Black Dirt Software announced today the release of Convert 1.1 - a Visual Basic to Java Converter. Convert 1.1 is available immediately for purchase. The price is set at $59.99.

Convert 1.1 is written entirely in Java. The object oriented nature of Java allows this new converter to be extended by third party vendors. Carmen Delessio, President of Black Dirt, noted that there are "over 400 VB Controls in existence today. There is no way that we can convert them all. So we have built an infrastructure that will allow third parties and end users to create their own conversion classes. We expect to lay a foundation so that this market can take off in the manner that the original Visual Basic VBX components took off."

A white paper is available on the Black Dirt Web Site at http://www.blackdirt.com/bdwhitepaper.htm. The paper explores the extensibility issue, the ability and desire of Visual Basic programmers to learn Java, and technical background.

Black Dirt, in pursuing the mission to "become the software industry leader for moving legacy systems onto the Java platform" made the following announcements:

* Formation of Black Dirt Software Consulting, Inc. to service the needs of companies who are moving their legacy systems to Java. There will be an initial focus on Visual Basic to Java conversion services.

* Release of a Beta Delphi Forms to Java Converter

* Enhancements to a Windows Metafile to Java Converter (A JARS top 5% Applet)

* An Applet to play Windows Metafiles without the need to download a plug-in.

About Black Dirt Software,Inc.

Black Dirt Software, Inc. is a Java software company based in Goshen, NY. Black Dirt's mission is to become the software industry leader for moving legacy systems onto the Java platform.