New Stuff

Resources for Your Developer Toolbox

Theresa W. Carey

Contents

Generating Help
Animate Your Web Site
Interactive Charting and Graphics
Recover Corrupted Exchange Server Databases
Driver Development Studio
Integrate E-mail into .NET Framework-based Apps
Expert System Development
Localizing Web Sites
Data Tier Code Generation Tool
SQL Scripts for Multiple Servers
Present Tabular Data
Customizable Syntax Editor
Automating Patch Management
The Bookshelf

Generating Help

Excel Software has announced the availability of QuickHelp for Windows, a development tool for creating and deploying application help to Windows® 95 through Windows XP, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X, and virtually all Linux distributions. In QuickHelp you can manage, author, and test help topics in a single tabbed window running on your platform of choice, then deploy the help system. Help information resides in an XML file distributed with a native viewer executable for each platform.

QuickHelp Builder lets you author help systems and QuickHelp Viewer lets you deploy them to users. For the user, QuickHelp supports a table of contents, an index with automatic search field, word searches across topics, color-highlighted topic text with hypertext links, formatted images, and context-sensitive help from application menus and dialogs.

From the Contents panel, the user can view, expand, or collapse topics. The Index panel allows you to locate topics.

For the developer, QuickHelp provides an authoring environment that combines the Contents and Index panels with the Edit and General panels for editing the help file. The Edit panel is used to add, edit, delete, or move topics within the Contents tree. Formatted text, images, and links between topics can be added.

Each topic has fields for defining index words and context-sensitive identifier strings that link topics to application menus and dialogs. Topics or portions of a topic can be conditionally visible based on the current platform or other variables, allowing you to customize your help system for different platforms or product builds from a single source. The General panel has buttons to save, open, close, verify, import, or export help topics.

QuickHelp handles administrative activities like maintaining links between topics, reordering topics and locating bad links, missing indexes, or images. QuickHelp for Windows includes Builder and Viewer executables for Windows 95 through Windows XP, a license to distribute the QuickHelp Viewer, a printed manual, online help, and a PDF manual on CD.

https://www.excelsoftware.com

Animate Your Web Site

Lucky Monkey Designs has released KoolMoves version 4.0, a Windows-based animation and multimedia application that lets you combine and manipulate text, vector clip art, and sounds to create Flash-animated Web pages, banners, navigation systems, and frames for GIF animations.

KoolMoves allows you to place text, images, shapes, and sounds onto movie frames which then can be played in KoolMove's internal player or in your browser. A time/event chart enables the synchronization of sounds and actions associated with frames and buttons. KoolMoves automatically morphs drawings into animations that are compact and fast loading.

You can select from a set of libraries containing Web interface templates, text effects templates, action script-based text effects, buttons, animated, and non-animated vector clip art, all designed for Flash movies.

Among KoolMoves' features are Flash MX action scripting, HTML dynamic text, masking, import of Flash movies as objects, bones for character animation, nonlinear morphing, transition effects, drop shadows, and preloaders.

https://www.koolmoves.com

Interactive Charting and Graphics

B-Line Express now offers Charting Components 2.0, a Flash component set. Charting Components 2.0 enables developers to add interactive charting and graphic solutions to their Macromedia Flash front end. The components can consume static, dynamic, and real-time data from any application server including ColdFusion, ASP.NET, Java, PHP, ASP, or Flash Communication Server. The components can also work independently with local data from XML files or Flash ActionScriptArrays.

Designers and developers using Charting Components 2.0 will be able to create charts in 10 styles. A programming interface provides access to charting methods and style properties that allow you to customize charts. The component library can be extended programmatically to include additional styles, methods, and skinning effects that will give each set of charts its own UI.

https://www.blinex.com

Recover Corrupted Exchange Server Databases

Recoveronix recently published ExchangeServerRecovery 2.1, which is a recovery product for corrupted Microsoft® Exchange Server database files. The updated version of this application supports files over 30GB and can recover folders, messages, attachments, notes, contacts, tasks, appointments, and creation dates for all objects.

The program also recovers formatting for RTF and HTML messages. ExchangeServerRecovery supports Exchange Server 5.5 and Exchange Server 2000, and saves the recovered data into Personal Storage File (.pst) format to be viewed with any e-mail client compatible with Microsoft Outlook®. The program requires Data Access Objects and runs under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.

https://www.officerecovery.com

Driver Development Studio

Compuware Corporation has announced the availability of DriverStudio 3.0, a suite of tools for developers of Windows device drivers. DriverStudio 3.0 can integrate with the Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET IDE as well as with Visual Studio 6.0.

