Java Product News (November 10, 2000)

INDEXHEAD: BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe drives legacy apps to the Web

BEA Systems is now shipping the BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe 4.1, an enterprise application integration (EAI) offering. Organizations that rely on the BEA WebLogic Server can use the application to incorporate existing mainframe data and capabilities into Web-based and Java environments. BEA WebLogic Java Adpater for Mainframe 4.1 also:

• Supports distributed communications resource managers, which improve workload distribution between the mainframe and the application
• Integrates with BEA WebLogic Process Integrator, a J2EE workflow and process integration engine
• Features advanced clustering abilities
• Allows for realtime interactions among IBM mainframe applications and the entire BEA WebLogic E-Business Platform

BEA WebLogic Java Adapter for Mainframe 4.1 operates on Windows NT and Unix platforms. It also supports OS/390 Version 2, Releases 8 and 9.

INDEXHEAD: VisiComp 1.5 adds servlet support

VisiComp has unveiled VisiComp 1.5, a Java software-visualization tool that now supports the runtime visualization of servlets. With this debugging feature, developers can examine how Java applications, applets, or servlets operate while running. The application also provides an enhanced architecture, a GUI with highlighted boxes and arrows that allow developers to see their most recent changes, a throttle control feature to increase or decrease the program’s speed, and a single-step control tool for viewing an application one step at a time.

VisiComp 1.5 costs 95.

INDEXHEAD: PCsync relies on Java-based communication engine

PCsync, recently released from LapLink.com, is a personal file-management application that helps users synchronize folders, transfer files, share files on the Internet, and store files online. The application targets small-business PC users looking for a way to exchange files between PCs. PCsync transfers files in three ways: via LapLink’s USB network cable, via Internet file transfers, and via Internet online storage services. PCsync relies on a new Java-based communication engine and uses XML to coordinate the metadata of files. Part of the SpeedSync-enabled product line, PCsync facilitates the synchronization process by transmitting only new data during the file transfer. It costs 9.95.

INDEXHEAD: Debug iPlanet application server apps with free plug-in

A new plug-in from iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions and WebGain allows developers to create, evaluate, and debug iPlanet Application Server applications using the Visual Café Enterprise Edition. The tool essentially synthesizes the iPlanet application server runtime environment with the Visual Café development environment to supply an automated solution based on J2EE technology. Other features of the plug-in include:

• Transparent registration of JSP, EJBs, and servlets via remote and local servers
• Component registration with remote and local iPlanet Application Server instances
• Automated debugging of iPlanet Application Server Java code with Visual Café debugger
• Automated testing of iPlanet Application Server applications within the Visual Café IDE
• Ability to test servlets, EJBs, and JSPs within the iPlanet Application Server EJB container and servlet and JSP engine with Visual Café
• GUI editor for editing iPlanet Application Server XML-based application and EJB descriptors

Developers can download the WebGain Visual Café plug-in for the iPlanet application server for free.

INDEXHEAD: Sun and Veritas present Jiro-enabled tools

Sun Microsystems and Veritas Software have announced the availability of Jiro-enabled products based on Sun’s Jiro Runtime Environment. The Jiro collection of APIs rely on the Java 2 Platform and create storage management solutions. Sun has Jiro-enabled its Sun StorEdge A5x00 array, the Sun StorEdge T3 array, and the Sun StorEdge Instant Image software. Veritas has introduced Jiro-enabled versions of Veritas File System, Veritas Volume Manager, and Veritas NetBackup software.

In addition, Sun presents two online Jiro courses. A general “Jiro Technology Overview” course supplies an overview of Jiro technology and describes Jiro-based management offerings. The second course, “Getting Started with Jiro Technology,” introduces developers to the Jiro architecture, management elements, management servers, and Jiro event services.

