew from the desktop software arena to concentrate solely on database solutions. In 1991, Claris licensed and launched an enhanced edition called Claris Resolve; however, its late market entry prevented it from achieving notable success.
History
The initial development of Wingz took place at Innovative Software in Lenexa, Kansas, targeting the Macintosh platform, with a release planned for late 1988. Informix acquired Wingz as part of its strategy to enter the desktop software sector with products integrated with their back-end databases and introduced it in early 1989 with minimal modifications. The company invested heavily in marketing efforts, including distributing Wingz-branded merchandise at conventions and staging a traveling "Wingz Time Shuttle" presentation featuring a Leonard Nimoy-narrated video alongside automated demonstrations, promoting Wingz as "the future of spreadsheet design."
Features
Wingz distinguished itself by supporting exceptionally large spreadsheets—up to 32,768 columns by rows—surpassing Excel’s limit of 256 columns by 16,384 rows at that time. It also enabled straightforward editing directly within cells, in contrast to Excel’s separate input bar. Its graphing functionality was considered among the most advanced available, providing integrated two-dimensional and three-dimensional charts embedded within spreadsheets with live editing capabilities—features that were either missing or only partially implemented in Excel.
A notable feature was HyperScript, a macro language inspired by HyperCard’s HyperTalk, which allowed users to build sophisticated macros incorporating user-interface components such as buttons and dialog boxes. Nonetheless, early versions lacked certain capabilities like macro-driven opening of other spreadsheets.
The first version contained bugs and was missing several built-in mathematical functions as well as compatibility with Excel files. In response, Microsoft enhanced Excel by adding many features introduced by Wingz, though its user interface was less intuitive.
Although version 1.1 remedied numerous problems, Wingz lost market momentum. Informix faced difficulties in marketing and internal management; founder Roger Sippl departed after the Wingz acquisition. Under CEO Phil White’s leadership, Informix exited the desktop software market entirely. Shortly thereafter, lead developer Joe Erickson also left the company.
Later iterations concentrated on broadening platform support and expanding HyperScript for database connectivity. The product evolved into a data access utility renamed HyperScript Tools. After a period of neglect, it was sold to Investment Intelligence Systems in the UK and subsequently acquired by San Jose-based PDF Solutions, which repurposed Wingz as a core component of its DataPOWER Semiconductor yield management system.
In the early 1990s, after Informix withdrew from the Macintosh market, Apple’s software division Claris licensed Wingz. They revamped it with Claris-standard user interface elements and released it as Resolve in 1991. By this point, Excel had established market dominance; Resolve’s sales remained limited. Claris never bundled Resolve with MacWrite or Claris Impact to mount an effective challenge against Microsoft Office and ceased development in 1993 before ending sales in 1994.
Claris did assemble an office suite comprising MacWrite Pro, Resolve, and MacDraw Pro aimed at competing with MS Office; however, lacking a database application or dedicated presentation software, it failed to secure significant market share.
Reception
In June 1989, the US edition of MacUser awarded Wingz 1.0 for Macintosh a perfect score of 5 mice out of 5. Later that year, in December 1989, InfoWorld assigned Wingz 1.1 a rating of 7.8 out of 10.
Regarding the Windows release, InfoWorld gave it a rating of 6.8 out of 10 in their July 1990 review.
See also
- Microsoft Excel – the leading spreadsheet software in the industry
- Numbers (spreadsheet) – Apple's proprietary spreadsheet program