*** Microsoft (R) DevWire ***
DevWire: Download Script Debugger for IE 3.01
In this issue:
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Download Script Debugger for IE 3.01
* News on ActiveX Core Technologies
* Microsoft SNA Server 3.0 Now Available
* Download Microsoft Advanced Data Connector
* Create Online Help Programs
* Update on MSDN Interim Shipments
NEWS FROM FALL INTERNET WORLD
* Download Visual InterDev
* IE 3.0 for Win 3.1 Released
* Microsoft and PointCast Collaborate
* IIS 3.0 Ships
* Try Microsoft Transaction Server
* SQL Server 6.5 Supports Transaction Server
* Microsoft Acquires NetCarta
* Windows CE on Intel Architecture
CONTESTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS
* ActiveX Control Creation Contest
* Windows World Open Call for Entries
* Special Offer for European Developers Only
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
* Acess/Visual Basic DevCon
* Visual C++ Developers Conference
** MICROSOFT SCRIPT DEBUGGER FOR INTERNET EXPLORER 3.01 **
Microsoft Script Debugger for Internet Explorer 3.01 is a debugging
environment you can use to easily browse, edit and debug HTML pages
containing Visual Basic, Scripting Edition (VBScript) and JScript
(Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript).
Use Microsoft Script Debugger to extend Internet Explorer 3.01 and you
can dynamically view your entire Web page, move easily between
VBScript and JScript, set break points anywhere in your script code and
take advantage of many other features in Script Debugger for Internet
Explorer.
Download the beta of this add-in for Internet Explorer 3.01 and check
it
out over the holidays. You can download the Microsoft Script Debugger
beta for free (except for any connect charges) from the Microsoft Site
Builder Workshop at
http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/prog/scriptie/.
That's also where you'll find more details about the features in
Microsoft Script Debugger and a sample.
** ACTIVEX CORE TECHNOLOGIES PROPOSAL APPROVED BY OPEN GROUP **
The Board of Directors of The Open Group has approved a proposal to
provide ActiveX Core Technologies openly to non-Microsoft platform
vendors. The proposal, jointly sponsored by Microsoft,
Hewlett-Packard, DEC, Siemens Nixdorf and Software AG, includes
plans for source code licensing, validation testing and
compatibility branding by The Open Group.
** MICROSOFT SNA SERVER 3.0 NOW AVAILABLE **
Microsoft SNA Server makes it easier to integrate IBM mainframe and
AS/400 systems with the Windows NT Server network operating system and
PC desktops. The new release of Microsoft's host integration software
also nearly doubles the capacity of the previous version and offers
easy, cost-effective setup and management. For more information,
visit the Microsoft SNA Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/sna.
** DOWNLOAD MICROSOFT ADVANCED DATA CONNECTOR **
The Microsoft Advanced Data Connector (ADC) delivers a new Web data
access technology that allows developers to create data-centric
applications within ActiveX-enabled browsers such as Microsoft
Internet Explorer. ADC erects a framework that permits seamless
interaction with databases on corporate intranets and over the
Internet. Check out the Advanced Data Connector Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/adc/ to learn more and download the ADC.
** CREATE ONLINE HELP PROGRAMS WITH HTML HELP **
If you're creating online help for a software program, a Web site or a
multimedia title, check out Microsoft HTML Help. Microsoft HTML Help
is the new standard for online documentation for the Active Platform.
Microsoft HTML Help combines instructional content written in HTML
with the feature set of WinHelp (a standard for online documentation
that includes table of contents, keyword index and full-text search).
Learn more about Microsoft HTML Help and download the beta for free
(except for any connect charges) from
http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/author/htmlhelp/.
** UPDATE ON MSDN INTERIM SHIPMENTS **
In mid-November, Microsoft Developer Network dispatched to MSDN
Universal subscribers a special interim shipment containing the
Microsoft Office 97 Professional beta and the Visual Basic 5.0 Control
Creation Edition beta. A second interim shipment is expected to hit
MSDN subscriber mailboxes on or around December 20, 1996.
For a complete list of the interim shipment contents, see the MSDN
Contents Index at http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/index. If you'd
like to find out how to become an MSDN subscriber, visit
http://www.microsoft.com/msdn. 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.
==========================================
NEWS FROM FALL INTERNET WORLD
** VISUAL INTERDEV (FORMERLY CODE-NAMED "INTERNET STUDIO") DEBUTS **
If you've been anxious to get your hands the product formerly known as
"Internet Studio," you can download the beta of Microsoft Visual
InterDev (the official name) from the Site Builder Network download
area. Visual InterDev is an integrated Web application development
tool and the newest member of the visual tools family. You can use
Visual InterDev to build dynamic, database-driven Active Server Web
applications for corporate intranets and the Internet. For a product
overview, white paper and more information, visit the new Visual
InterDev Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/vinterdev/.
