>*** Microsoft (R) DevWire ***
>
>DevWire: Microsoft Rolls Out Active Platform
>
>In this issue:
>
>NEWS FROM RECENT DEVELOPER CONFERENCES
>* Attendance Tops 6,000 at SBC and PDC
>* Active Platform Unveiled
>* Visual Basic 5.0, Control Creation Edition
>* First Look at "Internet Studio"
>* Dynamic HTML Technology
>* Windows NT Server 5.0 Preview
>* "Denali" in IIS 3.0
>* Microsoft Platform SDK
>* Merchant Server 1.0
>
>OTHER NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
>* New Office 97 for Developers
>* Internet Explorer 3.0 for the Mac
>* Gallery for Java
>* ObjectStore PSE for Java
>* ActiveMovie SDK
>* New MSDN Online Web site
>
>EVENTS & CONFERENCES
>* More Site Builder Conferences
>* More Events in Europe
>* Data Access Chat
>* Site Builder Network at COMDEX
>* Get Married at GeekFest
>* Fall Internet World
>
>
>** MORE THAN 6,000 ATTEND MICROSOFT DEVELOPER CONFERENCES **
>The Site Builder Conference and the Professional Developers
>Conference drew more than 6,000 people to hear about new
>Microsoft technologies, tools and services aimed at helping
>developers stay at the leading edge of their profession.
>
>Here's a roundup of some of the products and technologies announced or
>previewed at the developers conferences in California over the past
>couple of weeks:
>
>** ACTIVE PLATFORM UNVEILED **
>The Microsoft Active Platform is at the heart of the strategy that
>Microsoft is rolling out for developers. So what is it and what does it
>mean to you? It's an open platform that lets you exploit Microsoft's
>implementations of HTML, open scripting, component architecture and
>underlying operating system services. It means you can target a
>consistent, unified platform from client to server, to build Web
>applications, using languages you already know. The underlying idea
>is to make it easy for you to apply your expertise to create
>applications that capitalize on the best of the Internet and the PC.
>
>The Active Platform has three main parts: Active Desktop,
>Active Server and ActiveX. In a nutshell, Active Desktop gives you the
>technology you need to reach many users on multiple operating systems,
>while utilizing the depth of the Windows operating system. Active
>Desktop encompasses language-independent scripting, component
>integration, and a new technology called Dynamic HTML (see news item
>below for more on Dynamic HTML).
>
>Active Server supplies a consistent server-side component and
>programming environment so you can easily build server and Web
>applications. It extends the set of system services integrated into
>Windows NT to enable high-performance, scaleable Web applications.
>Services include database access and transaction support that you can
>easily incorporate into Web applications.
>
>ActiveX technologies (recently submitted to the Open Group), enable
>components written in various languages on different operating
>systems to communicate with one another on the same machine and across
>networks.
>
>** VISUAL BASIC 5.0, CONTROL CREATION EDITION **
>This is a specialized version of Visual Basic that lets you build, test,
>compile and reuse ActiveX controls, and integrate them into any
>application that supports ActiveX controls. The new intelligent code
>editor, forms engine and interactive debugger from Visual Basic 5.0
>are included in this specialized edition. No, you won't find the Jet
>database engine, report writing, integration with Visual SourceSafe
>or other features you get in full-blown editions of Visual Basic. Handy
>features all, but not necessary for control creation and without them,
>Visual Basic 5.0 Control Creation Edition is a lean, downloadable
>5.5 MB. You can learn more about Visual Basic 5.0, Control Creation
>Edition and download the beta at http://www.microsoft.com/vbasic/
>
>** A FIRST LOOK AT "INTERNET STUDIO" **
>The alpha version of Microsoft's highly anticipated Web application
>development tool has arrived. Code-named "Internet Studio," it's the
>new kid on the block among Microsoft's Visual Tools family. A complete,
>integrated development tool for building Active Server Web
>applications based on open Internet standards, it's a worthy addition
>to the group. "Internet Studio" lets developers take advantage of
>server-side processing using Active Server Pages and Active Data
>Objects (new features of Microsoft Internet Information Server
>version 3.0, in case you're wondering).
