JafSoft Limited has released AscToHTM 3.2 for Windows 95/98/NT, a program that converts plain text files (.txt) into good looking HTML web pages in seconds. AscToHTM converts text files using text-recognition algorithms that detect the document’s structure. These can recognize headings, bullets, lists, indentation, URLs, tables, ASCII art and much more. The resulting HTML faithfully reflects the structure of the original document. This program adds value to the HTML e.g. by turning URLs into hyperlinks and adding color to your pages. It also creates a hyperlinked contents list from your headings. These extra features make the software suitable for use as an authoring tool as well as a conversion tool. At its simplest you just choose the files to be converted, press a single button and the results are displayed in your browser. For the advanced user a large number of options allow you to add a title, colors, tags and many other features. Selected options may be saved in “policy files” for reuse next time you run the program. AscToHTM is a tool for web developers, anyone who wants to generate web pages quickly and companies that want to migrate large structured or legacy text files to their Intranet or Internet sites. Recent changes include drag and drop support, recognition of mail and Usenet headers and a tagging system that allows you to add hyperlinks and conversion timestamps to your document. The interface can be switched to German, Spanish or Portuguese, although the documentation is still in English. AscToHTM 3.2 costs $40 for a single user license. Site licenses are available, and the software is made available free to FAQ maintainers. A 30-day trial can be downloaded from www.jafsoft.com/download/windows/aschtm32.zip

Unisys Corporation announced an agreement with Rational Software that will enable Rational to provide the Unisys implementation of the XMI (XML Metadata Interchange) specification for its customers’ use in exchanging information between the new Rational Rose 2000 visual modeling environment and other UML (Unified Modeling Language)-based tools and environments. The Unisys XMI software is available immediately for customer download from the Rational Web site. Through Unisys XMI software, Rational Rose 2000 users will be able to interchange information with other development and planning tools at a much finer level of detail than ever before. This capability will enable enterprise customers to build an application infrastructure that improves their capability to conduct high-volume electronic business in heterogeneous, multi-vendor environments. Rational Rose users download the XMI software at no charge from the Rational Web site at www.rational.com/products/rose/support/patches/2kdownloads.

AlbertIQ announced the beta version of WebWOWser, which enables users to create multi-page Web sites in a matter of minutes. Users quickly and easily create and customize Web sites with their own content — text, graphics, photos, sounds, and favorite links. Users can drag and drop content from their hard drive, from their desktop, even from other Web sites directly onto their Web site pages and publish their sites to the Web with the press of the Save button. WebWOWser eliminates the frustrating cycle of create, edit, save, ftp, check, edit, save ftp, check. The key to WebWOWser’s power, speed, and ease of use is its patent-pending CSD technology, which provides tight integration of the browser and the server. Users are essentially unaware of the server, which is operating quietly and invisibly in the background. Desktop services are provided from inside the browser — there is no special program or applet to install in order to create, edit, or manage sites. The WebWOWser Editor relies on ActiveX and COM technologies to operate and communicate with Windows resources. COM allows a user to drag, drop, copy, and paste local resources to the Editor. Dynamic HTML reflects site edits as users work in the Editor without creating HTML files or making requests to the server. Users actually view their site pages in the browser itself (as opposed to viewing them in a Java applet or test editor) and receive immediate feedback as they are working. WebWOWser does not generate HTML pages on the desktop. Instead, information is saved on the server and only fused when a visitor requests a user’s site. Using this method, sites can be saved quickly because the program uploads only the necessary information each time. The process of fusing page elements to produce a complete HTML page employs Active Server Page and COM technology, rendering dynamic pages that reflect the latest changes made by the user immediately. Communication between the desktop and the server is accomplished through XML. The Beta version of WebWOWser is available to users at no charge and without space limitations. WebWOWser-built Web sites are also free of placement and pop-up advertising. The current version supports Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000 and Internet Explorer 5.0. WebWOWser will also support Netscape’s new browser when it’s released later this year. www.WebWOWser.com

LanguageWare.net Ltd. completed its acquisition of Star+Globe Technologies Pte. Ltd., a privately held Singapore company that provides proprietary Asian character processing technology for the Web. As a result of the acquisition, the wholly-owned subsidiary, WholeTree.com, was formed to bring the technology of Star+Globe, and LanguageWare.net together to create a comprehensive global e-business approach with an expertise in the Asian market. After the acquisition, Lernout & Hauspie Investment Company N.V. will remain LanguageWare.net’s single largest shareholder. www.languageware.net

