Hi Ann,

that tool is a Sim-Flex Sewing Gauge. Go to this link: http://www.sews.com/notions/buttontls/buttontls.html
and click on the "additional information" -- I had to enlarge that because my eyes are old, doncha know -- and that'll give you all kinds of information. You can buy it there at that site, and I'm pretty sure I saw it in Clotilde's catalog and maybe Nancy's Notions, too, as well as Hancock's Fabrics. I suspect all the fabric stores will have them.

I don't know about the software, but the first place I'd look is at the dealer where I bought my machine.

Those are really lovely button holes shown in that article, but she was a bit vague about the tools.