>
>The idea is to make it easier to build dynamic Web applications that use
>server-side processing and corporate databases -- a development task
>that used to be a real bear. It's a challenge you may recognize if
>you're a developer who needs to connect Web applications with a
>corporate database, while preserving the security and data integrity
>required for mission-critical applications. If you want to know more
>about "Internet Studio," visit the new "Internet Studio" Web site at
>http://www.microsoft.com/istudio/. A beta version of Internet
>Studio will be available for download later this year.
>
>** Dynamic HTML Technology **
>Dynamic HTML (the technology formerly code-named "Trident"), blows
>the doors off current barriers to controlling Web page appearance by
>letting viewers of your Web site treat Web pages like applications on
>their desktop -- without having to communicate with the server for each
>interaction.
>
>Dynamic HTML also removes the distinction between authoring and
>viewing, so you can see your content as you create it. All HTML tags,
>style sheets, text, objects and applets are accessible and can be
>modified through the Dynamic HTML object model. You can edit and
>display 2D layouts and insert overlapping objects on your Web pages
>with Dynamic HTML.
>
>Microsoft has proposed an HTML object model to the World Wide Web
>Consortium and is implementing Dynamic HTML based on proposals now
>under review by the W3C. Dynamic HTML will be available as a free
>component and incorporated into Microsoft's Active Desktop for
>Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX operating systems. The plan is to deliver
>the first release with Internet Explorer 4.0.
>
>** WINDOWS NT SERVER 5.0 PREVIEW **
>Attendees at the Professional Developers Conference received a
>preview release of Microsoft Windows NT Server 5.0, which is included
>in the Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (see Platform SDK
>news item below). The preview release of Windows NT 5.0 Server runs on
>Windows NT Server 4.0 and features the full implementation of
>Microsoft's Active Directory, Active Server technologies,
>Distributed Security, and Microsoft Management Console.
>
>Active Directory is a scaleable directory service, able to handle over
>10 million objects per store, and supports an array of Internet and
>other open standards including LDAP, DNS and X.500.
>
>Active Server technologies include Distributed Component Object
>Model (DCOM), Active Server Pages (formerly code-named "Denali"),
>Microsoft transaction technology (code-named " Viper"), and message
>queues (code-named "Falcon").
>
>Distributed Security features include private key Kerberos and X.509
>public key security.
>
>Microsoft Management Console is a tool set for creating management
>applications.
>
>Microsoft will ship these technologies as they become available, so
>developers can get their hands on them as soon as possible. DCOM was
>shipped in Windows NT Server 4.0 last summer. Active Server Pages will
>ship in Internet Information Server 3.0 this fall. Transaction and
>message queue technology will be delivered in early 1997. All of these
>technologies will then be integrated and delivered in Windows NT
>Server 5.0
>
>** "DENALI" SERVER SIDE SCRIPTING IN IIS 3.0 **
>The beta of Internet Information Server (IIS) 3.0 is on the Web and
>ready for download. IIS 3.0 adds new features to its well-established
>reputation for speed, ease, and tight integration with Windows NT
>Server. Among the new features is Active Server Pages (formerly code-
>named "Denali") which allows you to combine HTML, scripts, and
>components to build Web-based applications quickly. Active Server
>Pages includes support for Visual Basic, Scripting Edition and
>JScript, and is compatible with any active scripting engine,
>including Perl, Rexx and Python or other CGI-based languages.
>
>Microsoft NetShow, another new IIS 3.0 feature, supplies an open
>software platform to deliver live and on-demand multimedia content
>over the Internet and corporate intranets.
>
>Microsoft Index Server 1.1, a built-in search engine, and FrontPage 97
>Server extensions are also part of the new feature set in IIS 3.0. To
>get the beta and find out more, visit http://www.microsoft.com/iis .
>
>** MICROSOFT PLATFORM SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT **
>The Microsoft Platform SDK is loaded with technology previews of the
>new distributed systems elements. Directory Services, Distributed
>File System Services, new Kerberos-Based Security Services,
>"Denali" server side scripting technology,
>"Viper" Transaction Server technology, Visual Basic 5.0 Control
>Creation Edition and other developer goodies are included on the
>Platform SDK.
>
>You can view the Platform SDK and other select SDKs online for a short
>time(until March 31, 1997) on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)
>Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/ in the SDKs Online area.
>Also, you soon will be able to download portions of the Platform
>SDK for a limited time.
