BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Altova® ([URL=http://www.altova.com/]http://www.altova.com[/URL]), creator of XMLSpy® and other leading XML, data management, UML, and Web services tools, today announced the availability of Version 2007 Release 3 (v2007r3) of its award-winning software product line, now providing deep integration with the IBM® (NYSE: IBM) DB2® 9 data server and its industry leading pureXML™ technology. Altova v2007r3 offers exclusive new functionality within its XMLSpy, MapForce®, StyleVision®, and DatabaseSpy™ products, giving users unprecedented capabilities for editing, exchanging, transforming, and querying XML data stored in IBM DB2 9 databases.

“Altova’s tools for pureXML will be key for developers and DBAs,” said Salvatore Vella, Vice President, IBM DB2 Data Server Development. “XML is quickly becoming a predominant format for data exchange, and information management professionals need capabilities to store, access, and manipulate XML data natively. The combination of the market leading database-enabled XML tools from Altova together with the industry’s most advanced XML-enabled data server from IBM provides customers with the optimal solution to address this requirement.”

“When IBM approached Altova and asked us to integrate our XML and data management tools with DB2 9, we knew we had an unbeatable opportunity to help customers unleash the potential of their data,” said Alexander Falk, President and CEO of Altova. “The new, specialized features in XMLSpy, MapForce, StyleVision, and DatabaseSpy make it practical to develop pureXML applications and to convert, publish, and manage pureXML data with ease.”

XMLSpy 2007: Support for IBM DB2 9

Altova XMLSpy is the world’s best-selling XML editor and the industry standard XML development environment for modeling, editing, transforming, and debugging XML-related technologies. In v2007r3, XMLSpy provides IBM users specialized database functionality designed to enhance productivity when working with DB2 9. New database capabilities in XMLSpy include:

Database XQuery execution – Now, in addition to editing, debugging, and profiling XQuery statements, XMLSpy can execute such XQuery statements against IBM DB2 9 databases. This allows users to query XML content in DB2 9 accurately, efficiently, and on a granular level. v2007r3 also provides support for IBM’s extensions to XQuery.
Database query window – This new window lets users view the structure of databases and query them from within XMLSpy using SQL, SQL/XML, and XQuery statements. XML data can be edited in XMLSpy’s text or grid view with full validation and then saved back to the DB2 9 data server. Database connectivity is provided through a versatile new quick connect wizard.
XML Schema registration – XMLSpy 2007r3 provides user friendly tools for registering XML Schemas in IBM DB2 9. Schema registration enables validation of XML data directly within the database. v2007r3 also provides support for reviewing and dropping schemas.
Learn more about integration of Altova XMLSpy with IBM DB2 9 at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/xmlspy]http://www.altova.com/xmlspy[/URL]

MapForce 2007: Support for IBM DB2 9

Altova MapForce is the premier data integration and Web services implementation tool that maps between any combination of XML, database, flat file, EDI, and/or Web service, then converts data on-the-fly or auto-generates program code for royalty-free use in custom data integration or Web services applications. New database integration features in MapForce include:

Integration of database XML fields – With MapForce 2007r3, users can map XML data directly to and from DB2 9 databases by assigning an XML Schema to the data. MapForce then renders the schema as a sub tree of the database field for direct mapping with disparate data formats via its visual drag-and-drop interface.
Enhanced database connectivity – Once only available in Altova DatabaseSpy, MapForce now includes a quick connect wizard to easily access, preview, and integrate database data. A new database query window is also included, enabling users to directly analyze SQL data.
Extended data filtering functionality – Adding to its extensive library of data processing functions, MapForce now supports the SQL-WHERE filter, which allows for precise, high-performance filtering of database sources used in data mapping projects.
Learn more about integration of Altova MapForce with IBM DB2 9 at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/mapforce]http://www.altova.com/mapforce[/URL]

StyleVision 2007: Support for IBM DB2 9

Altova StyleVision is the ultimate visual stylesheet designer for transforming XML and database content into HTML pages, Word/RTF documents, PDF reports, and Altova Authentic® electronic forms. It is optimized for single source publishing and allows multiple output styles from a single stylesheet design. New database enhancements in StyleVision include:

Rendering of database XML fields – StyleVision 2007r3 works directly with XML data stored inside DB2 9 databases. Users simply associate database XML fields with XML Schemas upon which their stylesheets will be based, then drag defined data elements on to the design pane for rendering and publishing.
Command line interface extensions – StyleVision now supports user-defined WHERE conditions via the command line, enabling users to produce multiple output documents in HTML, Word/RTF, and PDF formats from XML columns in DB2 9 database tables.
Learn more about integration of Altova StyleVision with IBM DB2 9 at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/stylevision]http://www.altova.com/stylevision[/URL]

DatabaseSpy 2007: Support for IBM DB2 9

Altova DatabaseSpy is a unique multi-database query, and design tool. It connects to all major databases and eases SQL editing and database structure design. v2007r3 provides users of DB2 9 with added features and superior support for XML database content. New data management capabilities in DatabaseSpy include:

Database browser XML support – XML Schemas registered in databases are now displayed in DatabaseSpy’s online browser database tree in hierarchical form. Table columns that contain XML data are also shown in the database tree, and the online browser indicates any XML Schemas used to validate them. Additionally, XML Schemas shown in DatabaseSpy can now be sent directly to XMLSpy for editing in its schema design view.
Design editor XML enhancements – New columns containing XML data can be added to database tables via the database design editor in DatabaseSpy 2007r3. Access to detailed properties of XML datatypes is also provided.
Learn more about integration of Altova DatabaseSpy with IBM DB2 9 at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/databasespy]http://www.altova.com/databasespy[/URL]

More information on all the new features in the Altova product line is available at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/whatsnew.html]http://www.altova.com/whatsnew.html[/URL]

More information on IBM DB2 9 and all IBM Information Management solutions is available at: [URL=http://www.software.ibm.com/data]http://www.software.ibm.com/data[/URL]

Availability and Pricing

Version 2007 Release 3 of Altova XMLSpy 2007, MapForce 2007, StyleVision 2007, and DatabaseSpy 2007 is currently available with pricing starting at (USD) $499, $249, $249, and $129 respectively. These products may be purchased directly from the Altova Online Shop at: https://shop.altova.com

30-day free trials of all Altova products may be downloaded from: [URL=http://www.altova.com/download.html]http://www.altova.com/download.html[/URL]

The Altova MissionKit 2007 bundles up to eight Altova products for less than the price of two.* All MissionKits include XMLSpy, MapForce, and StyleVision at substantial savings, plus options are available that add up to five additional application development and data management tools (including DatabaseSpy) effectively free of charge. The Altova MissionKit is currently available with pricing starting at $740.

Learn more about the Altova MissionKit at:

[URL=http://www.altova.com/missionkit]http://www.altova.com/missionkit[/URL]

Altova recommends the purchase of its Support and Maintenance Package (SMP) with all software purchases. Altova SMP provides free software version upgrades, maintenance releases, and priority technical support for the duration of the support period. SMP can be purchased for 25% of the product license price for a one-year period, or 20% per year for a two-year period.

Learn more about Altova SMP at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/support_package.html]http://www.altova.com/support_package.html[/URL]

About Altova

Altova accelerates application development and data management projects with software and solutions that enhance productivity and maximize results. As an innovative, customer-focused company and the creator of XMLSpy and other leading XML, data management, UML, and Web services tools, Altova is the choice of over 2.5 million clients worldwide, including virtually every Fortune 500 company. Enabling customers ranging from vast development teams in the world’s largest organizations to progressive one-person shops, Altova’s line of software tools fulfills a broad spectrum of business needs. Altova is an active member of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Object Management Group (OMG) and is committed to delivering standards-based platform-independent solutions that are powerful, affordable, and easy to use. Altova was founded in 1992 and has headquarters in Beverly, Massachusetts and Vienna, Austria. Visit Altova on the Web at: [URL=http://www.altova.com/]http://www.altova.com[/URL]

Note to Editors:

*Pricing comparison is edition-specific and based on Altova MissionKit vs. any two individual licenses of the following included products: XMLSpy, MapForce, and StyleVision.

Altova, MissionKit, XMLSpy, MapForce, StyleVision, UModel, DatabaseSpy, DiffDog, SchemaAgent, SemanticWorks, Authentic, and AltovaXML are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Altova GmbH in the United States and/or other countries. The names of and reference to other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

IBM, DB2, pureXML, and the IBM e-business logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. For a list of additional IBM trademarks, please see [URL=http://www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml]www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml[/URL].

All other company, product or service names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of others. Statements concerning IBM's future development plans and schedules are made for planning purposes only, and are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Reseller prices may vary.