XML Development Done Right With Altova's XML Suite 2005

XMLSpy is more than an XML IDE. The tool provides an all-encompassing view of XML files using five view formats: Authentic View, Enhanced Grid View, Advanced Text View, XML Schema/WSDL Design View and Browser View. XMLSpy also arrives with a powerful XQuery debugger and supports XSLT 2 and XPath 2. With XQuery, developers can insert break points in documents and data—a feature unique to XML debugging.

Like other programming IDEs, XMLSpy contains features to speed development such as line folding, bookmarks, a content-sensitive helper and tracing. When placing XML in grid view, developers can quickly determine hierarchical structures of large files by viewing them in spreadsheetlike constructs.

XMLSpy provides powerful drag-and-drop capabilities that allows developers to manipulate any structure. For instance, when reorganizing a large XML file by changing all the locations of hundreds of different elements into another place on the same file, developers can simply drag and drop a highlighted table and switch its locations. All the elements are immediately changed, and all the views in the IDE are automatically updated. XMLSpy also supports sorting of individual tabular data in grid view without interfering with the structure of a document.

Unlike other IDEs, XMLSpy's content-sensitive helper provides more than syntax checking. Developers can view data and syntax and work with both at the same time. What's more, entry helpers allow developers to enter data any way they like.

One of the most powerful features in XMLSpy is Authentic View, is an XML processor that provides a WYSIWYG view of XML files. Altova also offers Authentic View as a separate product for free. Business users that need an easy way to enter data into XML documents do not need to buy XMLSpy.

Developers—as well as nontechnical users—can view formatted graphical representations of XML files in authentic view and add or replace fields. The tool maintains schema rules while fields are added or updated in Authentic View and warns users if entries are not accepted by a schema. Text turns red if a format does not conform to a schema. For instance, if a user types an e-mail address with an invalid format, the tool provides immediate feedback by turning typed letters red and does not change text color until the format is correct. Field properties are also editable, so users can change items to bold or even change text format. Authentic View is a good feature for nontechnical users who need to work with XML.

XMLSpy's Browser View is extremely useful to Web developers. It maintains an XHTML version of XML, so whenever developers update an XML file in text mode, they can jump back to browser mode to check the changes.

The XML Schema mode is the most impressive feature in XMLSpy. Developers can construct schemas using diagrammatic views of all schema components by dragging and dropping elements into tables. What's more, XMLSpy provides a constant link between schema models and other views, allowing developers to design complex schemas on the fly. Developers also can take advantage of WSDL Design View when working with source code. In WSDL mode, developers have access to design components such as services, operations and bindings. WSDL mode also helps clean up reference problems to data types and helps developers with code structures. XMLSpy also arrives with a SOAP debugger that works directly with any external SOAP service.

After XMLSpy, the second most important tool in the XML Suite is MapForce, which can map many file formats into multiple file formats. MapForce supports XML, EDIFACT, EDI's X12, text and relational databases. After a mapping process is completed, the tool generates integration libraries and produces XSLT, XQuery, Java, C# or C++ code. In addition to having a direct mapping technology, the tool supports functions to massage data structures. Developers can add mathematical equations, filters, constants and string functions during a transformation process.

Altova's StyleVision is a style sheet designing tool that creates presentation layers for multiple clients. With StyleVision, designers can set up multichannel publishing from a single source. The tool allows users to create multiple synchronized style sheets. StyleVision also supports databases, so developers can create reports.

Altova offers a free trial of all its tools and provides free support for 30 days after date of purchase. Technical support also can be purchased for 25 percent of the product license price for one year. Altova's reseller margin structure is based on partner levels and ranges between 5 percent and 15 percent. In addition, bonus discounts of 5 percent on top of the base discount are offered for some products. XML Suite Enterprise is priced at $1,499 for a single user.