>
>These SDKs normally are only available to MSDN subscribers. If you're
>an MSDN member, check the Member Kiosk for specific information on
>upcoming SDK releases. If you want more information about MSDN, take a
>look at the MSDN subscription area. For phone information within the
>United States and Canada call (800) 759-5474 Monday-Friday,
>6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. PST. Outside North America: contact your local
>Microsoft subsidiary, or call (510) 275-0763 in the U.S. to get local
>contact information.
>
>** MERCHANT SERVER 1.0 RELEASED **
>If you're looking for ways to lower the cost of building and managing
>commercial sites on the Web, check out Microsoft Merchant Server 1.0.
>Merchant Server offers secure payment solutions for selling over the
>Internet. Tower records and more than 40 other companies are already
>developing Merchant Server Web sites. To get more information and to
>download Merchant Server 1.0, visit http://www.microsoft.com/merchant/.
>
>==================================================
>OTHER NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
>
>** NEW EDITION OF OFFICE 97 FOR DEVELOPERS **
>Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Office 97, Developer Edition, at the
>Office 97 Developer Conference in Palm Springs, California in
>October. Conference attendees also were among the first to hear about
>Mastering Office 97 Development, a multimedia training product for
>developers building solutions with Microsoft Office 97. Office 97
>promises to be the most compelling upgrade of Microsoft Office to date,
>and if you're a developer migrating your solutions to Office 97, be sure
>to visit the Office Developer Forum, and can get the most up-to-date
>technical articles, white papers and sample code for making the move to
>Office 97. You can find Office 97, Developer Edition information and
>the Office Developer Forum at
>http://www.microsoft.com/officedev/.
>
>** DOWNLOAD INTERNET EXPLORER 3.0 FOR THE MAC **
>In case you haven't heard, the beta version of Microsoft Internet
>Explorer 3.0 for the Macintosh now is available worldwide. Internet
>Explorer 3.0 for the Macintosh exploits native Macintosh and
>multimedia networking technologies and delivers fast performance
>with as little as 4MB of memory. Internet Explorer 3.0 includes full
>support for HTML 3.2, Cascading Style Sheets, and supports Java, by way
>of the Java Virtual machines from both Metrowerks and Apple Computer,
>Inc. Download Internet Explorer 3.0 for the Mac from
>http://www.microsoft.com/ie/. You can preview ActiveX technology
>for Internet Explorer by downloading a beta version of the of the
>Microsoft ActiveX SDK for the Mac from the SDKs Online area of Microsoft
>Developer Network Online at http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/sdk/.
>
>** MICROSOFT GALLERY FOR JAVA **
>Several leading vendors of Java technology have teamed with Microsoft
>to produce the Microsoft Gallery for Java. The Gallery for Java is a
>downloadable set of Java libraries provided by companies including
>Aimtech Corp., Bulletproof Corp., DimensionX, Intel Corp.,
>NetDynamics, Object Design Inc., Stingray Software and
>XDB Systems, Inc. The Microsoft Gallery for Java is available free
>(except for any connect charges) form the Microsoft Web site
>for Java at http://www.microsoft.com/java/ .
>
>** MICROSOFT LICENSES OBJECTSTORE PSE FOR JAVA **
>Microsoft has licensed Object Design's ObjectStore PSE for Java,
>a high-speed, small-footprint database written entirely in Java for
>managing, storing, and retrieving Java Objects. The combination of
>Microsoft's SDK for Java and ObjectStore PSE for Java fulfills Java
>developers' need for reliable, client-side object persistence. You
>can download ObjectStore PSE for Java from the Microsoft Gallery for
>Java at http://www.microsoft.com/java/.
>
>** MICROSOFT ACTIVEMOVIE SDK **
>The ActiveMovie SDK is a set of services and tools for developers who
>need to produce film- and broadcast-quality digital media for CD-ROM,
>digital video disc or the Internet. The cross-platform ActiveMovie
>API can be extended with the SDK, which includes a C++ class library for
>writing filters that perform specialized functions such as
>retrieving video data from a CD and decompressing it. The ActiveMovie
>SDK is slated for delivery in December to MSDN Professional-level
>members and higher. For more information about ActiveMovie and
>Microsoft's Platform for Interactive Media, visit
>http://www.microsoft.com/imedia/.
