News

XML boosts Quest components

• By Lana Gates
• June 18, 2003

Quest Software Inc. (www.quest.com), Irvine, Calif., has added XML technology to Version 4.0 of its JClass ServerViews 4.0 server-side Java components, significantly increasing the potential user base of the toolset.

The components -- which include ServerChart, a visual chart design tool, and ServerReport, a visual report design tool -- are said to allow Web content creators to visually design high-quality charts, according to Quest officials.

Officials said earlier versions of the tool were targeted at J2EE or expert developers as development moved from rich-client computing to thin-client computing. As a result of Java's increasing prevalence, "the 4.0 product offering uses XML to wrap our technology in WYSIWYGs to allow non-developers and junior developers to leverage our technology in the J2EE space," explained Michael Bailey, JClass product marketing manager.

Bailey contends that the product can help developers in two ways. Because it is visual, it allows expert developers to do things faster, using drag-and-drop instead of manual maneuvers. It also provides a way for development managers to allow non-developers, such as Web designers or junior developers, to participate actively and bring them up the programming scale, Bailey said. He added that users can get up and running with this in minutes. "It's almost like an XML mentoring system to help them get things done," he noted.

The product integrates with J2EE application servers, including IBM WebSphere and BEA WebLogic. Officials said that JClass ServerViews brings charts and PDF documents from a J2EE application server to the browsers of an entire network of users. Pricing for JClass ServerChart 4.0 and JClass ServerReport 4.0 starts at $3,000. Visit www.java.quest.com/jclass for more information.

Quest Software has also released JClass DesktopViews 6.2, a collection of client-side Java components with charting enhancements and support for the latest JDKs and IDEs. Pricing for DesktopViews 6.2 starts at $3,100.