INDEXHEAD: CodeWright 6.5 simplifies code editing

CodeWright 6.5, an advanced code-editing application from Contemporary, helps developers create code by allowing them to standardize their development environments, thus eliminating the need to learn how different development IDEs and GUIs work. Some new features of version 6.5 include:

• CodeSense for Java
• HTML/WYSIWYG editing
• An object hierarchy
• Template expansion
• Embedded language ChromaCoding
• Split window capability
• Toolbar modification

In addition, CodeWright 6.5 has added support for XML, ASP, HTML, C++, Python, and Perl. An expanded CodeSense definition library helps decrease manual programming projects by finishing extensions. Developers can also edit code in either the standard HTML edit screen or a Webpage view.

INDEXHEAD: Droplet offers free SDK for Internet application development

Droplet has announced the free availability of its Droplets SDK, which provides developers with an object-oriented GUI for creating and deploying Internet applications. The package includes a suite of tutorials, samples, API documentation, source code, and technical support. While the Droplet user interface runs on a remote machine, Droplet applications can be distributed as one aspect of a Webpage or moved by the user from the browser to the PC desktop. Droplet bases many of its development concepts, such as its component layout stance, on Swing and the Java AWT.

Users can download the Droplets SDK at no charge.

INDEXHEAD: Solutionsoft unveils free online help development tools

Solutionsoft has introduced HelpBreeze JavaHelp and HTML Help Editions, two visual authoring applications for developing HTML-based online help systems. JavaHelp creates online help systems for Java applications, while HTML Help supplies online help solutions for Microsoft offerings. Both tools provide developers with a WYSIWYG HTML Editor and access to HTML tags. Users can import existing HTML content, create map files for connecting online help to applications, and test the online help system from within the authoring environment’s test/preview mode.

Solutionsoft has also upgraded its HelpBreeze, a help authoring tool for Microsoft Windows Help. Version 3.0 offers standard HTML and HTML Help, a suite of tools for developing Windows Help, and printed documentation. It ships with registered versions of HelpBreeze JavaHelp and HTML Help Editions.

HelpBreeze HTML Help and JavaHelp editions can be downloaded at no charge until November 1, 2001.

INDEXHEAD: SpatialFX organizes your data

ObjectFX Corporation is now shipping its SpatialFX Developer Suite 2.5, a Java-based visualization application. SpatialFX provides organizations with a component architecture for connecting data from different sources and displaying it in a visual, realtime way. Features of the upgrade include:

• Improved routing capabilities via a wide area vehicle routing feature
• Extended address geocoding offerings
• Additional travel databases and map display capabilities based on geographic data technologies
• Updated licensing and usage counting
• A cross-platform installer
• Programming examples
• J2EE support

INDEXHEAD: Verve adds XML support to Process Editor 2.0

Verve has introduced the Verve Process Editor 2.0, a process-modeling tool that now offers XML support and an extensible architecture. Version 2.0 relies on the same Java interfaces the original Verve Process Editor used, but it is otherwise a complete rewrite. The Process Editor supports user-modeling processes beyond the firewall by loading model files into a running Verve Process Engine via HTTP. Other features include:

• Zooming and snap-to-grid support
• Scaleable vector graphics
• Cut/copy/paste/undo support
• Customizable graphic themes

INDEXHEAD: Sprint PCS to give Java a whirl

Sprint PCS plans to evaluate Sun’s wireless Java-based applications in a series of trials. Sprint PCS has already started an application developers program for developing its own wireless applications, but the Sun program will allow the organization to investigate new applications and evaluate their impact on consumers. The application developer’s program supplies developers with the tools and information needed for developing wireless data applications, specifically for the Sprint PCS wireless network.

INDEXHEAD: SwiftMQ connects systems with JMS bridge feature

IIT has released SwiftMQ 1.2, a free JMS enterprise messaging system. Version 1.2 provides a JMS bridge for linking foreign JMS systems to SwiftMQ, which then creates a JMS exchange among different vendors. The JMS systems can contain a number of topic and/or queue bridges. While the JMS clients interact with their own systems and transaction contexts, the JMS API handles the actual message transmittal transparently. SwiftMQ officials have noted that the application can connect different MQSeries and WebLogic systems through a single SwiftMQ router, which then improves the messaging infrastructure via SwiftMQ’s Federated Router Network.

SwiftMQ 1.2 is available as a free download.

Source: www.infoworld.com