The DriverStudio suite of tools covers the entire driver development lifecycle, helping device driver developers write, debug, test, and tune driver code that meets quality standards for Windows Hardware Quality Labs driver certification. DriverStudio components include DriverWorks, DriverNetworks, BoundsChecker Driver Edition, TrueTime Driver Edition, and TrueCoverage Driver Edition.

DriverWorkbench has been enhanced in DriverStudio 3.0 to provide integration of Visual SoftICE with the other DriverStudio tools including BoundsChecker Driver Edition, TrueTime Driver Edition, and TrueCoverage Driver Edition. Additionally, the DriverStudio Framework tools, DriverWorks and DriverNetworks, plug into the Visual Studio 6.0 IDE. DriverWorkbench allows you to move from one tool to another without leaving the host environment, thus easing the process of testing, debugging, and optimizing device drivers.

https://www.compuware.com

Integrate E-mail into .NET Framework-based Apps

Quiksoft Corporation recently announced EasyMail .Net Edition 2.0, an update to its .NET e-mail component suite that enables application developers to integrate e-mail into their .NET Framework-based applications. Version 2.0 adds support for Quiksoft's new secure sockets layer (SSL) plug-in, which enables the e-mail component suite to communicate with SSL-enabled e-mail servers.

Other highlights included in the update are integration with Visual Studio .NET 2003, support for bulk e-mailing, address verification, importing from URLs, additional authentication protocols, and more.

EasyMail .Net Edition is written in C# and includes SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, and parsing assemblies. The program includes support for all e-mail features including attachments, SSL, MIME, Base64, Uuencode, Quoted-Printable, HTML, bulk e-mail, and more.

https://www.quiksoftcorp.com

Expert System Development

Logic Programming Associates Ltd. recently announced an update to WebFlex, its Web-based expert system development tool. WebFlex allows artificial intelligence developers to deliver commercial rule-based systems, expert systems, and knowledge-based systems on the Internet. WebFlex offers an integrated solution which runs as a CGI application on most commercial Web servers using industry standards.

Basic features include a high-level English-like Knowledge Specification Language, a frame-based hierarchy with multiple inheritance for modeling data, dynamic access to ODBC data sources using the ProData interface, and support for uncertainty using fuzzy and Bayesian rules.

Webflex also supports interleaved forward and backward chaining rules, an automated question and answer system, and access to Prolog for list processing, recursion, scientific math functions, and other add-ons.

In addition, WebFlex includes the ability to define the appearance of runtime questions using Flex KSL, the automatic generation of HTML and integration with existing HTML files, automatic generation of JavaScript for validation of user data input, and support for multiple, simultaneous users.

https://www.lpa.co.uk/wfs.htm

Localizing Web Sites

TMG Development Ltd has announced their ASP.NET Localizer toolkit, which provides design-time and run-time support for producing a professional, internationalized Web site using ASP.NET.

With ASP.NET Localizer, all you do is drop a Localizer component onto a Web Form (or UserControl) in Visual Studio and design the page in the invariant language. Then set the Language property of Localizer to a new language and type the localized strings, image source locations, and so on into the Visual Studio designer. Localizer generates a new .resx file for that language, and all the property changes are written to this new file.

You can switch between languages using Localizer, and the design surface is kept up to date with the current language selection. When the Web application is run, Localizer checks the locale and generates the Web Form using resources for that locale.

Localizer 1.0 requires Visual Studio .NET 2002 or Visual Studio .NET 2003, and the.NET Framework 1.0, or above.

https://www.winformreports.co.uk

Data Tier Code Generation Tool

2LKit has announced the release of RapTier 1.1, a data-tier code generation tool created for multitier application development. The generated code supports ADO.NET transactions and stored procedures for all database operations. The default templates generate C# or Visual Basic® .NET classes that use a data source-independent mechanism to access a database. This feature allows switching among different .NET data providers without changing the code. In addition to new features and improved existing templates, RapTier is now available in two editions: Lite and Professional.

https://www.2LKit.com

SQL Scripts for Multiple Servers

Red Earth Technologies has published Equivalent Script version 1.1, a SQL tool that develops equivalent SQL scripts for multiple database servers. Equivalent Script allows users to develop entire SQL scripts once, and then generate the equivalent SQL dialect for multiple database servers, thus eliminating the need for manual conversion.

The program's interface can be used to create and generate scripts, or they can programmatically access the document object from within their own applications. Equivalent Script generates SQL scripts for Microsoft SQL Server™, Microsoft Access, MySQL, and Oracle. Equivalent Script can be extended to cater to additional database servers.

https://www.equivalentscript.com

Present Tabular Data

FarPoint Technologies Inc. recently announced the availability of Spread for Windows Forms for development on the .NET Framework. Spread for Windows Forms allows you to present, edit, and update your tabular data. It provides validation by using its 14 cell types to alert users of invalid data immediately.

