Category: Content technology news (Page 540 of 643)

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

Just in Time Solutions announced it has delivered the DTD for the XML presentation contained in the Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX) 1.01 specification. The IFX 1.01 specification, which was recently released by the IFX Forum for public comment, is an open standard that provides a framework for the exchange of financial data between financial institutions, service providers and customers. With input from other members of the IFX Forum’s XML Working Group, Just in Time took the lead in creating the DTD for the XML representation contained in the IFX 1.01 specification. The incorporation of a DTD in IFX 1.01 enables financial institutions, service providers and technology vendors to begin developing applications using IFX. In addition, Just in Time helped establish the rules and guidelines for sending and receiving IFX messages in XML. The standard can be found at www.ifxforum.org, www.justintime.com

Extensibility, Inc. and Bristol Technology Inc. announced a cooperative agreement to market Extensibility’s XML Authority schema design and conversion solution and Bristol Technology’s eXactML, which simplifies the task of adding XML capabilities to applications. XML Authority is a compliment to eXactML as companies use XML to drive e-business applications using Internet technologies. XML Authority converts existing application and document structures into schemas while eXactML generates object-oriented interfaces for reading, writing and manipulating XML content. www.extensibility.com, www.xmlschema.com, www.bristol.com

Infoteria Inc. announced the availability of the iConnector / SQL Server version 1.0. iConnector / SQL Server allows users to both store XML data into Microsoft SQL Server, and query existing information stored in that server as XML data. iConnector / SQL Server is the latest addition to the iConnector family of products, which embraces a wide variety of industry platforms, including Oracle, Lotus Notes/ Domino and Microsoft Access. The series contains Rule Generator, a user friendly GUI based tool, which allows users to easily map XML data structures to database schemes, and visa versa. iConnector also allows for cross database relational joins where incoming XML data can be stored using another database as a reference. The Japanese version of iConnector / SQL Server will be available on February 14th, 2000 for Microsoft Windows NT4.0. The English version will be available April 1st. iConnector / SQL Server pricing starts at $8,000. In addition, an OEM version will be available. www.infoteria.com

Sterling Commerce, Inc. announced its new E-business process integration software and consulting services solution through its participation in RosettaNet. “RosettaNet Server” is designed to improve E-business supply chain management through the implementation of open and common processes by leveraging enabling technologies such as XML. This solution helps companies implement RosettaNet’s methodology for enabling small and large buyers and sellers to do business more efficiently over the Internet. The RosettaNet Server leverages Sterling Commerce’s existing GENTRAN BPI offering providing native XML integration capabilities for business document exchange and acknowledgement, partner authentication, and seamless back-end connectivity into both packaged and legacy application systems. Availability of this solution is scheduled for February 2, 2000, in conjunction with the RosettaNet pilot implementation initiative. www.sterlingcommerce.com

Mercator Software announced its new product family for e-business transformation. The new Mercator E-Business Broker products provide a single architecture for seamless B2B integration across all commerce touch points, event-driven application-to-application (A2A) integration within the enterprise, and the extension of existing systems with Web-enabled interfaces for C2B applications. The new Mercator E-Business Broker suite comprises three products – Mercator Commerce Broker, Mercator Enterprise Broker, and Mercator Web Broker – that address specific e-business integration requirements. All Mercator E-Business Broker products are based on the same transformation architecture, allowing customers to leverage a single platform and reusable components across multiple applications. The new Mercator E-Business Broker suite breaks new ground with XML transformation, distributed business component deployment and end-to-end integration management. Mercator Commerce Broker will be available in March and will be priced starting from $200,000, depending on the number of server-side CPUs and developer seats. Mercator Commerce Broker will be available for Windows NT, Sun Solaris, Hewlett Packard HP-UX and IBM AIX. Mercator Enterprise Broker will be available in March and will be priced starting from $150,000, depending on the number of server-side CPUs and developer seats. Mercator Enterprise Broker will be available across 22 platforms. Mercator Web Broker is available immediately and is priced starting from $50,000, depending on the number of server-side CPUs and developer seats. Mercator Web Broker is available for Windows NT, Sun Solaris, Hewlett Packard HP-UX and IBM AIX. www.mercator.com

IntraNet Solutions, Inc. announced it has signed an exclusive OEM licensing agreement to port its Xpedio technology to the IBM AS/400 platform for e-Business Intelligence vendor ShowCase Corporation as part of its new Enterprise Information Portal offering. Under the terms of the agreement ShowCase will have exclusive rights to sell the Xpedio product line on the IBM AS/400 platform as well as non-exclusive rights to sell it on UNIX and NT platforms. Showcase also announced today its Enterprise Intelligence Initiative – a Web-based solution that extends the ShowCase data warehousing and business intelligence product line and tightly integrates IntraNet Solutions’ Xpedio Content Management System. ShowCase STRATEGY combined with Xpedio will provide organizations with the ability to seamlessly capture, manage and deliver any type of content through a personalized Web-based gateway on the IBM AS/400 platform. The ShowCase-Xpedio solution will be available by March 31, 2000, with pricing starting at $75,000 USD. www.showcasecorp.com, www.intranetsolutions.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