Corel Corporation unveiled Corel Smart Graphics Studio, a development platform designed to speed and simplify the creation of SVG-based smart graphics. These solutions transform XML and legacy data into dynamic and interactive graphics. Based on SVG, solutions built with Corel Smart Graphics Studio are not dependent on proprietary technology and are interoperable with existing tools and infrastructure. Corel Smart Graphics Studio enables enterprise Web designers and developers to produce extensible solutions by maintaining a separation between the graphical, functional and data components of an application. Corel Smart Graphics Studio will be available in mid-2003. www.corel.com/smartgraphics
Day: December 9, 2002
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has issued the XML Encryption Syntax and Processing specification and the Decryption Transform for XML Signature as W3C Recommendations, representing cross-industry agreement on an XML-based approach for securing XML data in a document. When exchanging sensitive data (e.g., financial or personal information) over the Internet, senders and receivers require secure communications. Although there are deployed technologies that allow senders and receivers to secure a complete data object or communication session, only W3C XML Signature (together with the new W3C XML Encryption Recommendation) permits users to selectively sign and encrypt portions of XML data. For example, a user of a Web services protocol such as SOAP may want to encrypt the payload part of the XML message but not the information necessary to route the payload to its recipient. Or, an XForms application might require that the payment authorization being digitally signed, and the actual payment method, such as a credit card number, be encrypted. And, of course, XML Encryption can be used to secure complete data objects as well such as such as an image or sound file. The associated “Decryption Transform for XML Signature” Recommendation permits one to use encryption with XML Signature. One feature of XML Signature is to ensure a document’s integrity: to detect if the document is altered. However, many applications require the ability to first sign an XML document and then encrypt parts of it, altering the document. The Decryption Transform lets the receiver know which portions of the document to decrypt, restoring the document to its unaltered state, before it can check the signature. XML Encryption was developed by the W3C XML Encryption Working Group, consisting of both individuals and the following W3C Members: Baltimore Technologies; BEA Systems; DataPower; IBM; Microsoft; Motorola; University of Siegen; Sun Microsystems; and VeriSign. www.w3.org
DataPower Technology, Inc. announced a joint marketing and development agreement with Contivo, Inc., to integrate the Contivo Enterprise Integration Modeling (EIM) solution with the DataPower XA35 XML Accelerator. The joint solution provides enterprise customers with an XML integration solution providing data modeling and XML data transformation technology to reduce time and money spent on integration services. Contivo’s platform-independent model-based semantic server automates the design and management of data integration. DataPower’s XA35 – based on its XG3 XML processing technology – provides a fast XML data transformation engine. In a jointly conducted test, the “XA35 was able to execute Contivo transaction mappings over 15 times faster than transactions attempted in general-purpose software.” DataPower XA35 XML Accelerator and Contivo EIM Solution 3.0 are available immediately. www.datapower.com, www.contivo.com
The Workflow Management Coalition (WfMC) announced the release of the Workflow Standard – XML Process Definition Language – XPDL 1.0. Together with other WfMC standards, XPDL provides a framework for implementing business process management and workflow engines, and for designing, analyzing, and exchanging business processes. XPDL is the culmination of a 15-month effort by multiple vendors and users to provide a standard that satisfies the needs of diverse organizations. One of the key elements of the XPDL is its extensibility to handle information used by a variety of different tools. Based upon a limited number of entities that describe a workflow process definition (the “Minimum Meta Model”), XPDL supports a number of differing approaches. A process defined in XPDL (a set of XML statements) can be imported into any workflow engine that supports XPDL. The related objects and attributes (data associated with the process) are now also included in the XPDL process definition. The XPDL process definition can be generated by workflow modeling and simulation tools, or can be manually coded, or can be exported from another XPDL-compliant workflow engine. Described as Document WfMC-TC-1025, it may be downloaded at www.wfmc.org/standards/docs.htm
FileNET Corporation and NS Solutions Corporation announced a new strategic partnership to penetrate the Japanese ECM market. The partnership will have a strategic focus on developing and marketing solutions for the Financial Services, Insurance, Pharmaceutical, Government, Manufacturing and Utilities markets in Japan. NS Solutions, which has been involved in the technical drawing and content management business for more than 15 years, has more than 400 customers in Japan. www.ns-sol.co.jp/e/index.html, www.filenet.com
Veridocs announced the upcoming availability of XMLdocs Beta Release. XMLdocs is a Web-based system for creating user-friendly XML content management solutions. The Beta Release will be available free. XMLdocs Version 1, slated for release in February 2003, will be available on a hosted basis. With XMLdocs, organizations can create XML document templates for everything from press releases and product descriptions to knowledge-based articles and help documents. Using these templates, non-technical users write and edit XML documents in XMLdocs XML word processor. Documents can then be exported for publication on a Web site or elsewhere through a simple Web Service. www.xmldocs.com
Corel Corporation announced Corel XMetaL 4. XMetaL 4 provides customizable XML editing solutions that support dynamic validation for both DTDs and W3C Schemas. XMetaL 4 is comprised of four separate components: Corel XMetaL Author, Corel XMetaL for ActiveX, Corel XMetaL Developer and Corel XMetaL Central. XMetaL Author is a customizable XML authoring environment that features the authoring aids and advanced construct support necessary to create valid, well-formed XML documents. XMetaL for ActiveX is an authoring interface that developers can embed into any ActiveX-compliant Windows application, including Web browsers. XMetaL Developer is a centralized development environment for creating Corel XMetaL customizations and applications. Designed as a plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, it enables developers to use existing Web programming skills in Script, COM and DOM. XMetaL Central enables IT managers to use Web services to remotely manage customizations and uses SOAP to provide access to up-to-date XML customization files, including style sheets, scripts, CSS and templates. XMetaL 4 will be available in early 2003. www.corel.com/xmetal4
