Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 March Pre-Release Now Available
REDMOND, Wash., March 23, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the immediate, free availability of the Microsoft® Visual InterDev
™
6.0 March pre-release, a preview of the new version of the leading team-based Web development system for rapidly building data-driven Web applications.
The Visual InterDev 6.0 March pre-release enables developers to build data-driven Web applications quickly with a new set of rapid application development features. The new integrated development environment makes it easier to design, build, debug and deploy cross-platform HTML applications that connect any browser with any ODBC-compliant database. Key new features include a WYSIWYG HTML editor that preserves source-code formatting, client- and server-side script debugging, improved database tools and advanced support for team-based development. The new version also adds support for developers targeting the Windows® Distributed interNet Applications (Windows DNA) architecture, which uses reusable, middle-tier COM components written with other Visual Studio
™
development system-based tools to build scalable, robust Web applications.
“We’re very excited to make this pre-release of Visual InterDev 6.0 available to developers and expect it to dramatically simplify the task of building data-driven Web applications with IIS 4.0,” said Paul Gross, vice president of developer tools at Microsoft. “The demand for tools to simplify Web-user interface development, work in teams and with FrontPage® users, and create and debug server-side script was heard loud and clear, and Visual InterDev delivers all that and much more. Visual InterDev version 6.0 truly delivers a quantum leap in functionality that brings RAD to the Web.”
The beta software is available for free download from the Web (connect-time charges may apply). It is also available on CD-ROM for a nominal fee including a shipping and handling charge; the domestic rate is $7.50, or $14.95 (U.S.) outside the United States. For the free download, or to order the CD-ROM, visit the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/vinterdev/ .
Developers Praise Visual InterDev 6.0
“Visual InterDev 6.0 is exactly what Iomega needs to create true, rich, dynamic Web site content while maintaining consistency across all the browsers used to access our sites,” said Harold Swanson, Internet/intranet engineer, Iomega Corp. “We look to evolving our intranet as a key source of information on our innovative data storage solutions. This tool will significantly help make our corporate intranet a more important nexus of mission-critical applications.”
“Reducing total cost of ownership is a major corporate objective for us, and Visual InterDev 6.0 is a powerful tool for cutting that cost for our extranet-based SmartStreet and SmartSign kiosks,” said David E.Y. Sarna, chairman and co-CEO at ObjectSoft Corp. “We’ll save both time and money by incorporating its complete debugging environment into our kiosk development environment. And because it’s far easier to maintain, Visual InterDev 6.0 lets our developers focus on the core value-add to the corporation: creating the world’s most compelling kiosk applications.”
Build Data-Driven Web Applications Faster Than Ever
More than 250,000 developers worldwide already use the Visual InterDev Web development system, making it the leading team-based Web development tool for building data-driven Web applications.
The new version optimizes the process of designing, building, debugging and deploying broad-reach HTML and script-based Web applications without sacrificing performance. It allows data-driven Web applications to take advantage of the latest advances in browser technology such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, Dynamic HTML and remote data access features, while tapping into corporate infrastructure, existing applications and data. The powerful, integrated database tools in Visual InterDev make it easier to bring data into Web applications and enable programmers to work with any ODBC or OLE DB database.
The following features make Visual InterDev an essential tool for targeting the Web and harnessing the power of client/server tools:
-
Full-featured debugging. A complete set of debugging tools makes it easier to test and debug complex client- and server-side script. Among other things, the debugger enables remote debugging of server-side Active Server Pages and allows developers to preview Web pages simultaneously in multiple browsers to ensure consistency.
-
WYSIWYG HTML page editor. This cutting-edge visual page editor includes support for the latest advances in browser technology, including advanced support for Dynamic HTML.
-
Enhanced Visual Database Tools. Drag-and-drop support for database forms and reports enables developers to create enterprise-class data-driven Web applications and simplify programming tasks when targeting existing databases.
-
Enhanced standards-based team development. In addition to new support for individual programmers, Visual InterDev provides improved source-code control and improved interoperability with the other tools to meet the challenges of team-based Web development.
-
New deployment features for middle-tier COM server components. New features make it easier to build and deploy component-based applications based on the Windows DNA architecture, including integration with the Microsoft Transaction Server for building scalable and robust enterprise Web applications. COM-based components can be created with a variety of tools, for example the Visual Basic® development system or Visual Studio.
-
Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0 will include the Microsoft FrontPage 98 Web site creation and management tool. Microsoft FrontPage 98 is a quick, effective way to create and manage professional-quality Internet or intranet sites without programming. Together, FrontPage 98 and Visual InterDev enable nonprogrammers and programmers to work in a team-based development environment.
Member of Visual Studio Developer Suite
Visual InterDev is a member of the Microsoft Visual Studio 97 development system, a complete development tools suite for enterprise development. Visual Studio 97 provides corporations with easy-to-use tools for building business applications for the Windows NT® Server operating system, including client/server, multitier and Web-based solutions. Visual Studio 97 Professional Edition features Visual Basic 5.0, the Visual C++® development system 5.0, the Visual J++
™development system for Java 1.1, Visual InterDev 1.0 and the Visual FoxPro® database management system 5.0.
Visual Studio 97 Enterprise Edition also includes enterprise and team development features such as the Microsoft Repository, the Visual SourceSafe
™
version control system, Visual Modeler, Visual Database Tools, Visual Component Manager, and a development version of Microsoft SQL Server
™
6.5.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, Visual InterDev, Windows, Visual Studio, FrontPage, Visual Basic, Windows NT, Visual C++, Visual J++, Visual FoxPro and Visual SourceSafe are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors : If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
