Paul Krill
Editor at Large

Microsoft enhances FrontPage, SQL Server

news
Jun 11, 20032 mins

Users can build data-driven Web sites

Microsoft this week announced efforts to support development of XML-based Web sites in Office FrontPage 2003 and to extend SQL Server database capabilities to more than 50 proprietary databases and files.

Part of the Microsoft Office System, FrontPage 2003, will serve as a WYSIWIG Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation Editor (XSLT) editor in which users can work with live data to develop interactive, dynamic Web sites, according to Microsoft. This streamlines the process of sharing information on the Web, according to the company.

With the WYSIWIG editor, users can build XML data-driven Web sites connecting to XML files, Web services, and OLE DB data sources, according to Microsoft. It is no longer necessary to program with server-side scripting tools such as the Visual Basic development system, Visual C#, or Visual Basic Scripting Edition or Java to develop data-driven Web sites, according to Microsoft.

FrontPage 2003 also offers coding tools such as a Split Screen view for viewing code and the design view simultaneously.

Beta 2 of Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003 is available as part of the Microsoft Office System. Interested customers can sign up to receive the beta at http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/frontpage.  The final release of the product is due this summer.

Microsoft and iWay Software, meanwhile, are partnering on a relationship in which iWay will provide a Universal Adapter Suite for the SQL Server Data Transformation Services. This will extend SQL Server distributed database capabilities to proprietary databases and files as well as to major packaged application systems such as SAP R/3, J.D. Edwards, Siebel, and PeopleSoft, according to iWay and Microsoft.

The suite will ease data integration across organizations of all sizes, according to iWay, an Information Builders company. SQL Server customers get a new level of integration with legacy data for high-volume transactions and data warehouses. The SQL Server 2000 database is extended in application integration by enhancing its ability to work with packaged applications.

Paul Krill

Paul Krill is editor at large at InfoWorld. Paul has been covering computer technology as a news and feature reporter for more than 35 years, including 30 years at InfoWorld. He has specialized in coverage of software development tools and technologies since the 1990s, and he continues to lead InfoWorld’s news coverage of software development platforms including Java and .NET and programming languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, and Go. Long trusted as a reporter who prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and the best interests of readers, Paul is sought out by technology companies and industry organizations who want to reach InfoWorld’s audience of software developers and other information technology professionals. Paul has won a “Best Technology News Coverage” award from IDG.

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