May 21, 2007; 08:57 AM TheDevShop has just released version 5 of dbQwikSite, its web
application RAD tool. This release significantly changes the boundaries
of traditional web code generators. dbQwikSite integrates to other web
authoring tools, as well as integrating more of the database design
process. The result is a powerful web application development
environment that requires virtually no programming skills. The end user
focuses on application functionality, flow and design, with the code
generation engine takes care of the programming tasks.
dbQwikSite Version 5 focuses on integrating web development desktop
work flow. This release ties together many common tasks between web
design and web development and across various development tools. To
design a database web site, users typically need to jump between
different tools each specialized for a different aspect of development,
such as database design, page design and coding. In version 5, users
are offered a wealth of tools and features which enable them to work
seamlessly when creating web applications. Version 5 blurs the lines
between traditional programming tools. It humanizes the development
process by allowing users to work naturally, making iterative changes
and tweaks as they move forward in development and into maintenance.
This type of flexibility is typically the realm of high end enterprise
tools.
Many code generators require that users have an existing database
before pages can generated, not so with dbQwikSite. It has a host of
tools to help users create databases. Tables can be created not only by
the traditional methods of defining fields and data types, but by also
by many innovative and ways geared toward your less technical users.
For example users can import Excel files, MySQL users can create tables
from MySQL dumps, dbQwikSite provides a rich set of database table
templates that can be mixed and matched to create new tables and field
combinations. New in version 5 is a web form import tool, aimed at
webmasters who more familiar with HTML than with SQL. Simply design a
web form, or pick one from the web and import it to dbQwikSite. In this
process, dbQwikSite will analyze the form, and suggests a table
structure based on the form design.
TheDevShop, has given a lot of consideration to make dbQwikSite support
the way people normally work, embracing not only the creation process,
but also the iterative changes that are a natural part of developing
and maintaining applications. Version 5 introduces a “universal”
database table editor. Users can change their database tables
on-the-fly as the need for new fields or other changes are discovered.
Many code generators will balk at changes to the data structures.
dbQwikSite V5 handles these changes gracefully, analyzing your current
design against your changed data structures, and flagging design items
that require attention. dbQwikSite is more than a web site generator;
it makes it an invaluable tool for maintaining database web sites
through the entire lifecycle of the application.
Version 5, offers a new HTLM editor integration. You can assign your
HTML editor to replace the integrated HTML editor. Users of Dreamweaver
and FrontPage, or any other editor, can edit dbQwikSite HTML pages and
HTML fragments, in their preferred HTML designer. dbQwikSite not only
launches your editor with the correct page loaded, but it monitors all
the files that are edited. dbQwiksite project pages which reference
HTML modified outside of dbQwikSite, will display a warning the next
time they are accessed in dbQwikSite. Always with maintenance in mind,
a nifty “reconciliation report” tool, not only highlights changes, but
also allows users to automatically merge in external changes by
clicking a “accept” or “reject” change link in the report.
Project Reports are a new feature in this release. A number of supplied
reports provide the means to analyze web site design for trouble
shooting as well as reports to support integration. The reports part of
a new plug-in architecture and leverage an XML project file format. New
reports can be developed independently using XSL.
This most recent release is not limited to integration automation. It
also features advancements in the technical aspects of the software.
The code generation engine now generates PHP, ASP, and ASP.net. Windows
Vista support is also part of this release.
dbQwikSite PE (Personal Edition) is a free edition creating branded
pages. There are 4 paid editions: Publisher, Express, PRO and
Ecommerce, sold for $39.95 USD, $99.95 USD $149.95 USD and $179.95 USD
respectively. Free trial and additional information available from www.dbQwikSite.com.
dbQwikSite is produced by TheDevShop Ltd. (www.TheDevShop.com) , 22/6 Emporium Tower, 622 Sukhumvit Rd. Bangkok, 10110 Thailand. +662 664-7252, Sales @ TheDevShop.com.
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