>From December 9, 1996 through December 31, 1996, you can download the
beta from the Site Builder Network download area as a Guest member. You
must be a Guest member, or a level 1, 2, or 3 member to download the
beta. For more on how to become a member,
visit http://www.microsoft.com/sitebuilder/.
** INTERNET EXPLORER FOR WINDOWS 3.1 RELEASED **
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for the Windows 3.1 operating system
fulfills the demand from developers, IS managers and end users for an
easy to use, high performance Windows 3.1-based browser. Internet
Explorer 3.0 for Windows 3.1 offers faster performance, a smaller
footprint, lower maintenance cost, enhanced security and access to a
wide range of Web content. This version of Internet Explorer 3.0
includes support for HTML 2.0, frames, enhanced frames, enhanced
tables, ActiveX Scripting (including Visual Basic Scripting Edition
and JScript) and Netscape Plug-ins. Want to know more? Head over to the
Internet Explorer Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ for all
the details, and be sure to check out the "Make the Switch" giveaway
promotion.
** MICROSOFT AND POINTCAST COLLABORATE ON INTERNET BROADCASTING **
Microsoft and PointCast Inc. have agreed to combine important
technologies and products to broadcast high-quality,
up-to-the-minute news and information directly to millions of
computer users. As part of the agreement, Microsoft has chosen
PointCast as a premier content provider for the Microsoft Internet
Explorer 4.0 Active Desktop, due next year.
In turn, PointCast has chosen the Microsoft Active Platform as its
development and delivery platform, and will ship Internet Explorer as
its preferred default browser, starting with PointCast Network 97,
which is due in the second quarter of 1997. MSNBC, the online joint
venture between Microsoft and NBC has agreed to be a key news and
information provider on the PointCast Network and plans to
independently offer its original content as part of the
Active Desktop.
To find out more, visit the Internet Explorer Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ and also check out Internet Explorer's
Internet World 96 page at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/iworld/.
** INTERNET INFORMATION SERVER 3.0 SHIPPING **
The shipping version of Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS)
version 3.0 is available for download. Windows NT Server 4.0 users can
download IIS 3.0 for free (except for any connect charges). IIS is a
standard feature of Windows NT Server 4.0. To find out more, go to the
IIS Web site ( http://www.microsoft.com/iis ).
** TRANSACTION SERVER EASES BUSINESS APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT **
Microsoft Transaction Server 1.0 (formerly code-named "Viper") has
released to manufacturing and is available for a free 120-day trial
evaluation. Microsoft Transaction Server 1.0 combines the features
of a TP Monitor with an Object Request Broker in an easy-to-use package
that you can use to build scalable, reliable applications on the server
from ActiveX components. To learn more, visit the Microsoft
Transaction Server Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/transaction/.
** SQL SERVER 6.5 INCORPORATES TRANSACTION SERVER SUPPORT **
Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 includes integrated support for Microsoft
Transaction Server. You can take advantage of the combined
technologies to build distributed, three-tier applications.
The combined strengths of Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 and Microsoft
Transaction Server 1.0 mean lower management and deployment costs.
For a no-charge 120-day trial evaluation version of Microsoft
SQL Server 6.5, head over to the Microsoft SQL Server Web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/.
** MICROSOFT TO ACQUIRE NETCARTA CORP. **
Microsoft has agreed to acquire the Scotts Valley, Calif.-based
NetCarta Corp. NetCarta is known for its client/server Web management
solutions. The plan is to integrate NetCarta's WebMapper Web-site
management tool into the Microsoft BackOffice family (for more about
BackOffice, go to http://www.microsoft.com/backoffice ). The site
management features in WebMapper complement the administration and
management features of Web tools such as Microsoft Visual InterDev and
Microsoft FrontPage.
** INTEL TO SUPPORT WINDOWS CE **
Microsoft is working with Intel Corp. to port the Microsoft Windows CE
operating system to the Intel Architecture. Windows CE is Microsoft's
compact, portable operating system built from the ground up for a broad
range of business and consumer devices that can communicate with each
other, share information with Windows-based PCs, and connect to the
Internet. To find out more, visit the developers section of the Windows
CE Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsce/ .
==========================================
CONTESTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS
** SHOW US YOUR BEST -- ENTER THE ACTIVEX CONTROL CREATION CONTEST **
Microsoft and CMP Media Inc.'s TechWeb are co-sponsoring the first
ActiveX Control Creation Contest. Take the challenge and show off your
best ActiveX control produced using Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0
Control Creation Edition. More than 100,000 developers are already
using this special version of Visual Basic, introduced in October at
the Site Builder Conference. If you want to know more about
Visual Basic 5.0 Control Creation Edition, go to the Visual Basic Web
site at http://www.microsoft.com/vbasic.