The Spread Designer allows developers or designers to design the look of the component at design time with no coding required. Users can sort data and import and export their information in several formats, including Microsoft Excel.

Spread for Windows Forms supports in-cell editing, multiple sheets, splitter bars, printing, zooming in and out of the data, import and export to Excel, cell notes, cell spans, multi-line headers, sorting, complete customization at the cell level, 200 built-in mathematical functions, and hierarchy view.

https://www.fpoint.com

Customizable Syntax Editor

Actipro Software has released its SyntaxEditor, modeled after the code editor in Visual Studio .NET, an editing control similar to a multi-line TextBox. SyntaxEditor syntax highlights text and provides features for code editing. In addition, custom language definitions can be developed and distributed with your applications.

SyntaxEditor is designed for use in IDE applications, but may be used in other scenarios. For instance, you could make the editor read-only and use it for displaying log files or status messages (like in an FTP client) for an application.

SyntaxEditor's major features include multi-language support, a custom regular expression engine, XML language definitions, the ability to save to binary for instant language domain reloading, unlimited undo/redo, and undo/redo action grouping.

You'll also find line numbering in the line number margin, word wrap (character and token wrapping modes), indicators (bookmarks, breakpoints, misspelling markers, and so on) in the indicator margin, indentation guides, and content dividers. Any type of font is supported, including non-monospace fonts. The program also contains triggers for handling keystroke/action combinations.

SytaxEditor allows for customizable dialogs and four-way or two-way split views. You can export to HTML or RTF. The program is packaged with sample projects and documentation on how to use the control as well as complete class library documentation.

https://www.actiprosoftware.com/Products/DotNet

Automating Patch Management

Spire Security LLC and Shavlik Technologies have developed a research report to help companies understand the security benefits, return on investment (ROI) potential, and cost- and time-saving advantages of replacing the manual patch management process with an automated system. The report, "Shavlik Technologies: Proactive Patch Management," examines the patch management process, the qualitative and quantitative benefits of automated patch management, and describes a typical ROI scenario using Shavlik's HFNetChkPro automatic patch management solution.

https://www.shavlik.com

The Bookshelf

Cisco Press has announced a series of self-study security titles available for CCIE Security certification preparation. The recently published Network Security Principles and Practices provides candidates with topical coverage of CCIE security exam issues. The titles CCIE Security Exam Certification Guide and CCIE Practical Studies: Security provide written exam and lab exam preparation tools, as well as topical coverage of CCIE security exam issues.

Network Security Principles and Practices takes an applied approach to building security into networks. This book is a comprehensive guide to network security threats and the policies and tools developed specifically to combat them.

CCIE Security Exam Certification Guide is the official preparation guide for the CCIE Security written exam and includes pre- and post-chapter exams, exam objective reviews, and a CD-ROM-based testing engine that allows for focused or comprehensive tests.

https://www.ciscopress.com/ccie

VB.NET Database Programming with ADO.NET by Anne Prince and Doug Lowe has been published by Mike Murach & Associates. The book is designed to lead you from the simple to the complex as it covers the range of ADO.NET capabilities. You'll learn about typed and untyped datasets, bound and unbound controls, data views, parameterized queries, relationships, data commands, schema definitions, database classes, data controls for Web applications, and Crystal Reports. The authors show 21 applications, culminating in an order-entry application that uses database classes and accesses nine different tables.

https://www.murach.com

Que Publishing has released two more books in its Microsoft Certified Application Developer series: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, and Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Visual Basic .NET and the .NET Framework, both by Kirk Hausman. Both books feature test-taking strategies, study tips, and a special Cram Sheet that includes tips, acronyms, and memory joggers. They also include PrepLogic practice exams.

https://www.quepublishing.com

Sams Publishing offers the latest book from Andre LaMothe, Tricks of the 3D Game Programming Gurus: Advanced 3D Graphics and Rasterization. This book, a follow-up to Tricks of the Windows Game Programming Gurus, is intended to take the reader to the next game programming level. When readers are finished with this book, they should be able to create a full 3D, texture-mapped, lit video game for the PC with a software rasterizer they can write themselves. They will also understand the underlying principles of 3D graphics and better understand and utilize 3D hardware. This book discusses advanced topics including 1/z buffering, mip-mapping, alpha blending, texture filtering, and spatial partitioning. It is intended for an intermediate to advanced audience.

https://www.samspublishing.com

Send your New Stuff to Theresa at  newstuff@microsoft.com.

Theresa W. Carey is a freelance writer who lives in California. Her byline has appeared in Barron's and PC World.