Beta 2 of Java-based XML Parser (XJ2) now available

DataChannel, Inc. this week delivered Beta 2 of an XML parser written in Java (XJ2) that it co-developed with Microsoft. The companies said in a joint release that the new version brings the promise of XSL and XSL pattern matching capabilities to a Java-based XML parser for the first time.

XJ2 includes significant enhancements from the Beta 1 version of the parser, including:

• a validating XML engine
• XSL support
• transformations of data.

Microsoft selected DataChannel to co-develop the Java-based XML parser because of the company's expertise in both XML and the Java language. [Story on DataChannel XML Development Kit (XDK) ]

Together the comapnies are leveraging the XML specification to facilitate the automation of e-commerce through a standards-based transaction and exchange protocols; the enabling of data-warehousing though automated data exchange between disparate data stores; and the automation of document and knowledge management systems through the dynamic search and retrieval of personalized information.

"The relationship between Microsoft and DataChannel, Inc. ... gives us confidence that users, programmers, and IT shops can start sufficiently preparing themselves for a future in which XML will be the standard language of data," said David Pool, CEO, DataChannel, Inc.

Advanced features

Beta 2 of the XML Java-based parser co-developed by Microsoft and DataChannel includes the following features:

• XSL support. With the DataChannel XSL processor, which is based on the latest W3C Working Draft, developers can apply style sheets to XML data and display or transform the data in a dynamic and flexible way that can be easily customized.
• XSL pattern matching of XML Data. The pattern matching capabilities of the DataChannel XSL processor allow developers to programmatically find and extract information within an XML data set on the client or the server.
• XML Document Object Model (DOM). The DOM is a standard object application-programming interface that gives developers programmatic control of XML document content, structure, formats and more. The DataChannel XML implementation includes full support for the W3C XML DOM Recommendation and is accessible from script, the Visual Basic development system, C++, Java, and Java Script.
• Validating XML engine. The XML engine has been substantially enhanced and fully supports W3C XML 1.0 and XML Namespaces, which allow developers to qualify element names uniquely on the Web and thus, avoid conflicts between elements with the same name. Native XML support in Java means that developers can count on the full XML processing capabilities being present to read and manipulate the data they move between their applications and components across different platforms.
• XML Schemas. Schemas define the rules of an XML document, including element names and rich data types, which elements can appear in combination, and which attributes are available for each element.
• Server-side XML and XSL. Server-side processing allows a standard means of passing data between multiple distributed application servers -- even across operating system boundaries.

Jean Paoli, XML product unit manager at Microsoft, noted DataChannel's ability to release Beta 2 of the Java-based parser close on the heels of last month's Beta 2 release of a Windows XML implementation. That release supported XML 1.0, XSL, the XML DOM and other XML features.

"Now," said Paoli, "due to the co-development effort with DataChannel, customers also have a Java-based parser with support for these features."

About DataChannel, Inc.

Founded in 1996, DataChannel, Inc. is a leader in two-way corporate portal infrastructure for Intranets and Extranets. DataChannel increases user productivity by making corporate Intranets easier to use, integrate, manage and support. The company's flagship product, DataChannel RIO, combines the power of an XML-driven database engine with real-time TIBCO notification (Nasdaq:RTRSY) working with Netscape's Communicator or Microsoft Exchange.

All trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective holders in the United States and/or other countries.

SOURCE: Business Wire, 21 December 98