Optika Inc. announced Optika eMedia 2.0, which offers a B2B Web solution for uniting existing internal processes with external e-business activities. With the Optika eMedia B2B Web product, businesses are able to cross the organizational boundaries that make current inter-company communications and transaction processes inefficient and error-prone. With the addition of OLEDB standards, SQL 92 compliance, asynchronous queries and active data objects, Optika eMedia 2.0 is easier to integrate into complex user environments. Optika eMedia’s SDK simplifies the ability to embed and host other Web applications providing custom solutions. Combined with a 3-tier Web-based architecture, Optika eMedia 2.0 enables users to access transaction information regardless of type (i.e. EDI, XML, e-mail) or source (i.e. mainframe, line-of-business, traditional paper-based application). Optika eMedia 2.0 will be generally available in the second quarter of 2000. www.optika.com

POET Software announced POET Content Management Suite (CMS) version 2.1, the latest release of its repository-based solution for creating, managing, and maintaining complex XML publications. POET has enhanced CMS 2.1 with the POET object repository, integration with Arbortext’s Adept Editor, and custom metadata functionality, providing corporate and commercial publishers with faster performance for workgroups, tighter best-of-breed tool integration, and better component management. POET CMS 2.1 features many performance enhancements, such as checkouts, checkins, and imports that are up to twice as fast as the POET CMS 2.0 release. POET CMS 2.1 integrates POET Object Server Suite (OSS) 6.0, the latest release of POET’s object data management software, featuring POET’s new FastObject technology. POET OSS, the underlying database technology behind POET CMS, provides significant performance, flexibility, and scalability benefits over relational and file-based repository architectures for complex object data such as XML and SGML. POET CMS 2.1 introduces an Author Plug-in for Adept Editor, Arbortext’s XML/SGML authoring environment. With the Author Plug-in for Adept, users can create, manage, edit, and reuse document components in the POET CMS repository, providing unified authoring and management within the familiar Adept interface. POET CMS 2.1 includes a Content SDK that lets developers and system integrators build customized POET CMS applications, such as specialized interfaces for occasional contributors, reviewers, or translators. With POET CMS 2.1, developers and system integrators can now add custom metadata functionality to applications built with the Content SDK. Custom metadata enables users to attach descriptive data-which can be viewed, modified, and queried-to components in the repository. POET CMS 2.1 is available immediately. POET CMS clients run on Windows NT/95/98. POET Content Server is available for Windows NT, Solaris and HP/UX. Introductory pricing for a package that includes five client licenses starts at around $30,000. www.poet.com

Software AG introduced XENON – the “XML ENabled Open Network” – a complete architecture for XML applications that was designed specifically for the development of electronic business systems. It is based entirely on open standards, offering users and software providers a reliable, durable framework with interfaces for development, deployment and scalability of XML applications. In particular, tools from software vendors can be integrated easily with XENON. Featuring the X-Studio, X-Bridge, X-Machine and X-Node components, XENON provides a basis for the support and integration of new business processes on the Internet – even if these transactions are run on various platforms. The new X-Studio module is a system for building XML applications. The X-Studio offers a full range of XML tools, including XML and schema editors, style sheet processors, and an interactive development environment. The new X-Bridge is an XML middleware, providing a link between XML applications on different system platforms. The X-Machine enables storage of data in its native XML format. The X-Node allows access to existing data sources and brings data to the Web in XML format. There are a number of partners whose tools and solutions support the XENON architecture. These include The Reference, SoftQuad, and Extensibility. www.softwareag.com

DocuTouch announced the availability of SIDEX v2.0, the Secure Internet Document Exchange. This secure, end-to-end solution for managing and exchanging confidential, legal or sensitive documents over the Internet is platform-independent and requires no special software. Using a patented process, DocuTouch incorporates digital certificates into legally binding documents, storing the digitally signed original permanently. SIDEX, the Secure Internet Document Exchange, is an online service used to share confidential documents internally and among clients or business partners. Initial applications include legally binding contracts, purchase order agreements, human resource documents, proxy voting, leases, mortgages and insurance claims. The service offers the highest level of bonded, certified secure signatures, storing the online original forever. The service is priced to allow users to feel free to access their documents as often as desired, starting at $1.00 per megabyte stored, $1.00 per signing, and $0.50 per view. www.docutouch.com