>
>** MSDN ONLINE REPLACES "FOR DEVELOPERS ONLY" **
>If you're wondering what became of Microsoft's "For Developers Only"
>Web site (www.microsoft.com/devonly/), well, it morphed into the new
>Microsoft Developer Network Online site at www.microsoft.com/msdn/.
>As a developer, you probably know MSDN as the place to get technical
>information and tools you need to stay up to date. At MSDN Online,
>you'll still find detailed information on Microsoft's
>Developer Products and Developer Technologies, and the MSDN Library.
>Also on the site, a new section devoted to SDKs. There's also a member
>kiosk and other special areas for MSDN members. If you want to know more
>about MSDN, visit the site and find out how to subscribe at
>http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/subscribe/.
>
>To get information by phone within the United States and Canada call
>(800) 759-5474 Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. PST. Outside North
>America: contact your local Microsoft subsidiary, or call
>(510) 275-0763 in the U.S. to get local contact information.
>===========================================
>EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
>
>** SITE BUILDER CONFERENCE - IT AIN'T OVER YET **
>If you missed out on the recent Microsoft developer conferences, catch
>the "Best of the Best" from the Microsoft Site Builder Conference and
>Microsoft Professional Developers Conference at a United Artists
>theater near you on November 20 and 21, 1996. Theater broadcasts will be
>presented in more than 30 cities across the U.S. To find out where to go
>for this "MICROSOFT AT THE MOVIES" event (and yes, there will be
>popcorn), visit Microsoft Global Events Online at
>http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/events/welcome.idc .
>
>In Europe, get the latest products and techniques available from
>Microsoft by attending the UK Site Builder Conference on 12th Nov. in
>Birmingham, UK or 14th Nov. in Dublin, Ireland. For UK call 0990-228828
>and for Ireland, call 1-800-709704.
>
>Other Events in Europe:
>Tues 19th Nov. -- ActiveX and DCOM Demystified -- London ,UK
>(rescheduled from the 16th Oct.)
>
>Fri. 22th Nov. -- Merchant Workshop -- Manchester, UK
>
>21-22 Nov. -- Visual FoxPro Developer Conference, London, Cumberland
>Hotel, London, UK (for details, see
>http://www.microsoft.com/europe/devonly/events/).
>
>Mon. 2nd Dec. -- Server DevCon -- London, UK
>
>** CHAT ON DATA ACCESS STRATEGIES **
>Join the discussion of the data access techniques available to
>developers with Microsoft Access 97. We'll cover what's new in
>Microsoft Jet 3.5 and Data Access Objects 3.5, ODBCDirect, Remote Data
>Objects, and choosing the best data access method. Plug in to the Data
>Access Strategies chat on Tuesday, November 12 from 12-1 P.M. PST at
>http://www.microsoft.com/access/chat/ad961112.htm
>
>** SITE BUILDER NETWORK DOES VEGAS **
>Here's a winning proposition for Microsoft Site Builder Network
>members:
>During COMDEX, come join us in THE SITE BUILDER NETWORK COURTESY CLUB on
>November 18-22, 1996. We'll be located in the Silver State Room
>(LS201), above the Las Vegas Convention Center show floor.
>Official Site Builder Network members can enjoy unlimited usage of our
>phone banks, delicious and refreshing beverages, luxurious foot
>massages, etc. It's also a place to get membership questions answered,
>talk to other Site Builder Network members and relax in the knowledge
>that you have access to all of the latest Web information. Just look for
>our banners and floor signs for the exact location.
>
>If you're not a Site Builder member, but you're really curious now (foot
>massages???), visit http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/ to
>find out what it takes to apply for Level 1, 2, or 3 in the Site Builder
>Network.
>
>** GEEKFEST AT FALL COMDEX **
>GeekFest Advocates Family Values!
>Get married at GeekFest in Las Vegas. We'll help you tie the knot, and
>DR.RUTH will be there to give you advice.
>
>Come to GeekFest
>Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7:30-10:30pm.
>Little Chapel of the Flowers
>1717 Las Vegas Blvd. South
>Las Vegas, NV 89104
>
>** FALL INTERNET WORLD **
>December 11, 1996 at Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York, NY.
>================================================
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>Thanks,
>Doyoung Rhee
>(02) 531-4628 , dyrhee@microsoft.com