An announcement from SoftQuad Software describes the January 2002 release of XMetaL 3, Softquad's flagship XML content creation software. The new version of XMetaL "features innovative ease-of-use and collaboration capabilities for content authors and provides developers with a rich XML development environment. XMetaL 3 is the first customizable XML editor with a rich development environment to support XML Schema, an essential standard developed by the W3C to define common languages for specific business applications. XML Schema enables companies to exchange information seamlessly with partners, customers, and suppliers. XMetaL 3 is a validating XML editor within an open and scriptable development environment that allows developers to use common Web development and programming skills to create integrated XML content applications. With an extensive COM and JAVA API comprising over 300 interfaces, support for DOM, CSS, XSL and standard scripting languages, XMetaL gives developers the power to control exactly how XML is displayed and entered by end users. New XMetaL features for end users include support for revision marking, preview in HTML and PDF, enhanced integration with Microsoft Office, workgroup document sharing, and enterprise document sharing."

W3C XML Schema Support: "(1) XMetaL will load a W3C Schema and validate documents using features that are common to both W3C Schema and DTDs as well as important features unique to W3C Schema; (2) Supports the structural validation features in demand by industry XML standards organizations such as RIXML; (3) Supports locally-scoped element declarations, occurrence indicators, and substitution group elements, and more."

From the announcement:

"XML is the unifying business language that enables companies to maximize the value of their intellectual capital and dramatically reduce content delivery costs," said Roberto Drassinower, SoftQuad's CEO. "XMetaL 3 demonstrates our steadfast commitment to product and industry leadership. We've brought together the elements needed for successful enterprise deployment, including proven XML technology, seamless integration with leading content management systems, such as Documentum and Interwoven, and professional services through SoftQuad and our strong partner network."

Over 2,000 companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, USAToday.com, KBC Bank, Honeywell, Continental Airlines, Ford Europe, GE Medical Systems, Amazon.com and National Semiconductor have chosen XMetaL for XML content creation.

[XMetaL 3 now supports XML Schema], an essential standard developed by the W3C to define common languages for specific business applications. XML Schema enables companies to exchange information seamlessly with partners, customers, and suppliers. An example of broad industry support for XML Schema is the financial services industry's Research Information Exchange Markup Language, or RIXML. Created by a consortium of investment and financial research firms, including American Express Financial, UBS Warburg, Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, and others, RIXML makes it easier to categorize, aggregate, compare, sort, and distribute financial research.

Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with U.S. offices in Seattle and San Francisco, and European operations based in London, England, SoftQuad was first to market with an advanced, yet easy-to-use XML content creation solution, XMetaL. It has become the premier enabling technology for XML-based content applications in electronic publishing, e-commerce and knowledge management.