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Xmlspy Enterprise Edition is a robust Windows-based interactive XML development environment, a Swiss Army knife for XML developers. With xmlspy, one can develop and analyze XML models (DTDs and schemas); create and edit XML documents conforming to an XML model; develop, debug, and apply XML transformations (XSLT files) to XML content; and develop XML-based Web services. Major new features in release 5 of xmlspy Enterprise Edition are: 1. XSLT processor and debugger, 2. C++ and Java code generation of classes from XML schemas, 3. Authentic forms view, 4. Tamino XML database management, 5. OASIS catalog support (subset), and 6. built-in stylesheets and editing templates for DocBook, the US Patent and Trademark Office redbook, NewsML, and the Platform for Privacy Preferences).
Full text
Company
Altova GmbH, Altova Inc.
Purpose:
Web editor/integrated development environment
Starting Price:
$990; plus $198 for one-year support and maintenance package. Enterprise pricing TBA.
Reviewer's view
Buy this product if you want a comprehensive solution for developing XML-based Web services, HTML to XML migration, and modeling or transforming XML content, And don't forget that it goes beyond the obvious XML uses, with applications in KM and graphics. Consider other, less expensive Altova products if you need fewer capabilities or want an inexpensive way to learn about XML.
Xmlspy Enterprise Edition is a robust Windows-based interactive XML development environment, a Swiss Army knife for XML developers. With xmlspy, you can develop and analyze XML models (DTDs and schemas); create and edit XML documents conforming to an XML model; develop, debug, and apply XML transformations (XSLT files) to XML content; and develop XML-based Web services.
ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL
Since xmlspy is a robust tool, keep an open mind about what you can do with it beyond the obvious: migrating HTMLbased sites to XML; creating XML-based Web applications; and creating valid or well-formed XML content. Perhaps less obviously, xmlspy can be used to incorporate XML-based graphics (using tools developed by other vendors such as Jasc Web-- Draw, the makers of Paint Shop Pro) into XML content. XML graphics are based on XML's SVG standard, and they are not static. XML documents with SVG graphics can provide dynamically different views, and content within them (like callouts) can be searched. Another creative use for xmlspy is knowledge management. Vendors are developing schema-based taxonomies for enterprise knowledge management applications. With xmlspy, you can analyze or develop an enterprise taxonomy, modify it, and develop subsets such as a two-level navigation scheme for an intranet. A different but equally good reason to buy xmlspy is to learn about XML and Web services. xmlspy includes several popular industry-standard XML models and templates for using them.
Major new features in release 5 of xmlspy Enterprise Edition are:
XSLT processor and debugger
C++ and Java code generation of classes from XML schemas
Authentic forms view
Tamino XML database management
OASIS catalog support (subset)
Built-in stylesheets and editing templates for DocBook, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office "redbook," NewsML, and the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P), and others
Development with XML technologies differs significantly from classic procedural programming. The process starts with a content model, whether an industry standard or one customized for your documents. xmlspy's out-of-the-box authoring support for certain XML models shows the breadth and power of this product. DocBook, which was originally developed as an SGML model for UNIX documentation, currently serves as the primary model for technical writers developing hardware or software documentation. However, DocBook is modular by design and by no means restricted to technical documentation. Maintained by Oasis (www.oasis-open.org), this vocabulary is growing increasingly rich with its support for other, related vocabularies such as those for mathematical expressions (mathml) and XML graphics (SVG). NewsML provides another model with potential application beyond its original purpose: a structural framework for electronic news. NewsML flexibly handles mixtures of media types, formats, languages, and encodings. NewsML was developed by the International Press and Telecommunications Council and its members (Reuters, AFP, DPA, and others).
Content creation is only the beginning, however. Developing XSLT files to transform XML content is key to delivering the benefits of XML, and XSLT development differs significantly from both content model development and procedural programming. xmlspy provides a sophisticated XSLT debugger to facilitate XSLT development. The debugger lets you test your XSLT file line by line, providing a three-panel view of the XML input, XSLT node being processed, and output result. Developing XSLT without a system like this is like using Notepad to create Web sites.
xmlspy requires Windows 98 or higher (including Windows XP). Although Altova doesn't list specific memory requirements, xmlspy requires a fair amount of memory because it loads each document fully into memory to analyze it. For this review, I ran xmlspy on a 1gHz Pentium processor with 256MB memory running Windows 2000 professional, and xmlspy ran smoothly. However, opening a 34KB XML document initially took longer than I expected (about 30 seconds), and validating changes was not instantaneous. Opening a 5MB document can consume up to 50MB during the initial parsing process. Memory requirements are also influenced by xmlspy's unlimited undo history. When repeatedly cutting and pasting large selections in large documents, memory can also rapidly be depleted. So plan on using a PC with as much RAM as you can provide.
xmlspy adopts the new Microsoft Windows XP look and feel with a completely customizable user interface.
xmlspy lets you view documents three ways: as text, in a structured grid, or visually in a browser. You can also suppress or arrange xmlspy's windows as you choose. One important capability for anyone working with XML models is analysis and documentation and xmlspy generates graphical, hyperlinked information about each element.
By default, xmlspy displays projects and element information in panes to the left (1), the XML working document or model in the center (2), and entry-helper panes for XML elements, attributes, and entities to the right (3).
xmlspy works with Microsoft Word to generate hyperlinked XML model documentation. Clicking on any hyperlinked element (parent or child) in the documentation links to information about that element.
Clicking on any hyperlinked element (parent or child) in the documentation links to information about that element. You can navigate as you choose throughout schema models. To generate hyperlinked XML model documentation as a Microsoft Word document, you must use Microsoft Word 2000 or higher and Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher. xmlspy can also generate model documentation in HTML.
THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB
If you need all the features of xmlspy Enterprise Edition, then purchase it if you also use: Windows version 98 or later; Microsoft Word 2000 or later (for generating Word-based XML model documentation); and Internet Explorer 5 for browser-views of XML documents, or version 5.5 or higher for browser-based XML content authoring. Altova's products do not run under UNIX or Macintosh systems.
Altova offers support and maintenance options for each of its products. Since its products work hand-in-hand with rapidly evolving W3C standards, consider purchasing maintenance if you want product updates supporting the latest standards. Altova is a member of the WX and upgrades its products frequently.
Need a little less? xmlspy Enterprise Edition offers extraordinary value at a good entry price, but if you don't need all its features, Altova offers lower-priced choices. xmlspy's Professional Edition has most of the features in the Enterprise Edition, excluding mainly HTML to XML migration and SOAP Web services support. The Professional Edition lists for only $399. Altova has also developed two new products delivering feature subsets of xmlspy: stylevision 5 and authentic 5. stylevision 5 allows Web designers with little prior knowledge of XML to create advanced XML Web sites, including the development of XSLT stylesheets. authentic 5 is designed as a simple, XML editor suitable for Web publishing, knowledge management, or ecommerce applications. authentic 5 is available as a Windows desktop editor or as a plug-in to Internet Explorer. A single-user copy of stylevision 5 lists for $299. A single-user license of authentic 5 desktop or a browser-based edition lists for $199. All the features of stylevision 5 and authentic 5 are found in the Enterprise Edition of xmlspy. Altova's products are also available in multiple licensing configurations at lower unit costs. All companies listed on the Fortune 500 and NASDAQ-100 index use xmlspy. Altova claims over 650,000 registered users and 90 percent of the market for integrated XML development environments.
ROBERT J. BOERI ([email protected]) is a knowledge management analyst for a Boston-area biopharmaceutical firm.
Comments? Email letters to the editor to [email protected].
Copyright Online, Incorporated Mar 2003