Extensibility announced the beta release of XML Authority, a new class of schema development tools designed to allow XML developers to quickly model, create and manage XML schemas from a variety of sources. XML Authority can construct schemas from many sources including existing DTDs, Java classes, ODBC data structures, COM objects and XML documents — enabling users to migrate existing application schema to XML. XML Authority’s ability to output schemas in multiple formats means that developers can support new standards without compromising corporate mandates or emerging standards. Schema output formats include standard DTD syntax, Microsoft’s XML-Data, Data Definition Markup Language (DDML), Document Content Description (DCD), Schema for Object Oriented XML (SOX) and an example XML document. XML Authority fully supports the XML 1.0 schema specification, enhancing it with support for data typing and namespaces. With the introduction of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 5 and its support for XML-Data, users can easily convert existing schema formats for use with IE5.XML-based schemas identify the objects, properties and relationships for XML solutions. XML Authority allows developers to quickly create, modify and manage these elements in a visual environment, streamlining the process and thus improving productivity. XML Authority features a graphical user interface that allows users to import or create schemas, and view document elements, attributes, entities, and other objects in a hierarchical tree. With cut and paste support, modular schema development is easily achieved. Collaborative schema management within and between organizations is enhanced with audience-specific notes and change logging support. www.extensibility.com

Sequoia Software Corp. announced a partnering agreement with the TechSight unit of General Dynamics, based in Pittsfield, Mass., to license Sequoia’s XML-based software, Interchange2000 (i2K). The TechSight team believes that Sequoia’s Portal Development Software will enable TechSight engineers to develop enterprise information portals more quickly and more efficiently. The partnering agreement takes effect immediately. TechSight has developed and deployed systems including electronic document authoring, management and distribution; interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs), logistics information systems; computer aided diagnostics; computer-based training and distance learning systems. Customers include Chrysler Corp., General Electric Corp., Kaplan Educational Systems, and U.S Airways. www.techsighthome.com, www.sequoiasw.com.

Companion BV introduced Companion, a new tool for web development and management. Companion addresses the needs of professional web developers confronted with the ever-increasing challenge of managing web sites. Based on a component-based model, Companion comes with a complete set of features for development and organized maintenance of medium-sized to large-sized web sites. The beta version of Companion 2.0 is available now at http://www.companion.nl. The definitive release of Companion 2.0 is scheduled for June 1999. Contrary to other web management systems, Companion adopts a ‘true’ component model. Components in Companion are not mere boilerplate code fragments to be ‘re-used’ with a copy-and-paste routine. Rather they are ‘programmable bricks’ that interact with and adapt to the context they are used in. A web developer can de-compose the web site into reusable segments of code, to any desired level of granularity. A component could contain a complete page, a page element (e.g. a navigation bar), a query script, a javascript, or whatever segment of code the developer wants to reuse within the web site. The web developer can assign any number of parameters to any component, in order to increase its reusability. Components can contain any combination of HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, VBScript or ASP. They are created and maintained with a script editor supporting features such as Syntax Coloring, Auto Completion, context sensitive Syntax Tips, and Drag and Drop editing. www.companion.nl

Interleaf, Inc. announced a comprehensive migration solution to upgrade its document management customers (RDM) to its XML-based e-content solution, BladeRunner. Designed to leverage existing customers’ investment in their document management solution, Interleaf’s upgrade solution, RDM-X, enables RDM customers to implement the benefits of content management and of the emerging XML and Extended Style Language (XSL) information standard. RDM-X will be available as a phased approach enabling a seamless upgrade path for RDM customers to move to XML-based content management. RDM customers will initially receive BladeRunner’s authoring and publishing capabilities integrated with the RDM repository, providing the ability to create XML, store the files in the RDM repository, and begin publishing XML to multiple formats using XSL. Ultimately the customers may purchase BladeRunner’s repository to implement complete XML-based content management. www.interleaf.com

Informix Corporation, and Excalibur Technologies announced a strategic relationship to combine the Excalibur Screening Room solution with Informix’s database technology.

Agile Software Corporation, a supplier of product change collaboration solutions for the electronic supply chain, announced it has partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in an initiative to establish standards for efficiently sharing printed circuit assembly (PCA) data between electronics manufacturers and their supply chain partners. As an industry partner in NIST’s Internet Commerce for Manufacturing (ICM) testbed project, Agile Software is providing its Agile Workplace engineering change management technology for use in creating an environment that demonstrates and validates the use of open systems and standards for efficiently sharing both technical and business data across organizations. NIST’s ICM initiative aims to create an easily replicable scenario for Internet-based electronic commerce spanning the complex supply chain common in today’s electronics industry. Part of Agile Software’s contribution to the NIST initiative is its XML-based technology, which is a key facility within the next generation Agile products. In making its XML specifications available to NIST, Agile is proposing its adoption as an industry standard for exchanging XML-based product information between electronics OEMs and their EMS providers. These documents include Build Packages, Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), Manufacturing Change Orders (MCOs), and bills of material (BOMs). XML is a platform-independent, Web-based language that lets users categorize and structure data to be transmitted over the Internet. www.agilesoft.com