Bill Gates will showcase the grand prize-winning contest entry at
Microsoft Developer Days. Contestants can submit their control
entries, created with Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0, Control Creation
Edition, at TechWeb's ActiveXpress site for ActiveX users and
developers at
http://www.techweb.com/ativexpress/contest/challenge.html.
The contest will run from January 1 through February 12, 1997. Prizes
will be awarded in several categories, including best business
component, best vertical market component, best game, best Internet
component and best Office 97 component. Judging will be based on
criteria that include creativity, usefulness, technical
implementation, ease of use and innovation.
The grand prize winner will receive round-trip travel and
accommodations for the Microsoft Developer Days conference in
Redmond, Wash., where he or she will present the control to more than
30,000 developers. At Developer Days, the winner will also meet
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Bill Gates, who will present the grand prize
award. Other winning entries will receive Microsoft products, such as
a Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Universal subscription
(head over to http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/subscribe to learn more),
and the soon-to-be-released Visual Basic 5.0, Enterprise Edition.
All winning entries will be featured on CMP's TechWeb and Microsoft's
Web site.
** WINDOWS WORLD OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES **
The Windows World Open is an annual international competition. It's
designed to recognize and award developers and their companies for
implementing innovative custom applications that present an
effective business solution for the company or organization. The call
for entries is underway and the deadline for entries is February 10,
1997. To learn more about the 1997 categories and criteria and request
an entry kit, visit the Windows World Open Web site at
http://www.wwopen.com or call 1-800-829-4143.
** SPECIAL OFFER FOR EUROPEAN DEVELOPERS ONLY **
If you're looking for the ideal gift to give a developer, consider an
MSDN Library subscription. Take advantage of a special offer and
promotional price available in Europe from December 2, 1996 until
December 31, 1996. This offer is good only in specified countries in
Europe, so be sure to check out the details at
http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/msdnholiday.htm .
===========================================
EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
** Microsoft Access/Visual Basic Advisor Developers Conference **
February 16 - 19, 1997
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Big Island, Hawaii
Don't miss out on the seventh presentation of the Microsoft
Access/Visual Basic Advisor DevCon, the premier independent
conference for software developers, business and technology
managers. This conference is brought to you by Microsoft and Advisor
Publications, the publishers of some of the most popular computer
magazines including DataBased Advisor and Microsoft Access/Visual
Basic Advisor. This is the first Advisor DevCon to be held on the Big
Island of Hawaii in order to accommodate everyone from around the
Pacific Rim regions. At this Advisor DevCon, you'll learn the smart
way
to build business solutions using:
Microsoft Access 2.0, Microsoft Access 95 and Microsoft Access 97
Microsoft Visual Basic
Microsoft SQL Server
ActiveX Controls
Visual Basic for Applications language
Data Access Objects (DAO)
Jet
OLE Automation
Internet/Intranet/Web Tools
Advisor DevCon is as intense a learning experience as you want to
make it. Sessions run from early morning to late evening. You can
attend as many as you can handle, building your own curriculum to
learn just what you need. When you're not in a DevCon session,
you can join colleagues and experts who are eager to hear your
experiences and share theirs. You'll join the software
development community that is a key to business success.
Welcome aboard!
Phone Registration:
US or Canada (800) 438-6720 or Elsewhere (203)268-3204
Fax Registration: (203) 261-3884
E-mail: access_vb_devcon@advisor.com
Website: http://www.advisor.com/
** MICROSOFT VISUAL C++ DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE **
The Peabody Hotel, Orlando, Florida
March 3-5, 1997
Introducing the Second Visual C ++ Developers Conference, presented
by TPD Publishing, Inc., the publishers of Visual C++ Developers
Journal on-line. The Visual C++ Developers Conference is three days
packed full of in-depth, technical information providing attendees
with the insight and technical advantage they need to build rock solid
applications that maximize on new technology trends. You'll get
answers to questions including:
Visual C++, Visual J++, or Visual Basic - which tool should I use and
when?
How will new versions effect my projects underway?
How can I better integrate ActiveX technology into my Web pages?
How can I create distributed applications for the Internet using
Visual J++ development software?
What are the differences between traditional OLE Controls and their
lighter weight ActiveX Counterparts?
How can I wrap Legacy code to create new applications with Visual C++
development system and MFC, Automation and ActiveX Controls?
How can I maximize the newest Visual C++ 5.0 features?
All attendees will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement,
(NDA) since this conference previews Visual C++ 5.0.
Website: www.vcdj.com/
Phone: 800-811-3486 or 203-261-1943
Fax: 203-261-2289
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