Altova Announces Immediate Availability of Software Version 2004 Release 4

Altova GmbH (www.altova.com) producers of Altova XMLSPY, the world's leading XML development environment, has announced the immediate availability of Release 4 of its Version 2004 product line. Among the major enhancements are greatly extended data-mapping functionality in Altova MAPFORCE 2004, a completely redesigned Altova STYLEVISION 2004, and numerous upgrades to XMLSPY 2004. The entire Version 2004 Release 4 (v2004r4) product line is available for immediate download from: http://www.altova.com/download.html

"The ability to share information department-to-department or business-to-business is crucial in todays world, but data comes in all shapes and sizes, and enterprise information integration can be a very challenging concept to implement," said Alexander Falk, President & CEO of Altova. "Thats why the latest generation of our software includes innovations like bi-directional database integration, EDI support, and XML-aware file merging that are very straightforward and simple to use. Above all, this release is designed to help bring organizations closer together and make their information more extensible."

"We use the Altova software products to help build efficient document management systems for our multinational customers," said Emmerson Miranda, Web Developer at Fihoca; IT consulting; Madrid, Spain. "The new database integration capabilities in Release 4 will be especially useful in developing systems that enable them to leverage business information across their organizations."

In addition to the many new features in v2004r4, Altova has also taken steps to provide greater value to its customers. Effective immediately, the Altova Support and Maintenance Package (SMP) now includes coverage for major software releases. Additionally, the company has created two specially priced software bundles that offer tremendous cost savings. The two new Altova product suites are the most comprehensive XML tool sets on the market, delivering all the functionality of three industry leading products at a considerable savings.

New in MAPFORCE v2004r4

Since its introduction in September 2003, MAPFORCE has quickly become the definitive tool for data integration and information leverage. MAPFORCE 2004 maps data between diverse input sources and output targets using a drag-and-drop interface then automatically generates programming code in Java, C++ and C# for royalty-free use. With v2004r4 MAPFORCE will now be offered in two editions: Enterprise and Professional.

Greatly enhanced mapping functionality - provides the ability to map any combination of XML, database, and EDI data into XML and/or databases.

Added database support - now supports all the most popular relational databases: Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, IBM DB2, Sybase, as well as any ADO/ODBC database.

MAPFORCE Engine - enables the user to preview the output of any mapping project even if one or more of the sources is a database or an EDI file, or if the target is a database.

XSLT files as function libraries - lets the user add existing XSLT files as libraries and all named templates in those files automatically become available as data transformation functions.

All New STYLEVISION v2004r4

With v2004r4 STYLEVISION has been completely restructured around its graphical stylesheet designer functionality. Now available in Professional and Enterprise Editions, STYLEVISION 2004 supersedes the stylesheet designer application formerly sold with XMLSPY.

Database reporting - allows users to access database data from any major database, process it in XML, and render it into eye-catching HTML pages or PDF reports, all in one simple step.

AUTHENTIC Forms preview - provides ability to design and preview AUTHENTIC Forms, which give business users a non-technical way to enter and edit XML content using the word processor-like interface of Altova AUTHENTIC 2004.

New support for command line operations - allows systems integrators to call its functionality from within other applications without spawning its graphical user interface

New in XMLSPY v2004r4

Already far and away the industry leading XML development tool, Altova has added more advanced functionality to XMLSPY including:

Brand new advanced text view - provides context-sensitive entry helpers, line numbering, book marking, source folding, indentation guides, detailed find and replace functionality, and significantly increased performance.

Extended database import/export functionality - now interacts directly with the most popular relational databases, including Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, Sybase, and IBM DB2.

XML-aware file differencing and merging enables the user to intelligently compare the XML content, considering variations in formatting, namespaces, attribute order, etc., and then merge the selected changes.

New Support and Maintenance Pack : Altova SMP now covers major product updates as well as minor releases and priority technical support. The support period begins on the day of the product purchase and runs for one or two years depending on the length of the SMP plan purchased.