XML Collaborator: Features

Collaboration

Flexibility and ease of use

Management of the design process

Registry

Planned enhancements in future releases

Information design independent of serialization: XML Collaborator abstracts the modeling of data structures and interfaces away from any particular implementation. This means that the same system can be used to easily generate XML Schemas, DTDs, HTML documentation, or even scripts for the creation of relational databases based on the defined structures. This loosely-coupled approach to information modeling gives the information model longer-lasting value and makes it much easier to repurpose the information model as necessary.

Robust import/export functionality: XML Collaborator can easily import information metadata from, and export information metadata to, a variety of formats. Existing XML Schemas, DTDs, relational database DDL, and even Excel spreadsheets of data points can be loaded into the system for incorporation into information models. Additionally, the platform can produce all of these as exports of selected information models. The platform can also easily create documentation for a particular information model, as well as parser code in a variety of languages such as Java and C#.

Peer-to-peer distributed development environment: XML Collaborator servers may share information components with one another. The Web service interfaces allow cross-server searches to be easily performed, and information composites may be synthesized from smaller components distributed across multiple servers. If a participating server goes offline for some reason, the remainder of the server network will continue to function normally—if a server needs to call on the missing system for some reason (such as to retrieve information about a particular data element stored there) the Web service will indicate that the particular server is currently offline.

Browser-based access to collaboration platform and registry content: XML Collaborator ships with a client that runs in recent versions of Netscape/Mozilla and Internet Explorer. This enables users with the appropriate credentials to access XML Collaborator without installing a client application, as well as allowing access from any system with a compatible browser.

Published API: The XML Collaborator engine interface is published as a set of Web service calls. This makes it easy for programmers to integrate the XML Collaborator engine's functionality into their own software development efforts, and makes it possible for future user interfaces to be easily implemented.